G&T Blog matters: Matt Linehan can’t rest easy as Idaho starter

Below is a sampling of blog reports from The Spokesman-Review sportswriters. Look for blog items daily at spokesman.com/blogs/ sportslink.

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Wednesday: I get asked sometimes what it would take for quarterback Matt Linehan to lose his grip on the starter’s job.

Well, obviously bad form in fall would give Jake Luton plenty of opportunity to take that starting spot. But I don’t see that happening. I see Linehan continuing to make progressions and to start against Ohio.

But why should Paul Petrino announce that now? Why not give Luton an opportunity to improve over the summer and see what he has in the fall? This is arguably the best quarterback situation Idaho has had since Brian Reader was backing up Nathan Enderle, if not better. There is little reason for Petrino to call the competition and have Luton  only be mentally prepared to be a backup. 

Linehan has no solid claim on this job until he can consistently produce in games. He had those two impressive showings last season against Louisiana-Monroe and Western Michigan. And then he went on to tie for the second-most interceptions in the nation, getting benched against Arkansas State and not starting the San Diego State game.

Besides the obvious threat of injury (which also gave Chad Chalich playing time last season as the backup), Idaho needs Luton to be prepared to play if Linehan struggles. 

So, I anticipate Linehan to hold the No. 1 spot throughout fall but that gap will only be as big as Linehan makes it when the lights are on.

Sean Kramer,

@SkramerWrites

Monday: (WSU basketball coach Ernie) Kent seems pretty excited about signing Conor Clifford, a junior college center that he expects to play immediately. He was asked if Clifford is the skilled big man the Cougars were searching for.

“He certainly is. He’s very, very productive when he’s on the floor and when he’s in the game. When you have a guy with that kind of size that can score with the right-hand jump hook just as well as he can with the left-hand jump hook. He understands post play, how to use his body. People are going to be pleased when they see just how skilled he is for a guy with that kind of size.

“I think the fact that he was so highly-recruited is also a really good indication of where our program is. It was a very difficult recruiting him, we had to hang in there, he had some excellent schools that we had battle. But I think, at the end of the day, he’s a young man who has an opportunity to step in and play right away.”

Jacob Thorpe,

@SRJacobThorpe