Horns spread receiving success
Former NFL star Rod Perry molded Beavers’ secondary.
Part 7 of a collaboration by the AmericanStatesman and The Oregonian, breaking down position-by-position matchups in advance of the Alamo Bowl on Saturday.
Today’s matchup: Texas’ wide receivers vs. Oregon State’s defensive backs.
Texas: After a quiet sophomore season, Mike Davis has put together a great junior year, finishing seventh in the pass-happy Big 12 with 75.8 receiving yards per game, as well as seven touchdowns. He and Jaxon Shipley — Texas’ Mr. Reliable in terms of hands and route running, with 51 catches and six TDs — are the headliners, but there’s talent all over the place. Daje Johnson and D.J. Monroe are quick-pass and endaround threats with their elite speed, and Olympic long jumper Marquise Goodwin can stretch a defense both horizontally and vertically.
Oregon State: The Beavers have benefited hugely from the hiring of secondary coach Rod Perry, a 24-year NFL vet- Behr says: Push. It’s the nation’s 43rd-rated passing offense against the 47th-rated passing defense. Poyer and Reynolds are dangerous, but Texas has depth.
The Oregonian’s Lindsay Schnell says: Clear edge to the Beavers.
Wednesday’s matchup: Oregon State’s receivers vs. Texas defensive backs. eran. Cornerback Jordan Poyer, an All-American, is one of the best defensive backs in the country and fellow corner Rashaad Reynolds is underrated. The Beavers give up 223.2 passing yards, which is third-best in the Pac-12, and have 19 interceptions. Poyer’s seven picks are the second-most in the country. The two safeties, Ryan Murphy and Tyrequek Zimmerman, have improved steadily throughout the season, and Oregon State has good depth.
Hookem.com’s Dave