I have gotten over the loss. I actually surprise myself because I have told myself for years that there are more important things than football and it's just a game. That mental resolve was severely tested over the weekend, but it remains steadfast and firm. Sunday was worse than Saturday for me, but life goes on. Now, I am not wishing to re-hash or re-open old wounds, but I do want to explain my thoughts on what happened Friday night in Reno now that a few days worth of digesting everything has taken place.
Coaching-
Coach Pete is nothing short of a God for Bronco fans. I am not sure that there is really anything different that he could have done to prepare his players mentally, but they weren't ready for what Nevada was throwing at them in the second half. It appeared that the team fell into the same trap that we as fans did; We are better than the Wolfpack and all we need to do is show up and we will win. Obviously, that was not the case.
Strength and Conditioning-
Boise State's defense was gassed in the second half. Part of that may have had to do with the fact that the starters hadn't played an entire game since Oregon State came to town. It also was because Nevada had possession of the ball for most of the 3rd and 4th quarters. Vai Taua wore them down and the Wolfpack capitalized on it.
Play Calling-
The Broncos' offensive coordinator panicked. Nevada brought heat on just about every play in the second half (mainly from man-yetti Dontay Moch) and Boise State never adjusted. For me, the worst part was that they got away from the power running game with which they had so much success in the first half. Doug Martin up the middle was earning the Broncos 5 or 6 yards per carry. The second half saw lots of passing for Kellen Moore and those ridiculous sweep plays where the running back had the ball 7 yards deep in the backfield. Obviously it was ineffective. They panicked and ditched the power running game. It's too bad because Martin was having a career night for yards and touchdowns, and because it would have eaten the clock and let the defense rest a little bit.
Dropped Passes-
It was painful to watch. Titus Young and Mitch Burroughs started the second half with drops. Momentum killers. "If it touches your hands you have to catch it son!"
Luck-
Or should I say, lack of it. Boise State forced one turnover from Nevada; a gorgeous George Iloke interception on Nevada's first drive. After that, there were at least two Wolfpack fumbles that somehow flew right into teammates' hands. What if the Broncos somehow were able to get at least one of those? Boise State just couldn't catch a break in the luck department. Maybe someone broke a mirror before the game...
Injuries/Suspensions-
Byron Hout and Michael "Canadian Bacon" Atkinson were sorely missed Friday night. Hout is an outstanding run-stopper. Also, the presence of Atkinson to spell some of the winded defensive lineman would have helped immensely. Tyler Shoemaker was injured and did not play and we really could have used him.
Referees-
I feel like I keep mentioning them, but they were really bad. As I have said many times, I am not blaming the officials for the loss. This post is about what went wrong for Boise State, and referees were part of it-They couldn't catch a break from them either. Karl Benson has since come out and said that the calls that were made were correct, including the field goal at the end of regulation. To that I say, I guess. If there wasn't any problem with them then why is there a need to come out and defend them? Also, look at this post on obnug.com. It has to do with the Brotzman's first field goal attempt and how there is no way that it missed. Take it for what it's worth...
What are your thoughts? Did I miss anything or is there something that I got wrong here? Please let me know. I am open for discussion on anything. Let's continue to get ready for the Utah State game on Saturday. Bowl season is coming!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
WAC Weekend Recap, Turkey Day Edition
It seemed like the Weekend started off bad and just got worse. From the opening kick off on Friday to Anthony Martinez' game winning field goal for Nevada it just felt like it was going to be Boise State's day. Still, there is a lot to look forward to for this year and for many more years down the road. Again, I wish to congratulate the Wolfpack for a great game and for the victory. They earned it. Let's get to recapping this weekend's action and go from there.
Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors at New Mexico State Aggies
My prediction was Hawai'i wins 45 to 14
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 59, Aggies 24
This game went exactly as I expected it to. Hawai'i is a good team and New Mexico State sucks. That is what happens in such a match up. Quarterback Bryant Moniz only had 315 passing yards for the Rainbow Warriors, which I guess is a bad game for him. Their running back Alex Green went off for 327 rushing yards on 19 carries. That is insane. Next week Hawai'i hosts UNLV on the islands and the Aggies do nothing. Their season is over.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at San Jose State Spartans
My prediction was Louisiana Tech wins 35 to 17
Final score: Bulldogs 45, Spartans 38
Well this bad boy turned into a shoot out, huh? I never would have thought that San Jose State had the personnel, talent, or wits to participate in a shoot out, but obviously I was wrong. Spartan quarterback Jordan La Secla had a career night, exploding for 496 yards through the air on 35 completions. It only took him 65 attempts to do it, too. I think they abandoned the run game...On the other hand, Louisiana Tech went mainly with their bruising running back Lennon Creer to the tune of 252 yards on 30 carries. Holy crap now I am wishing that I watched this game! In the end, the Bulldogs pulled it out and can now look forward to hosting the Nevada Wolfpack, whom they need to beat to become bowl eligible. San Jose State travels up to the dump that is Moscow to take on the Vandals.
Idaho Vandals at Fresno State Bulldogs
My prediction was Fresno State wins 35 to 28
Final score: Bulldogs 23, Vandals 20
The craziest thing about this game was that Fresno State did not score an offensive touchdown until the final minute, which also gave the Bulldogs the win. That means that their offense hadn't found the end zone in almost 8 full quarters before then (they got shut out at Boise State last weekend). It was too good to be true for the Vandals. There was no way that they were going to pull off the win. Better luck next year Idaho. It's nice to see that their quarterback Nathan Enderle is consistent, throwing plenty of interceptions. One went for a touchdown for Fresno State the other way. The Bulldogs finish up the regular season hosting Illinois from the Big Ten. Idaho heads back home and will host the San Jose State Spartans. They will not be bowl eligible this year.
Arizona Wildcats at Oregon Ducks
My prediction was Oregon wins 51 to 35
Final score: Ducks 48, Wildcats 29
Arizona had the lead at halftime, but it just felt like it wasn't going to happen for them. Oregon did what it always does (except against Cal) and pushes the throttle full speed in the second half to turn the game into a blow out. The Ducks' defense is not that good, but opportunistic. Giving up as many points as they do each week is fine if their offense continues to score at will. Oregon has secured the Pac-10's automatic BCS bid with the win and now look to lock up their spot in the National Championship game. They have to travel to Corvallis for the Civil War against the Beavers next Saturday. Arizona will host their rival Arizona State. On a side note, Pac-10 officials are terrible. That is all.
Auburn Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide
My prediction was Alabama wins in an upset special 35 to 34
Final score: Tigers 28, Crimson Tide 27
This contest was so frustrating to watch, especially in the second half. Alabama jumped out to a 24-0 lead early and subsequently blew it, just as we all were expecting. The Crimson Tide fumbled the ball two separate times as they were going in to score. They should have had at least 41 points. That was what was so frustrating. Also, it didn't help that they couldn't keep Nick Fairley and the rest of the Auburn defensive line out of the back field. In the end, Cam Newton was too much for the Crimson Tide and Auburn's National Championship hopes are still alive. Also, Auburn's T'Sharvan Bell body-slammed Alabama's quarterback Greg McElroy into the turf, concussing him and knocking him out of the game. It was brutal. Auburn now faces South Carolina in the SEC Championship game. That will be a good one. I wonder what will happen if the Tigers lose. Do they still get to the National Championship Game? The Crimson Tide is done for now as they wait to find out where they will go bowling.
Record coming in: 53-14
This week (including Boise State's loss to Nevada): 4-2
Total: 57-16
Ever since last Friday when Boise State got owned in the second half against Nevada, I have had one thing on my mind (and I'm sure many other Boise State fans have as well); the field goal(s). How in the world could Brotzman miss, especially the first one? Let me get one thing straight, I in no way blame Kyle for the loss. He was not the one out there missing tackles, letting Wolfpack receiver Rishard Matthews run free in the secondary, and allowing Dantay Moch terrorize Kellen Moore. Kyle should never have been put in that position if the team would have played like they can. Like I said, Nevada earned the win and they should get all the credit in the world for being resilient, hard-nosed, and relentless.
With that said, I have a huge bone to pick with the WAC and those morons that they use as referees. I have mentioned this before, but that was one of the the worst officiated games I have ever seen in my life. They did not cost the Broncos the game, I don't think, but it sure swung lots of momentum back to Nevada. Read my earlier post here in the "What We Learned" section for more. I don't want to go into details about it here. But let's get back to the field goal that would have won the game for Boise State. Look at the video here, or just look at it below:
Personally, I don't see how that was a miss. He was close enough that even if it was angled, it still would have gone in. I understand that for a Nevada fan, it was clearly a miss. I am not trying to argue that because it is basically impossible to tell on a 2-D television/computer screen. What blows my mind is the fact that the officials under the goal posts don't make any hand signals after it is kicked. They were blocked by the crowd and the stands at the beginning, but walk out with their arms to their side. I am utterly baffled. Like I said, it's difficult to tell from that particular video replay if it was good or not, but don't they normally have cameras under the goal posts as well? I don't know, I'm just frustrated at how the game went and poorly officiated it was. Call me a whiner if you want, but I would like an explanation if there is one out there.
Anyway, congrats to the Wolfpack for earning a share of the WAC title. I look forward to playing them for years to come in the Mountain West. Let's get ready for Utah State and most likely the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Let's go Broncos!
Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors at New Mexico State Aggies
My prediction was Hawai'i wins 45 to 14
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 59, Aggies 24
This game went exactly as I expected it to. Hawai'i is a good team and New Mexico State sucks. That is what happens in such a match up. Quarterback Bryant Moniz only had 315 passing yards for the Rainbow Warriors, which I guess is a bad game for him. Their running back Alex Green went off for 327 rushing yards on 19 carries. That is insane. Next week Hawai'i hosts UNLV on the islands and the Aggies do nothing. Their season is over.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at San Jose State Spartans
My prediction was Louisiana Tech wins 35 to 17
Final score: Bulldogs 45, Spartans 38
Well this bad boy turned into a shoot out, huh? I never would have thought that San Jose State had the personnel, talent, or wits to participate in a shoot out, but obviously I was wrong. Spartan quarterback Jordan La Secla had a career night, exploding for 496 yards through the air on 35 completions. It only took him 65 attempts to do it, too. I think they abandoned the run game...On the other hand, Louisiana Tech went mainly with their bruising running back Lennon Creer to the tune of 252 yards on 30 carries. Holy crap now I am wishing that I watched this game! In the end, the Bulldogs pulled it out and can now look forward to hosting the Nevada Wolfpack, whom they need to beat to become bowl eligible. San Jose State travels up to the dump that is Moscow to take on the Vandals.
Idaho Vandals at Fresno State Bulldogs
My prediction was Fresno State wins 35 to 28
Final score: Bulldogs 23, Vandals 20
The craziest thing about this game was that Fresno State did not score an offensive touchdown until the final minute, which also gave the Bulldogs the win. That means that their offense hadn't found the end zone in almost 8 full quarters before then (they got shut out at Boise State last weekend). It was too good to be true for the Vandals. There was no way that they were going to pull off the win. Better luck next year Idaho. It's nice to see that their quarterback Nathan Enderle is consistent, throwing plenty of interceptions. One went for a touchdown for Fresno State the other way. The Bulldogs finish up the regular season hosting Illinois from the Big Ten. Idaho heads back home and will host the San Jose State Spartans. They will not be bowl eligible this year.
Arizona Wildcats at Oregon Ducks
My prediction was Oregon wins 51 to 35
Final score: Ducks 48, Wildcats 29
Arizona had the lead at halftime, but it just felt like it wasn't going to happen for them. Oregon did what it always does (except against Cal) and pushes the throttle full speed in the second half to turn the game into a blow out. The Ducks' defense is not that good, but opportunistic. Giving up as many points as they do each week is fine if their offense continues to score at will. Oregon has secured the Pac-10's automatic BCS bid with the win and now look to lock up their spot in the National Championship game. They have to travel to Corvallis for the Civil War against the Beavers next Saturday. Arizona will host their rival Arizona State. On a side note, Pac-10 officials are terrible. That is all.
