Oregon State has four returning starters but needs others to step up

By Cliff Kirkpatrick
Gazette-Times reporter

Each spring, Mike Cavanaugh begins his artistry of big men.

That’s when the offensive line coach for the Oregon State football team takes on the challenge of rebuilding the cornerstone of offensive success.

He fine-tuned a strong starting group in 2005 and created enough depth to support them through injuries in 2006. For the coming season, he must do all of that at the same time.

The Beavers have four returning starters in Jeremy Perry, Kyle DeVan, Roy Schuening and Andy Levitre. The fifth starter should be Tavita Thompson, who has been prepped at left tackle for the coming season for three years.

After Thompson, that’s where Cavanaugh must really get to work.

“We need to increase the depth in the offense line,” Cavanaugh said. “The group we have can be a good offensive line, as long as we don’t get bit by that complacency disease.”

Levitre and Adam Speer have been the line’s super subs the last two seasons. Levitre could fill in for any of the guards or tackles.

When Josh Linehan went down with a season-ending injury in the third game last year, Levitre found a home at right tackle. That left only Speer for the coming season as a proven backup at center and either guard positions.

“My biggest concern is the tackle,” Cavanaugh said. “Ryan Pohl’s development is important. Pohl is kind of like our Levitre. He’s getting the on-the-job training like Levitre a couple years ago.”

Pohl, a redshirt freshman, is learning both tackle positions as the primary backup. He’s a 6-foot-3, 280-pounder from Hawaii. Rivals.com rated him the nation’s 50th-best offensive tackle coming out of Kamehamaha High after the 2005 season.

The tackle position’s depth took a hit when Mau Nomani decided to go on his LDS mission in the fall. Coach Mike Riley felt he could challenge Thompson for left tackle.

Nomani, from Tigard High, was the third-best prospect in Oregon. He redshirted last season in his first year. When he returns in two years, he will have four years of eligibility left.

“We have some guys who are picking up on things and getting better,” Levitre said. “With Mau going on his mission, we are trying to help Ryan Pohl out because we don’t have depth at tackle. I’m helping coach him up on technique.”

Junior college transfers Michael Cole and Jon Ioane should join the program in the fall, but will be playing catch-up. They may not be ready until the middle of the season.

There’s more depth for interior linemen, starting with Speer. Guard Gregg Peat is ready after two seasons, and junior Marcus Henderson is developing at center.

“They are all coming along,” Perry said. “The younger guys haven’t had the opportunity because we (the starters) have been here all the time. They’ve been watching. Now they have to step up fast. And Cav is working them hard.”

Beyond them there are four other redshirt freshmen working in the spring. When everyone is here in the fall the Beavers could have up to 17 offensive linemen.

However, Riley has made the mandate in recruiting this year to focus on offensive and defensive linemen. Schuening and DeVan graduate after this season, so experience will be gone and depth wiped out again.

And the feeling from the Beavers is you can’t have too many linemen.

Getting one game-ready takes two to three years, according to Cavanaugh. It’s a process working their hands and feet techniques enough that it’s second-nature. Then there’s all the training in the weight room.

“I’m please with the way the kids have worked in the offseason,” Cavanaugh said. “The strength department did a good job, and they are doing what I ask them to do on their own. If they commit to it, they’ll improve. Some of the guys have a lot longer to get good, though.”