In this day and age of money-grubbing and excessive greed in sports, it is a breath of fresh air to see a group of athletes who understand the importance of an education and completing their college degrees. Such is the case when you look at what is going on down in Mobile, Alabama. The Senior Bowl showcases the graduating players who are attempting to work their way into the eyes and hearts of NFL scouts and onto a professional roster. This year's exposition will feature the two most productive and exciting wide receivers in Boise State history. "Faster than a lightning bolt" Titus Young and Austin "Sticky Hands" Pettis take to the field to try and impress.
According to reports, many people have become enamored with Titus;
"Boise State's Titus Young was great in and out of his breaks. He can drop his weight without having to gear down and is a savvy route runner. In fact, he's a confident route runner -- he knows what he's doing. He was very streaky catching the ball today, but we are going to keep a close eye on him on how he handles adversity and how he carries himself. There are times when he looks like he's the most confident player on the field and has a swagger, but then the second he dropped one pass, it seemed like he went into a shell."
On the other hand, Pettis has some work to do;
"Pettis does a good job of getting his head around when a pass is coming in, but his greatest liability Monday was his route running in drills. The receiver coach repeatedly corrected Pettis’s mistakes with his breaks, pointing out his tendency to round off his routes or tip off his break with his shoulder at the top of his routes. Pettis eventually showed improvement in this area, but a few minutes later he was getting repeated coaching on his run blocking. Pettis needs to work on his hand placement, his initial punch and using his legs to sustain blocks. Although known for his ability to adjust to the errant throw, he had a pass thrown somewhat low and behind him bounce off his hands. This was not a standout day for Pettis."
That is great to hear about Young, and at the same time a little disappointing about Pettis. There is no arguing that the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game are important for scouts to see many of these players in person, and some for the first time. However, the decision to draft someone should involve more than just dissecting an athlete's every move over a period of 6 days. This phrase breeds contempt and loathing in the minds of many people (when said in the same breath as BCS), but it is important to look at their "body of work."
Pettis and Young have done nothing but tear up opposing defenses since they were freshman. It even got to the point during their senior season that they were literally unstoppable. Game film and pure stats should be something that is taken into account by these scouts, possibly even more than how the kids perform during that one pressure-filled week in humid Alabama.
We all know that the Senior Bowl Weigh In and the Combine is the definition of a meat market. Seriously. Every single player is weighed, measured, tested (for body fat, etc) and picked over with a fine-tooth comb for any imperfections or "fudging" that may have taken place on college rosters. Their height is measured to the 1/8th of an inch and their weight to a fraction of a pound. If you don't have the "NFL Body," you are automatically looked at and thought of differently, regardless of skill level. Think about it, the scouts will poke, prod, touch, weigh, measure, and run any other test available on these players over and over again. It's like picking out a choice specimen. If that's not the definition of a meat market, I don't know what is.
It is extremely tough to make an NFL roster and even more difficult to keep your spot on one. With as productive as Titus and Austin have been at Boise State, as well as many other players from different schools, they should be able to make the cut and be playing on Sundays next season. It's just too bad they have to go through the physical and mental gauntlet of NFL scouts to prove their worth.
Showing posts with label Titus Young. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Titus Young. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Season End Awards
It's over. Boise State football has moved from the dawn of a new season to the dusk of imminent darkness that now surrounds us and signifies the end of the 2010-2011 Broncos. That means no more games on The Blue, Kellen to Pettis or Kellen to Young, and Muscle Hamsters trucking Vandals on their way into the end zone. The good part is that we can bid farewell to images of "missed" field goals sailing at or near the shorter-than-standard Reno goal posts. All in all, Bronco football has upped the ante and, naturally, the expectations for future athletes that will play for one of the best, most exciting teams in the nation.
A 12-1 season is something that teams all around the country would kill to have. Bronco Nation has become accustomed to undefeated teams, but expecting that yearly is unwise and as was seen in some fans after the loss to Nevada, unhealthy. With that said, there is plenty to be excited about in Bronco Nation with new players getting ready to make a name for themselves, the move to a new conference, and of course, the all-important annual quest for a BCS bid.
The proper thing to do is give out (fake) awards to Boise State players who exemplified out-of-this-world heart, drive, competitiveness, will, strength, intensity, and excitement all in the face of sheer adversity and conflict. It is important to recognize these athletes, the outstanding plays they made, and the excitement and joy that they provided for their fans. It's Bronco Chase's way of saying "thank you," even if they have no idea who Bronco Chase is... Without further delay:
Biggest Story
Boise State in the National Championship Game.
This was all the rage and debate for the entire season. It even found it's way to the front page of Sports Illustrated.
Best Coaching Job
Pete Kwiatkowski.
He went from a question mark (after Justin Wilcox left for Tennessee) to one of the most important cogs in the Boise State clock. The defense was ferocious and improved from last year, which is really saying something.
Best Freshman
Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe.
Hailing from the Netherlands by way of Boise High School, not only does he have the best name on the team, but he contributed a lot as part of the Bronco defensive line that shut down opponents. He was a key back-up and enjoyed sacking quarterbacks.
Best Catch of the Year
Tommy Gallarda vs. Virginia Tech.
The catch in itself was sweet, but that wouldn't have been enough to push it to the top of a list that includes some amazing grabs by Austin "Sticky-Hands" Pettis and Titus Young. The stage on which it was made and what was at stake make it the best catch of the year. Check it out for yourself on YouTube right here.
Break out Star of the Year
Shea McClellin.
He went from a solid contributor on the D-line to a candidate for WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Whether he was sacking the quarterback, running a beautiful interception in for a touchdown, or stealing Ryan Winterswyk's fumble recovery in the end zone, he was amazing this year. It seemed to have come out of nowhere. McClellin's athleticism, heart, and intelligence make him this season's break out star.
Best Play of the Year
Moore to Pettis for the win.
Again, could it have been anything else? The big stage came for Kellen again and he was more than ready. The catch set up the win and set the table for the rest of a dominating year for the Broncos. Tears of joy are still shed when this play is shown on ESPN.
Biggest Hit of the Year
Jamar Taylor sack vs. Oregon State.
A lot of fans do not remember this one, but it was gorgeous. Taylor came in from the blind side and rocked Ryan Katz' world! The fool didn't know what hit him. It was comparable to the Kyle Wilson sack on Andy Dalton in the Fiesta Bowl.
Game of the Year
Labor Day vs. Virginia Tech
For so many reasons this was the game of the year. The stage, the stakes, the atmosphere, and what transpired on the field were a perfect storm of awesomeness. Bronco Chase still likes to watch replays of the masterful 2-minute drill by Kellen Moore.
Special Teams MVP
Cedric Febis
Febis is another import from the Netherlands. A cornerback by trade, he was out there for every special teams snap, knocking people out and making plays. Bronco fans hope to see him doing much of the same next year.
Defensive MVP
Byron Hout
This was a hard one to pick as there were many qualified candidates. The reason why beautiful neck-roll wearing Hout gets the nod is because of what was missed when he went down with a foot fracture. The defense really needed him and his ferocious, man-devouring self for the Nevada game. He will be back, ready to clean house and light up some more chumps.
Offensive MVP
Kellen Moore
This was easier than hardcore fans would have thought. As the orchestrator of a fluid, seamless, high scoring offense, you get a lot of credit. Kellen continued to improve after a stellar sophomore season and found himself sitting in the front row for the Heisman Trophy presentation in December. While he did not win and finished 4th, the fact that he was there was a milestone for the Boise State program and the culmination of an outstanding 3 years at the helm for Kellen. The only thing that didn't go well for Moore this year was having to share the WAC Player of the Year award with Colin Kaepernick, of which the league copped out. How could a Heisman Trophy finalist not win the conference award outright? Anyway, Kellen will be back next year. Opposing defenses, watch out!
That's it! Bronco Chase has handed out imaginary trophies and trinkets to those deserving of much more credit than he can give them. The seniors on this list will be missed. But Boise State fans everywhere are ecstatic for the years of football that will follow. Go Broncos!
A 12-1 season is something that teams all around the country would kill to have. Bronco Nation has become accustomed to undefeated teams, but expecting that yearly is unwise and as was seen in some fans after the loss to Nevada, unhealthy. With that said, there is plenty to be excited about in Bronco Nation with new players getting ready to make a name for themselves, the move to a new conference, and of course, the all-important annual quest for a BCS bid.
The proper thing to do is give out (fake) awards to Boise State players who exemplified out-of-this-world heart, drive, competitiveness, will, strength, intensity, and excitement all in the face of sheer adversity and conflict. It is important to recognize these athletes, the outstanding plays they made, and the excitement and joy that they provided for their fans. It's Bronco Chase's way of saying "thank you," even if they have no idea who Bronco Chase is... Without further delay:
Biggest Story
Boise State in the National Championship Game.
This was all the rage and debate for the entire season. It even found it's way to the front page of Sports Illustrated.
Best Coaching Job
Pete Kwiatkowski.
He went from a question mark (after Justin Wilcox left for Tennessee) to one of the most important cogs in the Boise State clock. The defense was ferocious and improved from last year, which is really saying something.
Best Freshman
Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe.
Hailing from the Netherlands by way of Boise High School, not only does he have the best name on the team, but he contributed a lot as part of the Bronco defensive line that shut down opponents. He was a key back-up and enjoyed sacking quarterbacks.
Best Catch of the Year
Tommy Gallarda vs. Virginia Tech.
The catch in itself was sweet, but that wouldn't have been enough to push it to the top of a list that includes some amazing grabs by Austin "Sticky-Hands" Pettis and Titus Young. The stage on which it was made and what was at stake make it the best catch of the year. Check it out for yourself on YouTube right here.
Break out Star of the Year
Shea McClellin.
He went from a solid contributor on the D-line to a candidate for WAC Defensive Player of the Year. Whether he was sacking the quarterback, running a beautiful interception in for a touchdown, or stealing Ryan Winterswyk's fumble recovery in the end zone, he was amazing this year. It seemed to have come out of nowhere. McClellin's athleticism, heart, and intelligence make him this season's break out star.
Best Play of the Year
Moore to Pettis for the win.
Again, could it have been anything else? The big stage came for Kellen again and he was more than ready. The catch set up the win and set the table for the rest of a dominating year for the Broncos. Tears of joy are still shed when this play is shown on ESPN.
Biggest Hit of the Year
Jamar Taylor sack vs. Oregon State.
A lot of fans do not remember this one, but it was gorgeous. Taylor came in from the blind side and rocked Ryan Katz' world! The fool didn't know what hit him. It was comparable to the Kyle Wilson sack on Andy Dalton in the Fiesta Bowl.
Game of the Year
Labor Day vs. Virginia Tech
For so many reasons this was the game of the year. The stage, the stakes, the atmosphere, and what transpired on the field were a perfect storm of awesomeness. Bronco Chase still likes to watch replays of the masterful 2-minute drill by Kellen Moore.
Special Teams MVP
Cedric Febis
Febis is another import from the Netherlands. A cornerback by trade, he was out there for every special teams snap, knocking people out and making plays. Bronco fans hope to see him doing much of the same next year.
Defensive MVP
Byron Hout
This was a hard one to pick as there were many qualified candidates. The reason why beautiful neck-roll wearing Hout gets the nod is because of what was missed when he went down with a foot fracture. The defense really needed him and his ferocious, man-devouring self for the Nevada game. He will be back, ready to clean house and light up some more chumps.
Offensive MVP
Kellen Moore
This was easier than hardcore fans would have thought. As the orchestrator of a fluid, seamless, high scoring offense, you get a lot of credit. Kellen continued to improve after a stellar sophomore season and found himself sitting in the front row for the Heisman Trophy presentation in December. While he did not win and finished 4th, the fact that he was there was a milestone for the Boise State program and the culmination of an outstanding 3 years at the helm for Kellen. The only thing that didn't go well for Moore this year was having to share the WAC Player of the Year award with Colin Kaepernick, of which the league copped out. How could a Heisman Trophy finalist not win the conference award outright? Anyway, Kellen will be back next year. Opposing defenses, watch out!
That's it! Bronco Chase has handed out imaginary trophies and trinkets to those deserving of much more credit than he can give them. The seniors on this list will be missed. But Boise State fans everywhere are ecstatic for the years of football that will follow. Go Broncos!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
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!
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!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Which is a Better BroncoTeam, 2009 or 2010?
This is the hot topic now that the football season is officially over for Boise State. I know, it's sad, but life goes on. Look on the bright side, there are only 2 months until spring ball starts! We are left with a few questions that I intend to answer to the best of my abilities. I will tackle one today and go from there.
Was this the best (most talented team) in Boise State history?
This is a loaded question. Such an inquiry deems it necessary to look at numbers, but at the same time to follow your heart. The final record of this year's team was 12-1, with a close overtime loss at Nevada. Last year the team won the Fiesta Bowl over TCU and finished 14-0. The 2006 team ended 13-0 with the now famous thrilling OT win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. If you go by just the records then no, 2010 was not the best Bronco team. Luckily for me I don't look at just the record.
There is a difference between most successful and most talented. Consider this-the 2010 Boise State Broncos averaged 521 yards gained per game (beating the 517 record mark set 36 years ago), set the record for pass efficiency at 180, and averaged 45.1 points per game (which is in 3rd place behind the 2002 and 2004 teams). That's just the offense's numbers. On defense, the Broncos registered a record 49 sacks, held opposing offenses to a pass efficiency rating of 95.2, gave up only 255 yards per game (the best total in 40 years), and allowed an average of 13.6 points per game. All that totals up to a school record 32.3 average margin of victory. That is impressive. That alone will prove that 2010 was the most talented Boise State group yet.
But wait there's more. With the Las Vegas Bowl trophy sitting in Coach Pete's office (or wherever it is) we say good bye to the seniors. Who are they and what did they do? Well, Titus Young holds the record for most career receiving yards with 3,063. Austin Pettis has 39 career touchdowns (number 1 in the record book), and the most receiving touchdowns in a single season (14). He also sits second behind Titus for career receiving yards. Kyle Brotzman is the highest scoring kicker in NCAA history and the highest scoring player (not just kicker) in Boise State history with 439 points. Don't forget the man-beast that is Ryan Winterswyk who was named as a junior to the WAC all-decade team. He sacked a lot of quarterbacks in his college career. There is also Jeron Johnson, Brandyn Thompson, Darrell Acrey, Matt Slater, Tommy Gallarda, and Will Lawrence amongst other Bronco name mainstays. It's too bad Winston Venable doesn't have any more eligibility left. His time with us was so short.
In other words, the success and talent in this senior class in incredible. That is why I think 2010 was the most talented in Boise State history. Don't let a bad second half against Nevada tarnish your memory or view of this team. Think about it, they were 30 minutes, a defended pass, a made tackle, a made field goal, a completed pass, a quarterback sack, or a blocked field goal away from a date with Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Had they made it to Pasadena and won, this debate wouldn't even be happening. Like I said, they were the most talented, but unfortunately not the most successful. Those are two different arguments. As for me, I love this team, this group of guys, and I will be sad to see them go.
What is exciting is what is ahead of us. There is plenty of talent on the roster. This article from the Idaho Statesman explains more. I will go into more detail on that tomorrow. Until then, check out the Sugar Bowl tonight!
Was this the best (most talented team) in Boise State history?
This is a loaded question. Such an inquiry deems it necessary to look at numbers, but at the same time to follow your heart. The final record of this year's team was 12-1, with a close overtime loss at Nevada. Last year the team won the Fiesta Bowl over TCU and finished 14-0. The 2006 team ended 13-0 with the now famous thrilling OT win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. If you go by just the records then no, 2010 was not the best Bronco team. Luckily for me I don't look at just the record.
There is a difference between most successful and most talented. Consider this-the 2010 Boise State Broncos averaged 521 yards gained per game (beating the 517 record mark set 36 years ago), set the record for pass efficiency at 180, and averaged 45.1 points per game (which is in 3rd place behind the 2002 and 2004 teams). That's just the offense's numbers. On defense, the Broncos registered a record 49 sacks, held opposing offenses to a pass efficiency rating of 95.2, gave up only 255 yards per game (the best total in 40 years), and allowed an average of 13.6 points per game. All that totals up to a school record 32.3 average margin of victory. That is impressive. That alone will prove that 2010 was the most talented Boise State group yet.
But wait there's more. With the Las Vegas Bowl trophy sitting in Coach Pete's office (or wherever it is) we say good bye to the seniors. Who are they and what did they do? Well, Titus Young holds the record for most career receiving yards with 3,063. Austin Pettis has 39 career touchdowns (number 1 in the record book), and the most receiving touchdowns in a single season (14). He also sits second behind Titus for career receiving yards. Kyle Brotzman is the highest scoring kicker in NCAA history and the highest scoring player (not just kicker) in Boise State history with 439 points. Don't forget the man-beast that is Ryan Winterswyk who was named as a junior to the WAC all-decade team. He sacked a lot of quarterbacks in his college career. There is also Jeron Johnson, Brandyn Thompson, Darrell Acrey, Matt Slater, Tommy Gallarda, and Will Lawrence amongst other Bronco name mainstays. It's too bad Winston Venable doesn't have any more eligibility left. His time with us was so short.
In other words, the success and talent in this senior class in incredible. That is why I think 2010 was the most talented in Boise State history. Don't let a bad second half against Nevada tarnish your memory or view of this team. Think about it, they were 30 minutes, a defended pass, a made tackle, a made field goal, a completed pass, a quarterback sack, or a blocked field goal away from a date with Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl. Had they made it to Pasadena and won, this debate wouldn't even be happening. Like I said, they were the most talented, but unfortunately not the most successful. Those are two different arguments. As for me, I love this team, this group of guys, and I will be sad to see them go.
What is exciting is what is ahead of us. There is plenty of talent on the roster. This article from the Idaho Statesman explains more. I will go into more detail on that tomorrow. Until then, check out the Sugar Bowl tonight!
Monday, December 13, 2010
'Twas Three Nights Before Christmas
'Twas three nights before Christmas, we're yelling, no shame,
blue and orange clad friends sat watching the game.
The Broncos were playing the Utes at Sam Boyd
But "playing" means the Utes are getting destroyed.
Despite the late start no children are in bed
with visions of Kellen "scrambling" in their head.
And mamma in her most favorite BSU shirt
Just finished saying how much a loss would hurt.
When out on the grass there arose such a clatter.
I sprang from my snuggie to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like Titus Young,
Tore down the blinds from the window where they hung.
The moon reflected on my new Bronco flag,
Like Avery, dodging defenders that lag.
What do my wondering eyes suddenly meet
It's Doug, Pettis, Kellen, Titus, and Coach Pete!
With a little old driver, lively, with wits
I knew in a moment it must be Lyle Smith.
More rapid than eagles on blue turf they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
Now 'Swyk, now Titus, now Austin and Efaw
On Kellen, on Coach Pete, on Brotzman and Hiwat!
To the Bronco car flag, to the Bronco night-light!
Now punt, now pass, kick, run and score touchdowns all night!
As dry leaves that before the blue hurricane fly,
When Moore meets an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to window the players they flew,
With the Kyle Wilson RV, and Byron Hout, too!
And then, in a jiffy, I heard in my room
The hitting and scoring; "Boise State!" I presume!
As I drew in my head, and was shouting with joy,
Coach Pete tapped my shoulder and said; "Hey there my boy!"
He was dressed in a jacket, a cap on his head
"Is that thing surgically attached?" To him I said.
His mouth smiled, in the Coach Pete kind of way,
And he opened his playbook, ready to call a play.
With a twinkle in his eye, hand on his left knee,
Into his microphone; "Statue of Liberty!"
We ran to the TV, in unison "hurrah!"
Just as Kellen and the rest embarrassed Utah.
"How can you be here and there at the same time?"
I asked with my hands, still short of words like a mime.
"It's part of the magic, the perks of Boise State.
Would you like to try? Call a play, see how you rate."
My life had led up to this, I knew what to do.
And I laughed when I said it; "Give the ball to 'Shoe.'"
The Utes were so focused on Pettis and Young,
Shoemaker was left wide open, the ball was flung.
With not a defender around, the ball flew
Into the arms of Tyler, AKA "Shoe."
The game went on with plenty of Bronco scoring
If I wasn't a fan I'd say it was boring.
I heard Pete yell as the team left and went out of sight,
"Happy Las Vegas Bowl to all, and to all a victorious night!"
blue and orange clad friends sat watching the game.
The Broncos were playing the Utes at Sam Boyd
But "playing" means the Utes are getting destroyed.
Despite the late start no children are in bed
with visions of Kellen "scrambling" in their head.
And mamma in her most favorite BSU shirt
Just finished saying how much a loss would hurt.
When out on the grass there arose such a clatter.
I sprang from my snuggie to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like Titus Young,
Tore down the blinds from the window where they hung.
The moon reflected on my new Bronco flag,
Like Avery, dodging defenders that lag.
What do my wondering eyes suddenly meet
It's Doug, Pettis, Kellen, Titus, and Coach Pete!
With a little old driver, lively, with wits
I knew in a moment it must be Lyle Smith.
More rapid than eagles on blue turf they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
Now 'Swyk, now Titus, now Austin and Efaw
On Kellen, on Coach Pete, on Brotzman and Hiwat!
To the Bronco car flag, to the Bronco night-light!
Now punt, now pass, kick, run and score touchdowns all night!
As dry leaves that before the blue hurricane fly,
When Moore meets an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to window the players they flew,
With the Kyle Wilson RV, and Byron Hout, too!
And then, in a jiffy, I heard in my room
The hitting and scoring; "Boise State!" I presume!
As I drew in my head, and was shouting with joy,
Coach Pete tapped my shoulder and said; "Hey there my boy!"
He was dressed in a jacket, a cap on his head
"Is that thing surgically attached?" To him I said.
His mouth smiled, in the Coach Pete kind of way,
And he opened his playbook, ready to call a play.
With a twinkle in his eye, hand on his left knee,
Into his microphone; "Statue of Liberty!"
We ran to the TV, in unison "hurrah!"
Just as Kellen and the rest embarrassed Utah.
"How can you be here and there at the same time?"
I asked with my hands, still short of words like a mime.
"It's part of the magic, the perks of Boise State.
Would you like to try? Call a play, see how you rate."
My life had led up to this, I knew what to do.
And I laughed when I said it; "Give the ball to 'Shoe.'"
The Utes were so focused on Pettis and Young,
Shoemaker was left wide open, the ball was flung.
With not a defender around, the ball flew
Into the arms of Tyler, AKA "Shoe."
The game went on with plenty of Bronco scoring
If I wasn't a fan I'd say it was boring.
I heard Pete yell as the team left and went out of sight,
"Happy Las Vegas Bowl to all, and to all a victorious night!"
Thursday, December 9, 2010
All WAC Team - Theirs and Mine
As you all know, the Western Athletic Conference handed out their season awards on Monday, and the Boise State Broncos made off like bandits with 11 total players on the first team and 3 on the second team. I thought that whoever makes the decisions on first team, second team, etc. did a really good job. However, there are a couple of changes that I personally would have made, including the awards for Player(s) of the Year. Here is the list of who won what. I will follow that up with what I would have done differently.
WAC top individual awards:
* Offensive Player of the Year: Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State, and Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
* Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Carter, DE, Fresno State
* Freshman of the Year: Keith Smith, LB, San Jose State
* Coach of the Year: Chris Ault, Nevada
First-team All-WAC:
Offense:
* WR-Austin Pettis, Boise State, 6-3, 197, Sr.
* WR-Titus Young, Boise State, 5-11, 168, Sr.
* WR-Greg Salas, Hawai‘i, 6-2, 200, Sr.
* TE-Virgil Green, Nevada, 6-5, 240, Sr.
* OL-Thomas Byrd, Boise State, 5-11, 279, Jr.
* OL-Nate Potter, Boise State, 6-6, 297, Jr.
* OL-Kenny Wiggins, Fresno State, 6-7, 310, Sr.
* OL-Rob McGill, Louisiana Tech, 6-6, 310, Sr.
* OL-John Bender, Nevada, 6-8, 325, Sr.
* QB-Kellen Moore, Boise State, 6-0, 186, Jr.
* QB-Colin Kaepernick, Nevada, 6-6, 215, Sr.
* RB-Doug Martin, Boise State, 5-9, 212, Jr.
* RB-Vai Taua, Nevada, 5-10, 220, Sr.
Defense:
* DL-Shea McClellin, Boise State, 6-3, 258, Jr.
* DL-Ryan Winterswyk, Boise State, 6-4, 267, Sr.
* DL-Chris Carter, Fresno State, 6-2, 230, Sr.
* DL-Logan Harrell, Fresno State, 6-2, 275, Jr.
* DL-Dontay Moch, Nevada, 6-1, 245, Sr.
* LB-Winston Venable, Boise State, 5-11, 218, Sr.
* LB-Ben Jacobs, Fresno State, 6-3, 225, Sr.
* LB-Corey Paredes, Hawai‘i, 5-11, 230, Jr.
* LB-Bobby Wagner, Utah State, 6-1, 230, Jr.
* DB-George Iloka, Boise State, 6-3, 207, Jr.
* DB-Jeron Johnson, Boise State, 5-11, 195, Sr.
* DB-Mana Silva, Hawai‘i, 6-1, 220, Sr.
* DB-Davon House, New Mexico State, 6-0, 178, Sr.
Specialists:
* PK-Kevin Goessling, Fresno State, 6-0, 195, Jr.
* P-Bobby Cowan, Idaho, 6-5, 220, So.
* ST-Phillip Livas, Louisiana Tech, 5-8, 175, Sr.
Second-team All-WAC:
Offense:
* WR-Jamel Hamler, Jr., Fresno State
* WR-Kealoha Pilares, Sr., Hawai‘i
* WR-Eric Greenwood, Sr., Idaho
* WR-Rishard Matthews, Jr., Nevada
* TE-Daniel Hardy, Sr., Idaho
* OL-Bryce Harris, Jr., Fresno State
* OL-Lupepa Letuli, Sr., Hawai‘i
* OL-Adrian Thomas, Sr., Hawai‘i
* OL-Chris Barker, So., Nevada
* OL-Ailao Eliapo, Sr., San Jose State
* QB-Bryant Moniz, Jr., Hawai‘i
* RB-Alex Green, Sr., Hawai‘i
* RB-Lennon Creer, Jr., Louisiana Tech
Defense:
* DL-Billy Winn, Jr., Boise State
* DL-Kaniela Tuipulotu, Jr., Hawai‘i
* DL-Aaron Lavarias, Sr., Idaho
* DL-Matt Broha, Jr., Louisiana Tech
* LB-Byron Hout, Jr., Boise State
* LB-Travis Brown, So., Fresno State
* LB-Adrien Cole, Jr., Louisiana Tech
* LB-James-Michael Johnson, Jr., Nevada
* LB-Keith Smith, Fr., San Jose State
* DB-Brandyn Thompson, Sr., Boise State
* DB-Desia Dunn, Sr., Fresno State
* DB-Shiloh Keo, Sr., Idaho
* DB-Isaiah Frey, Jr., Nevada
* DB-Curtis Marsh, Sr., Utah State
Specialists:
* PK-Scott Enos, Sr., Hawai‘i
* P-Harrison Waid, Fr., San Jose State
* ST-Taveon Rogers, Jr., New Mexico State
There we have it. Like I mentioned, I have no problem with most of what was decided. With that said, here are a few changes that I would have made.
1. Defensive Player of the Year, how in the world could it be anybody besides Dontay Moch of Nevada? It's ridiculous! I don't want to take anything away from Chris Carter. After all, he did have a great season. But Moch single-handedly won the award in when Boise State played them in Reno. That man is a holy terror and a yeti-beast! He should have won it.
2. Offensive Player of the Year. This on is a bit tricky. Kellen Moore is the better player and is going to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation. But Kaepernick beat him head to head. I guess it feels a little bit like a cop out by the WAC, but I guess there wasn't much else they could have done. I would almost lean towards giving it to the senior. Kellen has another year to get another one.
3. Billy Winn. He should have been first team all WAC. That man has been huge for the Broncos, clogging up the middle and wreaking havoc on quarterbacks. I would take Logan Harrell off of the first team and put Winn there. At least Billy didn't get completely shafted like this next player was.
4. Will Lawrence. The Boise State senior offensive lineman has had a stellar season. Not just that, but he has strung together 2 or 3 of them in a row now. How he was left completely off both the first and second team is beyond me. I would put him probably on the second team in place of Ailao Eliapo from San Jose State.
5. Punter. Hawai'i's Alex Dunnachie got shafted. He should have been on at least the second team. I was in person at Bronco Stadium when Dunnachie got off plenty of booming, amazing punts. He should have been mentioned here.
6. I was somewhat surprised to see Winterswyk and George Iloka on the first team. Both are great players, but haven't had stand out years like we were expecting. I guess Winterswyk is in because of his track record. As far as Iloka, maybe there was no one else worthy of it. He did pick up his game towards the end of the regular season (remember the balancing act/interception against Nevada? Beautiful.).
What do you think? Let me know if I've missed anybody or if I am wrong somewhere. As always, Bronco Chase is open for discussion. Let's continue to cheer on our Broncos as they get ready to take on Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl!
WAC top individual awards:
* Offensive Player of the Year: Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State, and Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada
* Defensive Player of the Year: Chris Carter, DE, Fresno State
* Freshman of the Year: Keith Smith, LB, San Jose State
* Coach of the Year: Chris Ault, Nevada
First-team All-WAC:
Offense:
* WR-Austin Pettis, Boise State, 6-3, 197, Sr.
* WR-Titus Young, Boise State, 5-11, 168, Sr.
* WR-Greg Salas, Hawai‘i, 6-2, 200, Sr.
* TE-Virgil Green, Nevada, 6-5, 240, Sr.
* OL-Thomas Byrd, Boise State, 5-11, 279, Jr.
* OL-Nate Potter, Boise State, 6-6, 297, Jr.
* OL-Kenny Wiggins, Fresno State, 6-7, 310, Sr.
* OL-Rob McGill, Louisiana Tech, 6-6, 310, Sr.
* OL-John Bender, Nevada, 6-8, 325, Sr.
* QB-Kellen Moore, Boise State, 6-0, 186, Jr.
* QB-Colin Kaepernick, Nevada, 6-6, 215, Sr.
* RB-Doug Martin, Boise State, 5-9, 212, Jr.
* RB-Vai Taua, Nevada, 5-10, 220, Sr.
Defense:
* DL-Shea McClellin, Boise State, 6-3, 258, Jr.
* DL-Ryan Winterswyk, Boise State, 6-4, 267, Sr.
* DL-Chris Carter, Fresno State, 6-2, 230, Sr.
* DL-Logan Harrell, Fresno State, 6-2, 275, Jr.
* DL-Dontay Moch, Nevada, 6-1, 245, Sr.
* LB-Winston Venable, Boise State, 5-11, 218, Sr.
* LB-Ben Jacobs, Fresno State, 6-3, 225, Sr.
* LB-Corey Paredes, Hawai‘i, 5-11, 230, Jr.
* LB-Bobby Wagner, Utah State, 6-1, 230, Jr.
* DB-George Iloka, Boise State, 6-3, 207, Jr.
* DB-Jeron Johnson, Boise State, 5-11, 195, Sr.
* DB-Mana Silva, Hawai‘i, 6-1, 220, Sr.
* DB-Davon House, New Mexico State, 6-0, 178, Sr.
Specialists:
* PK-Kevin Goessling, Fresno State, 6-0, 195, Jr.
* P-Bobby Cowan, Idaho, 6-5, 220, So.
* ST-Phillip Livas, Louisiana Tech, 5-8, 175, Sr.
Second-team All-WAC:
Offense:
* WR-Jamel Hamler, Jr., Fresno State
* WR-Kealoha Pilares, Sr., Hawai‘i
* WR-Eric Greenwood, Sr., Idaho
* WR-Rishard Matthews, Jr., Nevada
* TE-Daniel Hardy, Sr., Idaho
* OL-Bryce Harris, Jr., Fresno State
* OL-Lupepa Letuli, Sr., Hawai‘i
* OL-Adrian Thomas, Sr., Hawai‘i
* OL-Chris Barker, So., Nevada
* OL-Ailao Eliapo, Sr., San Jose State
* QB-Bryant Moniz, Jr., Hawai‘i
* RB-Alex Green, Sr., Hawai‘i
* RB-Lennon Creer, Jr., Louisiana Tech
Defense:
* DL-Billy Winn, Jr., Boise State
* DL-Kaniela Tuipulotu, Jr., Hawai‘i
* DL-Aaron Lavarias, Sr., Idaho
* DL-Matt Broha, Jr., Louisiana Tech
* LB-Byron Hout, Jr., Boise State
* LB-Travis Brown, So., Fresno State
* LB-Adrien Cole, Jr., Louisiana Tech
* LB-James-Michael Johnson, Jr., Nevada
* LB-Keith Smith, Fr., San Jose State
* DB-Brandyn Thompson, Sr., Boise State
* DB-Desia Dunn, Sr., Fresno State
* DB-Shiloh Keo, Sr., Idaho
* DB-Isaiah Frey, Jr., Nevada
* DB-Curtis Marsh, Sr., Utah State
Specialists:
* PK-Scott Enos, Sr., Hawai‘i
* P-Harrison Waid, Fr., San Jose State
* ST-Taveon Rogers, Jr., New Mexico State
There we have it. Like I mentioned, I have no problem with most of what was decided. With that said, here are a few changes that I would have made.
1. Defensive Player of the Year, how in the world could it be anybody besides Dontay Moch of Nevada? It's ridiculous! I don't want to take anything away from Chris Carter. After all, he did have a great season. But Moch single-handedly won the award in when Boise State played them in Reno. That man is a holy terror and a yeti-beast! He should have won it.
