Much like I did with the Ducks last week, here is my list of top 3 Beavers at each of the offensive skill positions (my era, from about 1997-present day). These rankings are not based off NFL careers; instead they reflect who I would want on my team if I was constructing it for next season.
Quarterback
- Derek Anderson 2001-2004 – DA put up video game type numbers over the course of his
- Jonathan Smith 1997- 2001 - Smith will be remembered for taking the reins against Washington as a freshman in 1998, passing for over 400 yards that night at Husky Stadium. Smith was small in stature, and lacked the monster arm and the quick feet that so many college quarterbacks have today. However, Smith led the Beavers to their best season ever, going 11-1 in 2000, beating Notre Dame in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl.
- Matt Moore 2005-2006 –
Running Back
- Steven Jackson 2001-2003 – This is a no brainer for me. Aside from Reggie Bush,
- Ken Simonton 1998-2001 – Simonton ran for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, putting him second all time in the Pac-10 rushing record books. Kenny will always be remembered by Beaver fans for his 1998 Civil War touchdown run, which brought fans flooding down onto the field (for the 2nd time that game!). Simonton brought Beaver football back to respectability, and will never have to buy another drink whenever he visits
- Jaquizz Rodgers 2008- present – I badly wanted to put Yve Bernard on this list, but what Quiz did last year was special. Rodgers became the first ever true freshman to claim Pac- 10 player of the year honors, after tearing up USC’s NFL defense on that memorable September night this past fall. This native Texan should break all of Simonton’s records, and go down as one of the Pac-10 greats.
Wide Receiver
- Mike Hass 2001-2005 – It didn’t take long for me to figure out who deserved the #1 spot on this list! Hass owns nearly every Beaver receiving record, and won the Biletnikoff award as a senior, with 1,532 receiving yards that season. Hass was not the fastest or most flashy receiver, but I don’t recall ever seeing a ball he didn’t catch. Three straight 1,000 plus yard seasons is just something you don’t see in college football anymore.
- James Newson 2001-2005 – I thought about putting Sammie at #2, but there was something about Newson’s game that I really enjoyed. Much like Sammie, James was the emotional leader of his teams and was one of the toughest competitors I have ever watched. I still remember him keeping his balance after getting tripped up in the 2004 Insight.com Bowl, and them sprinting to the pay dirt. Newson and Hass formed one of the best one two punches in the conferences history.
- Sammie Stroughter 2004-2008 – If this was an all purpose list Sammie would be right up there with Steven Jackson fighting for the #1 spot. The sight of Sammie brining that punt back in the 2006 USC game will be a fixture at Beaver games for the next 50 years. Had Sammie not gotten inured in 2007, he could very easily be #1 on my list.
While I agree with most of this analysis, I find it hard to leave out Chad Johnson or TJ Houshmandzadeh for the wide receivers. Remember, Chad only played one year for OSU and it took him a while to emerge as the go-to receiver (his first career touchdown was against San Diego State).
ReplyDeleteI like Hass, Newson, and Stroughter all very much but these two receivers were memebers of one of OSU's best teams of all time and they deserve to be recognized. One could argue neither produced a 1,000-yard season however their senior years they both had about 900 yards and were probably the best one-two punch as wide receivers that year and perhaps ever (see their continued successes of playing with one another in the NFL).
Credit Jonathan Smith for being able to spread the ball around, something both Moore and Anderson struggled to do. This is one reason why I'd put Jonathan Smith as number one on the quarterbacks (remember this is for college not pro). He led OSU to the most wins ever and despite Tyler's analysis he had as good of an arm as Derek Anderson (i.e. the 91-yard touchdown pass thrown to Chad Johnson against Stanford in 2000). This record will likely remain in the OSU record books as the longest pass play from the line of scrimmage for a very long time.
Matt, You bring up two huge names, with Chad Ochocinco (not Johnson anymore, haha) and TJ. They are certainly well known NFL names, but Johnson had one mediocre year at OSU... I believe roughly 750 receiving yards, and TJ never put up the numbers of these other players. Do you really think Chad or TJ had a better college careers than Sammie or James? Granted the team they had around them in 2000 was by far the best Beavers team we have ever seen. 2000 was more of a collective effort, opposed to these individual stars putting up monster numbers is poorer seasons.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your QB view, I could have easily put DA 1A and Smith 1B. They both had great careers, and but Smith only had one year that really stands out.. and he posted a losing record as a senior. As far as their arms even being compared...Matt, please DA has one of the best NFL arms around. Thanks for reading I always look forward to your thoughts. It would be great if you could write a Beaver piece for us, as your insight is far greater than mine.
First of all, if we are going soley by numbers then yes hands down those players put up big time numbers. You mentioned however in your blog that if you were building your college team for next season who you'd want. I think we can all agree that in terms of winning Chad would give you the best chance at winning a football game. Also, it should be mentioned in his last season at OSU he had 8 TDs. Hass had 13 career. Oh and by the way, Chad had 13 receptions for 806 yards when taking into consideration the bowl game.
