Over 17,000 at Bronco Stadium. Amazing turnout and support for a glorified scrimmage.
You can't tell from one scrimmage with a lot of vanilla plays, but as spring games go, that's the best I've seen Boise State look in a long time. Shows how much the experts know. The thing about gauging a team by how many "starters" it loses is that way of looking at things through tunnel vision doesn't consider how Boise State does things or builds its program. They platoon at every position except quarterback so most of the guys you will see starting have seen plenty of experience, and not just in mopup action. They played against Georgia, TCU, Arizona State, etc. This team will be beyond fine.
The QB battle is something everyone wants to talk about so I'll contribute. Pretty much everyone agrees that Nick Patti either starts or redshirts, and right now, it really looks like it's him and Southwick. Patti was great and moving around in the pocket, stepping up, and making the throw. His touchdown pass against pressure was superb. The kid showed a lot of character on the final play of the game when he sprinted out to be the first one on the field to congratulate Joe on his super throw to win the game. He's going to be another Bronco we can all be very proud of for the way he conducts himself. These coaches keep getting great human beings.
I felt Southwick took a big step last year, in his leadership, in his confidence, and that continued to show tonight. He took what the defense gave him, and that is the sign of a patient, confident quarterback. Southwick-Patti, Patti-Southwick, it's far too early to tell and Bronco fans want to be careful to choose a leader based on two hours of windy conditions, because the coaches have seen them all spring and have far more to go on. I'll also say that Boise State has four very good quarterbacks that frankly, I'm confident and will rally behind any one of them. You'd have to examine a lot of college football teams to find four quarterbacks that good on any one team.
Tough to choose a guy, because it's like choosing among your sons--you want them all to do well. I trust Pete. The guy he picks will do an awesome job and I am 100% confident in that.
The defensive line is full of monsters. Anyone who said losing five guys to graduation, three of them to the NFL, is going to cripple the Broncos...that person was sadly mistaken. First off, you have 600 pounds of muscle in the middle with Ricky TAT and Bacon. You don't get through that. The guys out there with the 1's were Beau Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence. They are both quick and relentless off the end. Samuel Ukwauchu and Jeff Worthy also did themselves proud. I knew both would get plenty of time this year and early indications are that I was right. The Bronco d-line will be a force this year. They may or may not be better than last year's line, but there's no drop-off, that's for sure.
Blake Renaud has the size (242 pounds) that Boise State has not had at linebacker. Plus, he's mobile and active, with a nose for the ball. Korey Hall comparisons, anyone? Great pick by Blake tonight. With J.C. Percy and Tommy Smith, the linebacker positions are solid.
The secondary was crippled against TCU and it hurt. But the guys who saw playing time with the injuries to Jamar Taylor and Jerrell Gavins will only be better because of it. Put those guys back at corner, add in Lee Hightower, who seems to get better every time I see him, and Jeremy Ioane, who now has the maturity to be a playmaker at safety, and, dare I say it, this Bronco secondary could be one of the best in the nation. Yep, that's what I dare say.
Back to the offense. Cory Yriarte and Joe Kellogg both did not play, and you have to figure they will be strong contenders to start. But Matt Paradis, Charles Leno, Faraji Wright, Michael Ames and Spencer Gerke as the starters did very well. Add in Brenel Myers and that gives Boise State eight solid guys. They are the key to make the running game go and to make the going easier for whomever wins the job at quarterback.
And that job will certainly be easier with the bevy of talent at receiver. The tight end position might be as deep as Boise State has ever had, with the tough as nails Gabe Linehan, Chandler Koch, Hayden Plinke, and the guy I think will really be a breakout player--Holden Huff. But then you have last year's freshman All-America receiver, Matt Miller, Geraldo Boldewijn, who began to show what great things he can do (I think he can be every bit as good as Miller), Kirby Moore, Chris Potter, Mitch and Dallas Burroughs, and on and on. These receivers are going to be great and how lucky is the new quarterback to have such a great crew?
So those are my initial impressions, and I'll expand upon them in the days and weeks to come. What is Michigan State going to think when they ponder the possibility that the 2012 Boise State team might be better than 2011?