2. Offensive Player of the Year. This on is a bit tricky. Kellen Moore is the better player and is going to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation. But Kaepernick beat him head to head. I guess it feels a little bit like a cop out by the WAC, but I guess there wasn't much else they could have done. I would almost lean towards giving it to the senior. Kellen has another year to get another one.
3. Billy Winn. He should have been first team all WAC. That man has been huge for the Broncos, clogging up the middle and wreaking havoc on quarterbacks. I would take Logan Harrell off of the first team and put Winn there. At least Billy didn't get completely shafted like this next player was.
4. Will Lawrence. The Boise State senior offensive lineman has had a stellar season. Not just that, but he has strung together 2 or 3 of them in a row now. How he was left completely off both the first and second team is beyond me. I would put him probably on the second team in place of Ailao Eliapo from San Jose State.
5. Punter. Hawai'i's Alex Dunnachie got shafted. He should have been on at least the second team. I was in person at Bronco Stadium when Dunnachie got off plenty of booming, amazing punts. He should have been mentioned here.
6. I was somewhat surprised to see Winterswyk and George Iloka on the first team. Both are great players, but haven't had stand out years like we were expecting. I guess Winterswyk is in because of his track record. As far as Iloka, maybe there was no one else worthy of it. He did pick up his game towards the end of the regular season (remember the balancing act/interception against Nevada? Beautiful.).
What do you think? Let me know if I've missed anybody or if I am wrong somewhere. As always, Bronco Chase is open for discussion. Let's continue to cheer on our Broncos as they get ready to take on Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Weekly Player to Watch, 11th Edition
I cannot believe that we have already reached the regular season finale. I get so excited when college football starts and then it pains me deeply when it ends. Despite the setback last week at Nevada, Boise State has a lot going for them for the remainder of this season, including the bowl game, and for years to come. The final game of the season pits the erratic Utah State Aggies against our beloved Boise State Broncos on The Blue. According to reports, the Broncos are focused, having fun, and ready to play this game. That is good to hear. Tomorrow will be extra special because it is senior day. We will say farewell to 18 student-athletes who have been part of the most productive and winning classes in Boise State history. Tom Scott on ktvb.com has a great tribute to the seniors as well as staggering numbers and statistics for what they have accomplished in their 4-5 years on The Blue.
Today's Weekly PTW will be different. I am going to honor this great group of seniors individually. I will mention each one by name and share a fun fact about them. They are in alphabetical order. Please enjoy!
Austin Pettis
Boise State record holder for most career catches and most touchdowns in a season. Enough said. He will be sorely missed.
Brandyn Thompson
Named Defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl after nabbing 2 interceptions (one of them was a pic-six) and tipping another pass that Winston Venable intercepted to seal the victory. Also, he's my little sister's favorite player.
Daron Mackey
His career has been hampered by knee injuries, but Mackey has contributed when he is on the field. He is aggressive and ferocious out there.
Derrell Acrey
Acrey is a vocal team leader, pumping up his teammates before each game. This includes when he was a redshirt freshman at the first Fiesta Bowl. "The Preacher" is a fitting nickname for him.
Jarvis Hodge
Has a really good time mowing down defenders in mop up time. I enjoy watching him as well!
Jason Robinson
Was the key factor/player in calling the fake punt against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.
Jeremy Avery
This little guy runs tough and has the moves to fake out defenders. Even when he was relegated to a back-up, he kept his head up and returned to the backfield as happy as he could be. Jeremy is a great player and is very underrated in Boise State history.
Jeron Johnson
Jeron hits really hard. I mean really hard. He is ferocious out there. Just ask Russell Hill.
Kevin Sapien
Also part of the offensive line last season that yielded a mere 5 sacks. His shoulder injuries sidelined him for good, but is used as a coach and mental leader.
Kyle Brotzman
Kyle has scored 425 career points. That is most in Boise State and WAC history. He is also closing in on the record books for most in NCAA history. Just remember the fake punt against TCU. It was beautiful!
Matt Slater
Another anchor in the Boise State offensive line that gives up very few sacks. He is also on the all-WAC academic team, so he's a smart kid as well.
Mike Coughlin
Mike was named Scout Team Offensive Player of the year for Boise State in 2006. He has been a huge leadership factor and model for Kellen Moore and the whole team.
Ryan Winterswyk
Transformed from a walk-on safety to a multiple-year first team all-WAC selection and all-WAC-Decade selection. That is amazing. He is one of the true leaders on defense.
Sean King
Sean is a local kid from Timberline High School, living the dream with the Broncos.
Titus Young
Boise State record holder for most receiving yards. Second for most receptions (behind fellow senior Austin Pettis). He is also the fastest freaker I have ever seen on a football field. Welcome to the NFL Mr. Young!
Tommy Gallarda
Tommy's one-handed catch for a touchdown against Virginia Tech was the sickest thing I have seen in a really long time.
Will Lawrence
Will started all 13 games last year. You know, the offensive line that only gave up 5 sacks, which was the lowest total in the nation!
Winston Venable
Basically, he's a beast. He plays very physical and even finds time to intercept the ball on occasion. I like him a lot!
Let's send off our seniors with a loud round of applause on Saturday and wish them the best as they move on. I hope that all of them get to start as well. Make sure you check back in on Sunday for my take on the game against Utah State. Let's go Broncos!
Today's Weekly PTW will be different. I am going to honor this great group of seniors individually. I will mention each one by name and share a fun fact about them. They are in alphabetical order. Please enjoy!
Austin Pettis
Boise State record holder for most career catches and most touchdowns in a season. Enough said. He will be sorely missed.
Brandyn Thompson
Named Defensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl after nabbing 2 interceptions (one of them was a pic-six) and tipping another pass that Winston Venable intercepted to seal the victory. Also, he's my little sister's favorite player.
Daron Mackey
His career has been hampered by knee injuries, but Mackey has contributed when he is on the field. He is aggressive and ferocious out there.
Derrell Acrey
Acrey is a vocal team leader, pumping up his teammates before each game. This includes when he was a redshirt freshman at the first Fiesta Bowl. "The Preacher" is a fitting nickname for him.
Jarvis Hodge
Has a really good time mowing down defenders in mop up time. I enjoy watching him as well!
Jason Robinson
Was the key factor/player in calling the fake punt against TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.
Jeremy Avery
This little guy runs tough and has the moves to fake out defenders. Even when he was relegated to a back-up, he kept his head up and returned to the backfield as happy as he could be. Jeremy is a great player and is very underrated in Boise State history.
Jeron Johnson
Jeron hits really hard. I mean really hard. He is ferocious out there. Just ask Russell Hill.
Kevin Sapien
Also part of the offensive line last season that yielded a mere 5 sacks. His shoulder injuries sidelined him for good, but is used as a coach and mental leader.
Kyle Brotzman
Kyle has scored 425 career points. That is most in Boise State and WAC history. He is also closing in on the record books for most in NCAA history. Just remember the fake punt against TCU. It was beautiful!
Matt Slater
Another anchor in the Boise State offensive line that gives up very few sacks. He is also on the all-WAC academic team, so he's a smart kid as well.
Mike Coughlin
Mike was named Scout Team Offensive Player of the year for Boise State in 2006. He has been a huge leadership factor and model for Kellen Moore and the whole team.
Ryan Winterswyk
Transformed from a walk-on safety to a multiple-year first team all-WAC selection and all-WAC-Decade selection. That is amazing. He is one of the true leaders on defense.
Sean King
Sean is a local kid from Timberline High School, living the dream with the Broncos.
Titus Young
Boise State record holder for most receiving yards. Second for most receptions (behind fellow senior Austin Pettis). He is also the fastest freaker I have ever seen on a football field. Welcome to the NFL Mr. Young!
Tommy Gallarda
Tommy's one-handed catch for a touchdown against Virginia Tech was the sickest thing I have seen in a really long time.
Will Lawrence
Will started all 13 games last year. You know, the offensive line that only gave up 5 sacks, which was the lowest total in the nation!
Winston Venable
Basically, he's a beast. He plays very physical and even finds time to intercept the ball on occasion. I like him a lot!
Let's send off our seniors with a loud round of applause on Saturday and wish them the best as they move on. I hope that all of them get to start as well. Make sure you check back in on Sunday for my take on the game against Utah State. Let's go Broncos!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
What Went Wrong on Friday-My Perspective
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!
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!
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!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Broncos Surge Over Rainbow Warriors in Record Setting Fashion
There are so many things that can be said about the way that Boise State completely dominated this game. As a fan that sometimes overreacts about things, I was pretty nervous sitting there in the stands before the game started. However, the boys in Blue were nothing short of extremely prepared for the alleged challenge that the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors would bring. It was obvious from the opening kick and subsequent defensive series that this game was not going to be dictated by Bryant Moniz and that annoying run and shoot offense. School records were dropping like flies for the Broncos, and so was Moniz in the Hawai'i backfield. We will discuss more intimate details of the match up as we continue on today. But like always, let's look at some interesting stats;
Yardage:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
Rushing-230...............45
Passing-507..............151
..Total-737..............196
First Downs:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
........30...............11
Third Down Conversions:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.....8-12 (67%).......3-14 (21%)
Pass Completions-Attempts:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.......30-37............21-35
Number of Sacks on Opposing Quarterback-Yardage:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.......7-45..............0-0
Number of Punts:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
........0.................9
Turnovers:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.........3................0
As you can clearly see, Boise State was dominate in this game in every way except one; turnovers. Two interceptions and one lost fumble left points off the board. One of the interceptions was in the end zone on a scoring drive. The fumble was on about the 10 yard line on a scoring drive. But you don't need to win the turnover battle if you hold your opponent to 196 yards of total offense, especially if said opponent averages 462 per game. In fact, this was Hawai'i's lowest yardage total in twelve years; before June Jones arrived and installed the offense. Needless to say, the defense played very well for the Broncos, and their offense wasn't too shabby either. The third down conversion percentage is impressive in more than one way. It is important to see the team keep their drives alive and with an opponent like Hawai'i, keeping their offense off the field and tiring out their defense is a huge key to winning. Boise State's rushing total is a little bit deceiving. A bulk of those yards came late in the game while attempting to run out the clock. It worked well with a combination of Jeremy Avery and Doug Martin toting the rock. This offense is built to get leads and keep them. Very impressive. On the other side, of the 45 rushing yards for the Rainbow Warriors, 54 of them came on one run by Alex Green. It also accounted for their lone score. You read that right, they had negative rushing yards going into the fourth quarter. The stat that stands out the most to me is the number of sacks that Boise State was able to get. Bryant Moniz was running for his life back there, and did not succeed. Pressure on the quarterback was one of my keys to the game. You have to believe that Moniz was relieved when Coach McMackin pulled him in the fourth.
What We Learned:
Hawai'i was incredibly overrated. Like I said, I was worried coming into this game and as it turns out, there was no need to be. I should have seen it coming. During the Rainbow Warriors' win streak and throughout the season, the pass defenses they have faced rank 100th (Utah State), 104th (Nevada), 112 (Colorado), 114th (USC), and LA Tech (118th) respectively. Boise State coming in ranked 39th. There are only 120 teams in the FBS. They were feasting on terrible defenses. Such was not the case yesterday at Bronco Stadium.
The Return of the Fiesta Bowl Defense was a lot of fun. Being present at the the game in Glendale (TCU version), I remember seeing the defensive line and linebackers shifting, moving, jumping, switching, and changing positions constantly. The same thing was happening against Hawai'i yesterday. The 4-2-5 defense strikes again! It confused Andy Dalton just as it did Bryant Moniz. Deer in the headlights.
Hawai'i has a good running back, it's too bad they are hell bent on not using him. Alex Green is a big boy and hard to take down. But he can run! Did you see him take off when he broke through the line and sprinted to the end zone? They would have so much more success if they would give him the ball a few more times a game. It would keep defenses guessing and open up their passing game. Too bad it will never happen.
Titus Young is really fast. Once he had broken free from the defender and Kellen Moore had faked the hand off to perfection, there was no catching the speedster. The Rainbow Warrior defender, as he run towards the line of scrimmage leaving Young to his own devices, must have said something like "Oh crap!" as he realized that Moore was ready to launch the deep ball. There was no one withing 25 yards of Titus when he caught it. House call.
Areas of Concern:
Turnovers. It's pretty bad that Kellen threw two int's and Martin lost a fumble. But it's even worse that Boise State did not force a turnover themselves. I was sure that with as much as Hawai'i passes that they would be able to pick off a couple of passes. Yet again, this did not happen. They had chances, but the ball just flew through their hands. The Rainbow Warriors did fumble the ball 4 times, but the Broncos were not able to come up with any recoveries. Other than that, the performance was great!
Favorite Play:
I have already mentioned it, but the deep ball to Titus Young was so beautiful! The way Kellen Moore faked the hand off, kept the ball hidden behind his leg, and baited the cornerback in was priceless. One busted coverage later and Titus was dancing in the end zone, celebrating an 83 yard touchdown catch. It was awesome!
Thoughts and Tidbits:
Offensive lineman Joe Kellogg did not play due to an injury sustained against Louisiana Tech last week. Gabe Linehan saw more playing time replacing Tommy Gallarda at tight end. Kellen Moore broke the career touchdown passes mark set by Ryan Dinwiddie. Moore now has 85 to Dinwiddie's 82. Oh, and Kellen still has one season and 4 games left to play. Austin Pettis broke the record for career receptions yesterday as well, finishing the day with 196 total to Don Mutt's 189. Boise State also broke the record for most yards gained in one game with 737. The Broncos tied the school record for most wins in a row with 22. Records are falling left and right. Boise State and Coach Petersen made a little boy's dream come true. Read the amazing story here.
Weekly Player to Watch Recap:
Ryan Winterswyk went another game without a sack. This is surprising since the Broncos finished the game with 7 of them. But yet again, he was double teamed often. As I mentioned, in that he contributed very much to the game. He also lined up at tight end on one play. He is so athletic and strong that getting him on the field as often as possible is a necessity.
Perception:
I just found out that TCU jumped Boise State in the polls, which means that the Horned Frogs are guaranteed to stay in front of the Broncos in the BCS Rankings for now. This could change as the weeks go by and Boise State plays a pretty tough schedule to finish the season. Both TCU and Boise State were very impressive in their wins, but TCU will get the nod because they beat a (completely overrated) top 5 team on the road. It looks like yet again we are locked in battle with the purple frogs from Fort Worth. With Alabama and Oklahoma losing, a couple more teams are cleared out of the way. A lot is going to happen between now and when the BCS Bowl game match ups are decided. Boise State may get left out and end up playing 6-6 California in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. We will see what happens. Voters are impressed with this win over Hawai'i. But I think they are more impressed with TCU's win over Utah. We just have to wait and see what happens.
Photos:
Thanks again idahostatesman.com.
Come back tomorrow for my WAC Weekend Recap. I need to get some sleep. It was a long day yesterday.
Yardage:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
Rushing-230...............45
Passing-507..............151
..Total-737..............196
First Downs:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
........30...............11
Third Down Conversions:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.....8-12 (67%).......3-14 (21%)
Pass Completions-Attempts:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.......30-37............21-35
Number of Sacks on Opposing Quarterback-Yardage:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.......7-45..............0-0
Number of Punts:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
........0.................9
Turnovers:
......Broncos......Rainbow Warriors
.........3................0
As you can clearly see, Boise State was dominate in this game in every way except one; turnovers. Two interceptions and one lost fumble left points off the board. One of the interceptions was in the end zone on a scoring drive. The fumble was on about the 10 yard line on a scoring drive. But you don't need to win the turnover battle if you hold your opponent to 196 yards of total offense, especially if said opponent averages 462 per game. In fact, this was Hawai'i's lowest yardage total in twelve years; before June Jones arrived and installed the offense. Needless to say, the defense played very well for the Broncos, and their offense wasn't too shabby either. The third down conversion percentage is impressive in more than one way. It is important to see the team keep their drives alive and with an opponent like Hawai'i, keeping their offense off the field and tiring out their defense is a huge key to winning. Boise State's rushing total is a little bit deceiving. A bulk of those yards came late in the game while attempting to run out the clock. It worked well with a combination of Jeremy Avery and Doug Martin toting the rock. This offense is built to get leads and keep them. Very impressive. On the other side, of the 45 rushing yards for the Rainbow Warriors, 54 of them came on one run by Alex Green. It also accounted for their lone score. You read that right, they had negative rushing yards going into the fourth quarter. The stat that stands out the most to me is the number of sacks that Boise State was able to get. Bryant Moniz was running for his life back there, and did not succeed. Pressure on the quarterback was one of my keys to the game. You have to believe that Moniz was relieved when Coach McMackin pulled him in the fourth.
What We Learned:
Hawai'i was incredibly overrated. Like I said, I was worried coming into this game and as it turns out, there was no need to be. I should have seen it coming. During the Rainbow Warriors' win streak and throughout the season, the pass defenses they have faced rank 100th (Utah State), 104th (Nevada), 112 (Colorado), 114th (USC), and LA Tech (118th) respectively. Boise State coming in ranked 39th. There are only 120 teams in the FBS. They were feasting on terrible defenses. Such was not the case yesterday at Bronco Stadium.
