Climbing Uphill Despite An Offense That Leads The Nation, UI Still Seeks Winning Formula

You’d have thought Idaho’s offense operated in an airplane lavatory last year, because there were so many defenders crammed near the line of scrimmage.

This year there are open spaces. Acreage. Looks vaguely like … a 100-yard football field again.

“We couldn’t get anybody out of the 7- and 8-man fronts last year,” Coach Chris Tormey said. “They forced us to throw and we couldn’t beat them.”

Nowadays? “The exact opposite,” receiver Robert Scott said.

The 1996 Vandals lead the nation in offense - along with Nevada - at 545.3 yards per game. UI passes with alarming accuracy, runs for modest gains, routinely makes big plays, has tip-top athletes at nearly every position.

It’s been 17 possessions since punter Mike O’Neal was summoned. He’s punted once the last two games.

Despite all this, Idaho doesn’t score as much as it should.

Or win as much, for that matter.

Fifteen turnovers have prevented Idaho from being a scoreboard wrecking crew.

“We’ve got a great group of guys, but we’re frustrated because we’re 1-3,” said offensive coordinator George Yarno, hopeful of adding a ‘W’ when Cal Poly-SLO visits the Kibbie Dome on Saturday. “The numbers and that No. 1 in the nation don’t mean a thing. Wins and losses are what people are going to remember.”

For those who remember last season, this offense couldn’t be more opposite.

UI primarily ran early in 1995 because of the return of strong run-blockers on the offensive line. When injuries claimed running backs Joel Thomas and Lavoni Kidd, the Vandals’ play-action passing game heated up and quarterback Eric Hisaw sparked a more productive offense.

This year the Vandals have been winging it from the outset - spring football actually. Yarno stresses that the offense play to its strengths - and those strengths are quarterback Ryan Fien, receivers Scott, Antonio Wilson and David Griffin, and a young line that has matured even faster than Yarno had hoped.

One problem. Defenses are constructing game plans that counter UI’s strengths. Southwest Texas State played a prevent defense last Saturday - the type one sees at the end of the first half to stop a Hail Mary pass.

Still, UI is averaging 407 passing yards per game.

“Only one team has given us what we expected to see defensively,” Tormey said. “I guess when you’re leading the nation in offense, that has something to do with it. In a way, it’s a sign of respect.”

In another way, teams are saying, “Somebody beside Fien will have to beat us.”

Nonetheless, Fien’s presence has changed the scope of the offense.

“He can get us the ball when we’re barely open,” said Griffin, who already has 33 receptions compared to 31 last season.

Added Scott: “Eric (Hisaw) was more of a runner. He didn’t have the great, strong arm, but he got the job done. Ryan has a strong arm and he can maybe throw balls in there Eric couldn’t.”

Fien, too, has benefited from improved receivers and healthy runners. Griffin waited patiently behind Kyle Gary two years ago and has become the prototype quick, slot receiver. Scott has meshed fundamentals with uncommon ability. Wilson, at 6-foot-3, has won several jump-ball passes by outleaping 5-10 cornerbacks.

Add in tight end Andy Gilroy’s nine receptions and Joel Thomas’ 14 catches and 330 rushing yards and it’s enough to make a scoreboard operator cringe.

Idaho had 30 long-gainers last year - passes of 25-plus yards or runs of 20-plus yards. Nine were against Montana and Boise State. In four games thus far the Vandals have 24.

“Last year the key receiver was Dwight (McKinzie),” Scott said. “This year we don’t feel there’s a key receiver. You can maybe bracket (double team) two, but there’s always going to be one left.”

“If you can throw vertical (downfield) routes effectively, the defense has to predicate its whole game plan on how they’re going to stop that,” Tormey said.

Who knows what Cal Poly-SLO, which is fond of man coverage and blitzes, will try on Saturday.

“I expect anything after the first four weeks,” Yarno said.

Including more points and victories.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo