Oregonian: Swallow up the run

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PAUL BUKER

The worst-case scenario for Oregon State on Saturday at No. 2 California?  The Golden Bears have no trouble running the ball with tailback Justin Forsett and OSU's relentless pass rush backs off, giving Cal quarterback Nate Longshore license to steal from the Beavers' secondary.  The best-case scenario?  A run defense that ranks No. 1 nationally stuffs Forsett and Co., the OSU pass rush chases Longshore all over Memorial Stadium, and Cal's high-octane offense sputters like somebody dumped sugar into the gas tank.

Cal is third in the Pacific-10 Conference in rushing at 198.60 yards per game, and the 5-foot-8, 196-pound Forsett ranks No. 2 in the conference in rushing (117.0) and leads the Pac-10 with nine touchdowns.  But the Bears weren't overpowering in their last game, gaining just 115 net yards on the ground in a 31-24 win at Oregon. While the Ducks' run defense is suspect, the Beavers' run defense is the stingiest in the country, allowing 43.3 yards per game.

Meanwhile, the Beavers' pass rush has accounted for 25 sacks, No. 1 in the Pac-10 and tied for second among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams.  Those numbers tell Cal coach Jeff Tedford that Oregon State might be trouble in Saturday's game, even though the unbeaten Bears are a two-touchdown favorite.  "You watch these guys on tape, not only the rush defense but the pass rush, and they're really, really good up front," Tedford said.  "Good front four, great linebackers . . . they play with a lot of effort, a lot of energy. There's no question, this is the best group we've played. You watch the tape, and you can tell these guys are for real."  OSU's ability to run 10 players in and out of games up front is unique in the conference.  Dorian Smith, Victor Butler and occasionally Jeff Kruskamp play at left end. Gerard Lee starts at left tackle, but William 'Akau 'ola Vea backs him up and has three sacks. Curtis Coker and Pernnell Booth play at right tackle, and OSU's right end-by-committee includes Jeff Van Orsow, Naymon Frank and Slade Norris, the team's co-leader with 51/2 sacks.

"They're good schematically at what they do and they come at you very, very hard," Tedford said.  Butler, who also had 51/2 sacks, said the OSU defense prides itself on "flying around" and using its athleticism and quickness to make plays. Last week, the Beavers suffocated the Arizona offense, sacking quarterback Willie Tuitama eight times. The Wildcats had a net of nine rushing yards in the game.  "Nine yards was too much for us," said Butler, only half in jest. "Our goal every game is to stop the run."  Stopping the run would be a good start if OSU wants to upset Cal.