The Oregon State coaching staff began game preparation Saturday for the Sacramento State Hornets, who will visit Reser Stadium in less than a week, so here are a few things you might want to know about the Hornets...
It won't take long for OSU to find out something about its offensive line, because Hornets defensive tackle Zack Nash is coming off a 13-sack season, has been named second team All-American and Big Sky preseason defensive player of the year and also to the Buck Buchanan Award watch list. (Although Stanford and Andrew Luck sure neutralized him last year^[1].)

At running back, the Hornets have a former Husky in senior Curtis Shaw.

Their best receiver is Chase Deadder. At 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, he would have been a good matchup for Brandon Hardin. Alas.

The Hornets' offense lived up to preseason hype^[2] in their final scrimmage Saturday, but Sac State's best player is on defense.

Sacramento State is ranked No. 24^[3] in the FCS, and the Hornets are looking to improve on last year's 6-5 record behind quarterback Jeff Fleming^[4].

Oregon State hopes Reser is as hospitable as these bees to this hornet^[5].

Sac State is one of six colleges with that name, along with Alabama State, Concordia College, Delaware State, Emporia State and Kalamazoo College. And, of course, the NBA's Charlotte Hornets used it - a more fitting nickname^[6] than, say, the Los Angeles Lakers or the Utah Jazz).

Colleague Paul Buker says the Beavers, compared with the Ducks, are out of the fast lane and maybe veering to the shoulder^[7], but Mike Riley believes he can keep it between the lines.

Buker says Riley is a bit concerned about tight end and linebacking depth^[8] and used words such as "interesting" and "mystery" to describe his defense - great, of course, if you're talking about that novel you read in the offseason, but ...

Offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf says the Beavers' offense will be ready^[9], despite youth and some inconsistency at quarterback.

But can you really replace Jacquizz Rodgers^[10]? The offense sputtered after the injury to James Rodgers last season; now, the Beavers must make do - at least for a while - with no Rodgerses.

Cliff Kirkpatrick breaks down the Beavers' offensive two-deep^[11] and says that despite the youth, injuries and another tough schedule, this should be a bowl team^[12]. He has OSU going 6-6 in 2011^[13] and 4-5 in the Pac-12.

- John Hunt^[14]

References

1. ^{^} Stanford and Andrew Luck sure neutralized him last year (www.youtube.com)
2. ^{^} Hornets' offense lived up to preseason hype (www.hornetsports.com)
3. ^{^} Sacramento State is ranked No. 24 (www.bigskyconf.com)
4. ^{^} Hornets are looking to improve on last year's 6-5 record behind quarterback Jeff Fleming (www.sacbee.com)
5. ^{^} these bees to this hornet (www.youtube.com)
6. ^{^} more fitting nickname (books.google.com)
7. ^{^} Paul Buker says the Beavers, compared with the Ducks, are out of the fast lane and maybe veering to the shoulder (www.oregonlive.com)
8. ^{^} Riley is a bit concerned about tight end and linebacking depth (www.oregonlive.com)
9. ^{^} Danny Langsdorf says the Beavers' offense will be ready (www.gazettetimes.com)
10. ^{^} can you really replace Jacquizz Rodgers (www.pacifictakes.com)
11. ^{^} Beavers' offensive two-deep (www.gazettetimes.com)
12. ^{^} this should be a bowl team (www.gazettetimes.com)
13. ^{^} OSU going 6-6 in 2011 (www.gazettetimes.com)
14. ^{^} - John Hunt (www.oregonlive.com)