The Return of the Fiesta Bowl Defense was a lot of fun. Being present at the the game in Glendale (TCU version), I remember seeing the defensive line and linebackers shifting, moving, jumping, switching, and changing positions constantly. The same thing was happening against Hawai'i yesterday. The 4-2-5 defense strikes again! It confused Andy Dalton just as it did Bryant Moniz. Deer in the headlights.
Hawai'i has a good running back, it's too bad they are hell bent on not using him. Alex Green is a big boy and hard to take down. But he can run! Did you see him take off when he broke through the line and sprinted to the end zone? They would have so much more success if they would give him the ball a few more times a game. It would keep defenses guessing and open up their passing game. Too bad it will never happen.
Titus Young is really fast. Once he had broken free from the defender and Kellen Moore had faked the hand off to perfection, there was no catching the speedster. The Rainbow Warrior defender, as he run towards the line of scrimmage leaving Young to his own devices, must have said something like "Oh crap!" as he realized that Moore was ready to launch the deep ball. There was no one withing 25 yards of Titus when he caught it. House call.
Areas of Concern:
Turnovers. It's pretty bad that Kellen threw two int's and Martin lost a fumble. But it's even worse that Boise State did not force a turnover themselves. I was sure that with as much as Hawai'i passes that they would be able to pick off a couple of passes. Yet again, this did not happen. They had chances, but the ball just flew through their hands. The Rainbow Warriors did fumble the ball 4 times, but the Broncos were not able to come up with any recoveries. Other than that, the performance was great!
Favorite Play:
I have already mentioned it, but the deep ball to Titus Young was so beautiful! The way Kellen Moore faked the hand off, kept the ball hidden behind his leg, and baited the cornerback in was priceless. One busted coverage later and Titus was dancing in the end zone, celebrating an 83 yard touchdown catch. It was awesome!
Thoughts and Tidbits:
Offensive lineman Joe Kellogg did not play due to an injury sustained against Louisiana Tech last week. Gabe Linehan saw more playing time replacing Tommy Gallarda at tight end. Kellen Moore broke the career touchdown passes mark set by Ryan Dinwiddie. Moore now has 85 to Dinwiddie's 82. Oh, and Kellen still has one season and 4 games left to play. Austin Pettis broke the record for career receptions yesterday as well, finishing the day with 196 total to Don Mutt's 189. Boise State also broke the record for most yards gained in one game with 737. The Broncos tied the school record for most wins in a row with 22. Records are falling left and right. Boise State and Coach Petersen made a little boy's dream come true. Read the amazing story here.
Weekly Player to Watch Recap:
Ryan Winterswyk went another game without a sack. This is surprising since the Broncos finished the game with 7 of them. But yet again, he was double teamed often. As I mentioned, in that he contributed very much to the game. He also lined up at tight end on one play. He is so athletic and strong that getting him on the field as often as possible is a necessity.
Perception:
I just found out that TCU jumped Boise State in the polls, which means that the Horned Frogs are guaranteed to stay in front of the Broncos in the BCS Rankings for now. This could change as the weeks go by and Boise State plays a pretty tough schedule to finish the season. Both TCU and Boise State were very impressive in their wins, but TCU will get the nod because they beat a (completely overrated) top 5 team on the road. It looks like yet again we are locked in battle with the purple frogs from Fort Worth. With Alabama and Oklahoma losing, a couple more teams are cleared out of the way. A lot is going to happen between now and when the BCS Bowl game match ups are decided. Boise State may get left out and end up playing 6-6 California in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. We will see what happens. Voters are impressed with this win over Hawai'i. But I think they are more impressed with TCU's win over Utah. We just have to wait and see what happens.
Photos:
Thanks again idahostatesman.com.
Come back tomorrow for my WAC Weekend Recap. I need to get some sleep. It was a long day yesterday.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Broncos Smoke San Jose State on the Road
The Boise State Broncos yet again took care of business on the road against a WAC opponent. A 48-0 beat down of the San Jose State Spartans was all part of a day that should bode well overall for the 3rd ranked team in the land. The Spartans were completely over-matched and could barely muster anything close to good football. Granted, they were missing 9 starters due to injury (and one more ended up with crutches on the sideline during the game; Running back Lamon Muldrow). We have witnessed a huge reason why Boise State is bolting from the WAC to the Mountain West. Hopefully there is better competition there that will boost their strength of schedule. Either way, this was such a dominating performance for the boys in Blue. Here are some stats to get us started:
Yardage:
......Broncos......Spartans
Rushing-213..........-12
Passing-322..........92
..Total-535..........80
First Downs:
......Broncos......Spartans
........28............6
Average Gain Per Play:
......Broncos......Spartans
........7.5..........1.5
Number of Sacks on Opposing Quarterback:
......Broncos......Spartans
.........4............0
Third Down Efficiency:
..........Broncos............Spartans
.......55%(6 of 11)........13%(2 of 15)
Penalties:
......Broncos......Spartans
.......5-51..........4-26
As you can easily see, San Jose State was more than over matched in every aspect of the game. Again I am amazed at how Coach Petersen is able to prepare his players mentally for every game, regardless of the opponent. The total yardage allowed by the Broncos' defense was the lowest amount allowed since 1972. It is of worth noting that this is the second time this year that Boise State has held an opponent to negative rushing yardage (Wyoming). I would like to point out that the Broncos' third down conversion percent is getting better. 55% is still not great, but it is alright. Remember, the starters did not even play in the second half and a lot of the plays were rushing attempts, which skews the third down conversion numbers a little bit. Also, way to cut down on penalties Boise State! This was the first game where they had such a low number of penalties and it is really good to see that. Let's hope they can continue that.
What We Learned:
The Spartans have a long way to go. Like I said, they are victims of the injury bug this year, but it is obvious that the talent level at the school is no even close to what it has been, could be, and probably should be. The university is in northern California where this are plenty of great players to recruit. Boise State gets quite a few from that area, by the way. The commentators of the game said that Coach Mike MacIntyre has a notebook of some 200-odd pages detailing his plan to get the program competitive again. I think part of it has to be not scheduling so many top 25 opponents in one season. Let's see if MacIntyre is around long enough to carry out his plan.
Bronco Nation travels! There were about 5,000 Bronco fans out of the 20,000+ people in Spartan Stadium Saturday night. You will see great numbers of them just about everywhere that they play. This game was special, however. As I mentioned, the Broncos get a lot of players from northern California, and plenty of friends and family members of said players were in attendance. Doug Martin had the biggest contingent. They had signs and posters as well. This is great for the team and their morale; to see their own no matter where they are playing.
Kellen Moore did not even play the second half. I really wanted him to. He finished the night going 14 for 16 for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns (and no interceptions, again!). As I mentioned last week and probably will after every game from now on, imagine his numbers if he was to play all four quarters! It would be a mind grenade-it would blow your mind all over the room. The stats would be eye-popping. Alas, it won't happen. Coach Pete and for that matter Kellen himself are saving the quarterback for big games. By they way, Moore passed Bart Hendricks for the most completions ever by a Boise State quarterback. He's only half way through his junior year. Yeah, no one will ever be taking that record from Kellen, guaranteed!
Titus Young is special. He can outrun anybody on any team. That is all there is to it. He seems to go about 3/4 speed and then turn it on as soon as Moore launches the deep pass. Young had a 43 yard touchdown catch. It was a beautiful throw from Kellen right into his bread basket without breaking stride. You cannot defend that. Titus is a great football player. Best of all, he isn't getting excessive celebration penalties this year!
Areas of Concern:
Other than the third down conversion percentage that I mentioned above, there is nothing else. The performance was that outstanding last night!
Favorite Play:
Just like last game, I had quite a few to choose from. However, I am going with the Aaron Tevis pick-six. It was such a beautiful smart read by Tevis and an even better catch by him. The one handed leaping interception was awesome! Plus he rumbled down the sideline and got into the end zone to cap it all off. House call!
Thoughts and Tidbits:
Cornerback Jamar Taylor was suspended for the game for an unspecified violation of teams rules. He did not make the trip to San Jose. Coach Pete doesn't put up with crap, if you haven't noticed yet. The Broncos lead the nation in total defense (210.2), rushing defense (59.3), pass efficiency (188.11) and sacks allowed (0.17). Moore is No. 1 in pass efficiency (190.35). Chris Potter, who was the third choice as the punt returner, is eighth in the nation with a 16.8-yard average. In other words, the Broncos are really freaking good!
