The long-awaited season is two days away for the Idaho football program.
Following a rigorous offseason, defensive coordinator Mike Breske said he feels the team is ready for Thursday’s season opener against Montana State.
“I know the guys are excited,” he said. “We’ve still got practice time and that deal, but I’m excited to see the guys on the field and what they can do.”
Breske said the team is currently focusing on the implementation of specific strategies on the field.
“I think it’s more mental now,” he said. “The physical work has been put in through camp and now it’s a matter of getting in on your free time and watching more film and studying your opponent.”
Breske will be tasked with containing Montana State transfer quarterback Tyler Bruggman, who joined the Bobcats after spending a season at the helm with Scottsdale Community College.
“He is a very talented kid … from a great program down there in Arizona,” Breske said. “He hasn’t played a college game since Scottsdale, so this will be a test.”
Meanwhile, Idaho defensive line coach Kenny Holmes is confident seniors Kevin White and Glen Antoine will step up as key players this season.
“They’re going to be a huge part of what we do up front as a defense,” Holmes said. “Kevin being able to come in and play multiple positions against the run game and the pass game. Glen is a juggernaut in the middle with stopping the run. Both will be huge in what do going forward this season.”
Another standout player is senior defensive lineman Tueni Lupeamanu.
The senior finished the 2015 season with 38 tackles and a fumble recovery.
“He’s a lot more vocal than Quinton (Bradley), I consider him one of our team leaders,” Holmes said. “He brings it every single day and works hard every single day on and off the field. He’s a great leader as far as following by example, vocal when we need that word of encouragement.”
Holmes said the defensive line improved greatly over the course of the offseason.
“I think as a whole defensive line, we are a lot more athletic,” he said. “I think it’ll show when it gets to be third and long situations. Having multiple guys be able to get to the quarterback and apply pressure.”
The Vandals defense is also making preparations in an attempt to slow the Montana State backfield duo of Chad Newell and Gunnar Brekke.
“I know they have two really good backs that we have to try and contain and try and force them to pass the ball,” Holmes said. “Be careful what we ask for, because they have two pretty tall receivers that they like to throw the ball up to, especially in the red zone. We’ve just got to able to defend it, and as far as the defensive line be able to apply pressure up front.”
Meanwhile, Breske said the coaching staff will spend the week studying game film from Montana State.
“It’s a new coaching staff, so there will be some new concepts that we’re not aware of,” he said.
The Vandals open up the season against the Bobcats 6 p.m. Thursday at the Kibbie Dome.
Josh Grissom can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @GoshJrissom