NCAA Football Preview - Idaho Vandals

NCAA Football Betting Lines

08/22/2007 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - 2006 SEASON IN REVIEW: The resignation of former head coach Nick Holt signaled a new era in Idaho football that had a familiar ring to it when the Vandals took the field for the 2006 campaign. Dennis Erickson, who won national championships with the Miami Hurricanes and was also the top man in Moscow between 1982-85, was brought back to the Idaho family in hopes of resurrecting the program after having his fill at the pro level in two years with the San Francisco 49ers. Erickson's arrival caused excitement all across the Western Athletic Conference because it was giving the league an added visibility, although it would be short-lived in the end. Of the team's first five games in 2006, four were on the road and against two of Erickson's former programs in Washington State and Oregon State. While those meetings may have created an interesting storyline, the result was less than desirable for the Vandals, who fell by a combined 94-10 score to the pair of Pac-10 squads. However, as rough as the non-conference slate was for the Vandals on paper, the team still found itself with a 4-3 record after seven games, thanks to a 3-0 start to the WAC schedule against the likes of Utah State, New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech. The wheels then fell off with a loss to nationally-ranked Boise State (42-26) and a crushing defeat at the hands of Hawaii (68-10) on the road. Following those, the Vandals were routed by Nevada (45-7) and shut out by Fresno State (34-0) before closing out the regular season with a 28-13 loss to San Jose State at home. The team's 4-8 overall record and 3-5 finish in the WAC was certainly something that could be built upon, but Erickson decided that one year was enough and flew back to the Pac-10 and Arizona State for the head spot once the season ended. Erickson's departure opened the door for Robb Akey, who came from Washington State as he became the third Idaho head coach in as many seasons.

2007 ANALYSIS:

OFFENSE: The Vandals ranked eighth in the WAC and 103rd nationally in scoring offense a season ago with just 16.9 ppg, much of that having to do with a passing attack that could never close the deal. The unit ranked fifth in the conference in yards per game from the quarterback position with a respectable 196.1 ypg, but the team had a league-worst eight passing scores, against 16 interceptions over 12 games. Having to start all over again at the QB spot this season will not be easy for coach Akey, nor will it be for the complementary players who are out there trying to get Idaho football back on track. Senior signal-caller Brian Nooy might have the most experience among the QBs on the roster, but Akey has not committed to having him as the starter just yet, allowing redshirt freshman Nathan Enderle to fight for the right to direct the group as well. Perhaps the most secure spot on offense will be at the running back position where Brian Flowers and Jayson Bird figure to get most of the hand offs after they both gained better than 500 yards a season ago and combined for 11 of the unit's 14 rushing TDs. Wide receiver is going to be another issue for the Vandals, with junior Max Komar being the top returner with a mere 17 grabs for 313 yards a season ago. Ryan Heacock, Lee Smith and Raymond Fry will also get their share of the action if the offense can stay on the field long enough. Three returning performers from the offensive line should buy some time for whomever is standing under center as Adam Korby, Adam Juratovac and Kris Anderson ix it up in the trenches.

DEFENSE: With as many as nine returning starters on the defensive side of the ball, the Vandals should be a little more secure in that area, even if the Idaho offense leaves them on the field for far too long. Senior linebacker David Vobora finished 2006 as the team's leading tackler with 134 stops, ranking second in the conference, but really all that means is that the rest of the unit was not doing its job properly and he was having to follow up their mistakes. Nevertheless the all-conference selection was also among the WAC's elite in tackles for loss with 15.5 and tied for the team lead with a pair of forced fumbles. Fellow senior Brandon Ogletree will try to take some of the pressure off Vobora at the linebacker spot, but only time will tell if he has what it takes to be a leader in the middle of the field. Senior cornerback Stanley Franks made himself into the starter at the position after working hard in the spring leading up to last season and responded by leading the nation with 0.75 interceptions per game, his 220 return yards on his school-tying record nine picks being an Idaho single-season record. Not to be overlooked will be junior college transfers T.J. Taylor and Breyon Williams, who could make the secondary for the Vandals a tough-hitting commodity. As a freshman, Shiloh Keo started all 12 games for the team and came in second with 72 tackles from his safety spot, so expect the same sort of effort this time around. Former linebacker Josh Bousman has made the switch to the defensive end position in hopes of solidifying a weakening front that has Ben Alexander and Josh Shaw carrying much of the weight.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Juniors Tino Amancio and T.J. Conley are reprising their roles at placekicker and punter, respectively. Amancio made good on all 23 of his PATs in 2006 and also converted 12-of-17 field goal attempts, so when given the chance he provided more than adequate production for the team. Conley was put out on the field far too many times last year, and yet he averaged close to 40 yards per punt and didn't have a single one of his 67 attempts blocked. Raymond Fry and Stanley Franks should be handling much of the kick return responsibilities, but with so many questions still unanswered there are a number of players who could fill the spots as well.

OUTLOOK: Forget about the fact that Idaho is coming out with a new quarterback this season and that there's a new head coach in town (yet again) and just focus on the fact that the Vandals don't have a lot of depth at any one spot. Then add in a season-opening road game versus USC and the news just gets worse and worse. The other non-conference opponents include Cal Poly, Washington State and Northern Illinois, all programs that could easily dismantle the Vandals if they so wish. The WAC schedule will also provide little in terms of success.