Photo by: Karl Maasdam
Oregon State Fall Camp: Dahlen, MacIntyre on QB Competition, Defensive Identity
August 07, 2026 | Football
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Two days into fall camp, Oregon State's coordinators sat down separately with reporters to talk through where their units stand. Here's a look at the best of what offensive coordinator Mitch Dahlen and defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre had to say.
WHAT DAHLEN SAID
On what he wants this offense's identity to be:
"I want people to turn on our film and I want them to be shocked at how hard we play. Effort alone, the scheme can be on the side, but I want them to be shocked by how hard we play."
On using analytics to evaluate the quarterback competition:
"It's great because you take the emotion out of it. You really do, because the numbers really will tell the truth. How you feel off the field is what you think that practice was, and then you watch the tape, and it doesn't always match up."
On the confidence he wants from his quarterbacks, tying back to a photo in the quarterback meeting room:
"I want that ear to be the football. That to me shows complete confidence, complete command — is that I know that window is going to be open. It's not there yet, but you have the confidence to do it. That's how you play quarterback."
On what he wants to see once Oregon State gets its first live look in fall camp:
"I don't need to see a scheme work. I need to see 11 guys sprinting to the ball. That's what I need to see. I need to see a relentless effort ... we play a sport with 11 guys, but it comes down to one-on-one battles. So are you winning your one-on-one every single play? That's really what I want to see."
WHAT MACINTYRE SAID
On the identity he wants to restore on defense:
"This is a Beaver defense over the years that's historically been known to be very physical, very tough. Our guys being physical, it is known for that. There's no doubt about that. So how we tackle, how we compete for the football, how we leverage our blocks is going to be critical."
On the maturity he's seen from his players through two practices:
"They're hungry to be coachable. When you notice that is they come and ask you questions, even after a play's over. Usually they know they did something wrong, and they're trying to hide from the coach. When they're coming to find you and seek you out — to me, that shows great maturity."
On why Oregon State's defensive install isn't as complicated as it may look from the outside, drawing on a lesson from Bill Parcells:
"We're not real complicated. We'll try to do multiple things to make the offense think it's complicated, but we'll be doing a lot of the same things ... Knowledge equals confidence equals playing fast. So the knowledge is there. I expect when we put the pads on, I'll see us have some more confidence, and so then I'll see us play a little faster."
On why he cross-trains players at multiple positions throughout camp:
"You have to be able to do it, because you have injuries and we can't go get a guy off the waiver. We can't have a guy sitting out working out and coming in ... So it's my job to find ways to have guys play multiple spots."
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WHAT DAHLEN SAID
On what he wants this offense's identity to be:
"I want people to turn on our film and I want them to be shocked at how hard we play. Effort alone, the scheme can be on the side, but I want them to be shocked by how hard we play."
On using analytics to evaluate the quarterback competition:
"It's great because you take the emotion out of it. You really do, because the numbers really will tell the truth. How you feel off the field is what you think that practice was, and then you watch the tape, and it doesn't always match up."
On the confidence he wants from his quarterbacks, tying back to a photo in the quarterback meeting room:
"I want that ear to be the football. That to me shows complete confidence, complete command — is that I know that window is going to be open. It's not there yet, but you have the confidence to do it. That's how you play quarterback."
On what he wants to see once Oregon State gets its first live look in fall camp:
"I don't need to see a scheme work. I need to see 11 guys sprinting to the ball. That's what I need to see. I need to see a relentless effort ... we play a sport with 11 guys, but it comes down to one-on-one battles. So are you winning your one-on-one every single play? That's really what I want to see."
WHAT MACINTYRE SAID
On the identity he wants to restore on defense:
"This is a Beaver defense over the years that's historically been known to be very physical, very tough. Our guys being physical, it is known for that. There's no doubt about that. So how we tackle, how we compete for the football, how we leverage our blocks is going to be critical."
On the maturity he's seen from his players through two practices:
"They're hungry to be coachable. When you notice that is they come and ask you questions, even after a play's over. Usually they know they did something wrong, and they're trying to hide from the coach. When they're coming to find you and seek you out — to me, that shows great maturity."
On why Oregon State's defensive install isn't as complicated as it may look from the outside, drawing on a lesson from Bill Parcells:
"We're not real complicated. We'll try to do multiple things to make the offense think it's complicated, but we'll be doing a lot of the same things ... Knowledge equals confidence equals playing fast. So the knowledge is there. I expect when we put the pads on, I'll see us have some more confidence, and so then I'll see us play a little faster."
On why he cross-trains players at multiple positions throughout camp:
"You have to be able to do it, because you have injuries and we can't go get a guy off the waiver. We can't have a guy sitting out working out and coming in ... So it's my job to find ways to have guys play multiple spots."
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Friday, August 07
Friday, August 07
Friday, August 07
Friday, August 07
