Competition. Paul Petrino can’t say the word enough. It’s the theme of the second-year Idaho coach’s spring football camp and one that will be evident on Saturday afternoon when his Vandals compete in their first spring scrimmage.
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Freshman quarterback Matt Linehan prepares to take the snap during skeleton drills at practice Wednesday in the Kibbie Dome. Linehan is one of several Vandals battling for a starting spot this spring. The other position battles include running back, the offensive line and the secondary. Idaho’s first scrimmage is 10 a.m. Saturday.
It’s been evident throughout the first week of practice, when he had to huddle his team together on the first day to make sure nobody was going to get hurt.
The competition he said, is creating energy that wasn’t present at times during spring football last season.
“It’s a lot nicer just to come out and coach, instead of worrying about effort and attitude on every single play,” Petrino said after the first practice. “You can just coach technique and coach fundamentals. It was a great day, it was a lot of fun today.”
The team practiced in shorts for the first two days, Sunday and Monday, after being rained out for what was going to be the first practice on Friday. On Wednesday, the team practiced in full pads for the first time and it was also its first time inside the Kibbie Dome since its Senior Day loss to Old Dominion last Nov. 9.
The team will practice on Friday before its scrimmage on 10 a.m. Saturday — one that will prove to be critical in the many ongoing position battles.
Quarterback is the position battle that interests most, with sophomore Chad Chalich battling freshman Matt Linehan for the right to go into the summer as the favorite for the starting job.
Linehan, the son of former Idaho quarterback Scott Linehan, spent the 2013 season using his redshirt. The snaps he’s received this spring are the first competitive snaps he’s received as a Vandal.
“I have to say it’s different, because it feels like, not really like there’s more of a purpose, I feel like I have more of a part here, like I’m here for a reason,” Matt Linehan said. “I’m here to help this team win, I want to help them out as much as I can. Especially getting to know my guys better, getting a better bond with our teammates, it’s a way better feel.”
Competition also exists heavily on the offensive line, the secondary and at running back. The scrimmages will also present the defense with its first opportunity to really hit. Quarterbacks will still not be hit, though.
The scrimmages throughout spring will be game simulation opportunities for coaches to evaluate film and move players around the depth chart.
Again, the word for Petrino is competition.
“You can see it in the effort in practice, all the way through, everywhere,” Petrino said. “Probably got to watch the film to know exactly better than that, but there’s just so much more depth throughout the board so they’re all working that much harder, which is nice.”
Scrimmages typically took place on the SprinTurf outside of the Kibbie Dome last season, but would take place inside the Kibbie Dome if the weather wasn’t good.
Sean Kramer can be reached at [email protected]