Idaho has five practices left before Thursday's opener with Eastern Washington at the Kibbie Dome. And we have notes and a few position updates -- as well as a look at the young Vandals' offensive line -- below after talking to Robb Akey.

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Thursday's practice wasn't the cleanest of the preseason, but Akey attributed that to his players being tired of going against each other. "I think we’ve had a hell of a camp," he said. "I think we’re cranky as hell right now because I think we want to play somebody else."

Highlights from Akey's brief chat with reporters:

• Would-be starting defensive end Benson Mayowa, who's been held out for much of the preseason because of academic issues, practiced Thursday. But Akey didn't sound optimistic about Mayowa being cleared for the opener next week. "The guy we’re still waiting on and I’m not holding my breath on, Benson still has some work to get done. That’s not a secret." Akey said starting tailback Ryan Bass has resolved his academic issues.
• Akey would not announce who's favored to go into the EWU game as the backup quarterback, but Logan Bushnell got more time than Taylor Davis with the twos Thursday.
• The banged-up players who have been practicing of late should be ready for EWU, Akey said. Tailback James Baker was held out with what looked to be shin splints, and starting cornerback Tracy Carter was also not in pads Thursday.

OFFENSIVE LINE PREVIEW

Our full season preview runs next week. But before then, I wanted to spend time focusing on the Vandals' offensive line. This group was a weak spot last year because of injuries and inconsistency -- and also partly because of inexperience at a key position. Starting center Mike Marboe was a first-year starter as a redshirt freshman, and he acknowledged a few weeks ago that "I was lost half the time" in 2011.

"It was first year and I had a lot of questions," Marboe said. "We just weren’t there (as an offense)."

If Marboe's experience in his first year is an indication, the Vandals' O-line could experience growing pains this fall. The left side of the line will consist of Cody Elenz at tackle and Dallas Sandberg at guard; both are redshirt freshmen who will be starting for the first time in college next week against Eastern Washington.

Does this worry first-year offensive line coach Gordy Shaw? Perhaps a little, but he's not going to deviate from his philosophy.

"The University of Idaho hired Coach Akey. Coach Akey hired me. We all understand that our wives and children depend on us winning games," he said. "It wouldn’t be fair to the university or the fans or the football team if I wasn’t playing the best guys. And the players on the offensive line understand that. There’s no dispute — we talk about it every other day. (I ask them), ‘Is there anybody who disagrees with who’s starting, who’s playing the best?’

"... That whole left side right now," Shaw added, "that will be their first college football game come (Thursday). And I’m sure they’re going to be excited, and I’m sure they’re going to make some mistakes. But they’re the best players right now. There are other guys in there that are chomping at their heels, but in the end, we’re going to play the five best guys. And that’s how we got it lined up right now."

Except for an ongoing battle at right guard, the starting five is locked down. Here's how it looks entering the final week of preparation:

Left tackle -- Cody Elenz (redshirt freshman; first start expected in opener)
Left guard -- Dallas Sandberg (redshirt freshman; first start expected in opener)    
Center -- Mike Marboe (redshirt sophomore, one year as starter)
Right guard -- A.J. Jones (senior, started 10 games in 2011) or Spencer Beale (redshirt sophomore, one game as backup in 2011)
Right tackle -- Jordan Johnson (redshirt junior; started seven games over last two season)

Spencer Beale got more snaps at right guard with the first-team offense than A.J. Jones on Thursday. The two have been rotating at that position for much of the preseason. Jones played extensively last year, while Beale -- a Lewiston, Idaho, native -- is a redshirt sophomore who saw action in one game last year as the backup to left tackle Matt Cleveland.

Anchoring the line is Marboe, a Wenatchee, Wash., product who's on the preseason Rimington Award watch list. And protecting left-handed QB Dominique Blackman's blindside will be 6-foot-6, 323-pound Jordan Johnson. The redshirt junior has been injury-prone during his time at UI, missing all but five games last year and most of spring camp with an ankle injury.

Shaw said last week that he has eight or nine linemen that he'd confident in if they were pressed into action. Beyond the starting five and the extra guard betwen Beale and Jones, tackle Nik Von Rotz has seen significant time at tackle with the twos. The same goes for Ben Westrum before he went down last week in the final scrimmage with an ankle injury.

With unknowns along the line, expect to see the Vandals go to their short passing game regularly. Offensive coordinator Jason Gesser likes Blackman's quick release, and the line has struggled to run block at times in scrimmages.

Still, Shaw is pleased with his unit. "I’m really encouraged from what I’m seeing out there right now and the progress that they’re making," he said. "Really the whole offensive unit is pretty cohesive from where we were in the spring."

Follow me for Vandal updates all year at @SR_JoshWright.
 

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