Perception:
Oh boy! There is a lot to talk about here. The Broncos did what they had to do and win in a dominating way. That in itself will not do much to change the national view of Boise State. What took place in other games on Saturday will undoubtedly affect the Broncos and their ranking and bowl destination. Number one ranked Ohio State lost on the road to Wisconsin. It was actually a fairly dominating performance from the Badgers. Also, unranked Texas beat undefeated and 5th ranked Nebraska on the road. I think Nebraska's chances of a National Championship are over, but the Buckeyes still have time to move back up in the polls. Still, their loss appears to have removed another roadblock out of the Broncos' path. I mentioned last week that in the projected BCS standings to be released today, that Boise State should get the nod to be number one. However, according to this story, Oklahoma somehow has a shot at getting it. I have no idea how, but it is just another example of biased and scared voters trying to keep Boise State away from the precious BCS Championship that they have selfishly created for the "big boys." Still, Boise State is looking good and if a few more teams lose for the first time and some for a second time, there is no way to keep them out. Some of that mass chaos that I have been talking about has taken place. Let's hope for the rest! Virginia Tech also won again, their 5th straight. They crushed Wake Forest. The Hokies might not end up in the top 25 quite yet, but it will happen soon.
That was the good new. The bad news comes in two parts. After beating the 9th ranked Arizona Wildcats on the road last week, the Oregon State Beavers fell at Washington in double overtime. They went for the two point conversion to win but the pass was batted away to preserve the Huskies' victory. The Beavers will fall out of the top 25 again. Also, Hawai'i beat Nevada on the islands late Saturday night, also knocking the Wolfpack out of the rankings. Nevada was supposed to be the showdown between two undefeated teams for the WAC championship. It would have boosted the Broncos' strength of schedule greatly. But now, it is looking like the home game against the Rainbow Warriors on November 6 could be the defacto WAC championship game. I told you Hawai'i was looking really good! Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick had a really bad game. Still, I think the pros outweigh the cons from Saturday and Boise State should find itself just fine when the BCS Ranking come out today. We will see how long it lasts and who else loses as the weeks go by.
Photos:
Thanks again idahostatesman.com for the great photos of the game. Enjoy, fans of Bronco Chase!
Check back in tomorrow for my WAC Weekend Recap and some more takes on Boise State's status.
Yardage:
......Broncos......Spartans
Rushing-213..........-12
Passing-322..........92
..Total-535..........80
First Downs:
......Broncos......Spartans
........28............6
Average Gain Per Play:
......Broncos......Spartans
........7.5..........1.5
Number of Sacks on Opposing Quarterback:
......Broncos......Spartans
.........4............0
Third Down Efficiency:
..........Broncos............Spartans
.......55%(6 of 11)........13%(2 of 15)
Penalties:
......Broncos......Spartans
.......5-51..........4-26
As you can easily see, San Jose State was more than over matched in every aspect of the game. Again I am amazed at how Coach Petersen is able to prepare his players mentally for every game, regardless of the opponent. The total yardage allowed by the Broncos' defense was the lowest amount allowed since 1972. It is of worth noting that this is the second time this year that Boise State has held an opponent to negative rushing yardage (Wyoming). I would like to point out that the Broncos' third down conversion percent is getting better. 55% is still not great, but it is alright. Remember, the starters did not even play in the second half and a lot of the plays were rushing attempts, which skews the third down conversion numbers a little bit. Also, way to cut down on penalties Boise State! This was the first game where they had such a low number of penalties and it is really good to see that. Let's hope they can continue that.
What We Learned:
The Spartans have a long way to go. Like I said, they are victims of the injury bug this year, but it is obvious that the talent level at the school is no even close to what it has been, could be, and probably should be. The university is in northern California where this are plenty of great players to recruit. Boise State gets quite a few from that area, by the way. The commentators of the game said that Coach Mike MacIntyre has a notebook of some 200-odd pages detailing his plan to get the program competitive again. I think part of it has to be not scheduling so many top 25 opponents in one season. Let's see if MacIntyre is around long enough to carry out his plan.
Bronco Nation travels! There were about 5,000 Bronco fans out of the 20,000+ people in Spartan Stadium Saturday night. You will see great numbers of them just about everywhere that they play. This game was special, however. As I mentioned, the Broncos get a lot of players from northern California, and plenty of friends and family members of said players were in attendance. Doug Martin had the biggest contingent. They had signs and posters as well. This is great for the team and their morale; to see their own no matter where they are playing.
Kellen Moore did not even play the second half. I really wanted him to. He finished the night going 14 for 16 for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns (and no interceptions, again!). As I mentioned last week and probably will after every game from now on, imagine his numbers if he was to play all four quarters! It would be a mind grenade-it would blow your mind all over the room. The stats would be eye-popping. Alas, it won't happen. Coach Pete and for that matter Kellen himself are saving the quarterback for big games. By they way, Moore passed Bart Hendricks for the most completions ever by a Boise State quarterback. He's only half way through his junior year. Yeah, no one will ever be taking that record from Kellen, guaranteed!
Titus Young is special. He can outrun anybody on any team. That is all there is to it. He seems to go about 3/4 speed and then turn it on as soon as Moore launches the deep pass. Young had a 43 yard touchdown catch. It was a beautiful throw from Kellen right into his bread basket without breaking stride. You cannot defend that. Titus is a great football player. Best of all, he isn't getting excessive celebration penalties this year!
Areas of Concern:
Other than the third down conversion percentage that I mentioned above, there is nothing else. The performance was that outstanding last night!
Favorite Play:
Just like last game, I had quite a few to choose from. However, I am going with the Aaron Tevis pick-six. It was such a beautiful smart read by Tevis and an even better catch by him. The one handed leaping interception was awesome! Plus he rumbled down the sideline and got into the end zone to cap it all off. House call!
Thoughts and Tidbits:
Cornerback Jamar Taylor was suspended for the game for an unspecified violation of teams rules. He did not make the trip to San Jose. Coach Pete doesn't put up with crap, if you haven't noticed yet. The Broncos lead the nation in total defense (210.2), rushing defense (59.3), pass efficiency (188.11) and sacks allowed (0.17). Moore is No. 1 in pass efficiency (190.35). Chris Potter, who was the third choice as the punt returner, is eighth in the nation with a 16.8-yard average. In other words, the Broncos are really freaking good!
Perception:
Oh boy! There is a lot to talk about here. The Broncos did what they had to do and win in a dominating way. That in itself will not do much to change the national view of Boise State. What took place in other games on Saturday will undoubtedly affect the Broncos and their ranking and bowl destination. Number one ranked Ohio State lost on the road to Wisconsin. It was actually a fairly dominating performance from the Badgers. Also, unranked Texas beat undefeated and 5th ranked Nebraska on the road. I think Nebraska's chances of a National Championship are over, but the Buckeyes still have time to move back up in the polls. Still, their loss appears to have removed another roadblock out of the Broncos' path. I mentioned last week that in the projected BCS standings to be released today, that Boise State should get the nod to be number one. However, according to this story, Oklahoma somehow has a shot at getting it. I have no idea how, but it is just another example of biased and scared voters trying to keep Boise State away from the precious BCS Championship that they have selfishly created for the "big boys." Still, Boise State is looking good and if a few more teams lose for the first time and some for a second time, there is no way to keep them out. Some of that mass chaos that I have been talking about has taken place. Let's hope for the rest! Virginia Tech also won again, their 5th straight. They crushed Wake Forest. The Hokies might not end up in the top 25 quite yet, but it will happen soon.
That was the good new. The bad news comes in two parts. After beating the 9th ranked Arizona Wildcats on the road last week, the Oregon State Beavers fell at Washington in double overtime. They went for the two point conversion to win but the pass was batted away to preserve the Huskies' victory. The Beavers will fall out of the top 25 again. Also, Hawai'i beat Nevada on the islands late Saturday night, also knocking the Wolfpack out of the rankings. Nevada was supposed to be the showdown between two undefeated teams for the WAC championship. It would have boosted the Broncos' strength of schedule greatly. But now, it is looking like the home game against the Rainbow Warriors on November 6 could be the defacto WAC championship game. I told you Hawai'i was looking really good! Colin "Bird Leg" Kaepernick had a really bad game. Still, I think the pros outweigh the cons from Saturday and Boise State should find itself just fine when the BCS Ranking come out today. We will see how long it lasts and who else loses as the weeks go by.
Photos:
Thanks again idahostatesman.com for the great photos of the game. Enjoy, fans of Bronco Chase!
Check back in tomorrow for my WAC Weekend Recap and some more takes on Boise State's status.
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