This time last year, Vandal football fans had reason to embrace the hype that surrounded the 2011 team. Coming off a five-win season that saw Idaho close in on what would’ve been a second consecutive bowl game, optimism characterized the spring squad before injury plagued it.
File Photo by Ilya Pinchuk | Argonaut Vandal quarterback Dominique Blackman attempts a pass at practice April 12 in the Kibbie Dome. Blackman accounted for the team's only touchdown and threw for 176 yards off 13 completions during the Silver and Gold scrimmage.
In 2012, a new-look team hopes to fit perfectly in a new-look conference with a new-look coaching staff. If the pieces of the puzzle fall into the right places, Vandal players might forego winter intermission to prepare for their 13th game. Another two-win season could send Robb Akey out of the Kibbie Dome, but Idaho’s fifth-year coach has many reasons to boast about what looks to be a newly energized and motivated team.
Here are three things we learned from spring ball:
Blackman or Davis to be under center?
The offense will take commands from its third starting quarterback in three years, but will likely have to wait until August to learn whether Dominique Blackman or Taylor Davis will have control. Either way it could be a step in the right direction, as the team moves on from senior Brian Reader, who was partly to blame for many of the team’s offensive struggles in the fall.
If recently named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Jason Gesser named his starter based off the Silver and Gold Scrimmage alone, he would statistically have to go with Blackman, who accounted for the team’s only touchdown and threw for 176 yards off 13 completions. Davis on the other hand, was 4-10 with 33 yards and statistically worse than potential third-stringer Logan Bushnell, who was 4-8 with 56 yards.
Davis though, has the Division I experience that Blackman and Bushnell lack. The Arizona native was utilized on multiple occasions last season, started three games and threw for one touchdown. According to Akey and Gesser, each player exhibited fair progress during the spring but neither separated himself enough to give fans the answer they continue to demand.
Defensive experience could be crucial.
Senior linebackers Tre’Shawn Robinson and Korey Toomer have departed, but the defense ought not to fret. Rob Siavii, the team’s leading tackler in 2010, returns from a torn ACL. Siavii’s experience will be complimented by fellow seniors Conrad Scheidt and Homer Mauga. Another senior, junior college transfer Sua Tuala, led the team in tackles and sacks in two spring scrimmages.
Siavii’s younger brother Russell could have an immediate impact off the bench and another JC transfer, linebacker Matt Willis, was a JCFootball.com/JC Grid-Wire First Team All-American. Defensive coordinator Mark Criner imagines he could also see field time during his first year in Moscow.
The defensive line loses a rock solid competitor and leader in Michael Cosgrove, but will benefit from returning players Jesse Davis, Quayshawne Buckley and potential all-WAC defensive end Benson Mayowa.
Lastly, the defensive secondary will provide exceptional depth at the safety position, which will return Thaad Thompson, Gary Walker, Bradley Njoku and Trey Williams. Recruit Ma’ne Manaea will likely redshirt but will be capable of filling in if injury strikes.
O-line hopes to bounce back despite injury, inexperience
The off-season has been rough on the offensive line, which saw starters Tyrone Novikoff, Sam Tupua and Matt Cleveland declare for the NFL Draft after the trio closed out remarkable careers in Moscow.
To further halt its progress, the line has dealt with injury all spring as veteran guard Jordan Johnson will try to overcome an ankle injury that forced him to miss the majority of the 2011 season. In addition, junior Guy Reynolds Jr. suffered a knee injury that prevented him from taking full advantage of the spring season.
Returning starters A.J. Jones and Mike Marboe will play big roles, although they each have one year of Division I experience. The only recruit that could help patch up the weak o-line may be JC transfer Semisi Tupou, a 6-foot-4-inch, 380-pound bruiser from Cerritos College in Long Beach, Calif. Thankfully though, Reynolds and Johnson are expected to be fully healthy come August.
Theo Lawson can be reached at [email protected]