ReplyDeleteHass played for some mediocre football teams and one reason why his numbers were so strong was because there were no other options. You don't think if you replaced Chad and Hass on the 2005 Beaver team Chad couldn't produce those types of numbers? Remember, in 2000 there Chad, Housh, and also Prescott who had a wonderful 2 TD performance in the Civil War.
As for the QB's. Tyler, please. DA does have a good arm, but no one saw Smith play more than I did and let me tell you Smith had a VERY strong arm. No one goes to UW and throws for 469 yards in a half and doesn't have a strong arm. Is it as strong as DA's? Probably not. But when you have several games on your resume with 5 int. or more I get back to the original argument of this blog. Who would you want on your team if you were going to play a college football game tomorrow? There is no 1a or 1b. Hands down, Jonathan Smith. He'll give you the best chance to win a football game because he won't turn the ball over and he's one of the smartest QB's we've ever had.
You also said JS played for some mediocre football teams and had a losing record his senior year...Are you really going to use this as an argument? From 2000 to 2001 look at how much OSU lost. You could put Peyton Manning on that team and it wouldn't have come out differently. Replacing our entire offensive line, wide receivers, and TE. There was a reason Simonton didn't get his fourth straight 1000-yard season.
So who would you want on your side giving you the best chance to win? Jonathan Smith who completely helped change Oregon State football and took them to the best season to this date? Or Derek Anderson who has 57 career interceptions. I will leave you with this. Derek had some phenominal games. He'd have games where he'd throw for 10 touchdowns in a game...the only problem was 5 of them would be to the other team.
Matt I agree with many of your points. Smith had a great career with the Beavers, and yes they did lose alot off that 2001 Fiesta Bowl team. If you recall though, SI had the Beavers ranked #1 heading into the 2001 season. While they did lose key players, you must consider the season a complete bust if you started the season ranked #1 and follow that up with a 5-6 campaign.
ReplyDeleteI will agree, I did overlook TJ, but I still stand by my statement of not putting Chad in the top 3. His one year at OUS was decent, but it surely didn't jump out at anyone. I like you closing DA. He threw for 10 td's a game..the problem was that 5 of them were for the other team. As always I enjoyed your comments!
I somewhat agree with your statement Demers. yes, SI did have the Beavers ranked #1 preseason. Honestly, did you think I'd forget a detail like that? You must also keep in mind...they were the only publication that ranked the Beavers that high. And seriously, you're using preseason publications as a base? From season to season one can see just how inaccurate they are. What about when the Ducks were ranked #3 after beating Michigan at home? Nice finish to that season. Preseason and even mid-season publications shouldn't be used to determine the total and complete strength of a football team. Recall, that same 5-6 year the Beavers knocked off #8 UW at home giving Rick Neuheisal his worst defeat of his career (although that might have been beaten this year at UCLA). Also recall, we should've beaten the Ducks that same year no thanks to a non-called illegal block in the back on Noah Happe, but that's a totally different subject. Everyone knows the Pac10 is home to the worst officiating in the nation.
ReplyDeleteSecondly, I guess it's just a difference of opinion. Chad Johnson's one year at OSU wasn't that big in terms of numbers compared to Sammie, Newson, or Hass. But please, don't say nothing jumped out in his one year. He was a 2nd round draft pick. Hass and Sammie were both late round and Newson went undrafted. I know we're not gauging these players on NFL talent but if we are measuring on giving our team the best chance to win, Chad is the man. His one year at OSU happens to be the best ever at OSU and thats not a coincidence. As always Tyler, I have enjoyed YOUR comments.
QBs-
ReplyDelete1. Smith
2. Anderson
3. Moore
Its a shame because Anderson could have been heads and shoulders above the others if he would been handled better.
RBs-
1. Jackson
2. Simonton
3. Bernard
Quizz cannot make this list, Bernard had 3 very good years where his numbers were comparable to Quizz's one year. In 3 years will Quizz enter the top 3? Avoiding injury, of course, he's on pace to be the best but not right now. Its a shame Jackson didn't have a good line during his years, he might have come back his senior year.
WRs-
1. Hass
2. Stroughter
3. Newson
I agree that putting Newson on the list is correct, but Stroughter in his two elite years was better, he had all Pac Ten numbers on a team that was replacing Mike Hass and had an unjured Joe Newton returning not to mention Stroughter's blocking for some of the best runningback seasons, Bernard's junior and Quizz's freshman. But I don't think that avoiding Sammie's injury and personal problems would have put him near Hass.
Thank you for your comments. It seems like most Beaver fans feel that Smith should be 1 one this list..too often I fall in love with a players physical gifts (see DA). I also like your argument for putting Sammie #2. His 2006 and 2008 seasons were amazing, but Newson did put up monster numbers for three straight year (soph- 968 yards, jr-1284 yards (12 TD's), sr- 1306 yards, so an argument can be made for James too.
ReplyDelete