2 weeks Ago By LES GEHRETT [email protected]
OSU FOOTBALL Gevani McCoy won the starting quarterback role at Oregon State this summer for several reasons, including the experience he brought to the position after being a starter for the past two years at Idaho. In addition to that experience, it was McCoy's ability as a dual-threat quarterback that made him the right choice for offensive coordinator Ryan Gunderson's spread system. Once the season started, it took a couple of games for McCoy to show his running ability.
He didn't run the ball at all in the opener against Idaho State and then rushed for just 10 yards in the win over San Diego State. But in the last three games McCoy's mobility has been on display. OREGON STATE FOOTBALL NEXT: Oregon State at Nevada, 4:30 p.
m. Saturday RECORDS: Oregon State 4-1; Nevada 2-4 TV: CBS Sports Network RADIO: KEJO (1240 AM) He ran for 52 yards against Oregon, 66 in the win over Purdue and 91 yards — with three touchdowns — in the double-overtime win over Colorado State. McCoy carried the ball 10 times against the Rams, in part because of an injury to starting running back Jam Griffin.
Coach Trent Bray did not have any information on Griffin's availability during his Monday press conference and assistant coaches do not provide injury updates, so Griffin's status for Saturday's game at Nevada will remain uncertain until closer to game time. Based on the general tenor of the team's approach to the situation, it seems that Griffin's return this week is unlikely. The possibility of injury also plays a role in deciding how many carries is too many for McCoy.
Bray acknowledged that is part of the discussion in setting up the game plan. "We gotta make sure we don't overuse him (McCoy), but, definitely wanna use it to create some explosives and keep the defense off balance. So there's a fine line there that me and coach Gunderson continue to have (a) conversation about," Bray said.
McCoy has been especially successful running the speed option. The play takes advantage not only of his mobility, but also his decision-making. The Beavers ran the option effectively against Purdue and it played a big role in the win over Colorado State.
Offensive line coach Kyle DeVan said it is a play he has coached in the past and it takes practice as a unit to get it right. "It's not something you kind of dabble in," DeVan said. The key to blocking the play effectively is for each lineman to get outside leverage and seal the defenders inside.
If the defenders align to the inside, especially on the side where the play is going, that is relatively easy. But it doesn't always work out that way. When the Beavers called the option in the first overtime period against Colorado State, the defenders were aligned outside and center Van Wells and right guard Flavio Gonzalez had to shift quickly to get proper position.
"Nobody had leverage on their guy. We had to run and go create leverage," DeVan said. Right tackle Grant Starck pulled on the play and helped tight end Bryce Caufield seal Colorado State defensive end Gabe Kirschke.
That was the key block and with Kirshcke sealed, Rams safety Jack Howell was in an impossible situation. He could either defend the possible pitch to running back Anthony Hankerson or stay with McCoy. Howell went with Hankerson, leaving McCoy an open path to the end zone.
Wells said executing that play at that time was "a great feeling." "It's like everything that you worked throughout the week, everything that you drew throughout the week, it came together in a moment where we all needed to be at our best. (There's) just not a .
.. better feeling in the world, for real," Wells said.
Building this level of cohesion on the offensive line hasn't been easy. DeVan is in his first year with the program and Joshua Gray is the only returning fulltime starter. Wells has missed some time at center and Tyler Voltin, who won the starting job at right guard in training camp, was lost to a season-ending injury in the win over San Diego State.
Gonzalez has stepped into that spot and DeVan said the redshirt senior has taken advantage of an opportunity that was a long time coming. "You're excited for somebody that, you know, didn't get ..
. the playing time he wanted a year ago and was rotating early and him and Voltin were sharing reps and he was just kinda keep charging on and getting better every day. And then he's kinda earned himself, you know, more playing time, and I'm really proud of him," DeVan said.
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