Top 15 Metal Albums of 2010

There are a lot of different ways people go about ranking albums in a given year. Some people go strictly on musical ability, others list only their favorite bands, and some go just on how much they played that album. I like to do a little bit of all three, but mainly this is more of a "favorite" albums list than a "best" albums list. My musical knowledge is somewhat limited compared to others, but I know deliciousness when I hear it and I also know crap when I hear it. Some albums are less "metal" than others on here, but if it resonated enough with me I put it on here.

Tasty EP's to give a spin:

Beneath The Massacre - Maree Noire 
This EP is absolutely crushing. Canadian tech-death outfit BTM keep it interesting without just trying to cram as many notes into each song as possible. Very fluid and a fun listen throughout.

TesseracT - Concealing Fate EP

Part of the "Djent" movement, TesseracT bring a nice blend of clean vocals with a chug-chug sound. Think a more mellow Periphery. Should be interesting to see where this band is headed.

Structures - All of the Above

Awesome debut by another Canadian band, Structures' EP has an interesting blend of time changes and natural breakdowns to go with some sweet riffs. Have listened to them way too much since I got this.

The Devil Wears Prada - Zombie EP 

Very aggressive and humorous release by TDWP. The ridiculous movie quotes and sound effects were a nice touch to a sound that I hope these guys explore more seriously. Too chorusy still, however.

Torche - Songs For Singles

Some people were disappointed by the new Torche songs, but I was impressed. They maintain that uncanny catchiness while keeping their stoner sludge sound alive, without making it sound exactly like Meanderthal.

Top 15 of 2010

15. We Butter The Bread With Butter - Der Tag an dem die Welt unterging 

Very hard to classify this German metalcore band other than "awesome". Their mix of electro sound with heavy metal and ridiculous pig squeals in their native tongue are quite catchy. Nothing out of the ordinary instrumentally, but the way the album is executed makes it enjoyable to listen to more than once, with a unique blend of generally opposite genres.

Song to check out: Der Tag an dem die Welt unterging

14. After The Burial - In Dreams

It was hard deciding to put this in the Top 15 or to throw it on the most disappointing list. Having listened to it multiple times, it has gotten better with each listen. However, it certainly doesn't come close to competing with Rareform and left me wanting more. There are still catchy riffs and creative breakdowns, and they still maintain that same bounce to them, but the songs just aren't as memorable. It still is a good album, and I am still glad I purchased it, but I just want more.

Song to check out: My Frailty

13. Through The Eyes of the Dead - Skepsis

After deciding to self produce this album, TTEOTD made great strides on this album. "Deathcore" is becoming a very muddled genre but here is a standout album in that genre. Great riffs combined with some brutal and not forced breakdowns make for a nice release. Some songs are more memorable than others, but overall the energy and depth to Skepis is far ahead a lot of their contemporaries. Also, the vocals carry more weight than one would expect for a non-singing band because this guy just sounds so pissed the whole album, very awesome.

Song to check out: The Manifest

12. I The Breather - These Are My Sins

While this album hasn't been out long, I have had a difficult time taking it out of my cd player since I bought it. Again, nothing really out of the ordinary from these guys, but man is their stuff catchy. A generous mix of August Burns Red-type song structures with a little poor-man's Born of Osiris sporadicness, this album has a lot of aggressiveness to it while staying fairly accessible. I can imagine I The Breather will become quite popular. A little too much fluff on the album to make it great, but still a fun listen.

Song to check out: Forgiven

11. This Or The Apocalypse - Haunt What's Left

Another band that doesn't really reinvent the wheel, but executes very well. After working with Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler in production, their overall sound really became refined on this album. Each of their songs display solid guitar work, while no two songs sound alike, doing a nice job of mixing up their structures and doing a better job of creating their own unique blend of metalcore. No longer are these guys one of the ABR "little brothers". They will be holding their own in the metal community for quite some time

Song to check out: Hellish

10. The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza - Danza III: The Series of Unfortunate Events

If for some reason you think you know the boundaries of the guitar, please think again. Or at least get back to me after you listen to this album. Just watching the production videos for this album were incredible, let alone listening to the whole deal. Very chaotic, very heavy and very very good, Danza III picks up where their last album left off, only improving their overall sound. My only beef is that the first half of the album is more interesting than the second half, or this would be the clear cut album of the year.

Song to check out: Yippie-Kay-Yay Motherfucker

9. Periphery - Periphery

The long awaited self-titled debut from Periphery generally left fans either completely stoked or utterly abandoned. With a new vocalist (Spencer Sotello) to complete these instrumental wizards, this album is extremely well crafted from start to finish. Misha "Bulb" Mansoor is one of the better guitarists in metal right now, and the groove and aggression this band brings is very refreshing in a muddled genre. Awesome all around.

Song to check out: Light

8. Chiodos - Illuminaudio

Much was made about the departure of vocalist Craig Owens from the band before the recording of this album, but man did they get better or what! Chiodos was kind of hit and miss with me, but their new album delivers in a way I didn't think they could. A strong mesh of catchiness (Brandon Bolmer's clean and screaming vocals are much better than Owens') and heaviness, Illuminaudio sounds like a mix between Coheed & Cambria and blessthefall. Strong beginning and a good flow throughout the whole album. Definitely a surprise and not a disappointment.

Song to check out: Modern Wolf Hair

7. Haste The Day - Attack of the Wolf King

With this being the final release from Haste The Day, there isn't a better way these guys could have gone out. Wolf King is more or less a culmination of their previous works, with added talent on the drums and at guitar to put the band to new heights. While only one original band member remained for their final days, this album has a great blend of melody and raw power while keeping that noticeable Haste The Day sound. Hats off to one of the torch bearers in Christian metal for sticking through multiple lineup changes and putting together a great album in their final go-around.

Song to check out: Travesty

6. The Acacia Strain - Wormwood

So many bands out there try to be heavy, for being heavy's sake. Not only do 99% of them suck, but most of them are actually popular. But there stands The Acacia Strain, taking their heavy brand of metal and hardcore to a different level. The doom and roughness of this album trumps everything they've done to date, and while it took a little while for me to warm up to this album, the songs are there to make this album awesome. I can't wait to see some of their new material live.

Song to check out: The Hills Have Eyes

5. As I Lay Dying - The Powerless Rise

Unlike metalcore contemporaries Killswitch Engage, AILD took their sound and made it less accessible and took pride in their work rather than going for a radio audience and watering down their music. This album showcases their guitar work brilliantly. A lot heavier than their previous material, The Powerless Rise strays from the chorus/solo/breakdown formula and brings a lot more of a thrash element to the table, which is quite pleasant. Good to see these guys keeping it raw amidst their popularity, maybe opening some eyes to "true" metalheads.

