Matt York

By Nick Daschel | The Oregonian/OregonLive

TEMPE, Ariz. – What to make of Oregon State’s 52-24 loss at Arizona State, where freshman running back Jermar Jefferson made a few more entries into the school’s record book: Here are 12 takeaways, plus a few notes and quotes:

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Matt York

Don't Edit

1. If you read this space in August, you know what we thought about Oregon State’s 2018 expectations. This season wasn’t about wins and losses so much as it is improvement and improving competitiveness. Are the Beavers better in late September than early September? Better in November than October? As anticipated, the wins aren’t coming. But is Oregon State better heading into October than it was September? You can’t say yes, you can’t say no.

The Beavers are certainly more of a threat offensively than we thought, particularly on the ground. Jermar Jefferson is a star in the making. When Artavis Pierce returns from an elbow injury, this could really be some running game. The passing attack has some promise, but it needs to move forward during the next month. But defensively, OSU can’t compete. In games against Ohio State, Arizona and Arizona State, the Beavers defense forced a combined three punts. The poor tackling has become a face palm for the team and its fans. Though this defense can get better, it is unlikely to significantly improve without a return to play from some of its injured, and honestly, a few recruiting classes.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Randy L. Rasmussen

Don't Edit

2. It’s a lot to put on a freshman’s shoulders, but if there’s a single reason to watch Oregon State this season, it’s to see the latest from Jefferson. Five games into his college career, Jefferson already has two of the school’s top four rushing performances, including No. 2 all-time after running for 254 yards against Arizona State. With 727 yards through five games, the math says if Jefferson continues at this pace, he’ll run for more than 1,700 yards this season, an OSU record. Odds are long that it will happen; several good run defenses are ahead for the Beavers, and Pierce is likely to return later in October and take some carries. But it’s a possibility, and Jefferson gives you a reason to watch.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Ross William Hamilton

Don't Edit

3. It’s way too early to ask if the 5-10, 211-pound Jefferson is the best running back in Oregon State history. But best freshman ever? JacQuizz Rodgers is the gold standard for Beaver freshmen running backs. With 727 rushing yards, Jefferson is well ahead of schedule to pass Rodgers’ freshman total of 1,253 yards. But Rodgers was also a threat in the passing game, catching 29 passes as a freshman (and 78 as a sophomore). Jefferson hasn’t quite established himself as receiving threat out of the backfield, though it may just be a matter of time. Barring injury, Jefferson should be able to exceed Rodgers’ freshman yardage total of 1,500 yards.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Lance Iverson

Don't Edit

4. Perhaps the biggest setback Saturday night – outside of the score itself – was the loss of receiver Isaiah Hodgins. The 6-4 sophomore suffered a hamstring injury after catching a 44-yard pass during the second quarter. Though receiver is a position where OSU has some depth, no one has Hodgins’ tools. If sidelined for a significant period of time, it would have an impact on Oregon State’s offense.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Matt York

Don't Edit

5. On the flip side, Noah Togiai moved another game closer to becoming a dangerous threat in the offense. The junior tight end, OSU’s top receiver from a year ago, made his first start since returning from ankle and knee injuries. Togiai’s contributions went beyond blocking, as he caught his first pass of the season, a 4-yard touchdown reception during the third quarter. When healthy, Togiai is a big target Oregon State’s quarterbacks could use.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Matt York

Don't Edit

6. Flimsy tackling continues to be a big topic coming out of Oregon State games. Can it be fixed? To some degree, sure. The Beavers can always work on fundamentals. In days of the past, more hitting would be ordered during practice, but it’s not really an option today. The fact is, the Beavers need more depth and better players on defense. Opposing offenses that are better – and that’s generally the case each week with OSU – tend to make overmatched defenses look foolish. “Give a little credit to the guys we’re playing. There’s some talent out there,” OSU coach Jonathan Smith said.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Matt York

Don't Edit

7. Running backs in the Pac-12 must be scrambling for their schedule to find out when they play Oregon State. In the Beavers’ league opener, it was Arizona’s J.J. Taylor going for 284 yards. A week later, it was Arizona State’s Eno Benjamin piling up a school-record 312 yards. It’s not a coincidence that Jefferson, Benjamin and Taylor are 1-2-3 in Pac-12 rushing yardage.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Matt York

Don't Edit

8. More defensive issues: takeaways. They’re the game changers that could help a struggling team. But so far, OSU has only four takeaways, and just two during the past four games. The Beavers went without a takeaway against Arizona State. If improving the tackles is job No. 1 for the defense, right behind it is creating a few more momentum-changing takeaways.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Matt York

Don't Edit

9. Hate to keep harping on the defense, but here goes one more: the pass rush. It’s really no better than a year ago, when Oregon State couldn’t get to the quarterback. The Beavers didn’t have a sack against Arizona State. The Sun Devils had five sacks, as many as Oregon State has all season. It’s another reason the Beavers are giving up an average of 543 yards a game, worst in the Pac-12 and more than 100 yards behind No. 11, UCLA.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Matt York

Don't Edit

10. Oregon State continues to be decent in minimizing penalties, as the Beavers rank No. 2 in the Pac-12 at 5.4 flags per game. But the timing of their penalties, uh, not so good. Just like last week against Arizona, OSU drew a momentum killer of a penalty against ASU, on fourth-and-goal at the 1 while trailing 38-24. The false start penalty moved the ball back to the 6, squeezed the play book options, and Arizona State was able to turn back the Beavers’ last chance at making a game of it.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Matt York

Don't Edit

11. If one thing has been established this season, it’s that you’re safe to grab snacks and hit the restroom during kickoffs. Of the 67 kickoffs during Oregon State’s five games this season, only 18 have resulted in a return. Arizona State and Oregon State combined for 14 kickoffs Saturday, and only one was returned, for 16 yards.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

William Mancebo

Don't Edit

12. Next up: Washington State. In short: Uh oh. The Cougars may give OSU’s run defense a break, but it’s not like the Beavers can stop the pass, either. And WSU can throw it, averaging 410 yards a game. Transfer Gardner Minshew might be Mike Leach’s best quarterback at Washington State, and the Cougars have no shortage of capable receivers. To make matters worse, WSU has a good defense, giving up an average of 277 yards per game. In short, it’s going to be a long afternoon unless the Beavers find a way to get off to a fast start and keep the missed tackles to a minimum.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Matt York

Don't Edit

Quotable

Arizona State coach Herm Edwards:

“This is the first time me being a coach in college football and when scores get into the 50s, I don’t even know what that looks like. It’s 50 points and we needed all 50.”

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Matt York

Don't Edit

Quotable II

Edwards, on his senior quarterback Manny Wilkins, who ran nine times for 61 yards:

“He has to get down quicker, he makes me nervous. He thinks he’s a runner for some reason and I tell him you’re not a runner. Just get down, stop all that stuff and he always wants to hurdle. I’m like, why do you hurdle so much?”

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Matt York

Don't Edit

Notables

Oregon State tight ends Teagan Quitoriano and Togiai made their first catches of the season against Arizona State.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Jefferson joins Steven Jackson and Ken Simonton as the only Oregon State running backs to rush for at least 200 yards twice during one season. Jackson ran for at least 200 yards three times in 2002.

Don't Edit

Through five games, Oregon State ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in total offense, third in rushing yardage and sixth in passing yardage. The Beavers have converted 8 of 11 fourth downs, second best in the Pac-12.