Spring football underway – Chalich takes slight lead in two-quarterback battle in spring practice

Idaho coach Paul Petrino wanted the competition he has at multiple positions to create an infusion of energy for the start of  spring football practice. 

Parker Wilson | Argonaut
Idaho offensive coordinator and wide recievers coach Kris Cinkovich directs the Idaho wide receivers in a practice drill on their first day of spring practice Sunday at the SprinTurf. Former quarterback Josh McCain, right, is practicing with the recivers this spring. Idaho’s first scrimmage is 10 a.m. Saturday.

The second-year Idaho coach got so much of it on Sunday on the SprinTurf that he had to stop practice momentarily to make sure that energy was being directed properly. A light scuffle late in the practice, followed shortly thereafter by a hard hit by a secondary player, made Petrino bring his team to a huddle to make sure players weren’t going to get hurt.

“There were just a couple of silly things. I want the energy, I don’t want it to stop but we don’t need to be getting anybody hurt when we don’t have full pads on,” Petrino said. “That was good, I don’t think I ever had to do that last year. It was good that the energy was like that, they were flying around and getting after it, just have to keep improving. And I want it to be that, but at the end of stuff, don’t get each other hurt.”

Position battles at offensive line, the secondary and at quarterback were at the forefront of the first spring practice.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback and incumbent starter Chad Chalich had a slight advantage over redshirt freshman Matt Linehan in the quarterback battle on day one. Chalich didn’t have any turnovers and completed a majority of his passes during team and skeleton drills. Linehan showed good command of the offense, but that was underscored by two interceptions thrown during drills.

“On day one, it looks like Chad had a little better day — you’re never sure until you watch the tape. But we’re just light years ahead of last year, they both are, because they’ve both been in the offense for a year,” Petrino said. “I thought both of them played way better than anybody did the first couple of days last year. Chad probably had a better day today, but Matt did some good things today. I thought they both did some good things.”

It was a no-pads, no-contact practice, which was good for the quarterbacks and running backs, who would have been hit multiple times in the backfield, if defensive ends Maxx Forde and Quinton Bradley were allowed to tackle. Both were constantly in the backfield, bringing the attacking mentality Forde said Idaho’s defense is trying to implement.

“We need to change our mentality as a defense first and foremost. We’ve done a lot of that already this year. Just attack people, be relentless — I think that mentality will help us get a little further,” Forde said. “Also not having any mental mistakes, knowing where you’re supposed to be. Those are things we’ve been working on.”

Idaho was supposed to get practice started last Friday, but was rained out due to the Kibbie Dome being used for a separate university event. Following the Monday practice, the Vandals will practice again on Wednesday before their first scrimmage on Saturday.

Sean Kramer can be reached at [email protected]