Idaho is 1-5 on the season under new coach Rob Akey. The lone win came in the Kibbie Dome against FCS opponent Cal-Poly, 20-13. The Vandals are 0-2 in WAC play. Last week, they lost on the road 28-20 to San Jose State.
Akey was the defensive coordinator at Washington State last season. Bulldog Head Coach Pat Hill said in his Monday news conference that the Vandals have already adopted Coach Akey’s attitude. Coach Hill says it does not matter what their record is they will play physical.
The Vandals one-back offense is averaging 342.3 yards per game offensively, which ranks sixth in the WAC. Nonetheless, the Vandals only averaged 310 ypg last season. In spite of having the conference’s leading rusher, Idaho’s rushing offense is averaging just 148.2 ypg. The pass offense (194.2 ypg) is seventh in the WAC for an offense averaging 22.2 points per game (6th in WAC). Last season Idaho had a senior quarterback and averaged just 196 ypg. In addition, Idaho’s quarterbacks have combined to throw a whopping 14 interceptions.
Defensively, the Vandals ranked seventh in the WAC allowing 412.7 ypg. Coach Akey is a defensive-minded coach. He has brought in a Flex-30 defense, a mixture of a 3-4 and 4-3. Their rushing defense allows 154 ypg, which is fifth best in the conference. The Vandals lead the WAC in turnovers caused with 19. Idaho defenders have recorded 10 interceptions and recovered nine fumbles. Nonetheless, the Vandals are giving up 35.7 ppg.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
Idaho has used three different quarterbacks. Nathan Enderle has played in the first six games, but he will miss this week’s game with an injury. Enderle was averaging 178.3 yards passing per game with seven touchdowns but had 12 interceptions. His efficiency rating was the worst among starting quarterbacks in the WAC, 95.5. Brian Nooy (6-3, 199) is set to start this week against the Bulldogs. He has only 95 yards on 12-23 passing through three games. Chris Joseph (6-3, 214) is listed as the backup this week. True freshman Quinn Ashley (5-11, 192) is the wildcard. If he plays his athleticism and mobility comes into play running the option. Ashley has not attempted in a pass last week against SJSU.
Deonte’ Jackson (5-8, 181) is the leading rusher in the WAC. He is averaging 113 ypg but has reached the end zone just three times. He is averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Jackson is a powerful runner for his size. He can pound the ball up the middle but has the speed to take it outside as well. His 678 yards are 117 more than last season’s leading rusher Brian Flowers. Jayson Bird (6-0, 221) is a capable backup. He rushed for 506 yards last season while sharing the load with Flowers. However, Bird only has 116 yards this season.
The Vandals uses three receivers, but none of its top receivers rank among the top 10 in the WAC in either receiving category. Max Komar (5-10, 185) has three touchdowns on 17 receptions. He leads the team in yards per catch (15.1). Eddie Williams (6-1, 249) is leading the Vandals with 21 receptions for 264 yards and two touchdowns. Lee Smith (6-0, 193) is the third starter. He has nine receptions for 108 yards. TE Peter Bjorvik (6-4, 259) has 115 yards on eight catches. True freshmen backup WR Maurice Shaw (6-2, 188) is the third leading receiver with 12 receptions for 148 yards.
Coach Hill says Idaho’s offensive line is as good as any the Bulldogs have seen this season. LT Kris Anderson (6-3, 299) and C Adam Korby (6-2, 292) lead the Vandal o-line. The two juniors have combined for over 50 career starts.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
The Flex-30 defense can shift to a 3-4 or 4-3 at any time. Idaho used a 4-3 last season and coach Akey used it at Washington State. DT Fonomanu Seknoa (6-2, 293) has only played in four games and has just three tackles. He is listed atop the depth chart with NT Siua Musika (6-1, 293), who has 24 tackles including five tackles for loss including three sacks. Taylor Rust (6-2, 232) and Ben Alexander (6-1, 224) are the defensive ends. Alexander has 31 tackles. He is tied with Musika for the team lead with five TFL. Rust has two sacks on the season.
WLB David Vobora (6-1, 240) leads the team in tackles with 65. His 10.8 tackles per game ranks 14th in the nation. In addition, he leads the WAC with 37 solo tackles. SLB Brandon Ogletree (6-3, 224) is second on the team with 43 tackles. MLB Jo’Artis Ratti (6-1, 220) has 38 tackles in the season putting all three of Idaho’s linebackers in the top 22 among WAC defenders in tackles per game.
All four of Idaho’s defensive backs rank in the top eight among the team in tackles and have at least one interception. Stanley Franks (5-11, 167) is one of the best cornerbacks in the West. The 2006 First Team All-WAC performer leads the Vandals with four pass breakups and has one interception. SS Shiloh Keo (5-10, 175) leads the team with four interceptions, which is tied for tops in the conference. Keo is also third on the team with 41 tackles. FS Chris Smith (5-9, 179) has added 38 tackles and one interception. Breyon Williams (5-9, 183) is a JUCO transfer starting at the other cornerback spot. He has 24 tackles and one interception as well.
©Copyright 2007, BarkBoard.com and Scout.com. All rights reserved.