Fullback Position Key For New Vandals Offense
Followers of Idaho football haven’t seen something like this since… . well, the 1980s, if then.
It’s called a fullback. It’s not a newfangled invention, of course, but it may as well be for the Vandals, who have operated primarily out of the one-back set since Dennis Erickson stepped on campus in 1982.
“Probably not since (former UI coach Keith) Gilbertson” has Idaho utilized a fullback, new coach Tom Cable said.
Why the need for a fullback now?
“When you’re a one-back team you limit yourself to the number of runs you can do,” Cable said. “You make yourself easier to defend.”
Idaho’s fullback will be something of a throw-back, a bruising blocker who should see the ball between 4-8 times per game, Cable said.
The key, Cable said, is using both one- and two-back sets. “You’ve got to do both, and you’ve got to get from one to the other, two to one and one to two, with shifting, motion and personnel groups.”
Lewiston High grad Laki Ah Hi is the starter, backed up by freshman Willie Sipoloa and converted quarterback/tight end Kevin O’Connell, a Gonzaga Prep grad. Freshman Nate Griffin, who missed the first week of practice with a hamstring injury, is a promising contender.
Ah Hi understands the blue-collar job description. “Our main job is to get the linebackers out of the way for the tailback,” he said. “Beside that, we catch the ball once in a while and get the ball once in a while. I don’t need to see the ball, but I’m sure it’ll happen sooner or later.”
One on one
Idaho went through a spirited morning workout Monday with the first-team offense and defense squaring off. Neither side seemed shy about popping pads.
“He (Cable) wants practices to be harder than games,” senior linebacker Chris Nofoaiga said. “This tempo is definitely what we need.”
Cable agrees, but he frets over the potential for injury whenever the ball is snapped.
“It’s bang-bang in there and then I’m counting 18, 19, 22, OK good, they all got up,” Cable said.
Hands down, for a year
Orlando Winston, penciled in as a starting wide receiver, has been suspended for the season for violating team rules, Cable said.
Cable instituted a three-strikes policy shortly after his arrival. The first two strikes - violations of rules - generally involve extra conditioning for the offender’s position and/or his teammates. The third strike results in a one-year suspension.
Winston, formerly a quarterback at Garfield High in Seattle, redshirted last season. He joins Rossi Martin, who is academically ineligible, as major losses at the position.
The Vandals top four receivers appear to be Chris Lacy, Jeffrey Townsley, Josh Jelmberg and Ethan Jones.
Dean of backups
Senior Ed Dean, who wears uniform No. 1, has earned the No. 2 quarterback job. So far, Dean’s experience has helped him ward off redshirt freshman Brian Lindgren.
Dean started seven games in 1999, throwing six touchdowns and three interceptions.
“Ed’s starting to get command of what we’re doing,” Cable said.
Notes
Starting quarterback John Welsh was excused from Monday’s practices to attend to a personal matter, said Cable, who declined to elaborate. Welsh is expected to practice today…. Recent departures from the program include Sandpoint grad Paul Nieman, backup linebacker Casey Kuchenbuch and reserve lineman Drew Owen, Cable said… . Ighe Evero has moved past Jordan Kramer at starting free safety. Kramer was first-team after spring drills, but Evero, a converted cornerback, has been solid this fall. “Ighe and (linebacker) Rick Giampietri, by far, have had the best camps of anyone on defense,” Cable said. “Jordan is starting to realize, `I’m not playing at the level I was in spring and this guy (Evero) has gotten better.”’ … Freshman Ryan Downes, battling Jesse Taylor for the punting job, had punts of 47, 47 and 42 yards during Saturday’s scrimmage, all with a hang time of more than 4.1 seconds… . Linebacker Barrett Nelson has a broken a bone in his foot and will miss 5-6 weeks. Second-string tight end Geoff Franks’ sprained ankle will keep him out 3-5 days.