For the second time in three weeks, the Idaho Vandal football team will take the turf in the Kibbie Dome for a spring scrimmage, and like the first one, all eyes will be on the offense.
Ilya Pinchuk | Argonaut Quarterbacks Logan Bushnell, left, Domonique Blackman, center, and Taylor Davis practice Thursday afternoon in the Kibbie Dome. The Vandals are at the final stretch of their spring season and coach Robb Akey said he is pleased with the progress displayed by his squad.
After only putting two touchdowns on the board in the first 90-minute go around two weeks ago, questions swirled around the offense in regard to an inability to move the ball that plagued last season’s squad.
Like last season, the defense proved to be a rock that coach Robb Akey, a defensive-minded coach, could lean on in tight games. With 10 spring practices in the books, optimism for the defense — especially the linebacker corps — is high. The return of senior leader Rob Siavii along with veterans Conrad Scheidt and Homer Mauga and junior college transfer Matt Willis should lead to one of the WAC’s best defenses.
Akey said he expects to see the guys all around the field make plays this weekend,
along with seeing how they act as leaders.
“I wanna see guys make plays. I wanna see guys play hard, I wanna see guys finish,” Akey said. “I want the coaches off the field and for the players to play.”
Before heading to Saturday’s scrimmage, here are three things to ponder while watching the Vandals take the field only one week before the Silver and Gold game.
1. Seriously, name a quarterback
There is a time and a place for everything. Three weeks into spring ball isn’t the time or place to still not have a No. 1 quarterback named.
Fans understand that the guy who takes most of the snaps in the spring isn’t necessarily going to be the guy starting against Eastern Washington come fall, but keeping two guys in the mix means neither of them benefit or learn the job to it’s full extent.
Akey said both the quarterbacks are still learning, but expects to see them run the offenses Saturday.
“In different ways they’re taking the opportunity to drive the truck a bit. I do believe that still needs to grow, and I need to see some plays being made but it is gaining ground,” Akey said.
One quarterback needs to take more snaps, play more with the first-team line and receivers, and spend more time with quarterback coach and offensive coordinator Jason Gesser.
Your two and three quarterbacks will still get snaps, it’s not like one guy will control all of a practice, but one does need the opportunity to grow properly.
2. Offensive line needs to grow together
The offensive line, not the quarterback, is the biggest concern surrounding this Vandal football team going into the fall.
After losing three starters to graduation, veterans Mike Marboe and AJ Jones will need to be leaders for whomever takes over those spots.
Akey said the offensive line is going non-stop to get to the level he expects from them.
“They are getting some work in. Those guys are getting a ton of reps,” Akey said. “Every guy out there working on the offensive line is working their tail off. Some of them are having some success, some of them are fighting their tails off.”
The lack of experience and time to understand new line coach Gordy Shaw’s schemes showed in the Vandals first scrimmage in which the defense tallied six sacks and 11 tackles for a loss.
With uncertainty at the quarterback position, cohesiveness in the line will be vital this season.
3. Watch these guys run
Probably the most overlooked part of this spring’s Idaho offense has been at the running back position.
The loss of starters Kama Bailey and Princeton McCarty from last season’s squad will hurt the Vandals in the experience department, but their skill set is not only matched by this season’s corps, but possibly exceeded.
Ryan Bass returns as the sole veteran of the squad, and after being bothered by a stomach issue last season is primed and ready to lead Idaho’s running attack. His moves and skill will be complemented by the power and strength of junior college transfer James Baker. Baker’s 6-foot-2-inch, 225-pound frame will be tough for many conference defenders to take down, especially in short yardage situations. Another name to watch for will be redshirt freshman Todd Handley, who at 5-9, 175 pounds may be one of the fastest players in the WAC. His speed will be key in opening up defenses for big plays both on the edge running and through the deep ball.
Madison McCord can be reached at [email protected]