OSU football notebook: D-line a work in progress – Corvallis Gazette Times

The Oregon State defensive line is a work in progress as fall camp heads into its third week.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Clune likes what he sees out of the players on the first team, but knows that the Beavers need reliable play from the reserves to get through the season.

"I've really liked the way Titus (Failauga) has come out and really shown up every single day and worked hard and taken care of business," Clune said Monday evening. "Kalani (Vakameilalo) and Paisa (Savea) are right there with them. Those three (I'm) very happy with.

"The second group is doing well but there's times when they need to pick it up, too. We need to have a solid six guys that we can count on, game-in and game-out. There's going to be an injury or two, so we need that depth. We're going to rotate those guys in and out all game long, but we also need some depth in case of injury."

Defensive tackle Elu Aydon started four games last season and should help with depth.

The Beavers are still waiting on tackle Craig Evans, who could push for a starting spot upon arrival.

Baker Pritchard, Phillip Napoleon and LaMone Williams are also in the mix at defensive end.

Clune also liked the performance of the first-team defense as a whole in last Friday's scrimmage at Summit High in Bend.

Like the defensive line situation, he expects more out of the backups.

"The twos need a lot of improvement and the threes I was very unhappy with. They've got to make a huge jump from scrimmage 1 to scrimmage 2. And if they're taking care of business, they will," Clune said.

"With the ones, the run defense was real nice. With the twos it was not. So one side needs working on it, the other did an OK job."

Despite losing three key starters in Sean Harlow, Gavin Andrews and Dustin Stanton off last year's team, offensive line coach T.J. Woods is pleased with the Beavers' depth on the line.

Tackle Blake Brandel started all 12 games last season as a true freshman, nine at right tackle and three at left tackle. Gus Lavaka had seven starts at guard last season as a true freshman and senior guard Fred Lauina has 20 career starts.

Guard Kammy Delp started two games in 2015.

"I think that's the biggest thing with this group, we've got depth," Woods said. "We've got probably eight guys right now that I feel comfortable putting in a Pac-12 game and that's something I haven't been able to say since I've been here."

The Beavers have a few banged up bodies at cornerback, but Clune is not overly concerned.

For the time being, anyway.

"Right now I'm not that concerned, but we're not keeping score right now," he said. "So when it comes time to keep score, it's going to be a big concern. So I need to see that No. 5 (Xavier Crawford) is squared away and No. 4 (Dwayne Williams) is squared away and then, who's our third corner? and then who's the next guy and the next guy?

"Right now, it's a lot of inconsistent play. We need more."

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OSU football notebook: D-line a work in progress - Corvallis Gazette Times