The University of Idaho football team has made strides in some areas, but at 3-2 going into their first conference game, they've also caused fans some consternation.
Considering that they will have had two weeks to rest and study up by the time they step onto the field Saturday against Louisiana Tech, here are some things the Vandals might improve on this weekend and beyond.
We'd love to forget:
1) The Vandals' offensive line has struggled. Everyone said this facet would be an adventure — and not the fun, fantastic, Pixar animated movie type of adventure — after Idaho lost four of its five starters from 2009.
Everyone was correct. Idaho quarterbacks have been sacked 21 times this season, and at this rate they'll go down 50 times by the end of the year. Plus the running game has been inconsistent.
The good news is that, with a highly inexperienced O-line such as this one, every game is a learning experience. After five games and the past two weeks to glean advice from the coaches, these guys could make big strides by the end of the season.
Hopefully those strides will be made even earlier.
2) The coaching has been suspect. I give a lot of credit to Robb Akey and his staff for turning a culture of dismay and heartburn into a positive, competitive environment. That said, Idaho would be 4-1 if it weren't for the coaches' inability to adjust to a a horrendous Colorado State offense.
Idaho has enough problems winning games without having to worry about game-changing miscues from the guys wearing the headsets.
3) This may seem nitpicky, but Idaho has scored touchdowns on only 11 of its 21 red-zone appearances this season — 52 percent. In 2009 the Vandals converted 6 points on 67 percent of red-zone trips.
Considering the extremely low level of competition Idaho has faced, 52 percent is unacceptable. Too many field goals. Too many missed opportunities.
The Vandals can get away with inefficiency against awful teams such as UNLV and North Dakota, but if they throw away touchdown chances in tougher league matchups, they won't win.
Luckily, all of these areas of concern are improvable. It should be a fun ride through the final eight games.
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