Assessing Boise State Football At The Bye Week
Broncos are sitting pretty in the top 20.
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The Broncos Enter the Bye Week Undefeated but Not Perfect
As Boise State enters the first bye week of the year, it is a good time to step back and assess where the Broncos stand. We gathered up some of the usual suspects that contribute Boise State content at Mountain West Wire (Raja and Collin) and rounded up a few local fans as well. Rudy and Evan are noted members of Bronco Nation’s twitter community and Brian Decker is our special guest commentator at this round table. Brian is a former Boise State Bronco himself and played ball under Dan Hawkins, he agreed to share his expert opinion alongside ours.
Here are some questions and answers that are on the minds of Boise State fans but first let’s meet our contributors:
My name is Brian and I grew up around Fresno and had never thought of Boise outside of the fifth-grade state capitals test. Boise State came on to my radar after their 2001 win in Fresno and the following year when I was playing at a junior college, Boise State came to campus and a few weeks later I was driving to Idaho. I played on the Bronco football team in 2003 and 2004 and was part of the first team to play a bowl game outside of Boise. In 2006 I graduated with a history degree and from there I went on to be a graduate assistant in 2008 and 2009. Now I am just a giant Bronco fan who tries to go to a couple of games a year. Find me on twitter at @Deckerb31.
Hello everyone, my name is Evan. I am from the Midwest where I’ve spent almost all my life growing up in Illinois in the Quad City area. I went to school in Wisconsin and have also spent some time in Michigan and Arizona. Now I’m going to Law School in Ohio. I got into college football around 2009 and my dad’s favorite team was Boise State, so I started watching them and really enjoyed everything about the team and the Boise State culture. I have been an avid fan since then. If you’re in need of low effort tweets about Boise State, or any number of things, you can find me on twitter @PukajloEvan.
Hi all, my name is Rudy. Originally from CA, moved to Seattle in 1994, and then Idaho in 1998 as part of a job transfer. I have always been involved in sports, either playing or following the local teams as I have always believed in being part of the local community. I really started getting into Bronco football in Dirk Koetter’s last year and became a committed fan after watching the Broncos beat a nationally ranked Fresno State in 2001 and have followed them religiously ever since. I had attended games sporadically until the last 3 years and now our company gets 15 season tickets along with our CEO and CFO getting 4 season tickets each as well. So, I am pretty much at every game now. There is just something different about Bronco Nation. I am on twitter at @RudySPNo.
My name is Collin Clovis, and I am a native Idahoan that was born and raised in Boise. I grew up being a big Boise State fan before they were even in the FBS and attended Boise State for a portion of my college education. I do some writing at Mountain West Wire and my twitter handle is @PolarisMan17.
Hi everyone, my name is Raja. I grew up in the Bay Area, CA and did not really know where Idaho was growing up. I ended up at Boise State after military service in 2008 and fell in love with the city, school, and football team shortly afterwards. The first road game I went to was Boise State at Oregon back in 2008, dang that was a good day. I graduated from BSU in 2012 and have spent several years living in Idaho in the following years. Anyway, I love the football team and you can find me ranting away about the school on twitter at @RajaBleedsBlue.
- Hank Bachmeier won the starting job at quarterback as a true freshman and has played well through the first four weeks. Of concern though is the amount of hits the young quarterback is taking. What are your thoughts on how Bachmeier has played so far?
Brian: Honestly, I have been incredibly impressed with Hank. Of course, there are some areas of growth needed but he has shown incredible poise and toughness. As that stats show, Hank has also improved as the game has gone on. After the 1st quarter, he is completing close to 75% of his passes and has a 152% QB rating. This is rare as the first 15+ plays are scripted, so he has a great feel of the game and his improvement is remarkable.
Evan: There are certainly some aspects of Bach’s game that he can improve on, after all no QB is perfect. But I can’t see how somebody could watch these first four games from Bachmeier and not come away incredibly impressed. He’s shown tremendous accuracy to all parts of the field, he’s not fazed by pressure or taking hits, and he’s been very smart with the ball. All my gushing about him aside, I cannot help but wonder if the competition would have turned out differently had Chase Cord been healthier. Cord certainly has the talent to be a starting QB at the FBS level.
Rudy: I know how hyped Hank came in, but I trust the coaches. I don’t believe they would have started him just because of the hype and if I am right about Hank, I do not think he would have wanted to start if he didn’t earn it. I think his performances have justified the decision. What I didn’t realize was how tough he is and only expect him to get better with more experience and yes, I would like to see him get rid of the ball sooner on shorter routes just to save himself a bit. I also believe that Coach Harsin is the perfect coach for Hank being a former quarterback himself and in 3 and half years we may actually stop wishing for the next Kellen and start wishing for the next Hank.
Collin: When it was announced that Bachmeier would be the starter after the Fall Fan Fest, my first reaction was to be excited. If the coaching staff (that has traditionally gone with the more senior player at quarterback) felt as though he was ready to take on Florida State, then I should sure be on board. Hank has not disappointed through four weeks. His freshman-like mistakes have been minimal and his form of trying hard is holding on to the ball too long. His arm talent is apparent, and I believe his best football is in front of him.
Raja: I agree with everyone here. Hank Bachmeier was the recruit that had Boise State in a fervor for the last year has not disappointed once he got on the field. We have never seen a quarterback with Bachmeier’s combination of size, athleticism, talent at Boise State. There’s been some criticism of Bachmeier for holding on to the ball too long trying to make a play and it’s true that that is something for him to work on, but having too much grit is a good thing to have. Now that Bachmeier has a few games under his belt, I expect him to continue to develop and improve. Shout out Chase Cord who provides an excellent backup and change of pace quarterback.
- Hank Bachmeier excluded, who is the most valuable player on Boise State’s offense in the first four weeks?
Brian: Outside of Bachmeier the Offensive MVP to me would be CT Thomas. I think John Hightower and Khalil Shakir are our two most talented receivers, but CT is right behind them. This has allowed him to thrive in the slot where he is often matched up with safeties and the opposing teams third corners. It is a complete mismatch. His versatility is going to make our offense a tough matchup for anyone in our league.
Evan: So far Boise State has had different guys step up in seemingly every game. Bachmeier and Robert Mahone showed up versus Florida State while George Holani stepped up against Marshall with Mahone dealing with an injury. But one player who has impressed consistently across all the games for me has been CT Thomas. He’s shown great hands and has made some big plays for the offense. John Hightower would be a close second. Hightower is a threat to take it to the endzone on every play.
Rudy: I am going to go with the wide receiver group starting with CT Thomas. Nothing helps a freshman QB more than a sure-handed receiver who can get open and make the tough catches. Honorable mentions go to Khalil Shakir for his tough 3rd down catches and to John Hightower for being John Hightower. It was probably was a lot easier settling on Hank as QB with the embarrassment of riches we have at WR. Participation ribbon goes to Eric Sachse, as I don’t hold my breath as much when we try a field goal as opposed to recent years.
Collin: My non-Bachmeier MVP would have to be CT Thomas. Although he is the smallest offensive player, his production has been huge. CT has been a safety blanket for Bachmeier on third or fourth down plays and he also leads the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. He has done all that despite missing a game with an injury.
Raja: Shoot we usually do these round tables so we can get some different responses, but everyone went with CT Thomas. It is well deserved and because of that, I am going to go a little out of the box here and say senior offensive lineman John Molchon. Molchon has been asked to play 3 different positions on the line and has been provided excellent leadership. Yes, the pass protection has not been great at times but the run protection has been fantastic in opening holes. I expect that Bachmeier will better understand timing and find a way to release the ball just a few seconds early. Ezra Cleveland returned from a one game injury absence to return to the field versus Air Force. John Ojukwu who was injured against Florida State has been seen working out pregame; their return will be a boost to this unit and let Molchon move back to his traditional spot at left guard.
- On the defense, who in your mind is the most valuable player on that side of the ball? Curtis Weaver is a monster on the line but has anyone else caught your eye?
Brian: It is easy to say Weaver and honestly, he probably is the MVP but for the conversation, I think the MVP could be Schmedding. I will admit I was nervous when Andy left and after 2 quarters of Florida State, those fears seemed founded. But since that halftime, our defense had been lights out and the adjustments made have been amazing. As for another player not named Weaver, I would have to say Kaniho. He has been an absolute playmaker.
Evan: I don’t know if there’s any other answer than Curtis Weaver. He overpowers everyone he plays against. When teams like Florida State are planning their offense around negating you, you know you’re an impact player. He could end up 2nd All-Time on Boise State’s career sack list by the end on his junior year. Then it will almost certainly be on to the NFL for him.
Rudy: Yes, Curtis Weaver is the obvious choice with Kekaula Kaniho second. But I am going to go with Jalen Walker. He came into this year with the pressure of replacing Tyler Horton and has done an awesome job not only in coverage but in tackling. Walker is not afraid to lower his shoulder and force the contact.
Collin: Do to the fact that I’m sure someone else will pick Mr. Curtis Weaver, I am going with Kekaula Kaniho. Kaniho is no stranger to making big plays for the Bronco defense and seems to have taken yet another step forward for his junior campaign. Through four games, he has 17 tackles, 1 sack, 2 passes defended, a forced fumble, and an interception. It is not farfetched to think that we may/should see Kekaula in the end zone after a big play sometime in 2019, he has found the end zone every year prior at least once.
Raja: Curtis Weaver is without question the right answer and Kekaula Kaniho seems to be a living magnet that is attracted to the football and is moving around so well on the football field. Since they have been discussed at length, how about I go with the big man Sonatane Lui? The big man in the middle is second on the team in tackles and has gotten 1.5 sacks for good measure. Lui, a senior, was prepared for Air Force and notched 16 total tackles versus the triple option.
- A fantastic start to the season so far but there are still some interesting games on the schedule. What upcoming game are you either most interested in or worried about?
Brian: Looking at the schedule, 2 games stand out: BYU and USU. Since I have to pick one I will go with Utah State. Of the best units between the two teams, Utah State’s offense is the best. I think both defenses are solid, but I don’t worry too much about the BYU offense. So, with that thinking, if we play flat or have mistakes against either team; I am not too worried about the BYU game getting away from us. However, if we turn the ball over against USU or come out flat, they have the offense to put us in a really bad hole.
Evan: I think it comes down to either at BYU or at Utah State. It is difficult to pin down exactly how good BYU is. The USC win still looks good, but the overtime win vs Tennessee has lost some of its shine. I think Utah State has to be considered the tougher test at this point just because of who they have at quarterback. Jordan Love has gotten a lot of NFL talk and could be going in the first round. He has struggled a little bit to start the year but he could be Boise’s toughest hurdle to overcome.
Rudy: I would have said BYU until I saw their game versus Washington. The loss of Ty’son Williams at running back was sad to see. I am just not impressed with their defense and think we can move the ball on them and have faith in our defense to make stops when needed. Therefore, I am going to say Utah State. I do believe we know how to defend them and Coach Schmedding will have something cooked up for them. I believe that we will be ok in both games as long as we can give Hank time to throw.
Collin: The proper Boise State answer to this question is the next game on the schedule or UNLV. Since we’re here to have some fun, I’ll go with BYU. I’m not sure the Cougars have figured out how good they exactly want to be in 2019. Combine that with the fact that the matchup is in Provo and crazy Mountain Dew moments are bound to happen. Honorable mention to Utah State and Hawaii.
Raja: Well we got 2 votes for BYU and 2 for Utah State and I will break the tie by saying the BYU game. I expect Boise State to be 6-0 when they head to Provo and a win would have the Bronco faithful in a NY6 frenzy headed into the second bye week. BYU is a good team and if the Cougars can string some wins together, this can be ranked matchup. BYU has challenged Boise State at their home stadium in the past and I expect this game will be a tough one.
- 4-0 and being the highest ranked group of 5 team in the country is certainly having the Bronco faithful dreaming about a return to the mountain top. How do you see the rest of the season playing out for Boise State?
Brian: I know we shouldn’t look too far ahead but I am a fan now, so I don’t need to focus game to game. The schedule lines up really well for a strong run. We have 3 games upcoming with the hardest, BYU, at the end, then a bye. Then our hardest game, Utah State, is surrounded by 2 of the 3 worst teams in the MWC. So, I’m predicting 12-0.
Evan: At the beginning of the season I predicted a 14-0 record, as I predict every season. Call it superstition. I’ll stick with that prediction, but 2009 was Boise’s last undefeated season. It’s hard to win. The smarter prediction might be one or two loses as Boise State’s conference foes always play them hard.
Rudy: I started the year believing we would get through the season with one loss. I’m a fan, which is short for fanatic. I believed we had a special season within us as I loved the balance of upperclassmen leadership and youthful talent. I think Coach Harsin has been building for a team like this over the last few seasons and this team has a level of accountability and blue collar (yes, I went there) ethic more than the last few teams, in my opinion. So with that, WE RUN THE TABLE AND GET TO DALLAS!!!
Collin: Conventional wisdom and recent history say that the Broncos are bound to drop a game along the way in someplace. The Mountain West has also shown, through some solid non-conference wins, that it is a more talented conference, top to bottom than it has been in the past. I think the answer to this question has more to do with the health of the Broncos this year. If they can stay healthy, they have a reasonable shot at running the table. Since I already mentioned we are here to have fun, I’m going to be optimistic and say that the stout defense and the coaching staff’s ability to make great halftime adjustments lead to an undefeated regular season, with close games at Provo and Logan.
Raja: I predicted 10.5 wins before the year and that is probably the right answer to stick to… but my fandom is not governed by logic. I am trying to tell myself and anyone that will listen to my ramblings on twitter that we should wait until the second bye week and then start NY6 dreaming if we are undefeated at that point (we face UNLV, Hawaii, and BYU before the next bye). That being said, I am going to join the rest of these fine gentlemen and also predict a 12-0 record and a signature year for Boise State. There certainly is no shame in going 10-2 and winning the division and that should be considered a successful year. The team looks deep this season and the scheduling and circumstances are set up for a really great year for the Broncos.
We will be doing another round table during the second bye week this season and we love having fans participate and share their knowledge. Most of the time fans provide a better insight than myself, Raja, the self-styled ‘expert’. If you would like to participate, please shoot me a direct message on twitter at @RajaBleedsBlue. A big thank you to Evan, Rudy, and Brian. I have met 2 of these folks in the past and they are great dudes and very passionate about Boise State. Give them a follow on twitter and a shout out!
