After a chippy practice the day before, where there were a few fights and lots of running because of it, the University of Idaho football team was back at it Thursday night. This time, however, positive vibes could be felt throughout the SprinTurf practice field.
The energy was high and plays were being made on both sides of the ball — which wasn’t the case during the spring, where the offense dominated a majority of the time. A big reason for the defense stepping up its game, is due to the improved play from the defensive backs, who struggled throughout spring.
“I think it’s a mixture of everything,” said defensive back coach Ashley Ambrose on the improvements made. “It’s a mixture of the new guys coming in and them developing good continuity with each other. Then getting the grasp of the defense and understanding what they’re doing — it makes it a little easier for them.”
Making an immediate impact is junior college transfer Chris Edwards. The safety has impressed the short time he’s been in Moscow and Petrino even compared him to Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor. He said with his big build (6-foot-2, 217 pounds), Edwards has the chance to be an intimidator — just like Chancellor is for Seattle.
As for how the rest of practice went, here’s the notes and quotes:
Notes
- The quarterback competition hasn’t changed — it still looks to be pretty even.
- Matt Linehan has moments of brilliance, where he makes difficult throws look easy, but will also struggle to complete the easy ones, too.
- Chad Chalich has been using his legs effectively, which is a clear advantage he has over Linehan.
- Deon Watson has been impressive so far and seems to catch everything thrown in his general vicinity. In Thursdays practice with a defensive back draped all over him, Watson caught the ball with one hand while falling backwards.
- On the opposite end of the spectrum, new junior college transfer Jermaine Johnson has struggled to catch the ball. He has been running past defenders with ease, but there was multiple times he dropped what looked to be an easy touchdown.
- Josh McCain looks like he’s been playing wide receiver his whole life. The former quarterback has made the transition to receiver look easy and has made numerous big plays.
“It’s coming a long really good, actually,” McCain said on his transition from quarterback to receiver. “It’s starting to come more natural, I’m not thinking so much, so everything is going good … It’s definitely a lot easier because I know what exactly the quarterback is looking for, like what holes to sit in and stuff like that.”
- Paul Petrino is excited for new junior college running back Elijhaa Penny — as he should be. Penny checks in at 6-foot-2, 252 pounds and looks like a linebacker. He bounces off defenders and has decent speed, too. Petrino said he thinks Penny could become an every down back.
“I can’t wait to see him in full pads,” he said. “I think he’s got a chance to be really good, and I hope that will be the case … He reminds me of Michael Bush, who we had at Louisville, because he can make those come to balance cuts and change (direction).”
- Richard Montgomery has the potential to be very good in his new role at receiver. He is even still lining up at running back from time-to-time, which makes him even more dangerous.
“I’m comfortable just moving around so defenses just cant call out if I’m in the backfield — it’s a run. Or if I’m at receiver — I’m getting the ball. So every time I move, it’s confusing the defense, so I’m good with that.”
Quotes
Montgomery
- On making the switch to his new position.
“Everyday I’m with the receivers. I can’t even tell you the last time I’ve been to a running back meeting … I just need to learn the plays and where to line up at. I’m learning more everyday.”
- On his multiple roles
“When I came to them (coaches), I just said I want to be a bigger threat. I can be in the backfield, I can be at wide receiver.”
“Honestly, everyday I’m learning that I’m possibly everything. I’m just where ever the coaches put me, wherever I can be to help my team be successful … if I had to play o-line, I would line up on the line.”
- On his speed (he was asked if he thought he was the fastest on the team)
“Yes I am the fastest guy on the team, according to the strength coaches and according to the team … Last time we clocked in at the 40 yard dash I was 4.29.”
Maxx Forde
- On how practice went
“We might have started a little bit flat, but I feel like we picked it up there … It definitely felt like we got it going, picked up the intensity and got it going. It felt like we had a pretty good day today, but we need to get it to be great.”
- On the new junior college players
“They are just getting used to D-I football, I know a lot of them are acclimating to that and you’re seeing it. They’re picking it up quick, reading their keys and making plays … If we can get all of us playing well together, have depth, it will be a good thing because we’re going to be a hard team for a lot of people to play.”
- On Roberto Asencio
“I know Roberto is doing pretty well with the second team, so that’s good to see … You kind of take for granted all of the terminology and stuff, because just growing up in the game you learn about it at a young age, he hasn’t learned that. We’ll be sitting in a meeting and use a term, something we take second nature, and he’s just learning … You can definitely see that he has the athleticism to where once he gets up to speed he’ll be dangerous.”
- On his basketball playing days and how it can relate to football
“At Woodenville High School I was the all-time rebounding leader … A lot of offensive rebounding really is pass rushing, because you’re trying to get around a box out or something like that.”
“I think it was 227 (rebounds) for my senior season, which was a season record, and I think either 411 or 412 for career, which is also a school record.”
Editors note: Forde actually had 414 career rebounds – Link
Ashley Ambrose:
- On the mentality of the players
“A lot of these guys still have that bitter taste in their mouth of just winning one game last year, and they want to prove that we wont be the laughing stock of the Sun Belt conference. That’s why they are taking the time, doing a lot of extra things on their own and trying to become winners.”
- On his early impressions of the junior college transfers
“It’s a learning curve for those guys, but yeah they are improving. I think each and every day they’re getting a lot better … I see a lot of improvement and I’m happy with what I am seeing, and I think you guys are going to be excited to see Vandal football this year.”
- On the improvements made from spring to now
“I wasn’t here last year, but listening to coach Petrino, he believes this team is working a lot harder and improved a lot more. Now he has brought that work ethic to Idaho, he’s been winning his whole career, he knows what it takes to be a winner and they’re buying in to that.”