Auburn Tigers at Alabama Crimson Tide
My prediction was Alabama wins in an upset special 35 to 34
Final score: Tigers 28, Crimson Tide 27
This contest was so frustrating to watch, especially in the second half. Alabama jumped out to a 24-0 lead early and subsequently blew it, just as we all were expecting. The Crimson Tide fumbled the ball two separate times as they were going in to score. They should have had at least 41 points. That was what was so frustrating. Also, it didn't help that they couldn't keep Nick Fairley and the rest of the Auburn defensive line out of the back field. In the end, Cam Newton was too much for the Crimson Tide and Auburn's National Championship hopes are still alive. Also, Auburn's T'Sharvan Bell body-slammed Alabama's quarterback Greg McElroy into the turf, concussing him and knocking him out of the game. It was brutal. Auburn now faces South Carolina in the SEC Championship game. That will be a good one. I wonder what will happen if the Tigers lose. Do they still get to the National Championship Game? The Crimson Tide is done for now as they wait to find out where they will go bowling.
Record coming in: 53-14
This week (including Boise State's loss to Nevada): 4-2
Total: 57-16
Ever since last Friday when Boise State got owned in the second half against Nevada, I have had one thing on my mind (and I'm sure many other Boise State fans have as well); the field goal(s). How in the world could Brotzman miss, especially the first one? Let me get one thing straight, I in no way blame Kyle for the loss. He was not the one out there missing tackles, letting Wolfpack receiver Rishard Matthews run free in the secondary, and allowing Dantay Moch terrorize Kellen Moore. Kyle should never have been put in that position if the team would have played like they can. Like I said, Nevada earned the win and they should get all the credit in the world for being resilient, hard-nosed, and relentless.
With that said, I have a huge bone to pick with the WAC and those morons that they use as referees. I have mentioned this before, but that was one of the the worst officiated games I have ever seen in my life. They did not cost the Broncos the game, I don't think, but it sure swung lots of momentum back to Nevada. Read my earlier post here in the "What We Learned" section for more. I don't want to go into details about it here. But let's get back to the field goal that would have won the game for Boise State. Look at the video here, or just look at it below:
Personally, I don't see how that was a miss. He was close enough that even if it was angled, it still would have gone in. I understand that for a Nevada fan, it was clearly a miss. I am not trying to argue that because it is basically impossible to tell on a 2-D television/computer screen. What blows my mind is the fact that the officials under the goal posts don't make any hand signals after it is kicked. They were blocked by the crowd and the stands at the beginning, but walk out with their arms to their side. I am utterly baffled. Like I said, it's difficult to tell from that particular video replay if it was good or not, but don't they normally have cameras under the goal posts as well? I don't know, I'm just frustrated at how the game went and poorly officiated it was. Call me a whiner if you want, but I would like an explanation if there is one out there.
Anyway, congrats to the Wolfpack for earning a share of the WAC title. I look forward to playing them for years to come in the Mountain West. Let's get ready for Utah State and most likely the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Let's go Broncos!
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Broncos Fall Short at Nevada, Pretty Much Give it Away in the Second Half
Ouch, that really hurts. As upset and dejected as I felt last night watching Boise State's BCS Bowl and title hunt go sailing wide right and then wide left of the upright, it is important that we as Bronco fans and supporters look at the big picture of this season and what is to come. The result of the game was unexpected yes, but kudos to Nevada for being up to the task, not backing down, and pulling it out in the end. Life goes on and this football team is only going to get better as the years go by, there is no doubt about that. Let's look at some numbers and see just how bad it was.
Yardage:
......Broncos......Wolfpack
Rushing-145...........269
Passing-348...........259
..Total-493...........528
First Downs:
......Broncos......Wolfpack
........21............28
There really isn't that much more to look at. These stats tell the entire story. Uncharacteristically, Boise State gave up a lot of yards. I mean a lot. That is just ridiculous. The worst part is I can't quite put my finger on what happened. The Broncos had the Wolfpack stuffed the entire first half and were also firing on all cylinders offensively. The second half started and it looked like the teams had switched jerseys. Hats off to Nevada for making adjustments and earning the victory. I still can't believe that the Wolfpack was able to move the ball that easily against what has been a more than stellar Bronco defensive front. It was shocking. What was even more incredible was the fact that Boise State's offense sputtered against the Nevada defense. They were able to get pressure on Moore and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. The offensive line was disappointing in that regard. All of these things make up why Nevada had more yards and more first downs than the Broncos. It's baffling.
What We Learned:
Nevada was confident and it showed. They were not scared to play the Broncos. Credit to Chris Ault for preparing his guys and making the adjustments at half time. Maybe he is a good coach after all. The Wolfpack never flinched as Boise State got out to an early lead but they remained focused. A few hours before the game I told my wife that this game felt a lot like the one at Hawai'i in 2007 when they earned a trip to the Sugar Bowl. It felt like a trap and it sure was.
That was the worst officiated game I have seen in a really long time. By no means is that the reason that Boise State lost, but it made it just that much harder to watch. The punt catch interference call was one of the worst referring decisions I can recall. It was a great play by Boise State. The pass interference against Jamar Taylor was ludicrous, and completely gave the momentum to the Wolfpack. Plus they missed an obvious one against Nevada the next drive where the defender grabbed Titus Young's facemask. Ridiculous. Like I said, the refs didn't lose the game for the Broncos, but it sure made me mad.
Coach Pete and the team are classy as always. Just listen to the post game press conferences. I am seriously glad that he is the coach.
Kyle Brotzman is still the man. How anyone has the audacity to threaten his life is ludicrous. There were reports that his family's house in Meridian was getting phone calls threatening to kill him. I am completely ashamed as a Bronco fan for that. I love Kyle Brotzman. He has been a great player for Boise State since he was a freshman and that does not change now. Blaming the loss on him is ridiculous. He wasn't out there missing tackles and letting Nevada's defense get in Moore's grill all night. Yes, his job is to make field goals and those two were pretty easy ones to make, but the defense and offense shouldn't have put him in that position. Death threats are asinine. How quickly we forget. Remember at the Fiesta Bowl when he did this and everybody fell in love with him?
Areas of Concern:
There are so many. Run defense. It was good all season up until this point. Protecting our quarterback. Special teams. You name it. Mainly in the second half, this was not a good performance for Boise State.
Favorite Play:
It has to be either the Doug Martin screen for an 80-something yard touchdown or the bomb to Titus Young that put the Broncos in field goal range to win the game. Too bad neither mattered in the end.
Thoughts and Tidbits:
This loss was completely deflating for fans. We go from national title contenders to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against a crappy 6-6 team probably from the Pac-10 in just one game. Such is the life of college football fans. Kellen is still the man and will be in New York for the Heisman ceremony.
Weekly Player to Watch Recap:
Doug Martin was a complete beast last night. He scored three touchdowns and accounted for 230 total yards, both rushing and receiving. It was beautiful. The Muscle Hamster strikes again!
Perception:
The whole "style points" thing is now over as is the importance of national perception. Still, I think most voters and non-biased mature college football fans will recognize how good of a team Nevada is and that Boise State losing to them is not the biggest shock in the history of the sport. I will be cheering for the Horned Frogs in the Rose Bowl come January 1st! We as Bronco fans need to see the bigger picture. We have been spoiled with a great team and most schools in the nation would be more than happy with a 10-1 (possibly 11-1 or 12-1) season. We can't win all of them. Boise State has established itself as a premier program in the country and nothing will change that. The team will be good for years to come. I see many more BCS Bowls in Boise State's future. I am very proud to be a Bronco fan for the way that our team fought in a tough environment against a good team. The loss is disappointing and sad yes, but it is important to take it for what it is. If you say anything different than you might not be a true fan as it is. I love Boise State and everything the coaches and players stand for. Remember Stephen Kinsey at the Hawai'i game. We still have Utah State and then the bowl game to cheer for. Let's go Broncos!
Photos:
Click here!
Make sure you check back in on Monday for the Weekend Recap!
Yardage:
......Broncos......Wolfpack
Rushing-145...........269
Passing-348...........259
..Total-493...........528
First Downs:
......Broncos......Wolfpack
........21............28
There really isn't that much more to look at. These stats tell the entire story. Uncharacteristically, Boise State gave up a lot of yards. I mean a lot. That is just ridiculous. The worst part is I can't quite put my finger on what happened. The Broncos had the Wolfpack stuffed the entire first half and were also firing on all cylinders offensively. The second half started and it looked like the teams had switched jerseys. Hats off to Nevada for making adjustments and earning the victory. I still can't believe that the Wolfpack was able to move the ball that easily against what has been a more than stellar Bronco defensive front. It was shocking. What was even more incredible was the fact that Boise State's offense sputtered against the Nevada defense. They were able to get pressure on Moore and make him uncomfortable in the pocket. The offensive line was disappointing in that regard. All of these things make up why Nevada had more yards and more first downs than the Broncos. It's baffling.
What We Learned:
Nevada was confident and it showed. They were not scared to play the Broncos. Credit to Chris Ault for preparing his guys and making the adjustments at half time. Maybe he is a good coach after all. The Wolfpack never flinched as Boise State got out to an early lead but they remained focused. A few hours before the game I told my wife that this game felt a lot like the one at Hawai'i in 2007 when they earned a trip to the Sugar Bowl. It felt like a trap and it sure was.
That was the worst officiated game I have seen in a really long time. By no means is that the reason that Boise State lost, but it made it just that much harder to watch. The punt catch interference call was one of the worst referring decisions I can recall. It was a great play by Boise State. The pass interference against Jamar Taylor was ludicrous, and completely gave the momentum to the Wolfpack. Plus they missed an obvious one against Nevada the next drive where the defender grabbed Titus Young's facemask. Ridiculous. Like I said, the refs didn't lose the game for the Broncos, but it sure made me mad.
Coach Pete and the team are classy as always. Just listen to the post game press conferences. I am seriously glad that he is the coach.
Kyle Brotzman is still the man. How anyone has the audacity to threaten his life is ludicrous. There were reports that his family's house in Meridian was getting phone calls threatening to kill him. I am completely ashamed as a Bronco fan for that. I love Kyle Brotzman. He has been a great player for Boise State since he was a freshman and that does not change now. Blaming the loss on him is ridiculous. He wasn't out there missing tackles and letting Nevada's defense get in Moore's grill all night. Yes, his job is to make field goals and those two were pretty easy ones to make, but the defense and offense shouldn't have put him in that position. Death threats are asinine. How quickly we forget. Remember at the Fiesta Bowl when he did this and everybody fell in love with him?
Areas of Concern:
There are so many. Run defense. It was good all season up until this point. Protecting our quarterback. Special teams. You name it. Mainly in the second half, this was not a good performance for Boise State.
Favorite Play:
It has to be either the Doug Martin screen for an 80-something yard touchdown or the bomb to Titus Young that put the Broncos in field goal range to win the game. Too bad neither mattered in the end.
Thoughts and Tidbits:
This loss was completely deflating for fans. We go from national title contenders to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against a crappy 6-6 team probably from the Pac-10 in just one game. Such is the life of college football fans. Kellen is still the man and will be in New York for the Heisman ceremony.
Weekly Player to Watch Recap:
Doug Martin was a complete beast last night. He scored three touchdowns and accounted for 230 total yards, both rushing and receiving. It was beautiful. The Muscle Hamster strikes again!
Perception:
The whole "style points" thing is now over as is the importance of national perception. Still, I think most voters and non-biased mature college football fans will recognize how good of a team Nevada is and that Boise State losing to them is not the biggest shock in the history of the sport. I will be cheering for the Horned Frogs in the Rose Bowl come January 1st! We as Bronco fans need to see the bigger picture. We have been spoiled with a great team and most schools in the nation would be more than happy with a 10-1 (possibly 11-1 or 12-1) season. We can't win all of them. Boise State has established itself as a premier program in the country and nothing will change that. The team will be good for years to come. I see many more BCS Bowls in Boise State's future. I am very proud to be a Bronco fan for the way that our team fought in a tough environment against a good team. The loss is disappointing and sad yes, but it is important to take it for what it is. If you say anything different than you might not be a true fan as it is. I love Boise State and everything the coaches and players stand for. Remember Stephen Kinsey at the Hawai'i game. We still have Utah State and then the bowl game to cheer for. Let's go Broncos!
Photos:
Click here!
Make sure you check back in on Monday for the Weekend Recap!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Weekly Player to Watch, 10th Edition
The day has finally arrived and in a mere 9 hours, it all goes down in the biggest little city in the world. That's right, the Boise State vs. Nevada, Reno match up is for all the marbles. Seriously, there is a lot at stake tonight for both teams, but especially for the Broncos. It has been documented over and over again, but the Wolfpack have a really bad defense. But don't be weary, my Pack fans, the defensive players swear that this year will be different. I have my doubts...
Anyway, when I was trying to decide who I would choose as my Weekly Player to Watch, I couldn't get last year's game out of my mind. You know, Boise State's jumps out to a big early lead, Nevada fights back only to see all their efforts go for naught as the Broncos run out the clock and h=get the "W." While i don't expect it to be all that close tonight, the running game for Boise State is going to be huge for controlling the game and eating some clock, keeping "Bird Leg" off the field. Last year on The Blue, a running back physical punished Nevada, especially late in the game. i am foreseeing a whole lot more of that happening. You all know what that means; this week's PTW is none other than the Muscle Hamster himself...Doug Martin!
Martin's numbers have been down a little bit the past couple of games due to the fact that teams are zoning in on Boise State's run game. You would think that they might want to spend a little bit of time trying to defend the pass as well...So Doug is due for a big game. Couple in the fact that the weather is supposed to be pretty bad with some winds (although last week didn't seem to be a problem against Fresno State), and you have a recipe for the Muscle Hamster to be running in the Nevada secondary all night. It happened to Virginia Tech and things didn't go so well for them.
In his senior at Saint Mary's, Martin was named the Best Offensive Back in San Joaquin County by the Stockton Sports Hall of Fame after he led the Tri-City Athletic League in yards per game. It's interesting to know as well that Martin was named second-team All-San Joaquin TV by Comcast Sports, and was named team MVP after rushing for 1,234 yards and 14 touchdowns. He complete his senior season with 1,373 total yards. He also rushed for 1,950 yards and 18 TDs as a junior. He was picked as team MVP, first-team all-section, all-area, and All-San Joaquin TV by Comcast Sports his junior year. Martin was only a 2-star recruit and had just one other scholarship offer, from Cal Poly. It sure looks like other schools missed out on a good one. Boise State is known for getting guys like him. From a 2-star recruit to scoring the winning touchdown at the Fiesta Bowl. That's quite the story.
Since coming to Boise State, Doug has been lighting up defensive backs on a regular basis, just ask that tool Shiloh Keo from Idaho. In fact, as a gray shirt freshman, Martin was named the scout offensive player of the year. He won the award over quarterback Kellen Moore, if that tells you anything about him. His running style is fearless and aggressive, causing pain for any defender who gets in his way. Part way through the season two years ago, Mr. Martin switched to defensive back and was a key part in the Broncos' win over Nevada, being used as a spy on Colin Kaepernick. Last season, after DJ Harper went down with a torn ACL, Doug switched back to his true position as tail back and hasn't looked back since. So let's see some more of this tonight down in Reno, Mr. Muscle Hamster!
As I mentioned above, Doug will be huge tonight in order for Boise State to take care of the Nevada Wolfpack. The offensive line has done great opening up holes for him and he has exploded through them. His success opens up the passing game and the deep bomb to Titus Young. I am picking that Martin will go for over 100 yards tonight and 2 touchdowns. Take it to the bank baby. This will be a great game and you know that the Hamster would love to send the Wolfpack and Kaepernick packing, toting and 0-4 record against the Broncos. He will help get it done. Just look at his face:
So dig in and enjoy tonight. I am really looking forward to it. Come back tomorrow and get my recap of what goes down. As always, let's go Broncos!
Anyway, when I was trying to decide who I would choose as my Weekly Player to Watch, I couldn't get last year's game out of my mind. You know, Boise State's jumps out to a big early lead, Nevada fights back only to see all their efforts go for naught as the Broncos run out the clock and h=get the "W." While i don't expect it to be all that close tonight, the running game for Boise State is going to be huge for controlling the game and eating some clock, keeping "Bird Leg" off the field. Last year on The Blue, a running back physical punished Nevada, especially late in the game. i am foreseeing a whole lot more of that happening. You all know what that means; this week's PTW is none other than the Muscle Hamster himself...Doug Martin!
Martin's numbers have been down a little bit the past couple of games due to the fact that teams are zoning in on Boise State's run game. You would think that they might want to spend a little bit of time trying to defend the pass as well...So Doug is due for a big game. Couple in the fact that the weather is supposed to be pretty bad with some winds (although last week didn't seem to be a problem against Fresno State), and you have a recipe for the Muscle Hamster to be running in the Nevada secondary all night. It happened to Virginia Tech and things didn't go so well for them.
In his senior at Saint Mary's, Martin was named the Best Offensive Back in San Joaquin County by the Stockton Sports Hall of Fame after he led the Tri-City Athletic League in yards per game. It's interesting to know as well that Martin was named second-team All-San Joaquin TV by Comcast Sports, and was named team MVP after rushing for 1,234 yards and 14 touchdowns. He complete his senior season with 1,373 total yards. He also rushed for 1,950 yards and 18 TDs as a junior. He was picked as team MVP, first-team all-section, all-area, and All-San Joaquin TV by Comcast Sports his junior year. Martin was only a 2-star recruit and had just one other scholarship offer, from Cal Poly. It sure looks like other schools missed out on a good one. Boise State is known for getting guys like him. From a 2-star recruit to scoring the winning touchdown at the Fiesta Bowl. That's quite the story.
Since coming to Boise State, Doug has been lighting up defensive backs on a regular basis, just ask that tool Shiloh Keo from Idaho. In fact, as a gray shirt freshman, Martin was named the scout offensive player of the year. He won the award over quarterback Kellen Moore, if that tells you anything about him. His running style is fearless and aggressive, causing pain for any defender who gets in his way. Part way through the season two years ago, Mr. Martin switched to defensive back and was a key part in the Broncos' win over Nevada, being used as a spy on Colin Kaepernick. Last season, after DJ Harper went down with a torn ACL, Doug switched back to his true position as tail back and hasn't looked back since. So let's see some more of this tonight down in Reno, Mr. Muscle Hamster!
As I mentioned above, Doug will be huge tonight in order for Boise State to take care of the Nevada Wolfpack. The offensive line has done great opening up holes for him and he has exploded through them. His success opens up the passing game and the deep bomb to Titus Young. I am picking that Martin will go for over 100 yards tonight and 2 touchdowns. Take it to the bank baby. This will be a great game and you know that the Hamster would love to send the Wolfpack and Kaepernick packing, toting and 0-4 record against the Broncos. He will help get it done. Just look at his face:
So dig in and enjoy tonight. I am really looking forward to it. Come back tomorrow and get my recap of what goes down. As always, let's go Broncos!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Weekend Picks, Special Turkey Day Edition (13th Week of the Season)
Happy Turkey Day everyone! Make sure you go back and look at yesterday's post in which I let you all know about the things that I am grateful for. But for today, we have an extra special weekend pick off! There are tons of good games and I am going to choose winners for all three big games that are happening tomorrow. That is six ranked teams in three games. I have mentioned this before, but there is absolutely no reason why you should even leave your couch tomorrow. With that said, let's get on with it and pick some games for this holiday weekend!
Saturday, November 27 at 1 PM
(8-3, 6-1 WAC)
at
(2-9, 1-6 WAC)
The Rainbow Warriors took care of business last week against the San Jose State Spartans in blow out fashion. In fact, the only team in the WAC that they can't beat is Boise State. Anyway, Hawai'i is bowl eligible and has already accepted an invite to play in their home town Hawai'i Bowl. Quarterback Bryant Moniz was named offensive player of the week after throwing for 560 yards against the Spartans. The team would still like to improve their record. New Mexico State on the other hand, has absolutely nothing to play for other than pride, which can sometimes be a great motivator. They are anemic offensively and suck on defense. What else is there to say about them? Better luck next year Aggies. This game won't be close.
Prediction: Rainbow Warriors 45, Aggies 14
Saturday, November 27 at 6 PM
(4-6, 3-3 WAC)
at
(1-10, 0-6 WAC)
Louisiana Tech finds itself on the cusp of bowl eligibility. All they have to do is win their next two games, including this one. Unfortunately for them they finish the season at home against a Nevada team that will be pissed off after getting blown out by Boise State (a little foreshadowing for later on in the post). The Bulldogs have some athletes, there is no doubt about that. They recruit in the talent-saturated south. They have improved greatly this season and should be even better next year. They can not play their best game and still beat the lowly Spartans. Not only is San Jose State the worst team in the WAC, they are also up for consideration for worst team in the country (Akron currently holds the title with a 0-11 record). This game will not change that.
Prediction: Bulldogs 35, Spartans 17
Saturday, November 27 at 8 PM
(5-6, 2-4 WAC)
at
(6-4, 4-3 WAC)
This game is very intriguing. On one hand, you have an Idaho team that is fighting to become bowl eligible after pulling out an impressive win over Utah State last week. On the other hand, Fresno State just got absolutely shellacked at Boise State last week and is still hurting. They are going to a bowl game, but would like to finish strong and save some face. Which Bulldog team will show up? The one that nearly upset Nevada or the one that embarrassed itself in Boise? By the same token, which Vandal team is going to show up? The decent squad that beat the Aggies last week or the one that laid down and died against Colorado State earlier in the season? Both quarterbacks will need to play much better than they have been. A little defense wouldn't hurt either. Fresno State has the skill and athletes to take Idaho to the woodshed, but only if they want it. That's why this match up is intriguing and tough to pick a winner for. Who wants it more?
Prediction: Bulldogs 35, Vandals 28
Friday, November 26th at 8:15 PM
(10-0, 6-0 WAC)
at
(10-1, 5-1 WAC)
It is finally here! We have all been looking forward to this game with child-like anxiousness. That excitement took a bit of a nose dive when the Wolfpack lost to Hawai'i, but has since built back up nicely. Nevada is ranked 19th and Boise State is 4th. Let's look at this match up logically and rationally, breaking it down into comparisons between positions and units.
Kellen Moore > Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick
Enough said. Our guy can throw, there's can't He can run, ours kind of can. Good thing that's what running backs are for.
Vai Taua > Doug Martin
This is only true because the Wolfpack use him a lot more than the Broncos use Martin. Personally, I would take either, but Taua gets the nod due solely to the fact that he gets the rock early and often.
Bronco Defense > Wolfpack Defense
This was the easiest one to choose. Boise State is much better than Nevada on defense by a long shot.
Boise State Offense > Nevada Offense
It is close, but the Broncos are more balanced and therefore get the nod.
Boise State Special Teams = Nevada Special Teams
Normally, the Broncos excel on special teams, but this year has been a bit of a downer, especially on kick off coverage. So there is no way to say which one is better than the other.
Boise State Coaching >>>>>>>>>>> Nevada Coaching
Do you think I put enough emphasis in this one. Chris Ault is known for choking in big games. Chris Petersen is known for excelling in big games and seizing the moment. Besides that, Coach Pete has his players more than prepared mentally every single week this season. There is no reason to believe that this won't happen again this week.
Boise State Intangibles > Nevada Intangibles
Bear with me here. the Broncos are playing for a BCS Bowl bid, possibly the National Championship Game, their final WAC title, pride, and respect nationally. The Wolfpack are playing for a share of the WAC title, at home, a chance to upset one of the best Boise State teams in history, and a Humanitarian Bowl berth. Who do you think has the upper hand here? That's what I thought.
Out of seven categories, Boise State holds the clear edge in 5 of them, breaks even on one, and gives up one to Nevada (as I said, the only reason I put Vai Taua over Doug Martin was due to the amount of work he gets. Both running backs average the same amount of yards per carry at 6.2). Looking at it that way, you would think that this game won't be that close. But Nevada always seems to find a way to hang around with the Broncos. Still, this is a different Boise State team, having improved considerably on both offense and defense. The defensive unit is playing lights out. Kaepernick better be scared, Taua as well. The Wolfpack will gain some yards and score, but it won't be close to enough. The only way I see Boise State losing is if they meltdown completely. Trust me, that won't happen.
Prediction: Broncos 49, Wolfpack 24
Friday, November 26th at 5 PM
(7-3, 4-3 Pac-10)
at
(10-0, 7-0 Pac-10)
The California Golden Bears have given the nation a blueprint to beat the Oregon Ducks and their potent offense. They key is to have the athletes to execute it. The Wildcats have those kinds of athletes and will be looking to try their hand at it. Unfortunately for Arizona, the Ducks have had two weeks to tweak and change their offense enough to combat that blueprint. I still think that this will be a very good game, and I would even go as far as to say that Arizona has a chance to pull off the upset. As long as their quarterback Nick Foles can play well and their defense can give them a chance, they could take this one. But, it is at Autzen Stadium in Eugene and Oregon is really good. Their defense still leaves a lot to be desired, but if you can outscore your opponents then you tend to win (right Auburn?!). The Ducks are still in the driver's seat for a National Championship and it is going to take a lot to knock them off. I don't think the Wildcats have quite enough to get it done.
Prediction: Ducks 51, Wildcats 35
Friday, November 26th at 12:30 PM
(11-0, 7-0 SEC)
at
(9-2, 5-2 SEC)
Here we go! The Iron Bowl in all its glory. This will be the best one in years. Auburn's embattled quarterback Cam Newton is the best player in college football. He has single-handedly beaten LSU, South Carolina, and Arkansas by himself. The Tigers' defense is not that good, but Newton and the offense has been able to outscore everybody so far, averaging 42.8 points in each contest. The Crimson Tide has one of the best defenses in the nation, giving up only 12.8 points per game. Something here has to give. Also, Alabama's offense isn't too shabby in its own right. Auburn is playing for a berth in the National Championship Game, while Alabama could still make it to the Sugar Bowl. Even if the Tigers lose, they could win the SEC Championship Game against South Carolina and still find themselves ranked 1st or 2nd in the nation. This should be a great game. I have to give the edge to Alabama solely because it is at Bryant Denny Stadium.
UPSET SPECIAL!
Prediction: Crimson Tide 35, Tigers 34
Well there we have it! This should be a great weekend of college football. I am getting excited/nervous/anxious for the Nevada game on Friday. Make sure you come back tomorrow and take a gander at my Weekly PTW. Let's get it done Broncos!
Saturday, November 27 at 1 PM
(8-3, 6-1 WAC)
at
(2-9, 1-6 WAC)
The Rainbow Warriors took care of business last week against the San Jose State Spartans in blow out fashion. In fact, the only team in the WAC that they can't beat is Boise State. Anyway, Hawai'i is bowl eligible and has already accepted an invite to play in their home town Hawai'i Bowl. Quarterback Bryant Moniz was named offensive player of the week after throwing for 560 yards against the Spartans. The team would still like to improve their record. New Mexico State on the other hand, has absolutely nothing to play for other than pride, which can sometimes be a great motivator. They are anemic offensively and suck on defense. What else is there to say about them? Better luck next year Aggies. This game won't be close.
Prediction: Rainbow Warriors 45, Aggies 14
Saturday, November 27 at 6 PM
(4-6, 3-3 WAC)
at
(1-10, 0-6 WAC)
Louisiana Tech finds itself on the cusp of bowl eligibility. All they have to do is win their next two games, including this one. Unfortunately for them they finish the season at home against a Nevada team that will be pissed off after getting blown out by Boise State (a little foreshadowing for later on in the post). The Bulldogs have some athletes, there is no doubt about that. They recruit in the talent-saturated south. They have improved greatly this season and should be even better next year. They can not play their best game and still beat the lowly Spartans. Not only is San Jose State the worst team in the WAC, they are also up for consideration for worst team in the country (Akron currently holds the title with a 0-11 record). This game will not change that.
Prediction: Bulldogs 35, Spartans 17
Saturday, November 27 at 8 PM
(5-6, 2-4 WAC)
at
(6-4, 4-3 WAC)
This game is very intriguing. On one hand, you have an Idaho team that is fighting to become bowl eligible after pulling out an impressive win over Utah State last week. On the other hand, Fresno State just got absolutely shellacked at Boise State last week and is still hurting. They are going to a bowl game, but would like to finish strong and save some face. Which Bulldog team will show up? The one that nearly upset Nevada or the one that embarrassed itself in Boise? By the same token, which Vandal team is going to show up? The decent squad that beat the Aggies last week or the one that laid down and died against Colorado State earlier in the season? Both quarterbacks will need to play much better than they have been. A little defense wouldn't hurt either. Fresno State has the skill and athletes to take Idaho to the woodshed, but only if they want it. That's why this match up is intriguing and tough to pick a winner for. Who wants it more?
Prediction: Bulldogs 35, Vandals 28
Friday, November 26th at 8:15 PM
(10-0, 6-0 WAC)
at
(10-1, 5-1 WAC)
It is finally here! We have all been looking forward to this game with child-like anxiousness. That excitement took a bit of a nose dive when the Wolfpack lost to Hawai'i, but has since built back up nicely. Nevada is ranked 19th and Boise State is 4th. Let's look at this match up logically and rationally, breaking it down into comparisons between positions and units.
Kellen Moore > Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick
Enough said. Our guy can throw, there's can't He can run, ours kind of can. Good thing that's what running backs are for.
Vai Taua > Doug Martin
This is only true because the Wolfpack use him a lot more than the Broncos use Martin. Personally, I would take either, but Taua gets the nod due solely to the fact that he gets the rock early and often.
Bronco Defense > Wolfpack Defense
This was the easiest one to choose. Boise State is much better than Nevada on defense by a long shot.
Boise State Offense > Nevada Offense
It is close, but the Broncos are more balanced and therefore get the nod.
Boise State Special Teams = Nevada Special Teams
Normally, the Broncos excel on special teams, but this year has been a bit of a downer, especially on kick off coverage. So there is no way to say which one is better than the other.
Boise State Coaching >>>>>>>>>>> Nevada Coaching
Do you think I put enough emphasis in this one. Chris Ault is known for choking in big games. Chris Petersen is known for excelling in big games and seizing the moment. Besides that, Coach Pete has his players more than prepared mentally every single week this season. There is no reason to believe that this won't happen again this week.
Boise State Intangibles > Nevada Intangibles
Bear with me here. the Broncos are playing for a BCS Bowl bid, possibly the National Championship Game, their final WAC title, pride, and respect nationally. The Wolfpack are playing for a share of the WAC title, at home, a chance to upset one of the best Boise State teams in history, and a Humanitarian Bowl berth. Who do you think has the upper hand here? That's what I thought.
Out of seven categories, Boise State holds the clear edge in 5 of them, breaks even on one, and gives up one to Nevada (as I said, the only reason I put Vai Taua over Doug Martin was due to the amount of work he gets. Both running backs average the same amount of yards per carry at 6.2). Looking at it that way, you would think that this game won't be that close. But Nevada always seems to find a way to hang around with the Broncos. Still, this is a different Boise State team, having improved considerably on both offense and defense. The defensive unit is playing lights out. Kaepernick better be scared, Taua as well. The Wolfpack will gain some yards and score, but it won't be close to enough. The only way I see Boise State losing is if they meltdown completely. Trust me, that won't happen.
Prediction: Broncos 49, Wolfpack 24
Friday, November 26th at 5 PM
(7-3, 4-3 Pac-10)
at
(10-0, 7-0 Pac-10)
The California Golden Bears have given the nation a blueprint to beat the Oregon Ducks and their potent offense. They key is to have the athletes to execute it. The Wildcats have those kinds of athletes and will be looking to try their hand at it. Unfortunately for Arizona, the Ducks have had two weeks to tweak and change their offense enough to combat that blueprint. I still think that this will be a very good game, and I would even go as far as to say that Arizona has a chance to pull off the upset. As long as their quarterback Nick Foles can play well and their defense can give them a chance, they could take this one. But, it is at Autzen Stadium in Eugene and Oregon is really good. Their defense still leaves a lot to be desired, but if you can outscore your opponents then you tend to win (right Auburn?!). The Ducks are still in the driver's seat for a National Championship and it is going to take a lot to knock them off. I don't think the Wildcats have quite enough to get it done.
Prediction: Ducks 51, Wildcats 35
Friday, November 26th at 12:30 PM
(11-0, 7-0 SEC)
at
(9-2, 5-2 SEC)
Here we go! The Iron Bowl in all its glory. This will be the best one in years. Auburn's embattled quarterback Cam Newton is the best player in college football. He has single-handedly beaten LSU, South Carolina, and Arkansas by himself. The Tigers' defense is not that good, but Newton and the offense has been able to outscore everybody so far, averaging 42.8 points in each contest. The Crimson Tide has one of the best defenses in the nation, giving up only 12.8 points per game. Something here has to give. Also, Alabama's offense isn't too shabby in its own right. Auburn is playing for a berth in the National Championship Game, while Alabama could still make it to the Sugar Bowl. Even if the Tigers lose, they could win the SEC Championship Game against South Carolina and still find themselves ranked 1st or 2nd in the nation. This should be a great game. I have to give the edge to Alabama solely because it is at Bryant Denny Stadium.
UPSET SPECIAL!
Prediction: Crimson Tide 35, Tigers 34
Well there we have it! This should be a great weekend of college football. I am getting excited/nervous/anxious for the Nevada game on Friday. Make sure you come back tomorrow and take a gander at my Weekly PTW. Let's get it done Broncos!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Bronco Chase's Thanksgiving List
Tomorrow is a big day for this great country of ours. Friday is an even bigger day for college football fans. But before we put the buggy in front of the horse, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect and give thanks for so many great things that I have in my life (both my sports and non-sports life). Then I will be back tomorrow with an extra special Thanksgiving edition of Weekend Picks. Let's get started then (in no particular order).
1. My family.
I have the best wife in the world who gave me the cutest almost 5-month-old baby boy in the world. I love them more than I can explain while typing. Beyond that, my side of the family as well as her's are wonderful people that support and love us. I find myself in a great place in regards to my family.
2. Boise State University.
I am including the football program in this, but mainly i wish to give props to the academic institution itself. I received my bachelor's degree in Mass Communication/Journalism last may (some short 6 months ago) and am very grateful for it. BSU gets a bad rap for having bad academics (mainly from Vandals), but the claims are unfounded. I will not get into that right now, but I am indeed thankful for having received a great education from a great university.
3. Blogs and writing.
My passion is to become at least a decent sports writer. That is why I started this blog. With that said, special thanks to truebsufans.ning.com for featuring me on their site. It is the first of what I hope will be many more to come.
4. Sports in general.
They just make me happy. In fact, this is pretty much my theme song.
5. Boise State Bronco football.
The amount of joy, nervousness, anxiety, excitement, elation, and happiness that I have received from being a Bronco fan is unparalleled. I have watched this team improve and put itself into the national spotlight in the last 14 years (when I moved to Boise). The rapid ascent to power is astounding as well as inspiring. Besides the success of the team on the field, the great humans that are on the team as well as Coach Pete himself make it even better. The Stephen Kinsey story from the Hawai'i game was enough to make me forget about polls, rankings, bowl possibilities, and "style points" for a while. Win or lose (there hasn't been much of the latter lately!) I know that those players are trying their hardest and that is good enough for me.
By no means is this list exhaustive. I just wanted to throw a few of them out there and let my readers know a little bit more about me. As I mentioned above, make sure you check back in tomorrow for my Weekend Picks. Let's go Broncos!
1. My family.
I have the best wife in the world who gave me the cutest almost 5-month-old baby boy in the world. I love them more than I can explain while typing. Beyond that, my side of the family as well as her's are wonderful people that support and love us. I find myself in a great place in regards to my family.
2. Boise State University.
I am including the football program in this, but mainly i wish to give props to the academic institution itself. I received my bachelor's degree in Mass Communication/Journalism last may (some short 6 months ago) and am very grateful for it. BSU gets a bad rap for having bad academics (mainly from Vandals), but the claims are unfounded. I will not get into that right now, but I am indeed thankful for having received a great education from a great university.
3. Blogs and writing.
My passion is to become at least a decent sports writer. That is why I started this blog. With that said, special thanks to truebsufans.ning.com for featuring me on their site. It is the first of what I hope will be many more to come.
4. Sports in general.
They just make me happy. In fact, this is pretty much my theme song.
5. Boise State Bronco football.
The amount of joy, nervousness, anxiety, excitement, elation, and happiness that I have received from being a Bronco fan is unparalleled. I have watched this team improve and put itself into the national spotlight in the last 14 years (when I moved to Boise). The rapid ascent to power is astounding as well as inspiring. Besides the success of the team on the field, the great humans that are on the team as well as Coach Pete himself make it even better. The Stephen Kinsey story from the Hawai'i game was enough to make me forget about polls, rankings, bowl possibilities, and "style points" for a while. Win or lose (there hasn't been much of the latter lately!) I know that those players are trying their hardest and that is good enough for me.
By no means is this list exhaustive. I just wanted to throw a few of them out there and let my readers know a little bit more about me. As I mentioned above, make sure you check back in tomorrow for my Weekend Picks. Let's go Broncos!
Monday, November 22, 2010
WAC Weekend Recap, Week 12
Remember how on Wednesday I said quote "I do not feel nearly as comfortable this time around. I could easily end up 4-2 having picked Utah State to upset Idaho and choosing the Aztecs over the Utes. We will see." Well, my exact fear came to life and both Idaho and Utah won. Suck. Oh well, there is always this week. I did manage to maintain a winning record for the 11th week in a row and boost my stats. Let's go over the games that I picked and get a nice little preview of the showdown in the Biggest Little City in the World (that's right, Reno). I still can't get over how amazing Boise State was on Friday...Anyway...
New Mexico State Aggies at Nevada Wolfpack
My prediction was Nevada wins 45 to 21
Final score: Wolfpack 52, Aggies 6
This was expected. New Mexico State is absolutely terrible and they could not get anything going at all, especially offensively. It seems that the Wolfpack took it a little bit easy on them, maybe saving something for the game with Boise State on Friday. The Aggies were still able to muster 309 total yards, 220 of which came through the air. They just couldn't get anything in the end zone. That pass defense might need to shore up some with Kellen Moore and his group of outstanding receivers coming in. That's right, Nevada hosts Boise State on Friday in what will decide the WAC Championship. Either the Broncos take it all or Nevada earns a share. Excitement abounds! New Mexico State hosts the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors in what will be their 10th loss of the season.
San Jose State Spartans at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
My prediction was Hawai'i wins 48 to 14
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 41, Spartans 7
Just like the Nevada/New Mexico State game, this particular match up yielded the expected results. San Jose State is absolutely terrible and it clearly shows. Hawai'i quarterback Bryant Moniz threw the ball all over the yard to the tune of 593 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Spartans scored their lone touchdown in the second quarter and didn't do anything beyond that offensively or defensively. Next week the Rainbow Warriors travel to New Mexico State to take on another terrible WAC team. San Jose State will host Louisiana Tech.
Idaho Vandals at Utah State Aggies
My prediction was Utah State wins in an upset special 31 to 28
Final score: Vandals 28, Aggies 6
I had this one as my upset special based on a couple of things that I noticed. The Aggies can play well at times and I figured that at home they would be able to at least show up. But they did not. Also, Idaho's players, specifically Shiloh Keo, were calling each other out about being lazy. There was a lot of turmoil in the locker room and I figured that they would not play as a team. That may have been the case as they only put up 28 points and gaining 355 total yards, but it didn't matter because Utah State played like crap. Coming up for the hapless Aggies is a bye week followed by a trip to Boise. Idaho travels to Fresno State next week and will get destroyed by a pissed off Bulldog team.
Virginia Tech Hokies at Miami Hurricanes
My prediction was Virginia Tech wins 35 to 28
Final score: Hokies 31, Hurricanes 17
Miami was playing out of their minds in the first half of this game, starting freshman quarterback Stephen Morris with normal starter Jacory Harris out with concussion symptoms. He did his best but in the end Virginia Tech proved to be too much for him as well as the Hurricane defense. Tyrod Taylor was a beast yet again and running back Ryan Williams showed up with an 84-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. It also helped that the 'Canes turned the ball over 6 times. The Hokies have won the ACC Coastal Division and will play either Florida State or North Carolina State in the ACC Championship game. They still have one last regular season game at home against lowly Virginia next Saturday. They should take care of business there. Miami tries to regroup and hopefully get Harris back at home against the South Florida Bulls.
Utah Utes at San Diego State Aztecs
My prediction was San Diego State wins 35 to 21
Final score: Utes 38, Aztecs 34
This is another one that I expected to go differently than it actually did. Utah had looked terrible the last two weeks and appeared to be heading south. San Diego State had almost upset TCU on the road and was on the way up. The circumstances were perfect for an Aztec win, but it was not to be. After sucking big time in the first quarter offensively, the Utes found themselves and came back from 17 down to stun the home team and squeeze out a close victory. They still couldn't stop San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley, who threw for 528 yards and 4 touchdowns. Utah was lucky that they won and now look ahead to the Holy War against BYU at home. The Aztecs play at home against the UNLV Rebels. They should win that one.
Record coming in: 49-12
This week (including Boise States win over Fresno State): 4-2
Total: 53-14
Overall, my picking hasn't been to bad, as the overall record tells you. After all the fun that we've had, Boise State heads to Reno, Nevada to take on the Wolfpack in a huge game. I feel very confident about the Broncos right now after the beat down that they administered to Fresno State. Nevada is confident as well, but they always are when they play the Broncos. It will be a great game, but I see the BSU defense making plenty of stops and scoring plenty of points offensively to win the game. We will see how I feel when I make my picks on Thursday (Turkey Day!). As for now, Boise State has closed the gap with TCU in the BCS rankings and are behind by a measly .135 in the computers. With a win over Nevada (it probably needs to be at least fairly convincing), they should pass the Horned Frogs and will be sitting pretty should Oregon or Auburn fall in the next couple of weeks. I will be getting more and more excited as this week moves along, as well as more and more nervous. The angry ostrich Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick is always tough to stop. You know he does not want to go 0-4 against Boise State in his career. With that said, he has a tall task in front of him against a tough Bronco defense. It all goes down Friday night on ESPN. Let's get it on!
Keep coming back to see what Bronco Chase has planned for this holiday week. Go Broncos!
New Mexico State Aggies at Nevada Wolfpack
My prediction was Nevada wins 45 to 21
Final score: Wolfpack 52, Aggies 6
This was expected. New Mexico State is absolutely terrible and they could not get anything going at all, especially offensively. It seems that the Wolfpack took it a little bit easy on them, maybe saving something for the game with Boise State on Friday. The Aggies were still able to muster 309 total yards, 220 of which came through the air. They just couldn't get anything in the end zone. That pass defense might need to shore up some with Kellen Moore and his group of outstanding receivers coming in. That's right, Nevada hosts Boise State on Friday in what will decide the WAC Championship. Either the Broncos take it all or Nevada earns a share. Excitement abounds! New Mexico State hosts the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors in what will be their 10th loss of the season.
San Jose State Spartans at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors
My prediction was Hawai'i wins 48 to 14
Final score: Rainbow Warriors 41, Spartans 7
Just like the Nevada/New Mexico State game, this particular match up yielded the expected results. San Jose State is absolutely terrible and it clearly shows. Hawai'i quarterback Bryant Moniz threw the ball all over the yard to the tune of 593 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Spartans scored their lone touchdown in the second quarter and didn't do anything beyond that offensively or defensively. Next week the Rainbow Warriors travel to New Mexico State to take on another terrible WAC team. San Jose State will host Louisiana Tech.
Idaho Vandals at Utah State Aggies
My prediction was Utah State wins in an upset special 31 to 28
Final score: Vandals 28, Aggies 6
I had this one as my upset special based on a couple of things that I noticed. The Aggies can play well at times and I figured that at home they would be able to at least show up. But they did not. Also, Idaho's players, specifically Shiloh Keo, were calling each other out about being lazy. There was a lot of turmoil in the locker room and I figured that they would not play as a team. That may have been the case as they only put up 28 points and gaining 355 total yards, but it didn't matter because Utah State played like crap. Coming up for the hapless Aggies is a bye week followed by a trip to Boise. Idaho travels to Fresno State next week and will get destroyed by a pissed off Bulldog team.
Virginia Tech Hokies at Miami Hurricanes
My prediction was Virginia Tech wins 35 to 28
Final score: Hokies 31, Hurricanes 17
Miami was playing out of their minds in the first half of this game, starting freshman quarterback Stephen Morris with normal starter Jacory Harris out with concussion symptoms. He did his best but in the end Virginia Tech proved to be too much for him as well as the Hurricane defense. Tyrod Taylor was a beast yet again and running back Ryan Williams showed up with an 84-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. It also helped that the 'Canes turned the ball over 6 times. The Hokies have won the ACC Coastal Division and will play either Florida State or North Carolina State in the ACC Championship game. They still have one last regular season game at home against lowly Virginia next Saturday. They should take care of business there. Miami tries to regroup and hopefully get Harris back at home against the South Florida Bulls.
Utah Utes at San Diego State Aztecs
My prediction was San Diego State wins 35 to 21
Final score: Utes 38, Aztecs 34
This is another one that I expected to go differently than it actually did. Utah had looked terrible the last two weeks and appeared to be heading south. San Diego State had almost upset TCU on the road and was on the way up. The circumstances were perfect for an Aztec win, but it was not to be. After sucking big time in the first quarter offensively, the Utes found themselves and came back from 17 down to stun the home team and squeeze out a close victory. They still couldn't stop San Diego State quarterback Ryan Lindley, who threw for 528 yards and 4 touchdowns. Utah was lucky that they won and now look ahead to the Holy War against BYU at home. The Aztecs play at home against the UNLV Rebels. They should win that one.
Record coming in: 49-12
This week (including Boise States win over Fresno State): 4-2
Total: 53-14
Overall, my picking hasn't been to bad, as the overall record tells you. After all the fun that we've had, Boise State heads to Reno, Nevada to take on the Wolfpack in a huge game. I feel very confident about the Broncos right now after the beat down that they administered to Fresno State. Nevada is confident as well, but they always are when they play the Broncos. It will be a great game, but I see the BSU defense making plenty of stops and scoring plenty of points offensively to win the game. We will see how I feel when I make my picks on Thursday (Turkey Day!). As for now, Boise State has closed the gap with TCU in the BCS rankings and are behind by a measly .135 in the computers. With a win over Nevada (it probably needs to be at least fairly convincing), they should pass the Horned Frogs and will be sitting pretty should Oregon or Auburn fall in the next couple of weeks. I will be getting more and more excited as this week moves along, as well as more and more nervous. The angry ostrich Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick is always tough to stop. You know he does not want to go 0-4 against Boise State in his career. With that said, he has a tall task in front of him against a tough Bronco defense. It all goes down Friday night on ESPN. Let's get it on!
Keep coming back to see what Bronco Chase has planned for this holiday week. Go Broncos!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Boise State Dominates Fresno; They Had no Chance
I had little doubt that the Broncos were going to win the game, but the way in which it was accomplished blew my mind. The first quarter looked like Boise State was going to be this week's TCU, and possibly fall in the polls and blow their chance for a big bowl game. But the Boys in (Orange)shook it off and blew up for 48 points in the remaining 3 quarters. Kellen Moore didn't even play much of the fourth quarter and they still blew out the Bulldogs. Here are some stats to chew on;
Yardage:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
Rushing-125...........49
Passing-391...........76
..Total-516...........125
Average Gain Per Play:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........6.3...........2.5
Yards Per Pass Play:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........9.3...........3.2
First Downs:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........31.............9
Third Down Attempts/Completions-%:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
.....10/13-77%......1/12-8%
Number of sacks on opposing quarterback:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
.........4.............0
If you thought the win over Hawai'i was dominant, it was even better tonight. The way that Boise State played last night was nothing short on insane. Fresno State averages 34 points and 400 yards a game, so holding them to 0 and 125 is incredible. Their bread and butter has been the running game under the small but capable shoulders of Robbie Rouse. That kid was basically non-existent. He finished with 70 yards on 17 carries, 37 of which came in the final drive of the game against the Broncos' 2nd and 3rd stringers. The Broncos more than quadrupled the Bulldogs' total yardage output. The one that stands out the most to me is the average yards per pass completion. They nearly got a first down every single time they passed the ball. It helped that Titus Young was burning that tool of a football player Desia Dunn (number 24). Just like the yardage differential, the difference in first downs is quite impressive. The Broncos had a great third down conversion percentage, something that they improved on greatly from last week. Even better, they only allowed Fresno State to convert 1 of 12 third downs. Finally, Boise State found themselves in the Bulldog backfield all night, terrorizing an already shaking quarterback in Ryan Colburn. 4 sacks is great, but they also didn't give up any. Kellen Moore should have been sacked 3 times, but managed to escape each time. As my little sister said, "I think he's a Jedi."
What We Learned:
The orange jerseys look awesome! At least they do in person. I heard from a few people that they looked nasty on TV. But being at the stadium when they came out in full uniform, it was, shall I say, breathtaking. They did look pretty cool. I hope to see them again in the future.
Desia Dunn is a complete tool. It seems like this section is turning into a place for me to call out losers from the other teams. Last week was Shiloh Keo and this week is Mr. Dunn, number 24. I counted 3 pass interference penalties on him alone. Oh, and don't forget the face that he continually talked junk all game even though he Titus Young was beating him like a rented mule all night long. Good thing we like to talk with our play.
Boise State has some sort of spell over Fresno State. In the few days before the game, their head coach continued to heap praise on the Broncos and say how good they are and how tough they are to beat. What do you think/say if you are one of his players and you hear him gushing over your next opponent like that? It seems that Pat Hill's man crush on the Broncos is doing nothing but allowing his team to get destroyed by them every year. Boise State has their number for sure.
Boise State's secondary is no longer a concern. Not that they ever really were, but without question they are a force on this defense. So think about it now; the Bronco D-line is one of the best in the country and so is their secondary, where is the weakness? I guess you would have to say the linebacking unit, especially with the loss of Byron Hout. But even then they stuffed the Fresno rushing threat all night.
If there is a better receiving duo in the United States than Pettis and Young, I have yet to see it. They are so good together. Combine that with the fact that Kellen Moore isn't human and you have an offense that is impossible to stop. They combined for 18 catches, 257 yards, and all four of Kellen's touchdown passes. That is impressive. So who do you stick your shutdown corner on? Even if neither are open, Tyler Shoemaker or a tight end will be. Basically, you're defense is screwed. Fresno State's coach Pat Hill said this about them; "Those two wide receivers, you were bringing up the SEC. Who in the SEC has two like that? I don't think anybody does." I agree coach.
The referees were terrible. Beyond any calls that I thought were bad or not right (my opinion, obviously), I have never seen a game so disorganized and out of sorts from the officials side as I did last night. They looked like clueless, incompetent inbreeds running around the blue turf in black ninja masks. It was frustrating to say the least.
This team is focused, and I have serious doubts that they will be able to be stopped this season. Coach Pete has done a great job of preparing them, but they themselves are in tunnel-vision mode and are not coming out of it. It's scary for other teams so see this freight train coming your way. I heard a quote the other day; "The Boise State Broncos are like a Fargo, North Dakota winter. You know they're coming, but that information does nothing for you." I like it.
Areas of Concern:
For once, I can honestly say that there was nothing from last night that concerns me. Nevada, be scared.
Favorite Play:
Is there anything else it could be? Kellen is about to get sacked and is in fact wrapped up by a Bulldog defensive lineman. Somehow he shakes himself out of it and proceeds to run 10 yards up the sideline before diving out of bounds just past the first down marker. It was gorgeous! Moore is by no means a running threat and he doesn't like to take off if he doesn't have to, but he made it look easy.
Thoughts and Tidbits:
There was a lot of hard hitting going on last night from both teams. In fact, I saw both Moore and Pettis go down and come up a little shaky and it scared the crap out of me. But, both are fine, obviously. This was the first time that Boise State has worn orange jerseys in what is estimated to be about 20 years. During warm ups, a group of Boise State players (probably around 30) came out onto the field bare chested. Remember, it was freezing cold and drizzling at Bronco Stadium.
Weekly Player to Watch Recap:
Winston Venable was a beast last night. I saw him flying around the field and lighting people up whenever he got the chance. I counted one sack attributed to him. But, the most important thing was how him and the rest of the defense was able to repeatedly stuff the Bulldog vaunted rushing attack. Venable was a key part of that and you can see the confidence he and the rest of the defense has. That is important when considering who the opponent is. Overall, Winston had a great game and will continue that next Friday in Reno.
Perception:
Boise State did more than plenty to continue to impress voters and critics. This was a good Fresno State team that almost upset the Nevada Wolfpack last week. The Broncos completely crushed and devoured their souls in this game. Most impressively, they were able to avoid what happened to TCU last week, barely squeaking by an opponent that they should have crushed. Boise State has a good chance to pass up the Horned Frogs in the BCS Rankings tomorrow, a week earlier than I and many others thought. Things are looking good right now. Auburn and/or Oregon just need to lose and we are looking at a non-AQ team in the National Championship game. This is for real. I never thought it would be possible, but here we are. Let's get the perspective of the vanquished Fresno State coach;
"I think the truth of the matter is, people are scared to play them. They don't want to play them. I'll say it. I have no problem saying it. I'll take Boise State against anybody in the country. What else do they have to do? They're on the verge of their fourth undefeated season in six years. You gotta be kidding me. Someday we got to wake up and say, 'We just can't listen to all the people who've got all the money. We've got to listen to people that have the best teams.' They're a great football team."
Thank you coach. Remember, this is from a man who has played anybody, anywhere, and gone up against some top teams in his coaching career. His opinion and views are respected and should be taken seriously. Here he is again;
"I've said it before," Hill said. "This is an elite football team. There's no doubt in my mind. If these guys win out, they should play for the national championship. Defensively, we've played some good teams before. We have never been manhandled like that. We got dominated tonight at the line of scrimmage. That doesn't happen to us too often...They are very deserving of playing in the title game..."
It's true. Thank you for saying it. The writer of the article that I just linked is from the ESPN writer Ivan Maisel. He finishes it by saying "They can beat anybody, too, 24 anybodies in a row. The question is whether they will get the opportunity to beat that special somebody. Based on 10 games, any championship game without Boise State wouldn't be a championship game at all." Everyone is catching on and realizing how good this team is. Well, everyone except Mark May and Craig James, but we don't care about them. The point is the Broncos are in a good position and it can only get better from here.
Photos:
Just click here.
Alright everybody, there we have it! The most dominating performance in Boise State history is in the books. Next up we have the Nevada Wolfpack in Reno. Check back in on Monday for my WAC Weekend Recap. Go Boise State!
Yardage:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
Rushing-125...........49
Passing-391...........76
..Total-516...........125
Average Gain Per Play:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........6.3...........2.5
Yards Per Pass Play:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........9.3...........3.2
First Downs:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
........31.............9
Third Down Attempts/Completions-%:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
.....10/13-77%......1/12-8%
Number of sacks on opposing quarterback:
......Broncos......Bulldogs
.........4.............0
If you thought the win over Hawai'i was dominant, it was even better tonight. The way that Boise State played last night was nothing short on insane. Fresno State averages 34 points and 400 yards a game, so holding them to 0 and 125 is incredible. Their bread and butter has been the running game under the small but capable shoulders of Robbie Rouse. That kid was basically non-existent. He finished with 70 yards on 17 carries, 37 of which came in the final drive of the game against the Broncos' 2nd and 3rd stringers. The Broncos more than quadrupled the Bulldogs' total yardage output. The one that stands out the most to me is the average yards per pass completion. They nearly got a first down every single time they passed the ball. It helped that Titus Young was burning that tool of a football player Desia Dunn (number 24). Just like the yardage differential, the difference in first downs is quite impressive. The Broncos had a great third down conversion percentage, something that they improved on greatly from last week. Even better, they only allowed Fresno State to convert 1 of 12 third downs. Finally, Boise State found themselves in the Bulldog backfield all night, terrorizing an already shaking quarterback in Ryan Colburn. 4 sacks is great, but they also didn't give up any. Kellen Moore should have been sacked 3 times, but managed to escape each time. As my little sister said, "I think he's a Jedi."
What We Learned:
The orange jerseys look awesome! At least they do in person. I heard from a few people that they looked nasty on TV. But being at the stadium when they came out in full uniform, it was, shall I say, breathtaking. They did look pretty cool. I hope to see them again in the future.
Desia Dunn is a complete tool. It seems like this section is turning into a place for me to call out losers from the other teams. Last week was Shiloh Keo and this week is Mr. Dunn, number 24. I counted 3 pass interference penalties on him alone. Oh, and don't forget the face that he continually talked junk all game even though he Titus Young was beating him like a rented mule all night long. Good thing we like to talk with our play.
Boise State has some sort of spell over Fresno State. In the few days before the game, their head coach continued to heap praise on the Broncos and say how good they are and how tough they are to beat. What do you think/say if you are one of his players and you hear him gushing over your next opponent like that? It seems that Pat Hill's man crush on the Broncos is doing nothing but allowing his team to get destroyed by them every year. Boise State has their number for sure.
Boise State's secondary is no longer a concern. Not that they ever really were, but without question they are a force on this defense. So think about it now; the Bronco D-line is one of the best in the country and so is their secondary, where is the weakness? I guess you would have to say the linebacking unit, especially with the loss of Byron Hout. But even then they stuffed the Fresno rushing threat all night.
If there is a better receiving duo in the United States than Pettis and Young, I have yet to see it. They are so good together. Combine that with the fact that Kellen Moore isn't human and you have an offense that is impossible to stop. They combined for 18 catches, 257 yards, and all four of Kellen's touchdown passes. That is impressive. So who do you stick your shutdown corner on? Even if neither are open, Tyler Shoemaker or a tight end will be. Basically, you're defense is screwed. Fresno State's coach Pat Hill said this about them; "Those two wide receivers, you were bringing up the SEC. Who in the SEC has two like that? I don't think anybody does." I agree coach.
The referees were terrible. Beyond any calls that I thought were bad or not right (my opinion, obviously), I have never seen a game so disorganized and out of sorts from the officials side as I did last night. They looked like clueless, incompetent inbreeds running around the blue turf in black ninja masks. It was frustrating to say the least.
This team is focused, and I have serious doubts that they will be able to be stopped this season. Coach Pete has done a great job of preparing them, but they themselves are in tunnel-vision mode and are not coming out of it. It's scary for other teams so see this freight train coming your way. I heard a quote the other day; "The Boise State Broncos are like a Fargo, North Dakota winter. You know they're coming, but that information does nothing for you." I like it.
Areas of Concern:
For once, I can honestly say that there was nothing from last night that concerns me. Nevada, be scared.
Favorite Play:
Is there anything else it could be? Kellen is about to get sacked and is in fact wrapped up by a Bulldog defensive lineman. Somehow he shakes himself out of it and proceeds to run 10 yards up the sideline before diving out of bounds just past the first down marker. It was gorgeous! Moore is by no means a running threat and he doesn't like to take off if he doesn't have to, but he made it look easy.
Thoughts and Tidbits:
There was a lot of hard hitting going on last night from both teams. In fact, I saw both Moore and Pettis go down and come up a little shaky and it scared the crap out of me. But, both are fine, obviously. This was the first time that Boise State has worn orange jerseys in what is estimated to be about 20 years. During warm ups, a group of Boise State players (probably around 30) came out onto the field bare chested. Remember, it was freezing cold and drizzling at Bronco Stadium.
Weekly Player to Watch Recap:
Winston Venable was a beast last night. I saw him flying around the field and lighting people up whenever he got the chance. I counted one sack attributed to him. But, the most important thing was how him and the rest of the defense was able to repeatedly stuff the Bulldog vaunted rushing attack. Venable was a key part of that and you can see the confidence he and the rest of the defense has. That is important when considering who the opponent is. Overall, Winston had a great game and will continue that next Friday in Reno.
