Boise State lost 21-19 to San Diego State last year at home. The game featured SDSU blitzing Joe Southwick, Adam Muema powering through the BSU defense and plenty of BSU mistakes. Boise State went for 2 early and late in the game and failed both times. The first attempt had a botched snap and Matt Miller playing QB. The second conversion try, to tie the game late in the 4th quarter, was an example of how the BSU offense played in the second half. Southwick wanted to go left to hit WR Chris Potter but the O line got beat in pass protection so Joe scrambled right. Boise States fullback was knocked on his back by the SDSU defender and he pressured Joe into throwing an interception. SDSU used a 5 man front to beat Boise States 7 and it worked. Adam Muema ran out the clock and the game ended. When Boise State needed a stop they were blocked and couldn’t do anything about it.
They can now.
Key Boise State players from last years’ game return and should be looking for revenge. Spencer Gerke, Charles Leno and Matt Miller all missed critical blocks, Jeremy Ioane had a Red Zone penalty and Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe, Corey Bell and Darian Thompson all were either blocked at the wrong time or ran over by Adam Muema.
That must change.
The SDSU defense returns plenty of players who performed well in last years’ game. 6 of the 11 on defense are back but the Aztecs are without LB Jake Fely, who broke his foot earlier this season. The same 3-3-5 defense will be used with 5 rushers usually coming at all times, you just never know from where. The defensive line usually slants and stunts one way or another as well to add to the confusion. The blitzes start when, as Urban Meyer put it, the team gets off the bus. LB Nick Tenhaeff had 2 tackles for loss and a sack last year and takes over as the wrecking ball from Fely.
Boise States offense will perform better than last year when they only produced 276 yards and 3 touchdowns. And that’s because this is one game where Grant Hedrick is the better quarterback for Boise State because of his ability to run the ball and elude blitzing SDSU defenders. Since becoming the starter, Hedrick has only run the ball a hand full or less per game on designed running plays.
That could change against SDSU.
If SDSU gets overly aggressive and leaves no safeties deep, putting them at the line of scrimmage to stop Jay Ajayi, Boise State could take a page from the Ohio State playbook and run speed option with Hedrick. Hedrick has the speed to get to the edge of the SDSU defense and really make some big plays. BSU has not wanted to run Hedrick that much for fear he got injured. Now, it appears Southwick is a week away from starting practice or, with this type of game plan; it may be time for BSU to trust Nick Patti in a relief appearance.
As for the Hedrick-Southwick controversy? Let’s see if Joe travels to San Diego and then we can save that for next week.
