CORVALLIS - Oregon State’s next test comes Saturday against Colorado State, and JaMarcus Shephard spent his game-week availability sorting through what he saw in the win over UTEP while also laying out the challenges ahead.
The Beavers are set to open Pac-12 play with a 3 p.m. matchup against the Rams, and Shephard made clear that the focus inside the program is on cleaning up details rather than chasing the result alone.
“We can’t just look at outcomes ... we have to look at the process.”
That process includes the obvious stuff that showed up against UTEP, especially penalties. Shephard said the staff is drilling into the “conditions” that led to those flags in the first place, not just the penalties themselves.
He also pointed to the way Oregon State responded after giving up the first score of the third quarter.
“The response after we gave up that initial score, that’s what we’re looking for.”
There were personnel updates, too, and the picture at cornerback remains one to watch. Shephard said depth at the position is a concern, adding that there are contingencies but that it’s a three- or four-man rotation right now and they “need to play better.”
On the injury front, Bubba Hampton should be available this week, while Trey Glasper’s foot is “stable.” Kourdey Glass is expected back at practice this week, and Carter Guillaume is “closer” to returning.
Josiah Timoteo “could have” played at UTEP, but the staff held him back because of the lingering foot injury. Will Haverland practiced but had “residual” effects from an unspecified injury heading into last week’s game.
Noble Thomas Jr. may be out for the season, and Harlem Howard “couldbe available”
Shephard also said he knew Jesse Legree was “hungry” and had the speed and explosiveness to earn an offer late in the pr
On Gyriece Goodman, Shephard said he expected exactly what he got. “He played really well in some other games as well. ...
That was probably his most complete game. He’s a warrior in the weight room.”
As for the road environment at Colorado State, Shephard brushed off the elevation angle, calling it a “mythological” factor and saying it’s not much different from UTEP. The bigger concern, in his view, is just handling business.
He described the Rams as a team with “a lot of team speed” and a highly productive offense, and he expects “a really great crowd.”
Shephard also said he’s looking forward to the next home game as well.
In Other News...
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Even with the uncertainty that comes with a new era, Colorado State has enough offensive pieces to make this one interesting for Oregon State. The bigger question is whether the Beavers can sort through the chaos fast enough to take advantage of a defense still trying to find its footing, because if the game tilts into a higher-scoring track meet, the pressure on Oregon States first road test of the season only grows. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Enters Pac-12 Play With A Secondary Problem It Can't Ignore
With Pac-12 play arriving, Oregon States attention has shifted to a secondary issue it can no longer afford to paper over. The Beavers are thin at cornerback because of injuries, leaving only five scholarship players available at the position as the schedule turns toward conference competition. Coaches JaMarcus Shephard and Mike MacIntyre have been working through the depth concerns while also trying to keep the group moving forward on development.
Trey Glasper is expected to be available for the upcoming game, which is a small boost for a unit that needs bodies as much as it needs experience. The tougher news is the situation around Noble Thomas Jr., whose setback has complicated an already tight rotation and left Oregon State searching for stability at a spot where every healthy practice rep matters. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Gets A Tricky First Home Test Against UCF
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UCF enters at 3-1, but the quarterback situation remains worth watching after Alonza Barnett III has been limited by a hamstring injury and Keyone Jenkins has been in the starting role. The kick time and TV window are now set, and for Oklahoma State, a first home look at a conference opponent with some uncertainty under center is the kind of game that can tell a lot about where things stand in early October. [Read more 🡒]