With the first football practice of fall camp less than an hour away, here is a look at what Idaho coach Paul Petrino had to say at his pre-camp press conference on Sunday. Petrino talked about the quarterback competition, the team health, where he’s seen the move improvement since he took over the team and more.
On the quarterback competition between Chad Chalich and freshman Matt Linehan:
“The competition really starts back up at 6 (during the first practice). I think they both mentally improved (over the spring and summer). Obviously they both work hard, they both love the game of football. I was telling my wife the other day that it’s too bad it wasn’t two guys battling at receiver because they’re just two kids that you love, that you want on the team. They’re two of the best kids on the team but you only play one quarterback at a time. But I think we’re very fortunate to have both of them and it’s just going to make us better.”
“I don’t have a timeline exactly right now and I could even see it, to be honest with you, playing both of them in the Florida game. If one of them just takes off and separates himself from the other and there’s no question, whenever that day happens I’ll name (the starter). But if they’re still real close and that goes all the way through fall camp, I can see both of them playing in the opener.”
On Chad Chalich’s shoulder:
“I think it’s doing way better. I think it’s something we’re really going to have to keep an eye on in fall camp because no matter what, quarterback’s arms get sore and tired in fall camp and just knowing that he had injured it, it’s something we’ll have to keep account on. The biggest thing I don’t want to do is get him tired and have him try to use different technique in order to get the ball out there because his arm is so sore. So we’ll just have to keep an eye on him and make sure he’s throwing with good technique.”
As of right now, Petrino said he does not plan on having the quarterbacks live to take hits during fall camp.
On the team’s health:
“I think we’re healthy. Going into it, Desmond Banks had to have an operation on his shoulders so he’s not healthy and Will Schmidt had the same thing. Outside of that I think we’re in great shape.”
“Desmond played last year, his freshman year, so he still has a redshirt year. So Desmond, I would probably see us redshirting him because it would be all the way about three quarters into the season before he’d be back so it’s good he has a redshirt year. Will did redshirt last year so hopefully he’ll get back at some point and that will just be kind of a how quick he can rehab and how quickly that shoulder comes along.”
On who needs to step up during fall camp:
“I’m expecting the offensive line to play way better this fall. I think they all made huge strides in the weight room this summer. I think they made strides especially in our pass protection in the spring. Now we just have to take it to the next level and really improve on that and also start dominating in the running game. I think with all the competition and all the people that are back … I’m really looking forward to them showing great improvement.”
“Obviously the quarterback position, that’s what leads the train so we want to see that position but I feel really good about both of those two guys. They just have to both keep improving. Then we have a great young player for the future in Jake (Luton). So you have three quarterbacks there that really make you feel good.”
“I think we have a lot of explosion and speed at receiver. I think that’s a position that needs to be one of our strengths.”
“I think Jerrel (Brown) had a good spring ball at running back. Richard (Montgomery) is kind of running back and receiver. (He) can make plays at both places. Then I’m excited to what Elijhaa Penny and Aaron Duckworth can do at running back. So I’m excited to get the pads on and see how they look.”
“Scondary-wise, I think that’s a position that we have to improve, I think we made improvement. I think we got a lot better in the spring. I think coach Ambrose did a really good job with the corners. I think at the safety position through competition and the other guys we’ve brought in. I thought … Jordan Grabski improved, Bradley Njoku improved. He played a lot of nickel for us. Bradley will have to work at some corner also. Chris Edwards, I think he plays as good as he looks. That’s exciting to get him out there. Joe Smith is here now who was at Utah. He’s got great speed just seeing him run in the summer. So you look forward to all those guys, just where it’s all going to play out. One good thing we feel is we have a lot more depth in the secondary so we can be in more nickel and dime, something we didn’t run enough of last year.”
On the receivers without Dezmon Epps who was dismissed from the team:
“If you looked at spring ball, Deon (Watson) had a really good spring. He made plays every single scrimmage, did well. Jacob Shannon came on at the end of the spring, and the last week and a half, probably played as well as anybody. Josh McCain had a real good spring, just have to keep him from getting hurt. Josh has as much talent as anybody. He’s somebody that can really take off. I think Rueben (Mwehla) unfortunately was hurt a lot of the spring but boy, you can see him run this summer. He’s got his speed back so that’s a guy that you feel good about. Jermaine Johnson is someone that can really get out and run and you really feel good about him. I think that’d probably be where it would start.”
On the whether basketball player Roberto Asencio is back on the team:
“Yes, we moved him to defensive line though. He’s going to work there and see if coach Hardmon can bring him along. That’s where he’s going to start out working in camp so that will be interesting to see.”
On the junior college transfers:
“Alfonso (Hampton) looks like it’s going to be one more week. He should finish his class on the eighth. So he’ll be in here probably the start of next week. Chris Edwards was here this summer, Elijhaa Penny was here this summer, Jermaine Johnson. All three of those guys are guys that look like they could walk around any camp that’s in the United States and be on the football team so I’m really excited about them. It looks like Jerett Olson is going to take a little bit longer than we though. Hopefully before fall camp is over he’ll definitely make it before school starts. There’s probably a chance that two guys we signed will probably not make it and that’s Dennis Rufus and Kenny Torrence. Those two might not make it. Everybody else is already here or will make it.”
On Utah transfer Joe Smith:
“Joe (Smith) has been here all summer. He graduated (at Utah), he transferred here, got in graduate school and he can really fly. He was there nickel back last year. He was their starting nickel back for their first seven or eight games. We’re going to play him at corner, possibly nickel also. And he’s just an experienced older kid that can really run. Showed on tape last year that he can hit you. He’s a good tackler, he’s got good speed so we look forward to seeing him get out there and play for the Vandals.”
On where he has seen the most improvement since taking over at Idaho:
“I think No. 1 is just the attitude and effort. I think they all understand how we’re going to work, I think they understand how camp will be ran. I think that would be the starting point. I think we’ve really improved our team speed would probably be the second thing. Then just the overall passion of loving football and wanting to go out there and get better every day.”
On kicking:
“Jordan Burke, some of the old Vandals might remember Paul Burke. He was a great tight end here actually when I was an assistant here. His son Jordan was a kicker at Mesa Junior College and he’s come in here and he’s going to compete against (Austin Rehkow) to be the PAT kicker and to kick off but if we had to play today Austin would do both. Austin wants to do both so Jordan will have to go beat him out.”
Other notes:
- Idaho’s first fall practice is today (Monday)
- The first scrimmage is 10 a.m., Saturday