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Darren Page, DLD Lead Scout
Neither Oregon State nor Boise State had the type of seasons they set out for. They meet in the Aloha State with hopes of finishing their seasons on a high note. Each has a few talented prospects, especially in the trenches.
#8 Demarcus Lawrence, DE, Boise State
The Broncos’ most talented and most productive defensive player is junior end Demarcus Lawrence. He comes into the final game of the season with a total of 10.5 sacks. Whether or not he adds to that total in Hawaii, Lawrence is a candidate to declare for the draft.
Against the balanced attack of Oregon State, Lawrence will be able to put his all-around game on display. His speed and balance will be a handful for the Beavers tackles. Lawrence is a multi-dimensional rusher who frequently wins around the corner. He does a fine job clearing space with his hands and dipping his shoulder to clear contact. Adding the dimension of power to his rushing repertoire would further his ability to torment quarterbacks.
The run game is where Demarcus Lawrence is most refined. He consistently controls blockers at the line of scrimmage, which sets everything else up. He is then able to set a hard edge or shed the block and pursue. Chasing down plays from the backside is how Lawrence makes a large number of his stops. He plays with a motor that never stops running and it shows through against the run.
In last season’s bowl showing, the Oregon State offense was eaten up by Texas end Alex Okafor to the tune of 4.5 sacks. As lofty as that number may be, don’t be surprised to see a similar type of effectiveness from Demarcus Lawrence.
#78 Charles Leno, LT, Boise State
Boise State’s left tackle will get his toughest test of the season when he goes up against the Beavers’ Scott Crichton. Crichton will rush from both the left and right sides, but when Leno finds himself up against the powerful rusher, these are some things to look out for.
The success of the Broncos offense will come down to how effectively they establish the run. Leno tends to do a poor job leveraging defenders at the line of scrimmage. Poor angles and footwork puts him behind the eight ball too often. Leno also has a habit of dropping his shoulders and establishing contact with poor balance. He’s far more comfortable moving into space to make blocks, but he could get exposed at the point of attack.
Other concerns could doom Charles Leno as a pass blocker. He’s slow out of his stance and tends to kickslide with his hands at his sides. If he exposes his chest to Scott Crichton on a regular basis, it’s going to be a long night for him. On the other hand, Leno’s length is his best asset. Keeping his hands up and placing them properly in pass protection is of utmost importance for him.
#65 Matt Paradis, C, Boise State
Matt Paradis may only be a borderline prospect in terms of chances to get drafted. He became a two-time All-Mountain West performer after walking on as a defensive tackle, which makes him tough to write off.
Paradis is an intelligent center with an attention to detail up front. He consistently gets his head across defenders and walls them off from plays. The precision of his footwork and angles anchor his effectiveness in the running game. A lack of functional strength and ability to sustain blocks at the line of scrimmage is the big concern.
As a pass blocker, he does fine work picking up blitzes and working laterally against stunts. Predictably, a lack of strength to anchor power rushers form the inside limits his ability to hold a clean pocket. His lack of strength at the line limits his potential as an NFL center.
#7 Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State
The most talented prospect in this game is Biletnikoff Award winner Brandin Cooks. The statistical performance of Cooks is unmatched, averaging 10 catches for 139 yards and more than a touchdown per game.
Cooks’ open field ability with the ball in his hands is what turns defenses inside out. The Beavers like to get Cooks the ball thru speed sweeps and screen passes with blockers set up for him. Cooks gets north and south in a hurry, with the type of explosiveness and speed to go the distance at any time.
He’s not only run after catch specialist though. Cooks has shown development of the finer nuances of the position as well. He eludes press coverage with foot quickness, which is always a concern with smaller receivers. Cooks also attacks the ball in the air with the aggressiveness of a much bigger target. He can make yardage out of underneath routes as well as out of downfield routes where he can win over the top. That’s what makes him so effective on a game to game basis.
Whether or not Cooks puts on a show in Honolulu, he’s a candidate to be a first round wide receiver if he gives the NFL a go after his junior season.
#95 Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State
Junior end Scott Crichton is #1 on the list of defenders the Boise State offense will be aware of. Crichton will play from both ends spots as well as on the inside of the Beavers even front, especially on passing downs.
Crichton leaves a bit to be desired despite his natural talent both as a pass rusher and run defender. The stiffness of his movement and tendency to play with high pads hold him back at the moment. As a run defender, he has the strength to win at the line of scrimmage but doesn’t shed with enough consistency.
Even though he’s totaled 6.5 sacks on the season, Crichton is a bit of a one-dimensional pass rusher. He wants to get underneath the pads of defenders with a heavy first punch and then separate. He doesn’t bull rush as effectively as he should due to high pad level. He also lacks the flexibility to bend around the edge.
Scott Crichton still has much to prove before he makes the leap to the NFL. That doesn’t mean he won’t consider it. A strong showing in his bowl game would be a great start.
#16 Rashaad Reynolds, CB, Oregon State
The playmaker on the backend of the Oregon State defense is senior cornerback Rashaad Reynolds. His six interceptions this season are evidence of his ability to make plays on the football. There are other areas of concern though.
Reynolds’ lack of physicality in coverage has shown up repeatedly, with abject failures when lined up in press coverage. He struggles to land his hands on receivers and does a brutal job rerouting. Reynolds also could afford to use his hands to combat receivers at their breaks. Instead, he gives up quite a bit of separation in man coverage.
His instincts and ability to read quarterbacks is more conducive to zone coverage. Reynolds can sink underneath vertical routes in Cover 2 as well as roam over the top in Cover 3 looks. He attacks the ball in the air with a “my ball” mentality and brings it down with the ball skills of a wide receiver.
Reynolds still has something to prove when it comes to his all-around skillset at the cornerback position. The Hawaii bowl is a chance for Reynolds to enter his pre-draft stage with momentum. He’ll play in the Shrine Game in January.
Others to watch: Boise State RB Jay Ajayi, Oregon State LT Michael Philipp, Oregon State CB Sean Martin