Song to check out: Beyond Our Suffering

4. The Chariot - Long Live

This is another one of those albums where a group's career has led to this kind of release. The Chariot took their chaotic blend of punk and hardcore, mixed it with a little Georgia soul and took it to the next level. Awesome energy, awesome riffs, extremely catchy while still remaining out of control, Let Live's only real issue is that it is too short! Check this album out regardless of what type of music you like, it breaks so many boundaries that it's not even funny. Perfectly encompasses their live energy into album form.

Song to check out: David De La Hoz

3. Norma Jean - Meridional

I was starting to doubt the craziness that fueled Norma Jean through their first two albums when The Anti-Mother came out. Good album, but nothing like the scariness that resonated in the early years. Meridional took a giant leap back to the brutality they used to stand for, and refined it a bit and made a great album. Extraordinarily memorable from front to back, lyrically and musically this album is amazing. A record label switch was much needed (as was the case with The Chariot) and with it grew the creative licensing of Norma Jean and a bold future for this group.

Song to check out: The Anthem of the Angry Brides

2. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis

I saw these guys at Warped Tour on the main stage and almost NO ONE was watching because everyone went to go check out Whitechapel and Of Mice and Men or some crap like that...so sad. Dillinger is on top of their game right now, and this album is just about flawless. Mike's vocals are to notch as usual, and the band took a step back towards not being able to comprehend what they're playing while still keeping the songs memorable and catchy. Hard to do with their style of metal. Hats of to DEP, one of the real hard workers in the industry.

Song to check out: Farewell Mona Lisa (but seriously check out all of them)

1. Veil of Maya - [id]

Now that's what I'm talking about. This is exactly what I want to hear when I wake up in the morning, when I take a shower, when I am at work, when I drive, when I eat, and when I sleep. This is the best 29 minutes in audio form I have had all year. So so good from front to back. Lots of complexities while being fairly accessible, especially for only having one guitarist (one of the best around might I add). Seeing them live confirmed their credibility as being amazing, and this album pushed their "Sumeriancore" sound to the limit. The replay-ability of [id] is unlimited as well. Go out there and get this album if you haven't gotten to listen to it before. Brutal, melodic, chaotic and as memorable as they come.

Song to check out: Unbreakable

Honorable Mention: Other albums worth giving a listen

Ion Dissonance - Cursed
Very aggressive and very heavy, good technical metal from our Canadian brethren.

Coheed & Cambria - Year of the Black Rainbow

Better use of ex-Dillinger drummer Chris Pennie; awesome prog rock and solid all the way through.

A Plea For Purging - The Marriage of Heaven and Hell

A slight change in sound, but still pretty decent all around. Good metalcore with brutal honesty and aggression.

Whitechapel - A New Era of Corruption

Not a fan of these guys before this album, but it really is a good piece of work throughout.

The Contortionist - Exoplanet

Unique sound with depth and melody that is often mixed together poorly. Rings of Meshuggah and BTBAM.

Demon Hunter - The World Is A Thorn

Nothing too out of the ordinary, but member changes alowed for a little more aggressiveness it seemed.

The Sword - Warp Riders
Spacy album, very creative story telling throughout. A little more rock than previous releases, but still sweet.

Mnemic - Sons of the System
Never heard of them until this album, good bounce and flow to it. Nice mix of harsh and clean vocals.

Powerglove - Saturday Morning Apocalypse

Hilarious. Metal covers of cartoon songs, surprised this hasn't happened earlier. Well executed.

Stick To Your Guns - The Hope Division
Awesome hardcore band, good album. A little more depth than their previous work. Great energy.

The Great American Beast - Domestic Blood
Southern fried metal going to work, very catchy and very raw. A little more wild than, say, MATSOD.

Kvelertak - Kvelertak
Just got this album recently after reading good reviews, very catchy Norwegian metal. Solid album.




Favorite Non-Metal Album:


Foxy Shazam - Foxy Shazam

This guy's voice is outstanding, like a modern day Freddy Mercury. Very fun album, lots of good guitar work as well.



Disappointments: Albums that left me wanting a lot more

Within The Ruins - Invade
No memorable songs whatsoever. Good guitar work but that's about it.

Parkway Drive - Deep Blue
Not a terrible album by any means, but I have high expectations with these guys and they just didn't deliver on this one.

MyChildren MyBride - Lost Boy
Bad album, definitely took many steps back from their debut; showed they have a musical ceiling and they hit it.

Underoath - Disambiguation
Again, not a bad album but nothing memorable enough to make me want to listen to it again.

Bleeding Through - Bleeding Through
Common theme here is lack of memorability, and this qualifies as well. Good guitar work but no good songs.

All That Remains - For We Are Many
Another step in the radio direction for ATR and it is hurting their sound that was so captivating in their first two albums.

Bullet For My Valentine - Fever
Another step off my radar for these guys. It hurt to listen to this all the way through.

Yes I know Bring Me The Horizon and A Day To Remember, who are touring together early next year, both came out with new albums this year. And they both blow so hard.

It's About That Time of Year

Time to get retrospective and look back at the top metal/rock/heavy/deathy/techy/br00tal/'core albums from 2010. 

I tried to go out of my box as much as possible this year to try and check out material I wouldn't normally listen to or am not familiar with.

That being said, there were a lot of good albums that came out this year, some of which I didn't get to listen to, some of which I really didn't like, and some of which I listened to more than I probably should.

Before I get my list out, feel free to comment on what your favorite album or albums were from 2010, regardless of genre. I love checking out lots of stuff, so long as it isn't country or the auto-tuned malarkey you hear on the radio. It was a fairly decent year for music, so check back soon for my little old list.

Thanks and have a good New Year and Holiday season.

Oregon State vs. Oregon: Notes and Thoughts

With a bowl birth on the line and a chance to knock rival Oregon Ducks out of the National Championship game, the Beavers couldn't hang with the top ranked Ducks, falling 37-20 in front of a record crowd. The Beavers got on the board first with a Jacquizz Rodgers touchdown reception, but couldn't take advantage of a couple crucial Oregon turnovers. After getting within ten points late in the third quarter, 23-13, the Ducks put up two more scoring drives to seal the Beaver's fate.

- This year's Civil War was a microcosm of both teams' seasons. All year long, the Ducks kept their opponents within in reach for half of the game before squashing any hopes of a comeback late in the game. The Beavers played well for the most part, but missed some crucial third down conversions and failed to stop Oregon when they needed to. Coupled with batted balls at the line of scrimmage and giving up too many yards on the ground, it was an uphill battle all game long for the Beavers, much like most of the season.

- The Beavers needed to go for it on fourth down each time they were in the red zone. Down 20-7, and after a nice march down the field, OSU settled for three. Again, down 23-10, the Beavs went for the easy points to try to cut it within ten. I understand the philosophy of getting points when you can, but not against a team that gets a good chunk of their scores in the fourth quarter. Not converting on fourth would not have made much of a difference, but if they were able to get in the end zone at least once, they would have had less of a sense of urgency after the Ducks got back on the board.

- Defensively, OSU was in good position most of the game. However, having two running backs go over 100 yards on the day is nothing to ignore. Too many times the defense crashed in on quarterback Darron Thomas, who barely carried the ball that day. With the inability to contain outside running all year long, the defense needed to dare Thomas to carry the load and take some hits. Instead, LaMichael James and Kenjon Barner were able to convert key third downs as well as break off enough long runs to keep the Ducks ahead.

- A good sign for the Beavers on Senior Day was that James Rodgers was not among any of the seniors honored that afternoon, further solidifying his likely return for 2011. In his absence, Markus Wheaton kept progressing as the season went along, capped off with a tremendous Civil War performance, gaining nearly 150 yards in the air. Not to mention the stellar grabs by Jordan Bishop and the excellent efforts by Joe Halahuni. The Beavers will definitely have their share of weapons next season, it's just a matter of getting the ball in their hands...

- ...Which means Ryan Katz needs to shake off his woes from the season and focus on the positives and learn from his mistakes. After his multi-interception performance in the Husky game earlier in the season, Katz never seemed to regain the swagger he had. Often times he held on to the ball too long looking for an open receiver, leading to unnecessary sacks and hurting overall field position. His protection by the offensive line was good for the most part, it's just a matter of knowing where everyone is on the field, something most young quarterbacks tend to struggle with. Especially in Mike Riley's system. Still, he had one of the better seasons for an OSU quarterback and easily the best debut season of any of Riley's qb's over the past few years.

- Looking ahead to next season, it hurts that the Beavers won't get the extra practice time that a bowl game allows. Although there will not be any post season play, one can imagine the bitter taste left in the underclassmen's mouths. Apart from the freshmen of the 2007 class that red-shirted that season (and James Rodgers), none of the Beavers have beaten the Ducks. You can bet that will be a motivating factor during the off-season to improve and continue to fight to get back into conference title contention. Next year marks the first season of the Pac-12, and with the way the divisions are split up, the North division runs through Eugene. Expect a much improved Beaver squad in 2011. After OSU's last losing season in 2005, the 2006 team went on to win 10 games, with wins over USC and Oregon to mark one of the most successful campaigns in school history (Also, the beginning of that year brought in the infamous "Can Riley" brigade). With the presumed return of the Rodgers brothers, a seasoned quarterback and young play makers emerging on both side of the ball, optimism, motivation and hunger for redemption will be ringing in Corvallis all throughout the off-season.

Civil War Week: Game Prediction

With Saturday's kickoff for the 114th Civil War less than 24 hours away, all the build up and speculation will finally be put to rest and the game will actually be played. With ESPN's College Game Day on campus, the hype and buzz around Corvallis has never been higher. While the last two Civil Wars certainly had high stakes, this one tops both of them. The nation has been intrigued and captivated by the year the Oregon Ducks have had, while the Beavers' routine late-season improvement has evaded this year's squad. With a national audience tuning in to see if the Ducks can set their place in the BCS National Championship Game, the atmosphere will be unmatched.

If you're a Duck fan: Your team is this close to taking the program to a whole new level. A win in the Civil War not only puts the Ducks in the title game, but takes another step toward separating themselves from the in-state rivals. Going into a madhouse that is Reser, the Ducks will need to take the crowd out of the game early, something they haven't done on the road this season. With the Beavers struggles against mobile quarterbacks doubled with their injuries across the front seven, Oregon is foaming at the mouth. There can't be any sign of overconfidence however, because OSU plays at their best when the pressure is off, which it will be on Saturday. The Ducks will need to play relentless on both sides of the ball for the entire game, or their dream season could slip away.

If you're a Beaver fan: This is the perfect opportunity to put the enemy back in their place. With all the pressure on the other side, it's put up or shut up time for the Beavers. Back in the role as the spoiler coming off a thumping at the hands of Stanford, most people outside of Corvallis are overlooking OSU. There is no reason not to, but Beaver fans know that it's not about wins and losses and perception, it's about the game on the field Saturday. Just ask USC. There are few coaching staffs that can put together a game plan like Mike Riley and company, and if (that's a big if) the players can execute and play with the passion they had two Saturdays ago, the Ducks will be in for a surprise.

The bottom line is: There was a blurb in Sports Illustrated about how the Oregon-Oregon State rivalry is less hate oriented and more creative dislike towards each other. I have yet to see anything this week that makes me think that is true. The two schools legitimately don't like each other and the way their football teams play is as stark a contrast as the universities themselves. Oregon knows what's at stake. Their poise throughout the entire season won't evaporate in one game. Oregon State also knows what's at stake. Not only would a loss to the Ducks send them to the national title game, but the Beavers would be stewing over a third straight loss to their bitter rivals while missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 2005. That being said, the Ducks have gotten away with some close calls on the road all year, pulling away late in the game to give an almost deceptive final score. On the road in Corvallis, this will be their toughest road test to date. At 5-6, the Beavers certainly have had a letdown season, but still have the players and play-makers on both sides of the ball to make this more of a contest then the prognosticators are forecasting. The Beavers have the Ducks right where they want them. College football seems to always have a wacky way of ending the season, and this year it will be in Corvallis. The Ducks will let the Beavers hang for too long, and behind a fired up crowd and energized team, OSU will pull off the shocker of the year, taking advantage of the opportunity at hand. Beavers 31, Ducks 29

Civil War Week: Keys To The Game - Beavers

It's been a strange season for Beaver fans during the 2010 season. After hanging with two top five programs in the early going and coming away with a road win over then-No. 9 Arizona, the team has been hard to predict. With impressive wins over USC and Cal on their resume, OSU has also fell to the likes of lowly UCLA and Washington State. At 5-6, the Beavers need a win in the Civil War to become bowl eligible, and to play spoiler to Oregon's perfect season. Here are their keys to victory:

• Sustain long scoring drives. The best defense against Oregon's offense? Keeping Darron Thomas and company off the field. The Beavers will need to open up holes for Jacquizz Rodgers to keep the clock moving and keep the ball moving. OSU has shown the ability to milk the clock when needed, and if Quizz and the running game are productive, this will give quarterback Ryan Katz  manageable third down opportunities and a higher chance to keep the ball out of the Ducks' hands.

