No one should be allowed to question what head coach Robb Akey has meant to the University of Idaho football program.
He has ushered in stability, a positive environment, better athletes and more national exposure. Plus, there's that bowl victory last season. You might remember it. Pretty good game.
But one thing we're still waiting for from Akey is consistent proof that he used to be a Pac-10 defensive coordinator. You often wouldn't know it by looking at the on-field product.
Some point to the Vandals' recent season-opening shutout of North Dakota and their 30-7 home victory against UNLV as major signs of improvement. While those were fun for the fans, the opponents were abysmal. Those victories don't absolve Akey of his team's offensive defensive lapses. Not by a long shot.
To be fair, no one expected a stonewall performance on the road against Nebraska. But giving up 36 to Colorado State University last week? Huh?
UI gave up 26 first downs and 386 passing yards to what had been one of the worst offenses in the entire country. Hey, it's one thing if you're outmanned at every position. The Vandals didn't have that excuse last Saturday, when they lost to a doormat.
How many times did Tom Morris say the word "screen pass" during the CSU game? Way too many times. How long should it have taken, in theory, for the Vandals to respond to the Rams' offensive plan by dialing back the blitzing/pressure? Well, it would have been nice to see an adjustment at some point. But it seemingly never happened.
How can you follow up a dominating performance against UNLV with a complete defensive letdown — versus an 0-3 squad? Unfortunately, it's not unprecedented. Don't forget that many of those thrilling victories in 2009 were exciting because: A) the UI offense was explosive, and B) the UI defense exploded. The Vandals didn't win any games because of great defense last year. Not one.
Also, can the supposedly defensive-minded Akey continue to let this happen? Akey was the defensive line coach at Washington State University before taking over as defensive coordinator in 2003. If he wants consistent wins, he has to devise a way to get consistent success from this unit.
Can he do it? It's a fair question — and you know it.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Panic is, like, so two years ago
If you're still morose because of the University of Idaho football team's final-seconds loss to previously awful Colorado State on Wednesday, here's something to remember: It's 2010.
Michael "My Brother can outsling your brother" Harrington isn't behind center. Dennis Erickson and Nick Holt can no longer hurt us with their wandering eyes. And Tom "I'll always have an O-line job" Cable is no longer patrolling the sidelines — or the local Arby's.
In short, the Ghosts of Losing Past are long gone, having been replaced by loyal, hard-working blokes such as head coach Robb Akey, Nathan Enderle and Deonte' Jackson. The Vandals of 2010 are 2-2 with a full slate of WAC lightweights on the horizon. These are by no means gimme victories, but suffice it to say there are realistic W's to be had.
Before that, a very winnable nonconference road game at Western Michigan awaits. All of the nine remaining games to be savored — contests that range from boiling-over rivalries (That Team From Boise) to up-and-coming offensive juggernauts (Nevada) to perennial, well, losers (New Mexico State, etc.).
The Vandals still have a good shot at getting to a bowl game for the second consecutive year, and they can make virtually every game left on their schedule interesting.
Interesting is good. Interesting keeps butts in seats.
UI fans, don't give up. Despite the defense's throwback performance — and I mean that in the worst of ways — in which it was gashed over and over by a subpar squad, you simply can't give up. Programs aren't built — especially traditionally poor programs in tiny towns nestled in obscure areas — in a day.
Michael "My Brother can outsling your brother" Harrington isn't behind center. Dennis Erickson and Nick Holt can no longer hurt us with their wandering eyes. And Tom "I'll always have an O-line job" Cable is no longer patrolling the sidelines — or the local Arby's.
In short, the Ghosts of Losing Past are long gone, having been replaced by loyal, hard-working blokes such as head coach Robb Akey, Nathan Enderle and Deonte' Jackson. The Vandals of 2010 are 2-2 with a full slate of WAC lightweights on the horizon. These are by no means gimme victories, but suffice it to say there are realistic W's to be had.
Before that, a very winnable nonconference road game at Western Michigan awaits. All of the nine remaining games to be savored — contests that range from boiling-over rivalries (That Team From Boise) to up-and-coming offensive juggernauts (Nevada) to perennial, well, losers (New Mexico State, etc.).
The Vandals still have a good shot at getting to a bowl game for the second consecutive year, and they can make virtually every game left on their schedule interesting.
Interesting is good. Interesting keeps butts in seats.
UI fans, don't give up. Despite the defense's throwback performance — and I mean that in the worst of ways — in which it was gashed over and over by a subpar squad, you simply can't give up. Programs aren't built — especially traditionally poor programs in tiny towns nestled in obscure areas — in a day.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
1 touchdown, 6 interceptions and an NFL-themed bedspread
Two years ago, the University of Idaho football team would have had its hands full with any fellow Division I-A (I'm refusing to call it "Football Championship Subdivision" from this point forward) football team — and even some of the better Division I-AA squads.
Present-day Vandal Land is much, much different. Right now UI can allow itself to feel a very foreign emotion for some of its lesser opponents: pity.
How could the Vandals have felt anything but pity for UNLV last week, after finishing a 30-7 rout? UI tossed around the Rebels' front four like it was a game of pinball and crushed the opposing quarterbacks (the hapless starter was replaced in the second half).
This week's score, as the Vandals take on Colorado State University, could be even more lopsided than the last one, even though UI will be on the road this time instead of in the Kibbie Dome. These teams played to a virtual standstill in the Vandals' 31-29 win a year ago. But this year's version of the Rams (0-3 record) seems much less imposing. CSU has:
The Vandals simply are in a much-better position right now. While both UI and CSU are dealing with the loss of four of five starting offensive linemen, that's where the similarities come to a screeching halt.
Present-day Vandal Land is much, much different. Right now UI can allow itself to feel a very foreign emotion for some of its lesser opponents: pity.
How could the Vandals have felt anything but pity for UNLV last week, after finishing a 30-7 rout? UI tossed around the Rebels' front four like it was a game of pinball and crushed the opposing quarterbacks (the hapless starter was replaced in the second half).
This week's score, as the Vandals take on Colorado State University, could be even more lopsided than the last one, even though UI will be on the road this time instead of in the Kibbie Dome. These teams played to a virtual standstill in the Vandals' 31-29 win a year ago. But this year's version of the Rams (0-3 record) seems much less imposing. CSU has:
- Been outscored 106-19 in three games, against Colorado (a train wreck, albeit a BCS Conference train wreck), Nevada (potent yet still relatively unproven) and Miami of Ohio (um, yeah).
- 128 rushing yards. Total. Oh boy.
- Converted only 12 of its 40 third-down plays and none of its seven fourth-down attempts.
The Vandals simply are in a much-better position right now. While both UI and CSU are dealing with the loss of four of five starting offensive linemen, that's where the similarities come to a screeching halt.
- In the category of forced turnovers, UI has been outstanding while CSU has been down and out.
- UI has a senior quarterback with NFL potential. CSU has a freshman quarterback with one touchdown, six interceptions and an NFL-themed bedspread.
- UI has three viable running backs, each with something unique to offer. CSU has a once-hyped transfer running back from UCLA who's averaging 1.6 yards per carry.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Revel in the blitzes
Vandal fans, take a few days to truly enjoy tonight's blitz-fest while you can, because you might not see anything like that for a while.
The University of Idaho defense won't often this season be able to take as many chances as it did during tonight's 30-7 thrashing of UNLV. But it was the perfect gameplan against this particular opponent, an offense that presents less of a precision passing threat than Ryan Leaf. Present-day Ryan Leaf.
And it was fun, wasn't it? The defense brought pressure like it was going out of style — like they'd bought a Costco-sized vat that was three days past its expiration date. Aaron Lavarias led the charge, as a senior should, with two of the team's six sacks. And the Rebels were held to a paltry 187 total yards.
UI and UNLV are thought by many to be ho-hum members of their respective conferences, the Western Athletic Conference and the Mountain West. On Saturday the Vandals firmly suggested that maybe only half of that assumption is true.
The University of Idaho defense won't often this season be able to take as many chances as it did during tonight's 30-7 thrashing of UNLV. But it was the perfect gameplan against this particular opponent, an offense that presents less of a precision passing threat than Ryan Leaf. Present-day Ryan Leaf.
And it was fun, wasn't it? The defense brought pressure like it was going out of style — like they'd bought a Costco-sized vat that was three days past its expiration date. Aaron Lavarias led the charge, as a senior should, with two of the team's six sacks. And the Rebels were held to a paltry 187 total yards.
UI and UNLV are thought by many to be ho-hum members of their respective conferences, the Western Athletic Conference and the Mountain West. On Saturday the Vandals firmly suggested that maybe only half of that assumption is true.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Never undestimate a winner
Bobby Hauck is a winner — and you should never underestimate a winner.
The University of Idaho football should be expected to defeat Hauck's UNLV Rebels in Moscow this weekend. They've got the talent and home-field advantage — if you can even call less than 15,000 fans an advantage — to take care of business.
Still, UNLV has the benefit of a first-year coach who's decidedly not used to losing — and who has done nothing but lose so far this season.
Hauck was wildly successful during the past seven years at Montana. His teams went 80-17 and in the last four seasons were 51-6 overall and 31-1 in conference play.
What's more, his assistants at Montana are with him now at UNLV. So you can imagine the frustration and determination pulsating from that coaches meeting room in Las Vegas these days.
Another factor is that Hauck and Co. probably aren't afraid of the Vandals. They've beaten UI before: 41-28 in 2003, Hauck's first year as head coach at Montana. The year before the Grizzlies had defeated the Vandals as well, 38-31.
If they can beat Idaho at a lower-division school, imagine how confident they'll be to stroll onto the Palouse with a Football Bowl Subdivision team.
But even considering these boons for UNLV, the Vandals' success Saturday lies in their own hands — more specifically, in the massive hands of the offensive linemen. If UI can continue to make strides between the tackles, their skill-position players will blow UNLV away.
If not, Hauck will be able to reacquaint himself with a familiar letter: W.
The University of Idaho football should be expected to defeat Hauck's UNLV Rebels in Moscow this weekend. They've got the talent and home-field advantage — if you can even call less than 15,000 fans an advantage — to take care of business.
Still, UNLV has the benefit of a first-year coach who's decidedly not used to losing — and who has done nothing but lose so far this season.
Hauck was wildly successful during the past seven years at Montana. His teams went 80-17 and in the last four seasons were 51-6 overall and 31-1 in conference play.
What's more, his assistants at Montana are with him now at UNLV. So you can imagine the frustration and determination pulsating from that coaches meeting room in Las Vegas these days.
Another factor is that Hauck and Co. probably aren't afraid of the Vandals. They've beaten UI before: 41-28 in 2003, Hauck's first year as head coach at Montana. The year before the Grizzlies had defeated the Vandals as well, 38-31.
If they can beat Idaho at a lower-division school, imagine how confident they'll be to stroll onto the Palouse with a Football Bowl Subdivision team.
But even considering these boons for UNLV, the Vandals' success Saturday lies in their own hands — more specifically, in the massive hands of the offensive linemen. If UI can continue to make strides between the tackles, their skill-position players will blow UNLV away.
If not, Hauck will be able to reacquaint himself with a familiar letter: W.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Expect wins in Kibbie Dome — UNLV gameweek
Did you know the University of Idaho football team is tied for first in the entire nation with nine takeaways?
I figure that's a much better news item to dwell on than last week's lopsided loss to the University of Nebraska.
If you're looking for a "what this means" breakdown of last Saturday's game, you've come to the wrong place.
That's because the Vandals won't face any other teams like that this year. So why even bother comparing that game to the remaining matchups?
To put a realistic spin on this, UI is 1-1 and very capable of reaching a bowl game. After a Big-12-sponsored intermission, that postseason story picks up again this Saturday in the Kibbie Dome against UNLV.
The Rebels are nursing the mental wounds from a 41-21 beating by Wisconsin and a 38-10 loss to Utah. The statistics are ugly:
UI has taken its lumps as well, but this program is at the point where fans should fully expect home-field victories against a middling team such as UNLV.
One more thing: the score
The Vandals have the offensive pieces to make a lower-tier Mountain West Conference team look silly. And they'll perform well enough on defense — they can afford to take chances against a team devoid of big-play talent — to make this a comfortable victory.
UI: 35; UNLV: 21.
I figure that's a much better news item to dwell on than last week's lopsided loss to the University of Nebraska.
If you're looking for a "what this means" breakdown of last Saturday's game, you've come to the wrong place.
