Two days into fall camp, Oregon State’s offensive and defensive coordinators gave a clear picture of what they want to see from their units before the real hitting starts: effort, confidence and a team that looks unmistakably physical.
Offensive coordinator Mitch Dahlen said he wants the Beavers to jump off the screen for how hard they play, not for how complicated the scheme looks.
"I want people to turn on our film and I want them to be shocked at how hard we play. Effort alone, the scheme can be on the side, but I want them to be shocked by how hard we play."
That emphasis carries into how Dahlen is handling the quarterback battle. He said analytics are helping strip away the noise and make the competition more objective.
"It's great because you take the emotion out of it. You really do, because the numbers really will tell the truth. How you feel off the field is what you think that practice was, and then you watch the tape, and it doesn't always match up."
He also pointed to a photo in the quarterback meeting room as a reminder of the standard he wants from the position.
"I want that ear to be the football. That to me shows complete confidence, complete command - is that I know that window is going to be open.
It's not there yet, but you have the confidence to do it. That's how you play quarterback."
When Oregon State gets its first live look in camp, Dahlen said he’s not looking for a playbook showcase. He wants urgency and edge.
"I don't need to see a scheme work. I need to see 11 guys sprinting to the ball.
That's what I need to see. I need to see a relentless effort ... we play a sport with 11 guys, but it comes down to one-on-one battles.
So are you winning your one-on-one every single play? That's really what I want to see."
On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre said he wants Oregon State’s defense to look like the kind of Beaver unit people have come to expect over the years.
"This is a Beaver defense over the years that's historically been known to be very physical, very tough. Our guys being physical, it is known for that.
There's no doubt about that. So how we tackle, how we compete for the football, how we leverage our blocks is going to be critical."
MacIntyre said the first two practices have already shown him something important: his players want to be coached.
"They're hungry to be coachable. When you notice that is they come and ask you questions, even after a play's over.
Usually they know they did something wrong, and they're trying to hide from the coach. When they're coming to find you and seek you out - to me, that shows great maturity."
He also pushed back on the idea that Oregon State’s defensive install is overly complex, saying the goal is to create the appearance of variety while keeping the system manageable. He referenced a lesson from Bill Parcells.
"We're not real complicated. We'll try to do multiple things to make the offense think it's complicated, but we'll be doing a lot of the same things ...
Knowledge equals confidence equals playing fast. So the knowledge is there.
I expect when we put the pads on, I'll see us have some more confidence, and so then I'll see us play a little faster."
And as camp moves forward, MacIntyre said he is cross-training players across different spots because depth demands it.
"You have to be able to do it, because you have injuries and we can't go get a guy off the waiver. We can't have a guy sitting out working out and coming in ... So it's my job to find ways to have guys play multiple spots."
In Other News...
Mitch Dahlen Is Building A New Oregon State Identity Fast
Mitch Dahlen has wasted little time putting his stamp on Oregon State as the Beavers first-year offensive coordinator, and the early message is less about schemes than attitude. He is trying to build a culture rooted in respect and toughness, one that changes how this team carries itself every day and how opponents experience it on the field.
The interesting part is how aggressively Dahlen is framing that identity. He has made it clear he wants the Beavers to play with a level of edge that stands out immediately, the kind of physicality that turns heads inside the program and across the league. For a team looking to define itself quickly under a new coordinator, that sort of hard-nosed standard can set a tone well beyond August. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Camp Is Already Shaping One Huge Offensive Question
Oregon States preseason camp is already doing what camps are supposed to do: sort out the biggest questions before September gets here. Head coach JaMarcus Shephard said the Beavers are still working through their quarterback battle while also seeing encouraging signs up front, with the offensive line making progress and Tyler Voltin drawing notice for his improvement.
Shephard has not rushed the process at quarterback, and the timeline alone tells you this will linger for a while as the Beavers keep evaluating the room. Maalik Murphy, Braden Atkinson and Brady Jones are in the mix, and the eventual answer will shape not just the offenses identity but how quickly Oregon State can settle into the season with any real rhythm. [Read more 🡒]