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A Little Rare Boise State News

  • fishrose said...

    Line play is just as much about technique and chemistry as it is size and athleticism. Saying it's "more of a question than a weakness" is a cop-out. That's fine if you're blowing sunshine on a Bronco message board, but don't expect us to buy it here. The MSU offensive front is deep, experienced, and very talented. A question mark going up against a known commodity is not usually a favorable matchup for the question mark.

    If you're not worried about your running and passing games, you're incredibly foolish. This Spartan defense makes Wisconsin and Ohio State worry about their offensive production. Michigan State has what is arguably the best linebacking corps in the country and multiple all-conference DBs. Saying you're not worried about that is more arrogant than a Sparyan fan predicting a 42-17 win.

    MSU's offensive front just paved the way for the nation's #78 rush O, 11th in the conference. Though they are deep, and now I'd say experienced, I don't know how "talented" they are. There's potential there for a very good group, but their ability to run block is a question mark right now. Also, they were very good as pass-blocking . . . for a very experienced QB. I'd say MSU's OL has questions to be answered as well.

    Also, Ohio State was not a very good offensive team last year (11th in total O, 9th in Scoring O), and Wisconsin put up 31 and 42 points against MSU last season. Actually, most good to decent O's put up points on MSU: ND and WI scored 31 (regular season), Nebraska had 24, Minnesota put up 24 AT Spartan Stadium, Wisconsin scored 42 in the CCG and UGA put up 30 (Boise held them to 21 last year).

    Now, MSU's D was very good last year, but it wasn't an iron curtain.

    Michigan State does not and will not run the 3-4 defense.

    SpartanRocky

  • BSUFAN9999 said...

    Based on what you guys are saying, I imagine we will see a bit of dink and dunk passing in addition to screens to combat all the pressure.

    Those will be open. MSU usually runs quarters coverage, which leaves the flats pretty open. Deep strikes will be hard to come by, but the 12-15 yard "out" routes between the LB and the CB or S should be open. Moore excelled at anticipating the throws and allowing the WR's to go full-speed to the spot. If your new QB can do that, he could have a very nice day.

    Michigan State does not and will not run the 3-4 defense.

    SpartanRocky

  • SpartanRocky said...

    MSU's offensive front just paved the way for the nation's #78 rush O, 11th in the conference. Though they are deep, and now I'd say experienced, I don't know how "talented" they are. There's potential there for a very good group, but their ability to run block is a question mark right now. Also, they were very good as pass-blocking . . . for a very experienced QB. I'd say MSU's OL has questions to be answered as well.

    Also, Ohio State was not a very good offensive team last year (11th in total O, 9th in Scoring O), and Wisconsin put up 31 and 42 points against MSU last season. Actually, most good to decent O's put up points on MSU: ND and WI scored 31 (regular season), Nebraska had 24, Minnesota put up 24 AT Spartan Stadium, Wisconsin scored 42 in the CCG and UGA put up 30 (Boise held them to 21 last year).

    Now, MSU's D was very good last year, but it wasn't an iron curtain.

    ND put up 24 on the defense, one of them was a KR or PR TD.
    UGA also put up 20 points, 7 were from the Boykin PR and 3 were in OT where they start in FG territory.

    Macks

  • BSUFAN9999 said...

    With all due respect, the DL starters they practiced against last season will all be in the NFL next year. So it is not like pressure will be a new concept.

    With all the aggressive that has been described, I imagine that we will be seeing some screens.

    You lose an all american at left tackle and you're that confident? Good for you guys. I know you guys had some injuries too, but losing an AA at left tackle isn't a small loss. Good for you though, you must have some great depth there. good for you.

    signature image signature image signature image

    DWags

  • BSUFAN9999 said...

    You need to re-read my comments. I am not worried about having an adequate RB....

    I think your defense provides a lot to worry about. I am sure Petersen is worried plenty.

    An "adequate" running back isn't going to do shit against this front seven. That's not arrogance, that's fact.

    signature image

    tRCMB's resident Wayne State Warrior and Sam's Club Spartan fan.

    fishrose

  • fishrose said...

    An "adequate" running back isn't going to do shit against this front seven. That's not arrogance, that's fact.

    The first string back has talent. It is his back-ups that, while possibly very talented, are question marks, as they have no body of work.

    bsu's OL is better, and in better shape, then I though they'd be. some real talent there, and they've proven over the last 5+ years they can continually produce winning OLs, have gone up against top DLs and produced. This will not be the huge advantage I thought it would be, and they have another OT who started last year that they expect big things from.