That's because the Vandals won't face any other teams like that this year. So why even bother comparing that game to the remaining matchups?
To put a realistic spin on this, UI is 1-1 and very capable of reaching a bowl game. After a Big-12-sponsored intermission, that postseason story picks up again this Saturday in the Kibbie Dome against UNLV.
The Rebels are nursing the mental wounds from a 41-21 beating by Wisconsin and a 38-10 loss to Utah. The statistics are ugly:
- Offense: Only 44 percent of passes completed, 5 yards per pass, 3 yards per carry.
- Defense: Zero sacks, five tackles for loss, three takeaways.
UI has taken its lumps as well, but this program is at the point where fans should fully expect home-field victories against a middling team such as UNLV.
One more thing: the score
The Vandals have the offensive pieces to make a lower-tier Mountain West Conference team look silly. And they'll perform well enough on defense — they can afford to take chances against a team devoid of big-play talent — to make this a comfortable victory.
UI: 35; UNLV: 21.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Leave the smashmouth stuff at home — Nebraska Gameweek
The University of Idaho football team had better use every page of that silver-and-gold playbook this weekend.
Especially that part labeled "special teams."
The Vandals' opponent at 10:30 a.m. Saturday will be the University of Nebraska, which returns 10 offensive starters and darn near every single skill-position player from the 2009 campaign.
Cornhuskers quarterback Taylor Martinez, a freshman, led a 49-10 romp in Week 1, completing 9 of 15 passes for 136 yards and rushing for 127 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries.
What's more, UN's defense is probably more dangerous than its offense.
The Vandals have a plentiful bundle of talented playmakers as well, but to have any chance of upsetting a top 10 team on the road — in front of more than 80,000 people — they'll need to be used in very creative ways — plays that squeeze every last drop of potential out of each drive.
UI would be crazy to line up and attempt straight-up smash-mouth football this Saturday. DeMaundray Woolridge is nowhere to be found, and Mike Iupati isn't walking through that lockerroom door.
But the Vandals might be able to put together some substantial put and kick returns and surprise the Cornhuskers with some timely reverses and gadget plays. They've got the practitioners to pull it off.
Receivers Eric Greenwood and Preston Davis are too valuable in their roles — jump-ball artist and No. 1 downfield threat, respectively — to be messing around with on special teams, but what about sophomore Justin Veltung, who emerged with an explosive game last week? Junior-college transfer Armauni Johnson and Maurice Shaw have the speed and athleticism to contribute in this regard as well.
Predicting special-teams success is no science, but UI has plenty of potential to provide some electrifying big plays.
It might be their best chance to hang around with the Cornhuskers — Unless the Vandals have a fleet-footed 245-pound running back I don't know about.
Especially that part labeled "special teams."
The Vandals' opponent at 10:30 a.m. Saturday will be the University of Nebraska, which returns 10 offensive starters and darn near every single skill-position player from the 2009 campaign.
Cornhuskers quarterback Taylor Martinez, a freshman, led a 49-10 romp in Week 1, completing 9 of 15 passes for 136 yards and rushing for 127 yards and three touchdowns on seven carries.
What's more, UN's defense is probably more dangerous than its offense.
The Vandals have a plentiful bundle of talented playmakers as well, but to have any chance of upsetting a top 10 team on the road — in front of more than 80,000 people — they'll need to be used in very creative ways — plays that squeeze every last drop of potential out of each drive.
UI would be crazy to line up and attempt straight-up smash-mouth football this Saturday. DeMaundray Woolridge is nowhere to be found, and Mike Iupati isn't walking through that lockerroom door.
But the Vandals might be able to put together some substantial put and kick returns and surprise the Cornhuskers with some timely reverses and gadget plays. They've got the practitioners to pull it off.
Receivers Eric Greenwood and Preston Davis are too valuable in their roles — jump-ball artist and No. 1 downfield threat, respectively — to be messing around with on special teams, but what about sophomore Justin Veltung, who emerged with an explosive game last week? Junior-college transfer Armauni Johnson and Maurice Shaw have the speed and athleticism to contribute in this regard as well.
Predicting special-teams success is no science, but UI has plenty of potential to provide some electrifying big plays.
It might be their best chance to hang around with the Cornhuskers — Unless the Vandals have a fleet-footed 245-pound running back I don't know about.
