Posted by bambi2godzilla on 3/9/2008, 10:25 am
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BSU football filling in the blanks
Chadd Cripe
Idaho Statesman
March 09, 2008
There was an edge in coach Chris Petersen's voice last week as he discussed the Boise State football team's 15-practice spring ball, which begins Monday. Sure, the team returns enough wide receivers and tailbacks to fill three lineups and could put a player with starting experience at all but one spot on defense. But that two-game losing streak to end the 2007 season - in the WAC title game and Hawaii Bowl - and the loss of five of the top six offensive linemen give Petersen plenty of reasons for uneasiness. "We've got a ton of things we've got to solve, at all positions, across the board," he said. Here's a spring primer as the Broncos begin to fill in the blanks in preparation for the 2008 season:
OFFENSIVE BUZZ WORD: TEMPO
Coach Chris Petersen wants to crank up the tempo and intensity in practice, and that starts with the offense, which will limit its huddling to drive the pace. "Great teams are built in practice," Petersen said. " One of the things I've always felt about Boise State football from the second I came over here was 'very good practice football teams.' We need to get back to that, get back to practicing at full speed - fast and in a very tough way."
DEFENSIVE BUZZ WORD: PHYSICAL
The Broncos were overpowered in their season-ending losses to Hawaii and East Carolina, which combined for 80 points and 1,050 yards. Defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox will emphasize fundamentals, physical play and finishing plays this spring. "It's got to be that attitude that I'm going to die before I let that guy beat me," Wilcox said. " We just need more consistency that way and we need to challenge some guys that way. In order for us to be good, that's what we need to do."
POSITIONS TO WATCH
Offensive line: The Broncos lost four starters and their sixth man. The four starters had a combined total of 12 seasons of starting experience.
The new line could include three freshmen - left tackle Nate Potter, center Thomas Byrd and guard/tackle Garrett Pendergast. Other contenders include senior returning starter Andrew Woodruff (guard/tackle), senior Jon Gott (guard) and sophomore Matt Slater (tackle).
"We have to kind of puzzle that whole thing together," Petersen said. "It's going to be a work in progress all the way up to our first game."
Linebacker: The Broncos return five linebackers who started games last year, but none of them are locks to start this year. Coaches weren't happy with the production from a group that forced just six turnovers and was partly responsible for allowing 20 opponent rushing TDs.
"We need to take a step forward at that position," Petersen said.
VETERANS TO WATCH
Offense: Wide receivers Austin Pettis and Titus Young go through their first spring ball after combining for 90 catches and 13 touchdowns as true freshmen. And with leading receiver Jeremy Childs suspended, they should get plenty of work.
Defense: Sophomore defensive end Ryan Winterswyk slides to the strong side, replacing Nick Schlekeway. It's more of a run-stopper position, but defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox said he'll find ways to utilize Winterswyk's pass-rushing skills, too. Winterswyk had 5.5 sacks and four pass breakups last year.
FRESHMEN TO WATCH
Offense: Thomas Byrd and Cory Yriarte will battle for the starting job at center, the most important position on an offensive line with just one experienced player. Byrd was a standout last fall during scrimmages and could bring stability to a position that will have its sixth starter in seven years.
Defense: George Iloka(6-foot-3, 200 pounds) graduated from high school in January so he could join the Broncos six months early. The position is so thin (four scholarship safeties, with Garcia Day moving to cornerback) that he will get plenty of opportunities this spring to prove he can play right away.
QB DERBY
And they're off - again.
Senior Bush Hamdan, junior Nick Lomax, sophomore Mike Coughlin and freshman Kellen Moore will compete for the starting quarterback job. All but Moore were in the race last year, when senior Taylor Tharp won.
The quarterbacks will start out in order by class, which means Hamdan gets the first-teamers first.
"That won't last long," offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin said. "That will get us started. Really, from day one, those guys are evaluated and graded and it will change."
ON THE SIDELINE
Cornerback Kyle Wilson (knee), linebacker David Shields (shoulder) and defensive lineman Steven Reveles (shoulder) will not practice this spring.
WHO'S BACK?
The Broncos return seven defensive starters, five offensive starters and both kickers. The returners include every player with a carry last year except Tharp, the top eight receivers and the top seven scorers. On defense, eight of the top 10 tacklers and five of the top six sackers are back.
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