• Don't settle for field goals. In last year's match up, the Beaver offense was able to move the ball down the field frequently against the Ducks, but too many drives ended with field goals instead of touchdowns. That ended up being one of, if not the, deciding factor in not being able to come out victorious. With the Ducks constantly being a play away from putting up six on the board, OSU cannot afford to not get in the end zone when the opportunity arises.

• Be proactive on defense. The Beaver defense is at their finest when they are blowing plays up at the line of scrimmage, led by defensive tackle Stephen Paea. Paea has been nearly unstoppable the past two weeks, tossing aside offensive linemen left and right. Oregon has one of the most sound and conditioned offensive line in the country, a major key to their success. If the defense can constantly make Thomas uncomfortable in a hostile environment and keep the crowd involved, there's no reason the Beavers can't stay in the game until the end.

Before the season began, the Beavers were selected to wear Nike Pro Combat uniforms designed in the image of the 1967 "Giant Killers" uniforms. Little did we know that the number one team in the country would be rolling into Corvallis on the date selected to don the jerseys. If the Beavers can keep the crowd involved the entire game and sustain some consistency on offense, there could be another slaying of a giant by the end of the game.

Civil War Week: Keys To The Game - Ducks

Many fans and writers around the country were beginning to write the Oregon Ducks off back in Spring with the series arrests, suspensions and dismissals brought unwanted national attention to Eugene. Now nearing the end of the college football season, the Ducks are one win away from playing for the National Championship. With a point-a-minute offense and an underrated defense, Oregon must win in Corvallis to secure a place in the title game. Here are their keys to success.

• Shake off the slow starts. In their five road games this season, the Ducks have given their opponents glimmers of hope in each game before being able to pull away (or in the case of the Cal game, sneak away) with a victory. Going into their most hostile environment of the year against a Jekyl and Hyde squad like Oregon State, another slow start is the last thing the Ducks want to try to wade through again. As the Beavers showed two weeks ago against USC, when they have any type of momentum they are a formidable team. However, if the Ducks can finally jump on a team away from Autzen, the Beavers could be packing up and thinking about 2011 by halftime.

• Shut down Quizz. The OSU offensive line has had trouble making holes for Jacquizz Rodgers most of the year, and going against a quick and disruptive defensive front like the Ducks will be a tough task. If Oregon can consistently blow up plays in the backfield and force Ryan Katz to beat them through the air, their offense can get back on the field more frequently and wear out a thin Beaver defense.

• Focus on the task at hand. It seems kind of absurd to not take the Civil War seriously, but with the ultimate prize just 60 minutes away and playing against an inferior opponent, human nature could sneak in and have players looking ahead just a little bit. Many fans and writers are writing off the Beavers, and if any of the members of the team do the same they are in for a long game. OSU essentially only has pride to play for, and unlike the last two seasons have no pressure on their side. While the Ducks have shown all year that they can focus and close out games, one miscue or head in the clouds could ruin their dream season.

On paper the game doesn't appear to be too close a match up, but in a rivalry game you can throw the records out. If the offense can get off to a hot start and rattle a fragile quarter back across the field, the Ducks should be in good shape to play in Glendale a week from New Year's.

Civil War 2000-2009 - A Growth In National Interest

Before the turn of the century, the Civil War in football barely ever drew any attention outside of the state of Oregon. Prior to 1999, the Beavers were in the midst of a losing season streak that had started 28 years beforehand. The Ducks were starting to gain some success, going to the Rose Bowl and the Cotton Bowl in the mid 90's, and enjoying winning seasons on a regular basis. 

It wasn't until 2000 when the Civil War gained some headlines around the country. Both Oregon State and Oregon were 9-1 and ranked in the top 10 in the nation. The Ducks were a win away from going to the Rose Bowl, while the Beavers were enjoying arguably their best season in school history, knocking on the doors of a potential BCS at-large bid and a share of the Pac-10 title. With the bouquet of roses on hand and legendary announcer Keith Jackson calling the game, the Ducks faltered behind five Joey Harrington interceptions, sending the Beavers to the Fiesta Bowl and the Ducks to the Holiday Bowl.

The following season brought high expectations for both teams, including a pre-season No. 1 ranking for the Beavers by Sports Illustrated. While it was a disappointing season for OSU, going 5-5 heading into the Civil War, the Ducks were enjoying another successful campaign, again going 9-1 into the Civil War and not only with Pac-10 title aspirations, but on the verge of crashing the BCS National Championship game. The Ducks prevailed in a rainy Autzen Stadium, giving the Beavers a losing season and heading off to the Fiesta Bowl (since the Rose Bowl that season was the host of the National Championship game). Although the Ducks were ranked No. 2 in the media polls, the BCS Rankings held them out of the top two spots, giving Nebraska (a team that did not even win its own conference) a spot in the title game. The Ducks crushed Colorado to end the year ranked No. 2.

In the following four seasons, the home team won each match up in fairly convincing fashion. In 2004 the Ducks were handed a losing season after dropping to the Beavers 50-21. The next season the Beavers were on the end other end of the spectrum, losing 56-14 to fall short of a winning season as well.

The stakes would rise in the coming years in a way which alums from both schools would not have imagined. In 2006, both teams entered the contest with 7 wins. The Beavers were able to get a sizable lead before halftime, but the Ducks would roar back, taking a one point lead late in the fourth quarter. The Beavers marched down the field and kicked a field goal with under two minutes to play to take a two point lead. Oregon got the ball back and was able to get in field goal range before time ran out, but missed a 44-yard field goal to hand OSU the victory.

2007 served to be one of the most riveting Civil Wars in recent memory. With the game tied at 28, Oregon had the ball in field goal range with time running out, but barely missed a field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime. Both teams exchanged field goals in the first overtime, but when OSU got the ball first in the second session, James Rodgers scored on a fly-sweep to put the Beavers up seven. The Ducks got stuffed on three downs and could not get on the board, falling in double overtime 38-31.