Must we resort to bribes?
11,466.
The attendance at last Thursday's home opener for the University of Idaho football team was shockingly low, especially considering that the "We never have a chance to win" argument is completely shot at this point. Coming off an 8-5 season, with a bowl win in their quiver, the Vandals are primed to come out firing on both offense and defense this season.
The "Labor Day weekend" excuse, while semi-valid in a small college town such as Moscow, doesn't cut it, either. Not when you look at: A) The amount of people from Boise to the Canadian border who cheer for the Vandals, and B) the game of football's fairly recent status upgrade to "the national pastime."
If Idaho fans wonder why the Mountain West Conference won't invite the Vandals and rescue them from a soon-defunct league, look no further than 11,466. The number is the stuff of a Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA) program.
Any ideas for selling out the Kibbie Dome? Here are a few from an impromptu brainstorm:
—— Unique giveaways:
—— Set up a press conference for Karl Benson, Western Athletic Conference commissioner, after the game. The catch? He'd be hooked up to a lie-detector test.
"People will come, Ray. People will most definitely come."
The attendance at last Thursday's home opener for the University of Idaho football team was shockingly low, especially considering that the "We never have a chance to win" argument is completely shot at this point. Coming off an 8-5 season, with a bowl win in their quiver, the Vandals are primed to come out firing on both offense and defense this season.
The "Labor Day weekend" excuse, while semi-valid in a small college town such as Moscow, doesn't cut it, either. Not when you look at: A) The amount of people from Boise to the Canadian border who cheer for the Vandals, and B) the game of football's fairly recent status upgrade to "the national pastime."
If Idaho fans wonder why the Mountain West Conference won't invite the Vandals and rescue them from a soon-defunct league, look no further than 11,466. The number is the stuff of a Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA) program.
Any ideas for selling out the Kibbie Dome? Here are a few from an impromptu brainstorm:
—— Unique giveaways:
- Free copies of Robb Akey's debut self-help DVD, "Talkin' Gruff." Famous guest instructors include Bill Pullman (the "Independence Day" incarnation), Sam Elliot and Brian Dennehy.
- Anthony Thomas bobblehead dolls (the head shakes up and head while the figurine cries "no, we stink"); long, flowing back wigs in honor of ex-Vandal/new San Francisco 49er Mike Iupati; flasks with etchings of Bob Kustra's smug mug.
- Raffle drawings for one free roster spot each week on the Washington State University football team. Might even be a starting role.
—— Set up a press conference for Karl Benson, Western Athletic Conference commissioner, after the game. The catch? He'd be hooked up to a lie-detector test.
"People will come, Ray. People will most definitely come."
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
No long-developing routes allowed — Nebraska gameweek
I know, I know. The University of Idaho at The University of Nebraska sounds a bit like a sick joke — even after a very unsettling decade for UN's once proud defense. This unit had shriveled quite a bit amid a slew of losses until two years ago, when the Corhuskers rebounded to place second in the Big 12 in total defense just one season after ranking 112th nationally.
Then last year the defense improved even more, holding opponents to a nation-best 10.4 points per game. Paltry.
And UI's bread and butter, the passing game? While the Vandals averaged 287 yards per game through the air in 2009, Nebraska allowed a very, very minimal 179 receiving yards per game.
With Preaseason Big 12 First-Team All-Conference selection Jared Crick helming a talented defensive line, don't expect Princeton McCarty and Deonte' Jackson to gouge the Cornhuskers for big chunks of yardage on the ground. Also, don't expect the inexperienced offensive line to keep UI quarterback upright for the bulk of the day.Then last year the defense improved even more, holding opponents to a nation-best 10.4 points per game. Paltry.
And UI's bread and butter, the passing game? While the Vandals averaged 287 yards per game through the air in 2009, Nebraska allowed a very, very minimal 179 receiving yards per game.
Instead, the Vandals need to find a way to get the ball to their best asset — their enormous, speedy receiving corps — quickly. No long-developing routes allowed.
UN has one Preseason Big-12 All-Conference performer in the secondary, but it's also without injured junior cornerback Anthony Blue, who figured to be a key nickel back for the Cornhuskers.
If Enderle can get his targets involved with timely slants and quick dump-offs in the flat, there's a chance UI can build the consistent passing they need to win in Lincoln.
