UCLA transfer Matt Moore won the starting QB job last August. At times Moore looks like a worthy signal caller, and at others, his passes leave much to be desired. A few of those passes (19 INTs) defined the Beavers destiny last season. Many of those picks were due in part to forcing the ball - throwing it late and just plain making bad decisions. An emphasis on making Matt a better QB may have paid off this spring as he begins to blossom into one of the Pac Ten's best QBs on a short list of worthy candidates.

In terms of having that special star, RB Yvenson Bernard has the ability to be the best offensive player in the conference. In addition to carrying the pigskin (120 yards per game), he can also catch. The problem is, he may never leave the field, no matter the down and distance. Do not be surprised if he winds up lining up at the flanker position on occasion.

Biletnikoff Award winner (best receiver) Mike Hass has moved on. But overall, the WRs will have more speed and are considered to be an area of strength. The big upgrade comes at the TE position with the return of Joe Newton from a medical redshirt. His loss a year ago was a huge blow to the passing game. Anthony Wheat-Brown is the only returning starter in the Beaver’s three-receiver sets after battling through injuries last fall. The surprise may be at split end as Sammy Strought, the team's punt returner, has turned some heads this spring.

The Beavers return the entire offensive line, a rare situation for any coach, and that represents the strongest line they’ve had since the 2000 Fiesta Bowl unit. The OL is the foundation of this team. Both tackles have started 23 straight games (Josh Linehan and Adam Koets) while the middle has three All-Conference players. Depth seems plentiful. If there is a negative to point out, pass protection must improve, but that looks doable.

The team accumulated a mere 22 sacks last year, which averages out to two a game. These numbers were bad enough to rank the Beavers last in the conference. Ostensibly, the health and progression of the front four is the key to this success. Early indications here are positive. DE Jeff Van Orsow was dominant in the spring game, and Joe Lemma’s return gives the line a sturdy set of bookends. While not necessarily listed now as a current starter due to off-the-field issues and a shoulder problem, DT Ben Siegert does have 25 career starts and is capable of earning Pac Ten post-season honors.

Although the pass rush was off pace, the run defense was the stingiest in conference (though allowing 108 yards per game only ranked them 17th in I-A). A large part of these results was based on a pair of All-Pac Ten LBs that are no longer available. New faces have been waiting for their opportunity, such as JUCO newcomer Joey LaRocque, and this leaves coaches with some guarded optimism.

The entire secondary is back after getting burned like toast - in the first half of last season, OSU gave up way too many big plays. Now considered a defensive strength, the pass rush and coverage have to go hand-in-hand. Three-year starter Sabby Piscitelli at strong safety ranks amongst the top 10 in this program’s history with 10 career INTs. Free safety Al Afalava has a bright future with this group as well and having a real physical presence. The CBs are not quite as secure as the safety spots, and neither of the possible starters has logged any picks yet.