History would be made the next two Civil Wars, as both games had Rose Bowl implications. In 2008, Oregon State was one win away from going to its first Rose Bowl since the 60's. However, a rowdy Reser Stadium was quickly silenced, as the Oregon offense put up 65 points and ran the ball at will, knocking the Beavers out of a chance to go to Pasadena. Jeremiah Masoli and Jeremiah Johnson gave the Chip Kelly offense its coming out party and haven't slowed down since.

Last years game, the stakes were raised even higher, with a "War for the Roses" as the winner would be assured a spot in the Rose Bowl. In a tightly contested match up, Oregon State had a 30-21 lead midway through the 3rd quarter, but field goals instead of touchdowns doomed the Beavers as the Ducks put up a couple more scores, helped with the return of beleaguered  LaGarrett Blount. The Beavers had a chance down 37-33 to score, but failed to convert on third and fourth down in Oregon territory. The Ducks then ran off the remaining 5-plus minutes on the clock to book their ticket to Pasadena.

Once a mocked rivalry in the sporting world, including an infamous 0-0 tie dubbed "The Toilet Bowl," the Civil War has come full circle, a tribute to both programs' success and high level of competition. And it doesn't look like either programs are going away any time soon.

Civil War Week

For college football fans around the state of Oregon, Civil War week is one of the most exciting times of the year. Families, friends, and coworkers alike generally share an allegiance with the Ducks or the Beavers, and the rivalry can become anything from fun to pure hatred and anything in between.

This week I'd like to take a look back at Civil Wars from the past decade, look ahead to keys to the game for both teams, and try to size up the outcome of the game (as unbiased as humanly possible).

So wear your school's colors this week and share as many jokes as possible and enjoy one of the better rivalries in college football.

Oregon State vs. Stanford: Notes and Thoughts

Coming off an impressive victory over USC in Corvallis, the Beavers fell flat in Palo Alto, losing 38-0 to Stanford. The offense could not get anything going all game long, while Andrew Luck and the Cardinal offense carved up OSU's defense like a Thanksgiving turkey.

- Not exactly what Beaver fans were looking for heading into the season finale against the Ducks in the Civil War. While a little optimism was instilled after the thrashing of the Trojans, it was back to square one after the visit to Stanford. With little bright spots on either side of the ball, expectations are once again lowered from modest to desperate.

- Individually, Stephen Paea showed why he is a top defensive tackle prospect for the 2011 NFL Draft. He was able to give fits to both of Stanford's guards, although the Cardinal were able to scheme around Paea with running plays designed to put Paea out of position to make a play. His brute strength and quickness will sorely be missed next year.

- The injuries that have plagued the Beavers all season long have more than caught up to them. Especially against a superior team like Stanford, the defensive front and linebackers had trouble getting into position to keep the Cardinal offense under wraps. Stanford's offensive line played like the blue-chip recruits they were touted as, and OSU (apart from Paea) just seemed small and over-matched in comparison. 

- While this has been a relatively uncharacteristic year for Beaver football, it is puzzling to see the offense lay a goose egg in the second to last game of the season. Beaver fans have been accustomed to the team's steady rise as the season has progressed, but the troubles on the offensive line and the lack of consistent play-makers apart from Jacquizz put any progress on hold. The youth on the team has also showed, with a tendency to get down on themselves after slow starts.

- The last two Oregon State losing seasons (in 2001 and 2005), the Beavers were 5-5 heading into the Civil War, needing a win over Oregon to become bowl eligible. The same scenario occurs this year, with OSU needing a victory to get to 6-6 and become bowl eligible. Also, in '01 and '05, the Ducks were riding on highly successful campaigns, entering each of those match-ups at 9-1. In 2001 the Ducks were looking to claim the Pac-10 title, while in 2005 their only loss came to top ranked USC and were vying for a BCS at large birth. Both those Duck wins were in Eugene. This year, of course, the Ducks are the top ranked team in the nation, and with the Pac-10 title already clinched, they are looking to solidify a spot in the National Championship Game with a Civil War victory in Corvallis. 

Oregon State vs. USC: Notes and Thoughts

After dropping three of their last four games, Oregon State came out fired up against Southern Cal, taking down the Trojans 36-7. Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for over 100 yards and got into the end zone once, while the defense slowed down the potent USC offense for the majority of the game. Trojan QB Matt Barkley was knocked out midway through the game and the offense could not regroup after that.

- Give tons of credit to the coaching staff for keeping the players' spirits up after back-to-back disappointing losses to struggling teams. The players easily could have started looking forward to next season, but with their backs against the wall, the Beavers came out with a level of intensity that had not been seen since early in the season.

- The offensive line finally took a stand and paved the way for a fine performance from Jacquizz. When he has a little room to wriggle, his ability to shake defenders is further exemplified. It's one thing to try and escape the grasp of a monstrous defensive tackle, but when he gets into the second line of defense, making defensive backs look silly is a lot easier.

- Apart from the fantastic play of Jacquizz, Markus Wheaton stepped up again and provided a threat through the air and on the ground. While him and Ryan Katz missed a couple times on some deep routes, the threat to stretch the field kept the SC defense honest and opened up the the fly sweep and bubble screens.

- The defense shook off their tentative ways and came out with a sense of urgency, sniffing out the Trojan running game and keeping fairly consistent pressure on their quarterbacks. After the ankle injury of Barkley, backup Mitch Mustain was never able to settle in. 

- Jordan Poyer showed off his potential to be a big time playmaker. He had been showing glimpses of his potential in the return game, and after his interception returned for a touchdown, gave himself a little notoriety on defense as well.

- A couple new sights that should occur more also happened Saturday night. First off, Mike Riley's unsportsman like conduct for getting a little riled up after a missed call was a sight to see. It's one thing to see Mike Stoops, Lane Kiffin or Jim Harbaugh whine at the officials, but mild mannered Riley throwing his head set down probably struck a chord with his players and showed them a little passion that he normally reserves. Also, between the third and fourth quarters, the team started dancing and jumping up and down together to AC/DC's "TNT", which not only fired the team up but got the fans back into the game as well, even with the lead comfortably in hand.

The Beavers take on Stanford next week in Palo Alto. The Cardinal are coming off a thrashing of their rival Cal, and their only loss of the season was at Oregon where they fell apart at the end of the game. The Beavers need to win one of their final two games against the Cardinal and Oregon to become bowl eligible.