A tiny chance, but a chance indeed.
Monday, September 6, 2010
No eclairs, just turnovers — Nebraska gameweek
The unranked University of Idaho football team has a tall task ahead this Saturday, as they'll visit the University of Nebraska Cornhuskiers — a team with five national titles that is ranked in the top 10 nationally this year.
On the surface this figures to be like every other Vandal game we've seen against a big-time foe: lopsided loss, horrible for program morale, injuries aplenty and gnashing of teeth.
So what's going to make the outcome better this time? Maybe nothing, but if anything, turnovers is one of the best bets. In 2009, UN's two losses to unranked teams were marked by giveaways and really poor offensive performances.
Iowa State defeated the Cornhuskers 9-7 — sounds like a perfect time for a nap — mostly because of eight turnovers, including five lost fumbles. A week earlier UN lost 31-10 to Texas Tech, turning the ball over twice and managing just 285 yards.
UI's still-emerging defense — even that is probably more of a "glass half full" description of this unit — probably won't shut down the UN offense. But turnovers can happen any way, any time — especially in the presence of senior talent/leadership.
Enter Shiloh Keo and JoJo Dickson. On Thursday versus The University of North Dakota — the poor, poor, poor, VERY poor man's Cornhuskers — Keo and Dickson each picked off a pass, and the former forced and recovered a fumble. And we know from many previous games during their tenure that their penchant for ball thievery is no anomaly.
Turnovers are practically impossible to predict, mostly because many of them are plain, dumb luck. But I'd take plain, dumb luck over a 56-point drubbing, wouldn't you?
On the surface this figures to be like every other Vandal game we've seen against a big-time foe: lopsided loss, horrible for program morale, injuries aplenty and gnashing of teeth.
So what's going to make the outcome better this time? Maybe nothing, but if anything, turnovers is one of the best bets. In 2009, UN's two losses to unranked teams were marked by giveaways and really poor offensive performances.
Iowa State defeated the Cornhuskers 9-7 — sounds like a perfect time for a nap — mostly because of eight turnovers, including five lost fumbles. A week earlier UN lost 31-10 to Texas Tech, turning the ball over twice and managing just 285 yards.
UI's still-emerging defense — even that is probably more of a "glass half full" description of this unit — probably won't shut down the UN offense. But turnovers can happen any way, any time — especially in the presence of senior talent/leadership.
Enter Shiloh Keo and JoJo Dickson. On Thursday versus The University of North Dakota — the poor, poor, poor, VERY poor man's Cornhuskers — Keo and Dickson each picked off a pass, and the former forced and recovered a fumble. And we know from many previous games during their tenure that their penchant for ball thievery is no anomaly.
Turnovers are practically impossible to predict, mostly because many of them are plain, dumb luck. But I'd take plain, dumb luck over a 56-point drubbing, wouldn't you?
Friday, September 3, 2010
Reasonable goals and delicious dreams
The Vandals' 2010 football season is off to an excellent start, but how will the rest of the season progress? Here are some best-case scenarios — some reasonable and some ridiculous.
Reasonable best-case scenario:
— Bob Kustra is red in the face as the injury-thinned That Team
From Boise — missing integral cogs such as Kellen Moore and Jeron
Johnson — loses 45-42 to the Vandals in an epic shootout. The
entire state south of McCall literally implodes as the gameclock
hits 00:00.
Unrealistic best-case scenario:
— Bob Kustra attends the Idaho vs. That Team From Boise game in
Moscow but is removed from the stadium at halftime after security
guards discover he has three full flasks stuffed in his overcoat
pockets.
Oh yeah, and UI wins 48-34.
-----
Reasonable best-case scenario:
— Senior defensive linemen Aaron Lavarias and Jonah Sataraka
finally take some pressure off the long-maligned UI secondary,
leading a front seven that accumulates 25 sacks and
holds opposing defenses to fewer than 20 points per game.
Unrealistic best-case scenario:
— Senior defensive linemen Aaron Lavarias and Jonah Sataraka do
enough damage against Nebraska's offensive line to hold the
Cornhuskers to 10 points on Sept. 11, and an Armauni Johnson
kickoff return for touchdown and Shiloh Keo punt return for
touchdown spearhead a 14-10 victory.
