Oregon State Beavers College Football Preview 2021: Defense
– The defense returns most of the main parts and should get back seven starters, but there’s a ton of work to do after allowing 442 yards and 33 points per game. The pass defense struggled, the run defense was a disaster, there weren’t enough takeaways, and the pass rush was among the worst in America. Other than that, everything was great.
– The inside linebackers made a ton of tackles, but they need more help. Avery Roberts and Omar Speights are good-sized 235ish pounders who combined for 132 tackles and did what they could to get into the backfield.
There’s size on the outside – 244-pound Andrzej Hughes-Murray only made one sack, but he was second on the team with four tackles for loss – and 6-6, 246-pound Riley Sharp has pass rushing upside.
All the main parts are back up front around 6-0, 274-pound junior Isaac Hodgins at one end. He plays like a smallish tackle with the quickness to do more to get behind the line. The raw bulk, though, is missing from the front three without any 300-pounders.
– No pass rush equals mediocre pass coverage – usually. The secondary will rotate in a slew of parts with junior S Jaydon Grant the best of the bunch – making 29 stops with two picks – and second-year freshman Alex Austin a good-looking corner who’ll hold down one spot. There’s upside with this bunch, but they need help.
– What You Need To Know: Offense
– Top Players | Keys To The Season
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Oregon State Schedule Analysis