Bet they didn't count on that.
You can't tell from one scrimmage with a lot of vanilla plays, but as spring games go, that's the best I've seen Boise State look in a long time. Shows how much the experts know. The thing about gauging a team by how many "starters" it loses is that way of looking at things through tunnel vision doesn't consider how Boise State does things or builds its program. They platoon at every position except quarterback so most of the guys you will see starting have seen plenty of experience, and not just in mopup action. They played against Georgia, TCU, Arizona State, etc. This team will be beyond fine.
The QB battle is something everyone wants to talk about so I'll contribute. Pretty much everyone agrees that Nick Patti either starts or redshirts, and right now, it really looks like it's him and Southwick. Patti was great and moving around in the pocket, stepping up, and making the throw. His touchdown pass against pressure was superb. The kid showed a lot of character on the final play of the game when he sprinted out to be the first one on the field to congratulate Joe on his super throw to win the game. He's going to be another Bronco we can all be very proud of for the way he conducts himself. These coaches keep getting great human beings.
I felt Southwick took a big step last year, in his leadership, in his confidence, and that continued to show tonight. He took what the defense gave him, and that is the sign of a patient, confident quarterback. Southwick-Patti, Patti-Southwick, it's far too early to tell and Bronco fans want to be careful to choose a leader based on two hours of windy conditions, because the coaches have seen them all spring and have far more to go on. I'll also say that Boise State has four very good quarterbacks that frankly, I'm confident and will rally behind any one of them. You'd have to examine a lot of college football teams to find four quarterbacks that good on any one team.
Tough to choose a guy, because it's like choosing among your sons--you want them all to do well. I trust Pete. The guy he picks will do an awesome job and I am 100% confident in that.
The defensive line is full of monsters. Anyone who said losing five guys to graduation, three of them to the NFL, is going to cripple the Broncos...that person was sadly mistaken. First off, you have 600 pounds of muscle in the middle with Ricky TAT and Bacon. You don't get through that. The guys out there with the 1's were Beau Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence. They are both quick and relentless off the end. Samuel Ukwauchu and Jeff Worthy also did themselves proud. I knew both would get plenty of time this year and early indications are that I was right. The Bronco d-line will be a force this year. They may or may not be better than last year's line, but there's no drop-off, that's for sure.
Blake Renaud has the size (242 pounds) that Boise State has not had at linebacker. Plus, he's mobile and active, with a nose for the ball. Korey Hall comparisons, anyone? Great pick by Blake tonight. With J.C. Percy and Tommy Smith, the linebacker positions are solid.
The secondary was crippled against TCU and it hurt. But the guys who saw playing time with the injuries to Jamar Taylor and Jerrell Gavins will only be better because of it. Put those guys back at corner, add in Lee Hightower, who seems to get better every time I see him, and Jeremy Ioane, who now has the maturity to be a playmaker at safety, and, dare I say it, this Bronco secondary could be one of the best in the nation. Yep, that's what I dare say.
Back to the offense. Cory Yriarte and Joe Kellogg both did not play, and you have to figure they will be strong contenders to start. But Matt Paradis, Charles Leno, Faraji Wright, Michael Ames and Spencer Gerke as the starters did very well. Add in Brenel Myers and that gives Boise State eight solid guys. They are the key to make the running game go and to make the going easier for whomever wins the job at quarterback.
And that job will certainly be easier with the bevy of talent at receiver. The tight end position might be as deep as Boise State has ever had, with the tough as nails Gabe Linehan, Chandler Koch, Hayden Plinke, and the guy I think will really be a breakout player--Holden Huff. But then you have last year's freshman All-America receiver, Matt Miller, Geraldo Boldewijn, who began to show what great things he can do (I think he can be every bit as good as Miller), Kirby Moore, Chris Potter, Mitch and Dallas Burroughs, and on and on. These receivers are going to be great and how lucky is the new quarterback to have such a great crew?
So those are my initial impressions, and I'll expand upon them in the days and weeks to come. What is Michigan State going to think when they ponder the possibility that the 2012 Boise State team might be better than 2011?
Bet they didn't count on that.
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