2013 Idaho Spring Football Analysis

2013 Idaho Vandals ... Head Coach: Paul Petrino

Idaho Vandals

2013 Schedule
8/31 at North Texas
9/7 at Wyoming
9/14 Northern Illinois
9/21 at Wash State
9/28 Temple
10/5 Fresno State
10/12 at Arkansas St
10/19 OPEN DATE
10/26 at Ole Miss
11/2 Texas State
11/9 Old Dominion
11/16 OPEN DATE
11/23 at Florida State
11/30 at NMSU

Why To Be Excited At least the drama about what was going to happen with the program after the WAC implosion is over. It’s now about life as an independent, and new head man Paul Petrino has plenty of experience and lots of options to play around with. Nine starters are back with right guard A.J. Jones and running back Ryan Bass the only losses. The defense might have been lousy, but three starters are back up front with some decent size to work around in nose tackle QuayShawne Buckley and guard Jesse Davis on the inside.

Why To Be Grouchy For a team that struggled so much offensively, it needs as much time as possible to work on figuring out how to put points on the board. However, the defense might need just as much work with a massive turnover of talent to deal with. It’s not like the D slowed anyone down, but it’s still a problem to lose veteran tacklers like linebackers Homer Mauga, Robert Siavii and Su’a Tuala along with end Benson Mayowa. Safety Gary Walker led the team in tackles, and now he’s gone along with sure-hitting corner Aaron Grymes.

What Needs Working On Offense, offense, offense. Idaho has rarely had a killer defense, but the offense was usually fun and exciting with lots of passing and plenty of fireworks. Last season, though, nothing worked with the nation’s worst scoring offense that averaged under 16 points per game with no running game and a mediocre passing attack. When the O was able to get moving, drive after drive was killed by a bad turnover. Over the final ten games, the Vandals gave up three turnovers or more eight times. The defense came up with its share of takeaways, but it didn’t generate enough of them to make up for the offensive issues.

Team Concerns For 2013: New head coach Paul Petrino has to get the offense and the running game working. The Vandals finished dead last in the nation in scoring, averaging just 15.8 points per game, burdened by a ground attack that didn't go anywhere, averaging just 89 yards per outing. The defense wasn't much better finishing with the third-worst scoring D while the special teams also needs more pop for the nation's worst punting game that averaged a yard per return. Everything has to start with the turnover margin after giving it up 39 times and only coming up with 22 takeaways.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... JUCO linebackers. The running game is looking for some instant help with JUCO transfers Jerrel Brown and Kris Olugbode, but the prepsters Isaiah Saunders and Danny Wilson are the better prospects. JUCOer Anthony Neyer will get a look at quarterback, and Dezmon Epps out of City College of San Francisco will eventually be a No. 1 target. However, the defense that needs so much help is getting the biggest infusion early on with Marc Millan from Santa Ana JUCO, Juan Martinez from CC of San Francisco and Broc Westlake from Sierra College.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 90. That Class Was Heavy On ... The Vandals need to get the passing game going again, and fast. Last year’s class brought in a slew of receivers and quarterback prospects, and next year will be Round Two. The receivers should be one of the biggest strengths of the class, and more quarterbacks are coming in for developing by 2014 and beyond. The new-look WAC isn’t going to be like the old school shootout version, but Idaho is trying to become equipped to put more points on the board. 

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 113. That Class Was Heavy On ... the passing game. The Idaho defense has been a mega-issue over the last several years, and after loading up on defensive tackles last year, more were brought in with JUCO transfers Aaron Lazaro and Dontae Scott providing two 300-pound rocks for the middle. Looking to get more pop to the passing game, the Vandals got a few strong prospects with 6-6, 250-pound JUCO transfer Dominique Blackman in to challenge for the starting job right away, and big MarQuan Major and speedy Cameron McKernan in to take over the receiving corps.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 102. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defensive tackles. Head coach Robb Akey brought in a varied, diverse class with a little something for all spots, including center with Sam Tupua possibly the next great Vandal lineman now that Mike Iupati is gone and Mike Marboe the anchor for the future. But the bulk stars are on the defensive front, especially at tackle with big, big bodies being brought in with 285-pound JUCO transfer Ben Swarts, and 290-pound JUCO star Aaron Strumski to fill in right away.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 114. That Class Was Heavy On ... Variety. What do you get for the team that needs everything? The class is spread out over all the positions with enough JUCO players here and there to provide a few more options, while the top position might be linebacker with Jared Heston and Conrad Scheidt arguably the team’s best recruits. The junior college players help boost this class, only because the team needs players. CB Kevin Williams and WR Michael Lindsey will almost certainly play right away.