University of Cincinnati defensive end Angelo Craig paused for several seconds before he answered the question, but it wasn't because he didn't know the answer.
What stood out when Craig first watched film of the Oregon State football team?
"The running back," Craig said emphatically.
You don't have to study a lot of Oregon State film or be a defensive expert to be impressed with Yvenson Bernard, a 5-foot-9, 202-pound senior who gained more than 1,300 yards in each of the last two seasons and rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns last week in the Beavers' 24-7 season-opening victory over Utah.
Bernard, from Boca Raton, Fla., was a first-team all-Pac-10 Conference selection last season. He's on a pace to finish his career with 3,982 yards, which would rank sixth in Pac-10 history.
"He's good," Craig said.
"But he's only as good as the guys blocking up front for him. They're good, too," Craig said.
Bernard will be the main focus for the UC defense Thursday when the Bearcats (1-0) face Oregon State (1-0) at Nippert Stadium in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPN.
"He's a special player," UC coach Brian Kelly said of Bernard. "He's in the top of backs that I've ever gone against and I've gone against Mike Hart at Michigan and seen some very good ones.
"He has a combination of a low center of gravity and great balance and vision. He plays with a small-man mentality in that he's going to knock you over. He plays really physical, but he's really shifty."
Bernard runs behind an offensive line that averages 305 pounds. The Beavers, however, will be without left guard Jeremy Perry, a first-team all-Pac-10 selection who's expected to be out for six weeks after suffering a leg injury last week.
"They have probably one of the best-coached offensive lines that we've played against," Kelly said. "They do a great job up front. They're physical. We know their back is a featured player, but they're like any other team in the country.
"They know they can't just run the ball. They're going to have to throw the ball down the field."
That could be a problem for the Beavers because of their inexperience at quarterback, with sophomore Sean Canfield having made only one career start in nine appearances.
The 6-4 Canfield, a traditional pocket passer, alternated quarters last week with 5-11 sophomore Lyle Moevao, more of a scrambler who saw his first Division I-A action last week.
Canfield was 8-for-19 for 87 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Moevao completed three of nine passes for 32 yards with one interception.
Both are expected to play Thursday night.
"We don't have any parameters as to time," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. "We're not going to do quarters again. They are practicing relatively even right now. Sean is probably getting a few more turns, but they are still both getting a lot snaps."
Whether the Beavers will have the services of All-America wide receiver Sammie Stroughter remains an unanswered question.
Stroughter, a dangerous punt returner who has been on an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons, did not play last week against Utah.
"I don't know if he'll be watching or if he plays," Riley said Sunday. "We can't make the decision right now, but it's conceivable he gets some sort of playing time."
What stood out when Craig first watched film of the Oregon State football team?
"The running back," Craig said emphatically.
You don't have to study a lot of Oregon State film or be a defensive expert to be impressed with Yvenson Bernard, a 5-foot-9, 202-pound senior who gained more than 1,300 yards in each of the last two seasons and rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns last week in the Beavers' 24-7 season-opening victory over Utah.
Bernard, from Boca Raton, Fla., was a first-team all-Pac-10 Conference selection last season. He's on a pace to finish his career with 3,982 yards, which would rank sixth in Pac-10 history.
"He's good," Craig said.
"But he's only as good as the guys blocking up front for him. They're good, too," Craig said.
Bernard will be the main focus for the UC defense Thursday when the Bearcats (1-0) face Oregon State (1-0) at Nippert Stadium in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPN.
"He's a special player," UC coach Brian Kelly said of Bernard. "He's in the top of backs that I've ever gone against and I've gone against Mike Hart at Michigan and seen some very good ones.
"He has a combination of a low center of gravity and great balance and vision. He plays with a small-man mentality in that he's going to knock you over. He plays really physical, but he's really shifty."
Bernard runs behind an offensive line that averages 305 pounds. The Beavers, however, will be without left guard Jeremy Perry, a first-team all-Pac-10 selection who's expected to be out for six weeks after suffering a leg injury last week.
"They have probably one of the best-coached offensive lines that we've played against," Kelly said. "They do a great job up front. They're physical. We know their back is a featured player, but they're like any other team in the country.
"They know they can't just run the ball. They're going to have to throw the ball down the field."
That could be a problem for the Beavers because of their inexperience at quarterback, with sophomore Sean Canfield having made only one career start in nine appearances.
The 6-4 Canfield, a traditional pocket passer, alternated quarters last week with 5-11 sophomore Lyle Moevao, more of a scrambler who saw his first Division I-A action last week.
Canfield was 8-for-19 for 87 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Moevao completed three of nine passes for 32 yards with one interception.
Both are expected to play Thursday night.
"We don't have any parameters as to time," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. "We're not going to do quarters again. They are practicing relatively even right now. Sean is probably getting a few more turns, but they are still both getting a lot snaps."
Whether the Beavers will have the services of All-America wide receiver Sammie Stroughter remains an unanswered question.
Stroughter, a dangerous punt returner who has been on an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons, did not play last week against Utah.
"I don't know if he'll be watching or if he plays," Riley said Sunday. "We can't make the decision right now, but it's conceivable he gets some sort of playing time."
