Nick Daschel is a veteran sports writer and columnist who has worked on the West coast for nearly three decades. Nick has covered the Pac-10 for about 15 years, primarily focusing on the Northwest schools.
Experience is not a luxury these days for Oregon State’s defense, what with the NFL having come through Corvallis to pilfer five starters during last weekend’s draft.
It’s no big deal at Southern California, where the Trojans merely reload with another crop of high school All-Americans and second teamers chafing to get a chance.
But at Oregon State?
Maybe the Beavers reload, too.
Wasn’t it just a year ago when we were going through this same exercise, wondering how the heck the Beavers were going to cope with just three starters returning on defense?
That’s right, three: cornerbacks Brandon Hughes and Keenan Lewis and strong safety Al Afalava were lone returnees. OSU had to replace its entire front seven; in linebackers Derrick Doggett, Alan Darlin and Joey LaRocque, the Beavers lost three players with 82 career starts.
And yet, with only an experienced secondary to bank on, Oregon State evolved into the second best defensive unit in the Pac-10, trailing only the super-de-duperest defense ever assembled in college football, USC.
But do it again? Only three starters return again in 2009, defensive tackle Stephen Paea and linebackers Keaton Kristick and Keith Pankey.
We’ll find out in a few months. I’m skeptical that a program outside of the college elites like USC and Texas and Florida can lose eight starters one year and almost half its defense to the NFL the next and not miss a beat. Particularly in a population-challenged state like Oregon where most of the roster comes from outside the region.
But hey, Oregon State is making a habit out of proving people wrong. So here goes again.
It doesn’t hurt that one of the Beavers’ three returning starters is Paea, a 6-1, 295-pound junior who should give UCLA’s Brian Price and Arizona State’s Lawrence Guy a run for best defensive tackle in the Pac-10 next season.
Paea is an interesting story. Just four years ago, Paea moved from Tonga where he played rugby to Utah, where he was intrigued by the American game of football.
In that short period of time, Paea went from someone no college football program wanted to a player who might consider leaving college early for the NFL.
“It is a big surprise,” said the soft-spoken Paea. “Yesterday I was in a junior college and today I’m at Oregon State making a name for myself.”
Paea’s name took off last season, less than a year after signing his letter of intent with Oregon State. The then-sophomore tackle quickly became a full-time starter and earned second team all-Pac 10 status after scoring 11 tackles for losses and five sacks in 2008.
Paea said it takes about three snaps in a game to figure out which asset he will use on an opposing offensive lineman.
“If a guy is really physical, I can chase him like a speed guy, but if the guy is quicker and not really that strong, I can go through him,” Paea said.
So what is it with these apparent quick learners on defense at Oregon State? Paea came in, and in less than a year, he was a star. The new crew of linebackers last year suddenly played like savvy veterans.
Is it an easy-to-pick up defensive scheme?
Junior cornerback Tim Clark rolled his eyes so far back into his head, all you could see was white.
“I’m not going to lie: the scheme is very difficult to pick up and for somebody that just came here and tries to pick it up, it’s going to be as frustrating as all outdoors,” Clark said.
That can’t be good news for the 2009 secondary. Clark is it for meaningful experience; six career starts, two in 2008. OSU’s defensive backs have been torched at times this spring, though in fairness, the yellow-jersey rules protecting the quarterback are not exactly friendly for defensive backs.
Once the games begin, the yellow jersey will no longer handcuff players like Paea.
“He’s going to scare quarterbacks alone just lining up. Just his presence on the field is going to create a lot of problems,” Clark said.
Paea is someone whose name will soon be called in an NFL draft near you. And if the Beavers develop a few more like Paea on defense, USC won’t be the only Pac-10 school known for its seamless ability to reload.
Nick Daschel covers the Pacific-10 Conference for Buster Sports, and can be reached at ndaschel@bustersports.com
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