Perception:
Boise State did more than plenty to continue to impress voters and critics. This was a good Fresno State team that almost upset the Nevada Wolfpack last week. The Broncos completely crushed and devoured their souls in this game. Most impressively, they were able to avoid what happened to TCU last week, barely squeaking by an opponent that they should have crushed. Boise State has a good chance to pass up the Horned Frogs in the BCS Rankings tomorrow, a week earlier than I and many others thought. Things are looking good right now. Auburn and/or Oregon just need to lose and we are looking at a non-AQ team in the National Championship game. This is for real. I never thought it would be possible, but here we are. Let's get the perspective of the vanquished Fresno State coach;
"I think the truth of the matter is, people are scared to play them. They don't want to play them. I'll say it. I have no problem saying it. I'll take Boise State against anybody in the country. What else do they have to do? They're on the verge of their fourth undefeated season in six years. You gotta be kidding me. Someday we got to wake up and say, 'We just can't listen to all the people who've got all the money. We've got to listen to people that have the best teams.' They're a great football team."
Thank you coach. Remember, this is from a man who has played anybody, anywhere, and gone up against some top teams in his coaching career. His opinion and views are respected and should be taken seriously. Here he is again;
"I've said it before," Hill said. "This is an elite football team. There's no doubt in my mind. If these guys win out, they should play for the national championship. Defensively, we've played some good teams before. We have never been manhandled like that. We got dominated tonight at the line of scrimmage. That doesn't happen to us too often...They are very deserving of playing in the title game..."
It's true. Thank you for saying it. The writer of the article that I just linked is from the ESPN writer Ivan Maisel. He finishes it by saying "They can beat anybody, too, 24 anybodies in a row. The question is whether they will get the opportunity to beat that special somebody. Based on 10 games, any championship game without Boise State wouldn't be a championship game at all." Everyone is catching on and realizing how good this team is. Well, everyone except Mark May and Craig James, but we don't care about them. The point is the Broncos are in a good position and it can only get better from here.
Photos:
Just click here.
Alright everybody, there we have it! The most dominating performance in Boise State history is in the books. Next up we have the Nevada Wolfpack in Reno. Check back in on Monday for my WAC Weekend Recap. Go Boise State!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Weekly Player to Watch, 9th Edition
Doesn't it feel like I am running out of players to choose for my PTW? I know that's not the case, but I just can't get around it. Anyway, this week's game is between two of the best, most consistent teams in the WAC, although Fresno State hasn't won even a portion of the WAC title since 1999. Anyway, now that the Broncos have finished up the easy, cake-walk portion of their schedule, it is time to get back into it and invest everything we have as fans emotionally, mentally, and physically into the next two games. You know the boys in Blue (I guess it will be the boys in Orange for this game!) will be doing the same thing. We have reached a critical stretch in this season where one slip up will destroy everything that they have worked so hard to achieve and in effect, ruin the season for many of us. While I do not feel that the Bulldogs have what it takes to win in Bronco Stadium, let's not look forward to Nevada or we could find ourselves losing, either the game or the all-important "style points."
As I look at some numbers and stats for Fresno State this season, I realize that they rank roughly in the middle in every offensive and defensive category. They do rank 34th out of 120 teams in pass defense, but that is a bit misleading as a couple of the the squads that they have played don't pass the ball much (ie. Ole' Miss and Cal Poly). Not just that, but Hawai'i and (somehow) San Jose State were able to throw for over 300 yards against them. Offensively and as I have mentioned, they rely heavily on the running game. I expect that the Bulldogs will fall behind early and be forced to pass the ball a lot more than they want to. You all know what that means, it's time for our secondary to step up for the third week in a row. Having explained all that, please allow me to present to you my Weekly PTW...Winston Venable!
I feel like I may be copping out a little bit on this one, as Venable was the star of last year's game against Fresno State. But alas, he has not played as well this season as he did during the Fiesta Bowl run last year. Still, nothing is better than Winston going human rocket on Bulldog quarterback Ryan Colburn. The overriding purpose of choosing him is due to the fact that I would really enjoy a repeat of said game winning hit. It was beautiful. You know that Colburn is shaking in his red-colored turf cleats as we speak. Be afraid, be very afraid. I am expecting to see a whole lot of this tomorrow night;
Venable came our way after transferring from Glendale Community College in Arizona.
He was named first team J.C. All-America and first team All-Arizona whilst playing defensive back at G.C.C., registering 191 tackles in his two years there. Did you know that he was also an all-league punter for his junior college team? Why haven't we seen him doing that on The Blue? Venable was rated a 3-star recruit by Scout.com out of junior college and was only offered a scholarship to play at Boise State. Chalk that one up as a score for the Broncos! He went from a small school in Glendale to playing on one of the biggest stages in college football in that same city. Hello Fiesta Bowl!
Venable first made his mark at Boise State during his breakout game last year at Fresno State. He started off by returning an interception for a touchdown and finished by making the winning tackle towards the end of the game by knocking Ryan Colburn silly (as we have mentioned). He continued to play extremely well the rest of the season, contributing in every game. However, this season has left a lot to be desired from Winston. He barely played the season opener against Virginia Tech with leg cramps and has not been as productive as many would have thought. He did play well against Louisiana Tech a couple of weeks ago and got a great sack in against Hawai'i, but that is about it. There is a lot of potential there and I feel that he will have yet another break out game against the Bulldogs. Why? He is a nickelback (hybrid safety and linebacker) and is in there to stop the run. Guess what? Fresno State likes to run the ball. That means Venable will be in there a lot. But don't forget, he can play the pass and intercept the rock just as well. Right Andy Dalton?
Unfortunately, Winston has come under fire lately for lowering his helmet when making tackles. In no way is he a dirty player (as I have mentioned many times, mainly in a huge rant that I posted a while back). He just learned a bad habit and is trying to break it. Oregon State wide receiver and uber-midget James Rodgers caught the wrong end of one those hits while trying to block him and Jamar Taylor. It was unfortunate, but that is football. Regardless of bad habits that Winston Venable may have, he is undoubtedly one of the hardest working, aggressive, and most inspirational players on Boise State's squad. His hits and positive demeanor make him a leader on the team and also a fun player to watch. So here is to you, Mr. Venable, and another outstanding performance against the Fresno State Bulldogs. Winston Venable, our Weekly PTW!
Make sure you all enjoy the game tomorrow night at 7:30 on ESPN2! Look for me in the crowd! Also, check back in Saturday for my take on the game and what it means. Let's go Broncos!
As I look at some numbers and stats for Fresno State this season, I realize that they rank roughly in the middle in every offensive and defensive category. They do rank 34th out of 120 teams in pass defense, but that is a bit misleading as a couple of the the squads that they have played don't pass the ball much (ie. Ole' Miss and Cal Poly). Not just that, but Hawai'i and (somehow) San Jose State were able to throw for over 300 yards against them. Offensively and as I have mentioned, they rely heavily on the running game. I expect that the Bulldogs will fall behind early and be forced to pass the ball a lot more than they want to. You all know what that means, it's time for our secondary to step up for the third week in a row. Having explained all that, please allow me to present to you my Weekly PTW...Winston Venable!
I feel like I may be copping out a little bit on this one, as Venable was the star of last year's game against Fresno State. But alas, he has not played as well this season as he did during the Fiesta Bowl run last year. Still, nothing is better than Winston going human rocket on Bulldog quarterback Ryan Colburn. The overriding purpose of choosing him is due to the fact that I would really enjoy a repeat of said game winning hit. It was beautiful. You know that Colburn is shaking in his red-colored turf cleats as we speak. Be afraid, be very afraid. I am expecting to see a whole lot of this tomorrow night;
Venable came our way after transferring from Glendale Community College in Arizona.
He was named first team J.C. All-America and first team All-Arizona whilst playing defensive back at G.C.C., registering 191 tackles in his two years there. Did you know that he was also an all-league punter for his junior college team? Why haven't we seen him doing that on The Blue? Venable was rated a 3-star recruit by Scout.com out of junior college and was only offered a scholarship to play at Boise State. Chalk that one up as a score for the Broncos! He went from a small school in Glendale to playing on one of the biggest stages in college football in that same city. Hello Fiesta Bowl!
Venable first made his mark at Boise State during his breakout game last year at Fresno State. He started off by returning an interception for a touchdown and finished by making the winning tackle towards the end of the game by knocking Ryan Colburn silly (as we have mentioned). He continued to play extremely well the rest of the season, contributing in every game. However, this season has left a lot to be desired from Winston. He barely played the season opener against Virginia Tech with leg cramps and has not been as productive as many would have thought. He did play well against Louisiana Tech a couple of weeks ago and got a great sack in against Hawai'i, but that is about it. There is a lot of potential there and I feel that he will have yet another break out game against the Bulldogs. Why? He is a nickelback (hybrid safety and linebacker) and is in there to stop the run. Guess what? Fresno State likes to run the ball. That means Venable will be in there a lot. But don't forget, he can play the pass and intercept the rock just as well. Right Andy Dalton?
Unfortunately, Winston has come under fire lately for lowering his helmet when making tackles. In no way is he a dirty player (as I have mentioned many times, mainly in a huge rant that I posted a while back). He just learned a bad habit and is trying to break it. Oregon State wide receiver and uber-midget James Rodgers caught the wrong end of one those hits while trying to block him and Jamar Taylor. It was unfortunate, but that is football. Regardless of bad habits that Winston Venable may have, he is undoubtedly one of the hardest working, aggressive, and most inspirational players on Boise State's squad. His hits and positive demeanor make him a leader on the team and also a fun player to watch. So here is to you, Mr. Venable, and another outstanding performance against the Fresno State Bulldogs. Winston Venable, our Weekly PTW!
Make sure you all enjoy the game tomorrow night at 7:30 on ESPN2! Look for me in the crowd! Also, check back in Saturday for my take on the game and what it means. Let's go Broncos!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Weekend Picks, 9th Edition (12th Week of the Season)
First things first:
"Shiloh Keo just got a mouthful of Doug Martin!"
-Joe Tessitore
Enjoy!
As I mentioned yesterday, this is a weird blogger-week for me. I will be leaving early Friday morning so as to have a grand ol' time in Boise in preparation for the game against Fresno. My wife has some family coming into town who we are graciously treating to an evening at Bronco Stadium. How hospitable are we?! So today will be the Weekend Picks and tomorrow will be the Weekly PTW. Let's get it on!
Saturday, November 20th at 2:05 PM
(2-8, 1-5 WAC)
at
(9-1, 4-1 WAC)
This game is going to get really ugly about as fast as it can. Think Boise State at Idaho last week. The Wolfpack may just put up 28 points in the first quarter as well. “Bird Leg” Kaepernick has found his mojo again and will be running all over the lowly Aggies at home. Don’t forget Vai Taua and the rest of the running backs that Nevada throws onto the field. New Mexico State has absolutely no chance of winning this game. They have no offensive weapons and can’t play defense. That means it will be a long afternoon for the Aggies. Good thing this season is almost over for them. I would think that Nevada will play pretty conservative so as to not show too much of what they will try and do against Boise State. Still, a high school team could beat the Aggies right now.
Prediction: Wolfpack 45, Aggies 21
Saturday, November 20th at 8:30 PM
(1-9, 0-5 WAC)
at
(7-3, 5-1 WAC)
The Rainbow Warriors play very well at home, having beaten ranked Nevada earlier in the season. The Spartans are even worse than the New Mexico State Aggies, having lost to them a few weeks ago. What this means is that Hawai’i will crush San Jose State with their passing attack. You could say that the Spartans are playing better, but they still only have one win to show for it (which was against a 1-AA by the way). All I’m saying is that San Jose State will be dropping to 1-10 probably by the end of the first quarter.