    On paper, bsu's O will become a very good unit again. Now, if our DL does what it did the last 2 games of the season, that will happen for bsu...after the MSU game. The one thing I expect MSU will see a lot of is quick screens to suck in the D. Just like um did. Major question for me is how mobile their QB is. I am starting to believe the only way MSU gets beat this year is by teams with very mobile and savvy QBs.

    mentalstate

  • mentalstate said...

    I am starting to believe the only way MSU gets beat this year is by teams with very mobile and savvy QBs.

    Marquise Gray!!!!!! Minnesota!!!

    signature image signature image

    Itz Pstein21607

  • Itz Pstein! said...

    Marquise Gray!!!!!! Minnesota!!!

    That dude is going to have a very good year.

    Michigan State does not and will not run the 3-4 defense.

    SpartanRocky

  • SpartanRocky said...

    That dude is going to have a very good year.

    Yea and he did really really well against us this past year. That has trap game written all over it.

    signature image signature image

    Itz Pstein21607

  • mentalstate said...

    The first string back has talent. It is his back-ups that, while possibly very talented, are question marks, as they have no body of work.

    bsu's OL is better, and in better shape, then I though they'd be. some real talent there, and they've proven over the last 5+ years they can continually produce winning OLs, have gone up against top DLs and produced. This will not be the huge advantage I thought it would be, and they have another OT who started last year that they expect big things from.

    On paper, bsu's O will become a very good unit again. Now, if our DL does what it did the last 2 games of the season, that will happen for bsu...after the MSU game. The one thing I expect MSU will see a lot of is quick screens to suck in the D. Just like um did. Major question for me is how mobile their QB is. I am starting to believe the only way MSU gets beat this year is by teams with very mobile and savvy QBs.

    DJ Harper is no Montee Ball or Isaiah Crowell. I know Worthy leaves some big shoes to fill on the line, but unless Boise State's offensive line comes out looking like Wisconsin or Alabama I don't think they'll be able to run past the Spartan defense. They're going to have to pass to set up the run, and even then I don't see them doing much on the ground. They're definitely going to have to rely on quick passes to avoid the pressure, but look how that worked out for UM.

    You can't deny the big-play capability of Boise State, especially with Petersen calling the shots. However, I don't see Boise doing well if this one turns into a grind.

    signature image

    tRCMB's resident Wayne State Warrior and Sam's Club Spartan fan.

    fishrose

  • mentalstate said...

    The first string back has talent. It is his back-ups that, while possibly very talented, are question marks, as they have no body of work.

    bsu's OL is better, and in better shape, then I though they'd be. some real talent there, and they've proven over the last 5+ years they can continually produce winning OLs, have gone up against top DLs and produced. This will not be the huge advantage I thought it would be, and they have another OT who started last year that they expect big things from.

    On paper, bsu's O will become a very good unit again. Now, if our DL does what it did the last 2 games of the season, that will happen for bsu...after the MSU game. The one thing I expect MSU will see a lot of is quick screens to suck in the D. Just like um did. Major question for me is how mobile their QB is. I am starting to believe the only way MSU gets beat this year is by teams with very mobile and savvy QBs.

    Regarding QB mobility, BSU has 4 possible QBs.

    Southwick (RS JR) Good mobility
    Hedrick (RS SO) - Extremely mobile, ran the spread option very effectively in limited snaps last year
    Laughrea (RS FR) - Strong armed, pocket passer from the scout team
    Patti (Fr) - Extremely mobile QB

    The QB battle is wide open. Southwick is the most likely starter given his experience in the system as Petersen values lack of mistakes most highly. Hedrick and Laughrea are no slouches. Patti has drawn a lot of attention. He was 'Elite 11' and the player of the year in the largest division of Florida high school football last year. As a 5'11" QB, he sought out BSU based on our success with shorter QB as well as the opportunity to study under Petersen. He arrived in January. He is the long shot but shows long-term promise. If he were 2-3 inches taller, he could have picked any team in the country.

    In almost all cases, I expect our offense to feature a more mobile attack than we had with Kellen.

    Petersen has kept the details of the QB competition under wraps. Virtually no details have come out. Saturday is our open scrimmage. It will be the 1st chance the public will have had to see what is happening at this position.

    BSUFAN9999

  • mentalstate said...

    I am starting to believe the only way MSU gets beat this year is by teams with very mobile and savvy QBs.

    MSU does well against those kind of qb's...I think the system that neutralizes MSU's dominant pass rush is the old drew brees quick release passing system.

    tVargMan Prime

  • BSUFAN9999 said...

    Regarding QB mobility, BSU has 4 possible QBs.

    Southwick (RS JR) Good mobility Hedrick (RS SO) - Extremely mobile, ran the spread option very effectively in limited snaps last year Laughrea (RS FR) - Strong armed, pocket passer from the scout team Patti (Fr) - Extremely mobile QB

    The QB battle is wide open. Southwick is the most likely starter given his experience in the system as Petersen values lack of mistakes most highly. Hedrick and Laughrea are no slouches. Patti has drawn a lot of attention. He was 'Elite 11' and the player of the year in the largest division of Florida high school football last year. As a 5'11" QB, he sought out BSU based on our success with shorter QB as well as the opportunity to study under Petersen. He arrived in January. He is the long shot but shows long-term promise. If he were 2-3 inches taller, he could have picked any team in the country.

    In almost all cases, I expect our offense to feature a more mobile attack than we had with Kellen.

    Petersen has kept the details of the QB competition under wraps. Virtually no details have come out. Saturday is our open scrimmage. It will be the 1st chance the public will have had to see what is happening at this position.

    Southwick sounds like he's going to be a very good one for you, and that frosh, I hope you guys RS him, then as a R-SO, you'll have a real leader.

    How well does your rb catch out of the backfield? And how well does he block?

    One major problem you will have in trying the slip screens and quick hitters to suck our aggressive d upfield is that most teams we played tried that and failed. um was hitting on all cylinders on O when they tried it, and they even cheated all game long on the bubble screens- shoelaces would hold the ball and suck the D in, while their OL ran 5 yards downfield to block, then he'd throw it. Anncrs even picked it up. And we still stuffed it. Our ends are excellent at recognizing shenanigans. Also helps to have a 6'7 guy, with another 6'7 guy now playing on the inside. Makes it harder to get out those swing passes, and disrupts timing because QB has to adjust and throw high, which slows the whole play down and allows for the D to recover & adjust.

    mentalstate

  • While I respect what Peterson has done at Boise, I do not fear what they are bringing into this game. Personally I would be surprised if they are able to come into Spartan Stadium with a new QB, and score enough points against MSU's defense. Moore was exceptionall at the short to medium passing game. It is yet to be seen what their new QB can do against a top-flight defense. I am more concerned with MSU's revamped offense being ablle to score early in the year. With BSU's losses on the D-line, MSU beter be ready to Pound Green Pound. Hopefully the Oline takes the big step forward we all are looking for.

    While Minny, Indiana and Purdue have had their challenges, they are the 8th, 9th or 10th toughest games on MSU's schedule - just ahead of the MAC schools that generally fill out the non-con schdule. These same schools would be the 3rd, 4th or 5th toughest opponents for BSU behind their usual one tough non-con game and (maybe) the second best team in their conference, No matter how you want to explain it away, their lackluster schedule has inflated their win total. Put them in the B1G, B12, SEC or PAC12 or even ACC and they would have been on the fringe of the top 25, not in the mix for a BCS game.

    Cement23588

  • Ce-ment said...

    While I respect what Peterson has done at Boise, I do not fear what they are bringing into this game. Personally I would be surprised if they are able to come into Spartan Stadium with a new QB, and score enough points against MSU's defense. Moore was exceptionall at the short to medium passing game. It is yet to be seen what their new QB can do against a top-flight defense. I am more concerned with MSU's revamped offense being ablle to score early in the year. With BSU's losses on the D-line, MSU beter be ready to Pound Green Pound. Hopefully the Oline takes the big step forward we all are looking for.

    Keep in mind, they are in worse shape in the LB corps. This is one game we honestly should be able to run well in; even if their starting DTs step up to the challenge, the depth behind them, as well as the LBs behind them, are not at that level.

    mentalstate

  • VargMan said...

    MSU does well against those kind of qb's...I think the system that neutralizes MSU's dominant pass rush is the old drew brees quick release passing system.

    We did very good against martinez, shoelaces and Miller before he developed later in the year. That said, the b10 championship game would have been a blowout our way had it not been for one player and his feet keeping play after play after play alive...wilson.

    mentalstate

  • mentalstate said...

    We did very good against martinez, shoelaces and Miller before he developed later in the year. That said, the b10 championship game would have been a blowout our way had it not been for one player and his feet keeping play after play after play alive...wilson.

    And Wilson was more a very mobile pro-style passer than he was a dual-threat guy; he looked to pass 1st, 2nd and 3rd, then ran.

    Michigan State does not and will not run the 3-4 defense.