Bears, Bruins & Cougars: Beavers Lose Focus

After a strong game against Cal following their bye week, the Oregon State football team struggled against UCLA in Los Angeles the following week. The offense failed to put together any consistency, while the defense was gashed up the middle all day long by the Bruin running game. With their backs against the wall, the Beavers headed home to face Pac-10 cellar dweller Washington State, only to come out flat and drop a disappointing 31-14 contest. At 4-5, OSU needs to win two of their last three contests against USC, Stanford in Palo Alto, and Oregon.

- Offensively, every inch of progress that was made in the Cal game was laid to rest the past two weekends. Defenses have been able to load up the box to try and shut down Quizz, and while his efforts have been excellent, turning one yard losses in to three to four yard gains, the offensive line has not made any room to run.

- With the ability to consistently run the ball out the window, the passing game has suffered immensely. The poise and confidence that Ryan Katz had shown earlier in the season is slowly fading, having trouble finding open receivers and often times holding on to the ball too long trying to make a play. Even with his recent struggles, he is still having a solid year for a first year starter.

- On defense, the mantra has been to bend but not break. The ability to stop opposing offenses on third down has haunted the team all year long, and when the Beavers have faced a mobile quarterback, forget about it. The ability for other teams to control time of possession has tired out an already thin defensive front plagued by injuries. The effort has been there, but it appears the D is just one step behind more often than not.

- The youth across the board has started to show more and more. The inconsistencies haunting this year's team can be pointed to that. Combine that with the season-ending injury of their emotional and physical leader James Rodgers, the lack of fire could be narrowed down to these two factors.

- Here is a good opportunity for the coaches to really see what this team is made of. The season is not completely lost. While it looks bleak facing the top three teams in the Pac-10, crazier things have happened. USC did lose at home to Washington and has trouble beating teams in the state of Oregon. Stanford has been a force this season, but have struggled with the Beavs this past decade. The Ducks will have all the pressure come Civil War if they can knock off Arizona in two weeks, and you can almost always throw out the records come rivalry games. If (and it's a big if) the team does not completely throw in the towel, there are three exciting games left on the docket and a good chance to take the season deep into December.

Poll Position: This Could Get Messy

The college football season is crossing its halfway point, heading into the end of October and starting to sift out the contenders from the pretenders in conference championship and National Championship races....

Or so we think.

The illogical madness that is the BCS Standings released their first rankings this past weekend, causing a mini uproar among teams not named Oklahoma. This is understandable, but completely irrational.

If college football fans have learned anything over the past...century, it's that the post-season and final polls are not even close to being settled until the first weekend in December. Not too long ago, in 2007, we had numerous number 1's and 2's knocked off throughout the season, squeezing a 2 LOSS team into the National Championship Game. 

As of now, we have 10 unbeatens in the college football world, a fairly high number for this time of year. Of those 10 unbeatens, six of them could legitimately run the table by season's end. How can we trust the BCS to possibly sort out who the top two teams are? The human poll that is taken into consideration, the Coaches Poll, is ran by people who are a little preoccupied with their jobs as coaches rather than trying to sort out who is actually playing the best football. They may have slight insight to those in their conference, but I would imagine the majority of them look at final scores at the end of the night (or the next morning) rather than analyzing the teams in detail.

Then, the computer rankings. I forgot how big of fans computers were...

I get why there is such a formula, to try and weed out bias from the human polls and use a more "scientific" approach, such as strength of schedule and quality wins. But do we really need a computer to calculate all that? Shouldn't we trust humans to take all that into consideration? As the past has shown, we definitely cannot.

A solution to this mess is needed, and better sooner than later. With ESPN taking a hold of the reigns of the BCS, they have the power to influence the major brains behind college football into changing the way the post-season is done.

First off, let's abolish the coaches poll. It's a joke; and while no one knows the game better than the coaches, they are not well equipped to help pick out our national champion.

Instead, there needs to be a committee of sorts, made up of "experts" around the country. Make sure there are equal members from the various regions in the country (West Coast, Midwest, Southeast, East Coast, etc.) and have them study the games religiously each Saturday. Then, on Sunday, have them meet in a room and discuss the previous days events and rank the teams accordingly. Sort of like the RPI in college basketball.

There can still be formulas to help determine strength of schedules and quality wins and what not, but that should be used as more of a guideline than a set in stone portion of the equation.

As for determining the actual National Champion, I am going to Mark Zuckerberg an idea I saw on CollegeFootballNews.com a few years back.

At the end of the season, conference title games and all, use the rankings compiled by the college football gurus to create the top eight teams, and have an 8 team play-off. This would not only be the most fair way to find out who the cream of the crop is across America, but it would be the most exciting post season in all of sports (sorry college basketball).

The top seed would play the number eight seed, number two versus number seven, etc. 

Originally I would have made it so the six automatic qualifying conference champions were guaranteed a spot in the post season, but honestly who wants to see the 8-4 winner of the ACC get blown up in the first round. Let's get the best of the bunch involved.

Last year, the first round of the College Football Playoffs would have looked like this

1. Alabama vs. 8. Ohio State (@ New Orleans)

4. TCU vs. 5. Florida (@ Miami)

3. Cincinnati vs. 6. Boise State (@ Phoenix)

2. Texas vs. 7. Oregon (@ Pasadena)

How sweet would that have been?!

The playoffs would go on as such, being played on neutral sites at current BCS game stadiums. The regular bowls would continue as well, meaning your ever-so-popular New Orleans bowl would keep its sanctity.

This season, assuming everything goes as planned the rest of the way (which it obviously will not), an end of the year play-off could look something like this:

1. Oklahoma vs. 8. Ohio State (@ Phoenix)

4. Auburn vs. 5. TCU (@ Miami)

3. Boise State vs. 6. Michigan State (@ New Orleans)

2. Oregon vs. 7. Alabama (@ Pasadena)

Fans around the country would love to see that high powered Oregon offense go against an SEC defense. Boise State fans would love to see their team go against some big boys and try to silence their critics. So much more good than bad would be done if a play-off were implemented.

I really hope the college football world will open its eyes (and its wallets) and realize that some form of a play-off would not only be beneficial to finding a real National Champion, but it would generate even more buzz in an already popular season finale.

Oregon State vs. Washington: Notes and Thoughts

In an emotional game in Seattle, the Oregon State Beavers fell short of a great comeback against the Washington Huskies, losing 35-34 in double overtime. After surrendering the first three touchdowns, the Beavers put 21 points on the board as the end of regulation ended in a tie. Husky wide receiver Jermaine Kearse caught two touchdowns in extra play, and at the end of the second over time, Oregon State gambled to go for two instead of sending the game into a third over time.