Prediction: Rainbow Warriors 48, Spartans 14
Saturday, November 20th at 1 PM
(4-6, 1-4 WAC)
at
(4-6, 2-4 WAC)
Idaho got curb stomped last week at home by Boise State. The game wasn’t as close as the 52-14 final may have led you to believe, especially since the Bronco starters sat out a bulk of the second half. Now you have cheap-shotting d-bag Shiloh Keo calling out his “selfish, egotistical” teammates (pot, meet kettle). In other words, things are not looking good for the Vandals coming down the home stretch, and bickering or accusing your teammates is not going to help. They have to win two of the next three games to be bowl eligible. They should handle San Jose State, Fresno will beat them, and that means that the Aggies are their last chance for bowl game redemption. Nathan Enderle will have to play better and stop throwing the ball to the other team if they want to leave Logan with the "W." Luckily for Idaho, Brandyn Thompson doesn’t play for Utah State. On the other hand, the Aggies aren’t anything close to a powerhouse either. Their inconsistency is baffling considering the considerable hype that came their way during the preseason. Derrvin Speight has been a beast at running back the last couple of games and they will rely on him heavily against the Vandals on Saturday. This game will be a lot closer than many people think. Remember, Utah State beat Idaho last year in Moscow. While making this pick, I am counting on the good Utah State team to show up, not the crappy one that has popped up from time to time. At the same time, with mutiny amongst the ranks and after a demoralizing loss to their rivals at home, I see the same result as last year.
Upset Special!
Prediction: Aggies 31, Vandals 28
Saturday, November 20th at 7:30 PM
6-3, 4-2 WAC)
at
(9-0, 5-0 WAC)
The Bulldogs come into this game playing very well, having rediscovered the power running game that they have used so well in seasons past. The crazy part is the main feature in said power run game is running back Robbie Rouse, who stands proudly at 5-foot-7 and 185 pounds, is the heart and soul behind the rejuvenated rushing attack. He has racked up 769 yards and 7 touchdowns in the past four games, including a near upset of the Nevada Wolfpack. He will be what the Broncos key on defensively, especially since Ryan Colburn is an average quarterback who is terrified of Winston Venable. A lot of young players have stepped up for Fresno State and are now playing very well. Even with the loss of Byron Hout at middle linebacker for the Broncos, they have a very disciplined and sturdy rushing defense. Still, Darrell Acrey is going to have to play out of his freaking mind. I am no longer worried about the pass defense as Brandyn Thompson and Jamar Taylor have proved in the past two games that they can lock down any receiver that comes their way. Boise State will have their hands full keeping Chris Carter and Logan Harrell out of the backfield and away from Moore. While they may get a few good plays in every now and then, there is no team in the country that can stop Boise State’s offense. The Bulldogs will have to outscore the Broncos, and with the nation’s second best defense statistically, that will not happen.
Prediction: Broncos 48, Bulldogs 17
Saturday, November 20th at 1:30 PM
(8-2, 6-0 ACC)
at
(7-3, 5-2 ACC)
I have been doing a lot of Hokie games lately. That’s because their success on the field affects Boise State more than any other team that they have played this year. This particular match up boasts two ranked teams. Virginia Tech has won 8 straight games and is in control of their own destiny. It is looking more and more like they will be in the ACC Championship game and will earn the ACC’s automatic BCS Bowl bid. This is their last test of the season, as they will host crappy Virginia on the final day. Tyrod Taylor is impossible to stop and the Hokies’ running backs are playing very well. The Hurricanes have benched long-time starter Jacory Harris and have gone with Stephen Morris. He has been playing well but has yet to see a defense like the Hokies. As a Bronco fan,I may be hoping big time here that Virginia Tech can keeps winning because I keep picking them.
Prediction: Hokies 35, Hurricanes 28
Saturday, November 20th at 8 PM
(8-2, 5-1 MWC)
at
(7-3, 4-2 MWC)
The fact that the Utes are still ranked is a complete joke. You don’t get blown out at home and tank on the road to a sub .500 team if you are worthy of a top 25 place. The Aztecs almost upset the Horned Frogs last week on the road, scoring 35 points, by far the most that TCU has given up all season. With that said, this match up has all the makings of a great watch, especially if you are a TCU or Boise State fan. If Utah wins, they salvage their season, save some face, and help out the Frogs in the polls and BCS computers. If San Diego State wins, they knock the Utes completely off the grid, screw up TCU even more than they are now, and help out Boise State. It’s amazing what Brady Hoke has done with this team. They were one of the worst in the nation when he got there 2 years ago and have turned them into a feared, respectable opponent. He is working his magic much like he did at Ball State. Except here he is in the fertile recruiting grounds of Southern California. This will be a great contest. A lot is on the line in terms of what will happen nationally depending on who wins. Utah is favored by 5 points as of today, but my guess is that changes by kick off on Saturday. The Aztecs might be getting the nod at that point.
Prediction: Aztecs 35, Utes 21
Total coming into this week: 49-12
There we have it. Let's see if I can do a repeat of last week and go 6-0. I do not feel nearly as comfortable this time around. I could easily end up 4-2 having picked Utah State to upset Idaho and choosing the Aztecs over the Utes. We will see. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the game. There is a rumor that the Broncos will be wearing all orange pants and jerseys for the game, as the stadium is doing an orange out. I hope it's true! It will be a cold, rainy/snowy night. Let's go Broncos!
"Shiloh Keo just got a mouthful of Doug Martin!"
-Joe Tessitore
Enjoy!
As I mentioned yesterday, this is a weird blogger-week for me. I will be leaving early Friday morning so as to have a grand ol' time in Boise in preparation for the game against Fresno. My wife has some family coming into town who we are graciously treating to an evening at Bronco Stadium. How hospitable are we?! So today will be the Weekend Picks and tomorrow will be the Weekly PTW. Let's get it on!
Saturday, November 20th at 2:05 PM
(2-8, 1-5 WAC)
at
(9-1, 4-1 WAC)
This game is going to get really ugly about as fast as it can. Think Boise State at Idaho last week. The Wolfpack may just put up 28 points in the first quarter as well. “Bird Leg” Kaepernick has found his mojo again and will be running all over the lowly Aggies at home. Don’t forget Vai Taua and the rest of the running backs that Nevada throws onto the field. New Mexico State has absolutely no chance of winning this game. They have no offensive weapons and can’t play defense. That means it will be a long afternoon for the Aggies. Good thing this season is almost over for them. I would think that Nevada will play pretty conservative so as to not show too much of what they will try and do against Boise State. Still, a high school team could beat the Aggies right now.
Prediction: Wolfpack 45, Aggies 21
Saturday, November 20th at 8:30 PM
(1-9, 0-5 WAC)
at
(7-3, 5-1 WAC)
The Rainbow Warriors play very well at home, having beaten ranked Nevada earlier in the season. The Spartans are even worse than the New Mexico State Aggies, having lost to them a few weeks ago. What this means is that Hawai’i will crush San Jose State with their passing attack. You could say that the Spartans are playing better, but they still only have one win to show for it (which was against a 1-AA by the way). All I’m saying is that San Jose State will be dropping to 1-10 probably by the end of the first quarter.
Prediction: Rainbow Warriors 48, Spartans 14
Saturday, November 20th at 1 PM
(4-6, 1-4 WAC)
at
(4-6, 2-4 WAC)
Idaho got curb stomped last week at home by Boise State. The game wasn’t as close as the 52-14 final may have led you to believe, especially since the Bronco starters sat out a bulk of the second half. Now you have cheap-shotting d-bag Shiloh Keo calling out his “selfish, egotistical” teammates (pot, meet kettle). In other words, things are not looking good for the Vandals coming down the home stretch, and bickering or accusing your teammates is not going to help. They have to win two of the next three games to be bowl eligible. They should handle San Jose State, Fresno will beat them, and that means that the Aggies are their last chance for bowl game redemption. Nathan Enderle will have to play better and stop throwing the ball to the other team if they want to leave Logan with the "W." Luckily for Idaho, Brandyn Thompson doesn’t play for Utah State. On the other hand, the Aggies aren’t anything close to a powerhouse either. Their inconsistency is baffling considering the considerable hype that came their way during the preseason. Derrvin Speight has been a beast at running back the last couple of games and they will rely on him heavily against the Vandals on Saturday. This game will be a lot closer than many people think. Remember, Utah State beat Idaho last year in Moscow. While making this pick, I am counting on the good Utah State team to show up, not the crappy one that has popped up from time to time. At the same time, with mutiny amongst the ranks and after a demoralizing loss to their rivals at home, I see the same result as last year.
Upset Special!
Prediction: Aggies 31, Vandals 28
Saturday, November 20th at 7:30 PM
6-3, 4-2 WAC)
at
(9-0, 5-0 WAC)
The Bulldogs come into this game playing very well, having rediscovered the power running game that they have used so well in seasons past. The crazy part is the main feature in said power run game is running back Robbie Rouse, who stands proudly at 5-foot-7 and 185 pounds, is the heart and soul behind the rejuvenated rushing attack. He has racked up 769 yards and 7 touchdowns in the past four games, including a near upset of the Nevada Wolfpack. He will be what the Broncos key on defensively, especially since Ryan Colburn is an average quarterback who is terrified of Winston Venable. A lot of young players have stepped up for Fresno State and are now playing very well. Even with the loss of Byron Hout at middle linebacker for the Broncos, they have a very disciplined and sturdy rushing defense. Still, Darrell Acrey is going to have to play out of his freaking mind. I am no longer worried about the pass defense as Brandyn Thompson and Jamar Taylor have proved in the past two games that they can lock down any receiver that comes their way. Boise State will have their hands full keeping Chris Carter and Logan Harrell out of the backfield and away from Moore. While they may get a few good plays in every now and then, there is no team in the country that can stop Boise State’s offense. The Bulldogs will have to outscore the Broncos, and with the nation’s second best defense statistically, that will not happen.
Prediction: Broncos 48, Bulldogs 17
Saturday, November 20th at 1:30 PM
(8-2, 6-0 ACC)
at
(7-3, 5-2 ACC)
I have been doing a lot of Hokie games lately. That’s because their success on the field affects Boise State more than any other team that they have played this year. This particular match up boasts two ranked teams. Virginia Tech has won 8 straight games and is in control of their own destiny. It is looking more and more like they will be in the ACC Championship game and will earn the ACC’s automatic BCS Bowl bid. This is their last test of the season, as they will host crappy Virginia on the final day. Tyrod Taylor is impossible to stop and the Hokies’ running backs are playing very well. The Hurricanes have benched long-time starter Jacory Harris and have gone with Stephen Morris. He has been playing well but has yet to see a defense like the Hokies. As a Bronco fan,I may be hoping big time here that Virginia Tech can keeps winning because I keep picking them.
Prediction: Hokies 35, Hurricanes 28
Saturday, November 20th at 8 PM
(8-2, 5-1 MWC)
at
(7-3, 4-2 MWC)
The fact that the Utes are still ranked is a complete joke. You don’t get blown out at home and tank on the road to a sub .500 team if you are worthy of a top 25 place. The Aztecs almost upset the Horned Frogs last week on the road, scoring 35 points, by far the most that TCU has given up all season. With that said, this match up has all the makings of a great watch, especially if you are a TCU or Boise State fan. If Utah wins, they salvage their season, save some face, and help out the Frogs in the polls and BCS computers. If San Diego State wins, they knock the Utes completely off the grid, screw up TCU even more than they are now, and help out Boise State. It’s amazing what Brady Hoke has done with this team. They were one of the worst in the nation when he got there 2 years ago and have turned them into a feared, respectable opponent. He is working his magic much like he did at Ball State. Except here he is in the fertile recruiting grounds of Southern California. This will be a great contest. A lot is on the line in terms of what will happen nationally depending on who wins. Utah is favored by 5 points as of today, but my guess is that changes by kick off on Saturday. The Aztecs might be getting the nod at that point.
Prediction: Aztecs 35, Utes 21
Total coming into this week: 49-12
There we have it. Let's see if I can do a repeat of last week and go 6-0. I do not feel nearly as comfortable this time around. I could easily end up 4-2 having picked Utah State to upset Idaho and choosing the Aztecs over the Utes. We will see. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the game. There is a rumor that the Broncos will be wearing all orange pants and jerseys for the game, as the stadium is doing an orange out. I hope it's true! It will be a cold, rainy/snowy night. Let's go Broncos!
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