    SpartanRocky

  • VargMan said...

    MSU does well against those kind of qb's...I think the system that neutralizes MSU's dominant pass rush is the old drew brees quick release passing system.

    worked for youngstown. I don't want to underestimate BSU. They beat the same Georgia team we did. They're legit. However, I do think the atmosphere, depth on defense and our run game should be overwhelming.

    Skip1856

  • SpartanRocky said...

    And Wilson was more a very mobile pro-style passer than he was a dual-threat guy; he looked to pass 1st, 2nd and 3rd, then ran.

    Yep, thus my "mobile and savvy" comment. He always looked downfield, even when scrambling, and would try to buy time to throw rather than take off if he could....unless the D parted like the red sea, then he'd hit it fast. Very cerebral QB. I actually think Miller could develop the same way, and am glad we don't have to play him again after this year. On the flip side, unless a WR is wide open and less than 20 yards away on every play, don't ever see martinez or shoelaces developing like that.

    mentalstate

  • mentalstate said...

    We did very good against martinez, shoelaces and Miller before he developed later in the year. That said, the b10 championship game would have been a blowout our way had it not been for one player and his feet keeping play after play after play alive...wilson.

    I truly believe that if @Nebraska had happened after a bye week that MSU would have won. You could tell State didn't have the energy in that game.

    I have the same concern with Nebraska this year; they're the 10th game of the season, all before any bye week.

    Michigan State does not and will not run the 3-4 defense.

    SpartanRocky

  • mentalstate said...

    Yep, thus my "mobile and savvy" comment. He always looked downfield, even when scrambling, and would try to buy time to throw rather than take off if he could....unless the D parted like the red sea, then he'd hit it fast. Very cerebral QB. I actually think Miller could develop the same way, and am glad we don't have to play him again after this year. On the flip side, unless a WR is wide open and less than 20 yards away on every play, don't ever see martinez or shoelaces developing like that.

    Agree 100%. The most dangerous weapon in college football is a big, mobile QB, like Gray or maybe eventually Miller. The speedsters can be hit enough to slow them down, but when you're going up against a 6'4 240 pounder at QB. . . . well, you saw what Gray was able to do; extend the play long enough and keep his eyes downfield. I think he had the biggest day of any passer against MSU last season.

    Michigan State does not and will not run the 3-4 defense.

    SpartanRocky

  • SpartanRocky said...

    Agree 100%. The most dangerous weapon in college football is a big, mobile QB, like Gray or maybe eventually Miller. The speedsters can be hit enough to slow them down, but when you're going up against a 6'4 240 pounder at QB. . . . well, you saw what Gray was able to do; extend the play long enough and keep his eyes downfield. I think he had the biggest day of any passer against MSU last season.

    Which incidentally, is why we're so hot on Damion Terry I'd imagine.

    Skip1856

  • SpartanRocky said...

    I truly believe that if @Nebraska had happened after a bye week that MSU would have won. You could tell State didn't have the energy in that game.

    I have the same concern with Nebraska this year; they're the 10th game of the season, all before any bye week.

    That game double-sucked because we still hit them so hard that they were broken going into aa. And of course bo runs the crap out of their TB, and of course he paid a huge physical price, I heard his leg and hip were basically one giant bruise.

    Neb is a team I know little about right now.I was never impressed with them last year, still think our OC deserves a game ball from them for his play calling. I believe they lose crick, but he was out when we played them. I can say that martinez's words from last year will surely be re-visited that week.

    As for Gray, that was also the slowest our D looked. He was making every throw and read at a time when you could just tell we were tired. Not the guy you want to play when you're tired.

    mentalstate

  • Skip1856 said...

    worked for youngstown. I don't want to underestimate BSU. They beat the same Georgia team we did. They're legit. However, I do think the atmosphere, depth on defense and our run game should be overwhelming.

    No. They didn't beat the same Georgia team that we did. They beat a team that was young and inexperienced and didn't have an identity yet. Georgia was not a good football team early on. They lost their first two football games. They didn't turn it on until later in the year.

    The team we beat was a team that had a lot of confidence and a true identity...

    tVargMan Prime

  • VargMan said...

    No. They didn't beat the same Georgia team that we did. They beat a team that was young and inexperienced and didn't have an identity yet. Georgia was not a good football team early on. They lost their first two football games. They didn't turn it on until later in the year.

    The team we beat was a team that had a lot of confidence and a true identity...

    Yes.....it is very common for all our power conference opponents to transform themselves after their loss to BSU. What a crock of sh**.

    BSUFAN9999

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