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62 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 12, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 17, 2003 Oregon State quarterback Derek Anderson helped the Beavers to an 8-5 finish last season and a berth in the Insight Bowl against Pittsburgh in his first year as a starter. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli The development of Derek For the Oregon State football program to be among the elite, the Beavers need their quarterback to play up to his potential By KRIS HENRY Mail Tribune CORVALLIS — Derek Anderson knows all too well the rigors of being a quarterback. You can go from hero to goat in the span of one game, and often even in one play. Such was Anderson’s world last year, giving rise to concerns outside the Beaver program on whether the former Blue Chip prospect from Scappoose can truly lead OSU to elite Pac-10 status. As much as he heard the praise for his near-flawless start to the 2002 season, he also heard the criticisms as his productivity faded down the stretch. Advertisement "I fell off a little bit, but I kept fighting and trying to do my best," says Anderson, 20. "The lessons I learned last year, hopefully I can put to work out there this year. I just need to stay focused and use the weapons I have." The 6-foot-6, 226-pounder was envisioned to be OSU’s primary weapon when he signed on after a stellar high school career. And if you overlook a career completion percentage of 47 percent, the junior has lived up to those expectations for the most part. Last year, Anderson broke the Beavers’ single-season records for touchdown passes (25), passing yardage (3,313) and total offense (3,082). After 18 games — 13 as a starter — at OSU, he ranks third in career TD passes, third in career passing yardage and seventh in total offense. Still, Anderson hasn’t gotten the respect one might deserve with such numbers, due in large part to how up and down he’s been at the Beavers’ helm. He twice passed for only 80 yards last season, completing 8 of 30 passes against USC and 8 of 24 against Cal. He was intercepted five times by Washington, and 15 of his 24 regular-season TD passes came in OSU’s first four games against Eastern Kentucky, Temple, UNLV and Fresno State. Through it all, however, has been the promise of how good he can be. The best example came in last year’s Civil War rout of Oregon, when Anderson torched the Ducks with four TD passes and 370 yards on 21-of-37 passing. And although national attention will be on junior tailback Steven Jackson and his bid for the Heisman Trophy, first-year Oregon State coach Mike Riley pulls no punches on which player he has his eyes on during fall camp. "For us to get better and make some moves, the development of Derek is a major deal," says Riley, who returns for his second run at OSU after posting an 8-14 record from 1997-98. While former OSU coach Dennis Erickson appeared concerned with Anderson’s ability to throw the deep ball, Riley isn’t as consumed with stretching out the defense. The offensive scheme this year relies on intermediate passes and dump-offs to Jackson. "What we’re looking for (from Anderson) is consistency through the year," says Riley, "and that consistency will build from the very start of camp." Riley, 49, knows a thing or two about the quarterback position, having led Corvallis High to the 1970 state championship. In the four years prior to joining OSU in 1997, he also served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at USC under John Robinson. Still, the ever-humble Oregonian says he’s far from an expert on the position. "These guys are so much better than I ever thought about being," the coach says of today’s quarterbacks. "I wish I could relate a little better ... I just wanted to throw spirals when I was a quarterback." That said, Riley knows there’s nothing better for a quarterback than getting out on the field and acclimating to the speed and intricacies of the game. "Derek’s been through a lot of stuff," says Riley, "but the one thing most people forget is (last year) he had probably the most productive year that any quarterback has ever had at Oregon State. He had some rough times in the Pac-10 last year, but so did a lot of quarterbacks." To raise Anderson’s level of play, Riley plans to emphasize the mental aspect of the game. "He’s got to be one tough nut, and he can’t crack," says Riley. So far, Anderson is holding his own as he attempts to learn his second offensive system in two years as a starter. After seeing limited action in the Beavers’ first scrimmage this past Tuesday, Anderson’s snap count increased during Saturday’s scrimmage. He completed 8 of 18 passes for 136 yards, one touchdown and one interception under game-speed conditions. He’s expected to see even more action in Tuesday’s final scrimmage before OSU breaks camp. The Beavers’ season-opener is Aug. 28 at home in Reser Stadium against Sacramento State. "I think I’ve picked it up pretty well," he says of Riley’s offense. "Once you kinda get a little grasp of it, things are all pretty relevant to each other and it kinda sticks in your head." Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities