Good News, Relocation Edition

Well it has happened. Bronco Chase is moving up in the world. As of today, Monday, January 24, 2011, I have been hired by the Idaho State Journal in Pocatello to be the sports page designer and eventually a writer. I am really excited to begin a career doing exactly what I want to be doing. The sports editor, Jay Heater, has plenty of experience both in writing and reporting. There is a lot that I can learn from him, which is something that I am really looking forward to accomplishing.


A lot of times in the journalism industry it is hard to get your foot in the door. But once you do, if you are talented and ambitious, there are plenty of opportunities to move up. I hope to be able to do just that.



As I move my family to Eastern Idaho (with my extensive Boise State Bronco wardrobe in tow), I will ponder and appreciate the blessing that this new opportunity is in my life. At the same time, I will be covering and reporting everything Idaho State Bengal-related. We will see what that does for me. I am excited to spend many evenings roaming the sidelines of football and basketball games, both high school and college. Let's go Bengals?!


This is the stadium where the games are played. It is called Holt Arena. At least it's better than that barn up in Moscow!


In terms of the blog and what that will mean for posts, I am not sure what it means. It is still up in the air. Bronco Chase may have to shut down entirely for the time being, or I will produce fewer posts that come out only when things are most important. It will all be figured out in no time. Until then, enjoy this very, very, crude/poorly done head shot of me that will appear in the Idaho State Journal next to a column of mine at one point or another (well, a better, more professional head shot will be printed).


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In other news, the East-West Shrine Game took place on Saturday and four Boise State players were involved; Ryan Winterswyk, Winston Venable, Jeron Johnson, and Brandyn Thompson. Venable stole the show and impressed many people. I would love to see him blowing someone up on the NFL level. Oh, and some fool from Idaho played.

Anyway, make sure you check back in and see what else Bronco Chase has in store.

How is Boise State's Football Cupboard Looking?

I apologize for yesterday's rant on the hypocrisy of the NCAA. I get really worked up sometimes. Wait a second, I don't apologize at all. I am not sorry for what I said. I mean it and will forever feel like that. I am fully aware that there is not much a 25 year-old guy from Twin Falls can do to bring about an enormous change in college football, but that still won't stop me from trying! Let's get back to familiar territory and talk Bronco football! As I mentioned a couple of days ago, there are a few questions regarding Boise State football that need to be answered. I took care of one before the Sugar Bowl-induced interruption of yesterday, so let's hit another one now.

Who will replace Boise State's departing seniors and how effective will they be?

I tend to get a little bit anxious about these types of thoughts. It was the same way when Legedu Nanee, Drisan James, Ryan Clady, Jerard Rabb, Jeremy Childs, and Ian Johnson all left. I retain comfort knowing that all of those players were replaced by the likes of Austin Pettis, Titus Young, Nate Potter, and Doug Martin. In other words, Boise State knows how to recruit and will get the job done.

There are a lot of great players on the departing list, as you already know. I understand that it will be impossible to find someone with hands like Austin Pettis. Titus Young's speed is unparalleled. Nobody scares the pants off of Fresno State quarterbacks like Winston Venable. Yes, this was a fantastic class, one of the best to play on The Blue. Remember, Coach Petersen is one of the hottest, most coveted coaches in the nation for a reason. Also, football is amazing because great minds who teach and train these players (like Coach Pete!) can twist, change, mold, form, tweak, cater, and alter an offensive or defensive scheme to fit the players that are currently on the roster. Petersen and his staff are experts at doing just that. Example: Vinny Perretta was a triple threat. He could catch, throw, and run, and he did all three on a consistent basis. There were plays and variations of plays based on his unique skill set. With Kellen at the helm, the offense is tailored to fit his pocket-passing strengths. Do you ever see him running the option (I think I remember seeing it once, but only once)? Joe Southwick, on the other hand, will run the option consistently when he gets a hold of the reigns of the offense.

Next year, you will see a lot more of Doug Martin and (hopefully) a healthy DJ Harper. They will be the feature of the offense because they are both really talented and the absence of Young and Pettis will make it so. I wouldn't even be surprised to see a lot more use of the pass-catching tight ends and Chris Potter running the wildcat as a run/pass option (much like Vinny Perretta did). With that said, let's go over who will possibly replace the above mentioned seniors.

~Austin Pettis - Aaron Burks - Let's hope he can learn how to catch like Mr. Pettis. Maybe we can even surgically attach Austin's sticky hand to Burks' arms. Come on science! Help us out here! Tyler Shoemaker is also an option to move from the third option receiver to prime time as number 1 or 2.

~Brandyn Thompson - Ebo Makinde - Not only does he have a sweet name (his real one is Ebeneezer), but he was a good recruit for the Broncos. It's time to step up.
Jerrell Gavins, Antwon Murray, and Quaylon Ewing are also options. There is a four-star CB recruit named Stefan McClure that is still considering Boise State. It's a long shot that he will come here, but if he did he would get a good look at starting as a freshman.

~Daron Mackey - JC Percy was already starting due to the fact that Mackey was constantly injured. Percy will stay there. Look for freshman Blake Renaud to make some noise in spring ball.

~Darrell Acrey - Byron Hout was already the starter before he got injured. He should re-assume that role next season. The primary backups will be Tommy Smith and Allen Mooney.

~Jarvis Hodge - Matt Kaiserman, Jay Ajayi - the question here is who will be the third string, garbage time running back. Ajayi is really good, but I don't know if the coaches will want to burn his red shirt.

~Jason Robinson - Cedric Febis - Robinson was the back up and Febis, a special teams stand out, will replace him in that role.

~Jeremy Avery - DJ Harper - He will be back and I sure hope he stays healthy. He is a great running back. Raphiel Lambert is an option as well. It's too bad that Malcolm Johnson crapped out. He was a great recruit for the Broncos.

~Jeron Johnson - Jeremy Ioane - I am really excited about this kid. He chose Boise State over Washington and Notre Dame. There is a lot expected from him and I think he will deliver.

~Kevin Sapien - ? - Sapien called it quits after the Fiesta Bowl last year due to some serious nagging injuries. He helped coach on the sidelines. His presence and personality might be missed, but that's about it.

~Kyle Brotzman - Jimmy Pavel or Jake Van Ginkel - The Van Ginkel kid has not committed yet, but is seriously considering the Broncos. Trevor Harman is also a legitimate option.

~Matt Slater - Brenel Meyers - Meyers started at the Fiesta Bowl. The Broncos have a pretty deep offensive line rotation. Other names that will be considered are Charles Leno and Faraji Wright.

~Mike Coughlin - Joe Southwick - Coughlin and Southwick were already co-back ups. Grant Hedrick will get a look as well.

~Ryan Winterswyk - Tyrone Crawford - As a back up this last season, Crawford was named a third-team all American. He is an absolute beast and will wreak plenty of havoc next year. Don't overlood Sam Ukwuachu or Robert Ash either. Boise State's D-Line is really deep.

~Sean King - ? - King never even saw the field. There is not much to replace here.

~Titus Young - Geraldo Hiwat - He has the speed. Let's see if he can hold on to the ball. Also, if Matt Miller can recover from his ruptured achilles, he could see some action as well.

~Tommy Gallarda - Gabe Linehan - When Gallarda got hurt, Boise State's run game took a hit. He was a great blocker and good at catching touchdowns in the red zone. Linehan played well this year when he saw the field. If he can work on his blocking, he will get the nod. Don't forget Chandler Koch or Kyle Sosnowski.

~Will Lawrence - Faraji Wright - This one is a toss up. There are any number of players that could take this spot.

~Winston Venable - Dextrell Simmons - Simmons is a JuCo transfer from Blinn College in Texas. He was a great pick up for Boise State. Don't overlook hard-hitting Jonathan Brown either.

So there you have it. I am not too worried about the replacements. Boise State's recruiting has improved considerably since they started winning Fiesta Bowls. The team is in good hands and I look forward to another great year. The offense will change, of course, but it is nothing to lose sleep over. Go Broncos!

Boise State vs. Louisiana Tech, plus Weekly Player to Watch, 6th edition

That's right, today is a very special edition of my Weekly PTW! Since for some strange ESPN-related reason, Boise State is playing a football game on Tuesday night against the mighty Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech. That means my entire schedule was thrown off dating back to last Thursday when I make my picks and then Friday when I normally give you my player to watch. With that said, all it means is that you folks, as my blog readers, get an extra large heaping of Bronco Chase today! Lucky you! This post will be a mix of game preview and analysis, my Weekly PTW, and of course a prediction of the final score. So let's get started!

After two consecutive games of not getting anybody hurt due to the phantom "Weekly PTW" injury curse, I am ready to pick again. I am going with somebody on the offensive side of the ball, seeing as how LA Tech is not capable of stopping anybody. So after a few minutes of decisive pondering, I am going with a receiver for this week's PTW...Austin Pettis!!!!!


If you look at Louisiana's pass defense, they are really bad. The numbers tell me so. The Bulldogs rank 119th out of 120 teams in that category. In other words, everybody has been successful throwing against them. At the same time, they do pretty well against the run. I would expect the Broncos to force the running game, especially early, before unleashing Kellen Moore and his pack of very talented wide receivers and tight ends. That includes Mr. Pettis. Did you know that he has not scored a touchdown since September? Yep, the Oregon State game was the last time that he found himself celebrating a TD in the end zone. He is ripe for a score or two (or four). Think about it this way; Louisiana Tech brings one of the worst pass defenses in the nation into Bronco Stadium. Boise State has one of the best passing offenses in said nation. Austin Pettis has gone touchdownless for a few games now and is very hungry (and possibly angry) to score. It is perfect situation for some Moore to Pettis for 6 action. It will look a little something like this:


Pettis came to The Blue from Orange Lutheran High School in Anaheim, California. He lettered three times in football, but was also a star in basketball and track. In fact, he was named Velocity/Prep Star All-Region, first-team all-county, first-team all-league, and third-team all-state as a senior after hauling in 72 receptions for 1,079 yards and 13 touchdowns. Pettis' senior year he led his team to a state championship and in the process, garnered All-Southern Section honors (I borrowed this info from obnug.com). In other words, he was really good and has the numbers to prove it. Austin was a big recruit for the Broncos as he came out of high school ranked as a three-star athlete. He fielded offers from the Broncos, Utah State, and Utah. Good thing he came to Boise State or he would have never been able to make posters like this:


It is crazy to think that Austin is a senior. It seems like just yesterday that he showed up on The Blue wearing number 87. He contributed frequently as a freshman, racking up 139 yards and 3 TD's against Idaho back in 2007. Since then, he has done nothing but put up staggering numbers. There is a definite handicap on our offense if he is out. So let's hope the swinging gate two point conversion attempts don't break his foot again, like it did last year against Nevada. It is interesting to think about what would have happened in the Fiesta Bowl against TCU had he been able to play. His presence on the field is huge, but his production is just as important for the offense. Virginia Tech knows what he can do. Can anyone say game winning touchdown?!?!?!


This game against the Bulldogs could be momentous for Pettis as he is closing in on the Boise State record books. His name is already at the top of the list that says "most touchdowns in one season." He notched that one last year with 14. Austin needs 7 catches to break the 37-year old Boise State record for most career receptions held by Don Hutt. I think it could happen, especially if he is to go off like I am expecting him to. So, as long as he doesn't go "Wyoming" this week and get benched by Coach Pete, he might break it!


There we have it! Austin Pettis is the Weekly Player to Watch! Check him out tomorrow against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs!

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On to the game!

Tuesday, October 26 at 6 PM

3-4, (2-1 WAC)
at

6-0, (2-0 WAC)

Is it just me or does the Idaho Statesman newspaper try to build up Boise State's opponents in an effort to make a potentially lopsided game look even? They did the same thing for New Mexico State, Toledo, and San Jose State. However, this time around I think they might have a legitimate case to do it. After all, Louisiana Tech did put up 683 yards of offense against Idaho in their last game, 422 of which came through the air. Boise State's secondary has not been tested since the Virginia Tech game, and they looked bad against the Hokies. At the same time, the reason that they have not been tested is because the Broncos' pass rush is so overwhelming and ferocious that opposing quarterbacks have not had time to throw. This is setting the stage for what I think are the keys to the game. If Boise State can sack the quarterback early and at least apply pressure from then on, they will force Ross Jenkins to throw early, make mistakes, and toss some INT's. On the other hand, if Jenkins is able to get comfortable and has time in the pocket, a lot of pressure will be placed on Brandyn Thompson, George Iloka, Jeron Johnson, Jamar Taylor, and Jerrell Gavins in the secondary. Those guys will need to play well regardless, but a lack of pass rush will put undue stress on them. I think you will see Coach K. (defensive coordinator) mix up the schemes and blitzes, get creative, and force LA Tech into turning the ball over. The Bulldogs will not be able to run the ball, even with Tennessee-transfer Lennon Creer in the backfield. Boise State will not have as big of a game rushing wise, but will end up with decent numbers as they try to force it against a stiff run defense. The passing will open it up for more rushing and eventually the Bulldogs will be guessing wrong, pass or rush. That is when Moore gashes teams deep and Doug Martin breaks off for huge gains. The game may be close early, but Boise State will pull ahead and keep Kellen Moore and the rest of the starters in throughout the third quarter to make sure. Boise State will win fairly easily, wishing another WAC team a brutal farewell.
Prediction: Broncos 55, Bulldogs 17

Record before this game: 32-10
I have a feeling that I will end up with one more "W" tomorrow evening!
Let's go Broncos!

Weekly Player to Watch, 5th Edition

There is no question that I am feeling better about my PTW picks. I managed to choose someone last week that not only contributed in someway, but also avoided being injured. It would appear that the PTW injury demon has been exercised. That said, I am still hoping that nothing bad, ugly, evil, or harmful happens to the individual that I am picking this week. Let’s get to it and hope that we make it two Bronco games in a row with a productive, healthy PTW! This week’s is…Jeron Johnson!



I was looking through some of San Jose’s stats and I realized that I could have gone with just about anybody (excluding offensive lineman. They don’t really touch the ball much…) and I would have felt good about it. Take a look for yourselves courtesy of our fine friends at espn.com. The Spartans rank dead freaking last in scoring offense and at the very back end in passing yards, rushing yards, and points allowed. If you look at this page here, quarterback Jordan La Secla has thrown only two touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. That is a recipe for disaster, and of course some picks from the Boise State secondary. With that in mind, I chose Johnson because of his athleticism, skill, toughness, and the fact that he once knocked Idaho State quarterback Russell Hill senseless. Jeron is a scary man. Don’t believe me? Look at this:



It is of no surprise to hear that Jeron Johnson is straight outta’ Compton! The kid was able to get out of the famous-in-a-bad-way Southern California town and make his way to Boise to play football for a really good football team. He started all four years at Dominguez High School and racked up a staggering 266 tackles, along with a bunch of INT’s and fumble recoveries. As a junior and senior he was named the San Gabriel Valley defensive MVP. Surprisingly, Johnson was only a two-star recruit and looked at offers from Boise State, Utah, and Utah State. Now as a senior, his aggressive and violent demeanor on the field has led to some ferocious hits, but also some personal foul penalties and even an ejection at Oregon back in 2008. At the same time, he has amassed 7 interceptions in his college career, including this one against Wyoming a few weeks ago.



I think my favorite part about picking Mr. Johnson as my PTW is that there are a lot of ways that he can impact the game and the team. Beyond the interceptions and fumble recoveries, he has led the Broncos in total tackles for the last couple of years and that should continue that trend for his senior year. Jeron will be knocking down quite a few Spartans on Saturday night. That I can guarantee. Also, I really hope to see a snot bubbler or two in Spartan Stadium with Johnson doing the delivering. As a man with many nicknames, I think that "Hitman" is the most appropriate. Although, his Facebook name is Jeron "Showoff" Johnson, so that works too, I guess. In a defense where the one weakness this season has seemed to be the secondary, it is extremely important to have a presence like Jeron lurking around. The problem has not been a lack of talent, there was just a huge void left when Kyle Wilson took his skill and his dreadlocks to the New York Jets. I think that as the season progresses, the corners will tighten up and Jeron will be able to go back to his roaming, head-hunting self and knock some fools out. Johnson is indeed one of the leaders on defense and this is beginning to show. He has matured greatly since his days of getting kicked out of the game at Autzen Stadium. A lot is expected from Jeron Johnson, and he is delivering. What else would you expect from someone who was on the cover of Sports Illustrated?!



The fifth edition of Bronco Chase's Weekly Player to Watch is in the books! Jeron Johnson should have a big game and hopefully a really hard hit (or two)! Take a look at this, just because it's sick!



I will be posting my review of the game on Sunday and the WAC Weekend Recap on Monday. Be sure to check back in and get my take on everything that goes down in college football!