Power football. Two tight ends and two backs and up the gut we go. How long has it been that Boise State has been able to execute that? One reason they got away from it was to cater to the pocket passing of Kellen Moore. The strength of the team was with the ball in his hands and working off that to unleash Doug Martin. The run first Boise State offensive lines from tackle to tackle have been in decline. They were trained to have speed and stay injury free. Former strength coach Tim Socha was all about speed in everything the Broncos did. They even bench pressed fast.
But did they use enough weight?
Did the offensive lineman spend as much time working on their 20 and 40 yard dash times as they did power cleans, dead lifts or throwing tractor tires around? The debate rages on in strength training but maybe new strength coach Jeff Pitman will return the offensive line to a group that doesn’t have to throw the ball on 3rd and 1 which Boise State did in the spring game. The bigger runs that Jay Ajayi had were off tackle and in space. For this team to run downhill they need to do it between the tackles and just move people back. It may take until 2015 but I believe that effort is underway.
Amongst the items that caught my attention at the Spring scrimmage:
ATTENDANCE: Only 13,882? Well since you could take up two seats with one butt that sounds about right. It just looked like more and I don’t understand why Boise State doesn’t scan tickets on the way in other then they don’t want to turn anyone away.
And that’s a good thing.
OFFENSE: Looks like the shot gun snap needs some work. Marcus Henry had 4 or five low and to the left snaps to the QB. That will have to change or the offense will never find a rhythm. The reverse to Shane Williams-Rhodes is alive and well. He has the speed to break it and defenses will have to honor him and that will provide openings between the tackle and guard. The offense inability to sustain drives was obvious BUT the big play is still a nice return to the scheme and gives me lotsa hope for the 14 season. I like the statue of liberty too. Thomas Sperbeck is playing like he will be the 3rd WR on the field. He showed some strength dragging Jeremy Ioane for extra yardage and caught 6 balls. He can also throw on the move. Beyond him though, this WR group needs some more talent. And the only freshman coming in the Fall is Sean Modster. Modster is a potential deep threat Boise State needs badly. Jake Roh will be real good at TE and made some nice catches. Devin Demas can provide some big plays here and there but the rest of the back up RB’s seem average. Maybe incoming freshman Jeremy McNichols or Cory Young can have instant impact.
DEFENSE: Much quieter effort by Dylan Sumner Gardner. He will play in the Fall I still think. But we did see the emergence again of Joey Martarano making 5 tackles and Blake Renaud stuffing the run which is his best attribute. Tyler Horn, Corey Bell, the player of the spring on defense, Gabe Perez, and Darren Lee pressured the QB well. Coach Yates may have also found a extra DB in Dionza Blue who made an impressive interception.