Fans from the northwest celebrate afterward with a corn feed the
likes of which no one has ever seen.
-----
Reasonable best-case scenario:
— The continued development of UI's receivers offsets the
inexperience of the offensive line, allowing quarterback Nathan
Enderle to compile statistics similar to those from his 2009
campaign.
Unrealistic best-case scenario:
— Returning starter Matt Cleveland dominates, making Mike Iupati
look like Mike Myers, and the former's leadership ignites
impressive success amid the entire offensive line. Running backs
Princeton McCarty and Deonte' Jackson each rush for more than 800
yards.
-----
Reasonable best-case scenario:
— A 3-2 nonconference record — sorry, I'm not predicting a victory in Lincoln — and 5-3 conference record make the Vandals 8-5 and bowl-eligible for the second consecutive season.
Unrealistic best-case scenario:
— UI shocks the country with a 14-0 record and a third-place finish in the final AP poll. Yet some of the luster of the accomplishment fades when, at the 2011 "ESPY Awards" show, the presenter refers to them as "those guys who wore the pants with the huge 'I' on the butt." Drat.
Reasonable best-case scenario:
— The Western Athletic Conference is able to stay alive by drawing a couple very good Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA, to us sane people) program. The Vandals live to fight another day in big-boy football.
Unrealistic best-case scenario:
—The Mountain West Conference, in efforts to sustain to expand to 12 teams and keep a travel-friendly in-state rivalry together, invite UI and (insert name of another team here). Despite their embarrassingly small stadium — which they can't consistently fill — and less-than-ideal recruiting situation, the Vandals overcome all odds to win the MWC in their rookie season. Afterward Kustra searches for a Dumpster to hide in.
It's fun to dream. But the good news is that even some of the more attainable goals for the 2010 season would be pretty sweet.
Who's up for another bowl?
Reasonable best-case scenario:
— Bob Kustra is red in the face as the injury-thinned That Team
From Boise — missing integral cogs such as Kellen Moore and Jeron
Johnson — loses 45-42 to the Vandals in an epic shootout. The
entire state south of McCall literally implodes as the gameclock
hits 00:00.
Unrealistic best-case scenario:
— Bob Kustra attends the Idaho vs. That Team From Boise game in
Moscow but is removed from the stadium at halftime after security
guards discover he has three full flasks stuffed in his overcoat
pockets.
Oh yeah, and UI wins 48-34.
-----
Reasonable best-case scenario:
— Senior defensive linemen Aaron Lavarias and Jonah Sataraka
finally take some pressure off the long-maligned UI secondary,
leading a front seven that accumulates 25 sacks and
holds opposing defenses to fewer than 20 points per game.
Unrealistic best-case scenario:
— Senior defensive linemen Aaron Lavarias and Jonah Sataraka do
enough damage against Nebraska's offensive line to hold the
Cornhuskers to 10 points on Sept. 11, and an Armauni Johnson
kickoff return for touchdown and Shiloh Keo punt return for
touchdown spearhead a 14-10 victory.
Fans from the northwest celebrate afterward with a corn feed the
likes of which no one has ever seen.
-----
Reasonable best-case scenario:
— The continued development of UI's receivers offsets the
inexperience of the offensive line, allowing quarterback Nathan
Enderle to compile statistics similar to those from his 2009
campaign.
Unrealistic best-case scenario:
— Returning starter Matt Cleveland dominates, making Mike Iupati
look like Mike Myers, and the former's leadership ignites
impressive success amid the entire offensive line. Running backs
Princeton McCarty and Deonte' Jackson each rush for more than 800
yards.
-----
Reasonable best-case scenario:
— A 3-2 nonconference record — sorry, I'm not predicting a victory in Lincoln — and 5-3 conference record make the Vandals 8-5 and bowl-eligible for the second consecutive season.
Unrealistic best-case scenario:
— UI shocks the country with a 14-0 record and a third-place finish in the final AP poll. Yet some of the luster of the accomplishment fades when, at the 2011 "ESPY Awards" show, the presenter refers to them as "those guys who wore the pants with the huge 'I' on the butt." Drat.
Reasonable best-case scenario:
— The Western Athletic Conference is able to stay alive by drawing a couple very good Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA, to us sane people) program. The Vandals live to fight another day in big-boy football.
