Oregon State: Slow Starts Are Officially A Problem

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Jeffrey Martin, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Coach Mike Riley, via Wikipedia

Anything happening twice does not portend a trend, but anything happening twice within a three-year window is definitely troubling.

Which is why Oregon State coach Mike Riley responded with candor to a question wondering whether or not his Beavers have early-season issues against, well, inferior competition.

“Historically, it’s been a problem,” he said. “We’ve started slow and finished fast.”

In 2013, they lost the season opener to Eastern Washington, a FCS power, 49-46. In 2011, they lost the season opener to Sacramento State, not exactly a FCS power, 29-28 in overtime. Both games were played in Reser Stadium.

All of this matters, of course, because Oregon State opens Saturday at home against Portland State, an FCS squad that finished 6-6 last year and returns seven starters from a school record-setting offense in 2013.

Immediate history is not lost on the Beavers. To combat the past becoming the present, Riley said Oregon State has done more live work this fall camp, although not in a bulk amount. He said it’s usually 12 plays a day live, some goal-line situational scrimmaging live, but nothing too draining or drastic.

“I changed it again this year,” he said. “I keep searching. It’s one of those great things in coaching - we always search for that perfect way to practice and prepare your team for the first game… I’m hoping through time we’ve developed a readiness to play a football game and not overdo it.

“We tinker with how to improve that start, to find the best way to be as fresh as you can be and as prepared as you can be physically.”

Photo: "MikeRiley" Via Wikipedia

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