“They are who we thought they were.”
That’s what Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Dennis Green screamed at the media following a loss to the Chicago Bears in 2006. Green’s Cardinals held a 20-0 lead at halftime, but thanks to a dominant defense and electric special teams, Chicago stormed back from the deficit, overcoming offensive struggles to win 24-23.
In 2018, the Vandals fit a very similar mold, becoming exactly “who we thought they were.” In the Vandals’ 20-7 victory against Portland State Saturday, defense ruled the field, with drive after Viking drive puttering to a halt near midfield, while improbable special teams efforts notched one of the team’s two touchdowns on the day.
So, what’s keeping the Vandals from turning the corner and becoming a playoff contender in the FCS? Offensive ineptitude, much like what kept the Bears from securing a Super Bowl ring in 2006.
The struggles started early and became more apparent as the game dragged on. Idaho Head Coach Paul Petrino used all three of the team’s timeouts in the first quarter, raising serious questions regarding his team’s game preparation and planning heading into Saturday.
Brandon Hill
Meanwhile, the Vikings forced the Vandals into three fourth-down situations in which Idaho converted.
While the 100 percent conversion rate looks impressive on paper, the Vandals shouldn’t be in that situation in the first place. A two-field goal start showcased even more offensive struggles, which did not disappear as the clock ticked on.
Don’t be mistaken, Portland State’s defense shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone — Idaho ran a similar system in the 90s. When considering the Vandals came away with nothing but a field goal in that first quarter and one has to wonder what was going on the sideline.
At quarterback, junior Mason Petrino again had trouble extending the field, further deepening the divide on which signal caller Idaho should stick with moving forward. While Petrino did not cough the ball up, seven points in the second half simply won’t cut it against a team with just two wins in two years.
When it comes to stretching the field, both Petrinos, Mason and Paul, have to take advantage of receiver Tom Cotton. With a 27-yard pass marking the longest of the day, Idaho’s offense needs to move beyond quick slants over the middle and read options by Petrino. With a net of -11 yards rushing on the day, Petrino needs to recognize that sometimes, the safest hands are not his own when it comes to carrying the football.
Granted, Idaho’s dual-threat quarterback did not have much help Saturday. Running back Isaiah Saunders accumulated 103 yards, but subtract his 32-yard scamper, the largest run of the day was a 13-yarder in the fourth quarter. Saunders spent most of the game plowing ahead straight up the middle, again showcasing Paul Petrino’s unsalted mashed potato flavor of creativity.
Just like the ’06 Bears, if the Vandals can’t turn the corner on offense, the team will be doomed for a midseason finish in their Big Sky debut.
Brandon Hill can be reached at [email protected]or on Twitter @brandonmtnhill