- This game was one of the more gut wrenching losses in recent memory. The "what-ifs" certainly will pester Beaver fans throughout the next couple weeks until the next game. From showing resiliency after falling down by 21 points early in the game, to nearly ending the game in double overtime, the hurt will linger for a while. 3-3 is not as attractive as 4-2, but a Pac-10 loss on the road is not the end of the world.

- Offensively, the Beavers were pretty sporadic without James Rodgers in the lineup. After a couple missed opportunities down field, as well as some dropped passes early on, the lack of James was obviously hurting. Where Markus Wheaton and Joe Halahuni were making plays the prior week, there just wasn't the same edge or execution this time around.

- Ryan Katz finally had his "gravity" game, coming back to earth after an outstanding performance against Arizona. His three interceptions were all costly in their own regard, one of which was in the red zone, another thrown into double coverage. It would be insane to think he could've kept his mistake-free football going all season, and it seemed once the play book opened a little bit with receivers running more routes designed to catch and go, the timing was off a bit.

- Jacquizz relished in the opportunity to carry the team, and he got his fair share of carries, going for over 140 yards. Time and time again, he was hit near the line of scrimmage yet was able to scrape together extra yardage. His ability to read blocks and change direction on a dime are still baffling defenders in his third season, a testament to his hard work.

- The defense was atrocious early, but after spotting the Huskies three touchdowns, the group buckled down. Washington didn't see the end zone again until overtime, and was horrible at converting on 3rd down. A lot of their failures were due to poor execution, but the OSU defense kept the pressure on Jake Locker for the most part, forcing some errant throws.

- While Beaver fans feel the team probably should have won the game, starting out 2-1 in conference play shouldn't bother anyone. This is a very strong Pac-10 from top to bottom, and every game will be a battle from here on out, especially away from home.  

OSU has a bye next week to heal up and get ready for a visit from Cal, who is reeling after getting the doors blown off by USC on Saturday.

Pac-12 Alignment: Pro's, Con's, Possibilities

With the Pac-10/Pac-12 getting closer and closer to reaching an agreement with alignment and revenue, an abundance of speculation is seeping its way to the inter-webs. It sounds like the conference is going to go into a North/South split as opposed to a "Zipper" model that would divide the six natural rivalries in separate divisions. The only question remains is where Stanford and California will end up: in the North with the Northwest schools, or in the South with the L.A. and Arizona schools.

Here is what the divisions would look like with all the California schools together, we'll call this Plan A:

North

Colorado

Oregon

Oregon State

Utah

Washington

Washington State

South

Arizona

Arizona State

California

Stanford

UCLA

USC

Geographically, this makes slightly more sense. The Bay Area is further south than Utah/Colorado by a slight margin, and this is what the California schools are pushing for. However, the Oregon and Washington schools would like to have the California schools in their division, ensuring trips to the state on a yearly basis.

From a competition standpoint, having Utah and Colorado in the North division is pretty appealing. Utah has enjoyed plenty of success over the past decade, going to two BCS games as an at large team in the last six seasons. Colorado has struggled as of late, but they are not too far removed from being kings of the Big 12's North division, where they made frequent appearances in the title game earlier in the decade.

Having Stanford and California in the North would give the conference this look, Plan B:

North

California

Oregon

Oregon State

Stanford

Washington

Washington State

South

Arizona

Arizona State

Colorado

UCLA

USC

Utah

At first glance, this seems like the more attractive option to the North, especially with the resurgence of Stanford under coach Harbaugh. But the program hasn't necessarily proved it has staying power over the years, and California seems to put together poor seasons when the expectations are high, and have surprising ones when people jump back off the bandwagon.

Being a fan from the Northwest, I would personally prefer to see the North snag Utah and Colorado. Let the California schools stay together, where they can beat up on each other year in and year out. I also don't think it's fair to put the two newcomers together with the L.A. schools, which would help their recruiting causes with frequent exposure in the Los Angeles market. I also like the potential of Utah as a real threat to the Oregon schools for "North supremacy" and Colorado to find a decent coach to get that program back on the upswing. Not to mention, the idea of traveling to Salt Lake and Denver, which have a fair amount of high school football talent as well, is very enticing.

Whatever decision is made, the competition in each division will be stiff to say the least. I don't foresee a South dominance like what has happened in the Big 12 over time, and I also don't see an unbeatable monster in each division as well. The Pac-12 will only enhance an already fun and competitive conference, and next school year cannot come fast enough.

Oregon State vs. Arizona: Notes and Thoughts

Oregon State squeaked out another close one against an Arizona school, this time in Tuscon knocking off the 9th ranked Wildcats, 29-27. Ryan Katz threw for nearly 400 yards, resulting in 100-yard receiving efforts by Markus Wheaton and James Rodgers. This is the Beavers first 2-0 start in conference play since 2003.

- The loss of James Rodgers late in the 2nd quarter was extremely unfortunate, but very unfair as well. Injuries are a part of the game, but it's sad when the play should have never happened, as Rodgers was tackled in the back of the end zone after his apparent touchdown had already happened. After his MRI, the news was that he is lost for the rest of the season. Hopefully a smooth recovery is in order.

- Again, without a healthy James, the other play makers on offense stepped up in his absence. Wheaton was effective as a deep threat, and TE Joe Halahuni got more involved, as well as steady handed Aaron Nichols and Jordan Bishop. This will be crucial throughout the year, with all the potent offenses in the conference.

- With Katz's big game, this will make defenses think twice about loading up the box to stop Jacquizz. His ability to bomb away on opposing secondaries and stretch the field with Wheaton will really benefit the running game. Looks like the Beavers are not the only team in the state of Oregon with a high powered offense.

- The struggles at linebacker and inconsistency in the secondary on defense continue to haunt the Beavers, and could be the difference between a good season and a great season. Arizona QB Nick Foles put up nearly identical numbers to Katz, and scoring runs by Keola Antolin and Nic Grigsby were a result of poor tackling rather than great runs. Stephen Paea needs to make more of a difference up front as well to help out the ailing back seven.

- With James's injury resulting in the end of his season, there is a possibility that OSU will apply for a medical redshirt, giving him eligibility in the 2011 season. How cool would that be to see James and Jacquizz together for one last season? Almost seems scripted considering how they have helped changed the dynamic and mentality of the Oregon State football program over the last four years.

Next up for the Beavers are the Washington Huskies, a 7 p.m. game in Seattle on ESPN. The Beavers have won their last six against the Huskies, and have not lost in Husky Stadium since 2002. The Huskies upset the USC Trojans two weeks ago in Los Angeles, but fell victim to Arizona State this past Saturday at home.