Unrealistic best-case scenario:
—The Mountain West Conference, in efforts to sustain to expand to 12 teams and keep a travel-friendly in-state rivalry together, invite UI and (insert name of another team here). Despite their embarrassingly small stadium — which they can't consistently fill — and less-than-ideal recruiting situation, the Vandals overcome all odds to win the MWC in their rookie season. Afterward Kustra searches for a Dumpster to hide in.
It's fun to dream. But the good news is that even some of the more attainable goals for the 2010 season would be pretty sweet.
Who's up for another bowl?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Gaudy first-game statistics difficult to ignore
What it lacked in discernible meaning it made up for with impressive statistics.
The University of Idaho football team beat up on lower-division opponent North Dakota tonight, which basically amounted to what a Football Bowl Subdivision is expected to do. Still, it's tough to ignore the gaudy numbers the Vandals put up in this 45-0 drubbing:
Perhaps more importantly, though, UI showed positive signs in some areas that had been up in the air:
Not even this big blowout was devoid of reasons for concern:
It's on.
The University of Idaho football team beat up on lower-division opponent North Dakota tonight, which basically amounted to what a Football Bowl Subdivision is expected to do. Still, it's tough to ignore the gaudy numbers the Vandals put up in this 45-0 drubbing:
- 547 total yards
- Nathan Enderle: More than 300 passing yards and two touchdowns, including a deep scoring strike of 44 yards
- Princeton McCarty: More than 7 yards per carry and two touchdowns
- Eight players caught at least two passes
- Returning defensive leaders Shiloh Keo and JoJo Dickson each nabbed an interception and ran it back at least 30 yards.
Perhaps more importantly, though, UI showed positive signs in some areas that had been up in the air:
- Junior-college transfer Armauni Johnson proved that all the hype was at least partially warranted. He caught three balls for 86 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown snag. Welcome, Mr. Big Play. Fans need more of that.
- Despite the four sacks sustained by Enderle, the offensive line held up well enough to allow Enderle and backup Reader to complete more than 60 percent of their attempts combined.
Not even this big blowout was devoid of reasons for concern:
- Deonte' Jackson appeared to injure his ankle early on and was a nonfactor for the rest of the game. Not exactly the senior-year beginning I envisioned for him.
- The Vandals were whistled for 12 penalties totaling 110 yards. Hopefully that was simply a product of being too jazzed up for their first real competition of the year.
- UI managed just one sack against a much smaller, far less talented squad — and gave up fairly significant ground success.
It's on.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
One worry vs. North Dakota
University of Idaho football fans can relax a bit Thursday — except maybe in one area.
Unlike a season-opening contest against a big-time program from the Pac-10 or Big 10 — the type of payday game Vandal fans are accustomed to — the game against the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux won't present many challenges. The UI offense's diverse group of skill-position players, led by quarterback Nathan Enderle, should do just fine against this squad that:
A) Was outscored 307 to 250 in 2009 — including 92 to 32 in first quarters.
B) Was awful against the pass a year ago.
C) Is beginning only its third year of Football Championship Subdivision (Division I-AA) status.
Still, if you're searching for a reason to care about Thursday's matchup — other than the excuse to eat your weight in cheese fries at the local sports grill — look no further than the defensive line, especially its interior. This unit's performance could speak volumes about the coming season.
UI is at the point in its program where it needs to truly dominate any FCS opponent — especially one coming off a 6-5 record and with only six returning starters on offense. What's more, the Vandals need to have success against even the strengths of a given FCS team — in this case, the running game.
The most intriguing part of UND's team is its backfield. Returning starter Mitch Sutton has good size and rushed for 689 yards on 4.6 yards per attempt. He was the Great West Conference Rookie of the Year and a Great West All-Conference First-Teamer.
But Sutton's probably not even the best runner on the squad. Josh Murray, a junior who missed 2009, led the Sioux with 1,146 yards on just 188 carries in 2008, scoring 12 touchdowns in the process.
The Vandals have plenty of experience and size on the defensive line, and athleticism to burn amid the linebackers. If they don't shut down UND's running game, there may be reason for concern.
After all, the UI defense has improved over the past couple years, but there's a lot more work to do before fans can stop holding their breath on a weekly basis.
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