It would be unfair to ask that Idaho’s offensive linemen to transform into superheroes overnight.
A more reasonable request would be asking those same linemen to treat quarterbacks Chad Chalich and Josh McCain like Christmas ornaments. As of late, the Vandal quarterbacks have been abused as if they were Cinco de Mayo piñatas, with their safety an ongoing subject of concern as the season progresses.
Four games into the season, Chalich and McCain have been victim to 26 sacks — 11 more than anyone else on the FBS landscape. In comparison, the Vandals have only sacked opposing quarterbacks six times.
Long story short, former Vandal lineman Mike Iupati, Matt Cleveland and Tyrone Novikoff have never been missed so much.
Just to throw more numbers out there, Idaho allowed just 24 sacks last season. The Vandals eclipsed that mark in the third quarter of a 42-0 loss to Washington State, when McCain was dropped for a loss of 17 yards.
But with this group, there isn’t any one flaw that stands out over the next.
The 2013 version of the offensive line lacks both depth and experience. The situation was so desperate that defensive tackle Jesse Davis made the switch to plug a much-needed hole for his offensive counterparts.
Where else has this group gone wrong?
One could point to the weight each player cut during the offseason, and Idaho coach Paul Petrino’s emphasis on lighter, more agile linemen. While it seemed to be a brilliant idea at the time, the experiment hasn’t panned out and Saturday’s Battle of the Palouse was yet another example of that.
Undersized against an eager and talented WSU defensive unit, the Vandals lost out in the trenches during the final minute, when Idaho had set up shop on the Cougar 7-yard line. The line, clearly fatigued, couldn’t create anything for 220-plus pound bruisers James Baker and Jerrel Brown, who were stopped short of the goal line four consecutive times.
So much for dropping 15 pounds apiece.
But it’s not all bad for the unit that lost two of its starters during the offseason.
Saturday, the Vandal linemen will look across at a Temple defensive front that has accounted for just five sacks in three games — easily the weakest of defensive lines that Idaho will have seen five games into the season.
Not only should this open holes for Idaho’s tailbacks, who have proven themselves, but it’ll give Idaho’s first-year quarterbacks a few extra seconds to breathe. Chalich has made of habit of slinging balls all over the field during weekday practices and fans will see the same if he’s given time to operate in the pocket. McCain will find a few more running lanes than he’s accustomed to.
The fat five have been called upon to grow up in a hurry and it’s clear that the offense will only go as far as its line goes.
Saturday that line will face a manageable test, in a game that should be as winnable as any for the Vandals.
Theo Lawson can be reached at [email protected]