Can The Heisman Talk Rest Until November?

There are plenty of Alabama, Oregon, Michigan, Ohio State and Boise State fans out there that are asking for some respect for their alleged "Heisman candidtates". No offense to their respective all-stars, but let's get something straight: it's barely October. Let the Heisman talk die down already. Most teams have yet to play half of their games yet. Like the national rankings, the Heisman Trophy is being watered down by pre-season rankings and expectations, and bandwagon jumpers across the country are overflowing college football fans' brains with unnecessary hype.

Oregon's LaMichael James is a hot topic after his performance against Stanford this past Saturday, churning out 257 yards and three touchdowns against an overachieving Stanford defense. However, a good chunk of those yards came on a relatively meaningless 74 yard dash after the game was already out of reach for the Cardinal. He was held to under 100 yards against a sturdy Arizona State defense, and his other big day came against FCS Portland State. If his knack for the big run continues though (at least a 40-yard gain each game), his name will stay afloat the Heisman talk.

Michigan's Denard Robinson also made a name for himself in the opening two games of the season, thrashing Connecticut and Notre Dame for 197 and 258 yards on the ground, respectively. His effectiveness through the air has been impressive as well, completing nearly 70% of his passes and only throwing one interception. Again the problem remains the competition his big performances have come against. UConn, Notre Dame, UMass, Bowling Green and Indiana are ranked no higher than 68th in run defense nationally. Not exactly an imposing schedule.

Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State's big name quarter back, is getting by on name recognition. Anyone who saw his performance last week against Illinois would think the QB in blue and orange were the better of the two.

Kellen Moore, Mark Ingram, or any other great player on a great team will get a chance to play into a trip to New York. Just not now.

Last year at this time, was Mark Ingram on anyone's radar? Was Ndamokong Suh more than just an All-Big XII defender? Toby Gerhart was barely even a Pac-10 commodity. 2009 was supposed to be the ultimate showdown between Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy for college football supremacy, and that just didn't come to fruition. 

Hopefully fans and the all-important voters can keep in mind that there is still two thirds of a season left, and not jump the gun on any of these players. I am all for honoring there early season performances, but not for handing out prestigious awards in October.

Oregon State vs. Arizona State: Notes and Thoughts

The Oregon State Beavers won their first conference opener since 2003 Saturday evening, defeating the Arizona State Sun Devils 31-28. ASU jumped out to a 7-0 lead early on, but could not quite get enough big plays when they needed them. Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns, including a career long 74 yarder. 

- Initially, it looks as if the tough opening slate of games has paid off in the maturation process of Ryan Katz. As well as completing 19 of 29 passes, he found nine different receivers in the absence of play maker James Rodgers. His mobility in the pocket saved some plays, and again he did not throw an interception.

- The coaching staff did a nice job of mixing up the play calling enough in the first half to keep the aggressive ASU defense at bay. There were enough effective short passes, as well as enough deep throws to keep the Sun Devils honest. This helped Jacquizz break free slightly more than the games against Boise State and TCU.

- The defensive line play was fierce. Stephen Paea took out his frustrations from the first three games on the Sun Devil offensive line and quarterback Steven Threet. The supporting cast also did a good job of collapsing the pocket on Threet, forcing him to either make poor decisions down field or hold on to the ball too long and take a sack. Not an easy task to do against a quick paced spread offense.

- While the d-line did a nice job against the pass, it was still suspect against the run. ASU was consistently able to gain 5-6 yards on the ground up the middle, as both of their running backs hit the hole hard and kept their feet moving and pushing the pile forward. 

- Cameron Collins' move to linebacker will prove to be one of the best coaching decisions made during the season. As he gets more comfortable in that role, his ball hawking abilities and knack to fly from sideline to sideline will be the difference maker on defense.

- Vontaze Burfect should not be allowed to play football. It seemed time after time he was throwing small jabs at players and yapping his face off. There were also a few times where he lead with his helmet, using as a weapon, as well as seemingly choking some of the offensive linemen on multiple occasions. His dirty play will catch up to him.

Next up for the Beavers are the No. 9 Arizona Wildcats in Tuscon. Arizona had a bye week this week to rest up for the Beavers. Their previous game was a sloppy affair with the Cal Golden Bears, which they won 10-9 after trailing most of the game. The Wildcats defeated Oregon State last season in Corvallis, but have not beaten the Beavs at home since 1997, Mike Riley's first season as OSU head coach.

Make This Happen Metal Powers-That-Be!

One uneventful Summer evening I decided to put together my ultimate dream festival. I will pull some strings to get this deal put together by next summer...

Ah, if only...

*Note, this obviously wouldn't be Reading Festival (that has much more diverse and popular music), but it was the only template I could find. Plus, I like the look of it.

Oregon State vs. Boise State: Notes and Thoughts

Everything went as expected in Boise Saturday night, as the Broncos of Boise State defeated the Oregon State Beavers 37-24. The Beavers (1-2) begin Pac-10 play next weekend at home against Arizona State.

- The Beavers defense made strides as far as getting to the ball quicker and running down hill, rather than playing on their heels. This will be crucial to maintain throughout conference play, where nearly every team has an explosive running back.

- Tackling is still suspect to say the least. Not a lot of squaring up and wrapping up, mainly with the defensive backs. Too much diving and leading with the shoulder. This won't cut it as the season progresses.

- Offensive line having some trouble creating holes in the middle for Jacquizz to squeeze through. He's a nimble man, he doesn't need much room. But he needs more than he's been getting. (Also, only 18 carries in the game. Not enough touches, and not enough touches in space. Those draw plays up the middle were not there all night, yet the Beavers continued to run it. Puzzling.)

- Katz is a gamer, and is probably ahead of where he should be in his progression, considering he's faced 2 of the top 5 teams in the country in his first three starts. Accuracy is still an issue, as well as the tendency to hold on to the ball too long to try and make a play. However, Katz has yet to throw an interception and his mobility will continue to benefit him as the offensive line continues to gel.

- James Rodgers may be the most valuable player for the Beavers. His absence was terribly missed in the second half. Besides his running and catching ability, his knack to get other players involved and vocal leadership most certainly could have been used.

Looking ahead briefly to the Sun Devils, ASU pushed Oregon to the limit Saturday night, but costly turnovers kept them from producing an upset. Based on the Sun Devils' play the last two weeks, expect them to give plenty of teams fits this season in the Pac-10. The Beavers have lost their last six Pac-10 openers.