Secondary Looks Luring To Vandals

It would seem to be a match made in Vandals heaven.

Utah State allows big passing plays. Idaho passes early and often.

“We’ve probably been susceptible to the big play and that’s why you see the gaudy stats,” Aggies football coach Mick Dennehy said.

“We’ve been put to the test, but I think the secondary needs a little help. We need to do a better job of getting a hand in the quarterback’s face and making our presence felt in the pocket.”

Loosely translated, that means quarterback John Welsh figures to be a hunted man today when Idaho takes on Utah State at 2:05 PDT at Romney Stadium.

Welsh has shown he can pass opponents dizzy when he has time to operate. More often than not, he’s also proven he can handle the blitz, but most teams still believe the best way to curb Idaho’s offense is to get in Welsh’s grill.

That won’t be easy for Utah State (2-4, 1-0 Big West). The Aggies have just seven sacks in six games. Idaho (3-4, 1-0) has allowed a Big West worst 21 sacks in seven games, but 12 of those came against West Virginia.

Utah State ranks last in the conference in pass defense, despite coming off a game against North Texas’ toothless air attack. USU’s earlier schedule - Brigham Young, Utah, Arizona State and Texas Tech - has done the damage.

“Arizona State, off play-action, threw fades six times for long touchdown passes,” Idaho coach Tom Cable said. “Their corners earlier in the season were playing up. Now, they’re playing off a little bit and it’s helped them tremendously in terms of stopping run-bys.”

Run-bys weigh on Cable’s mind in other phases of today’s game. Utah State running back Emmett White ranks in the top 10 in eight Big West statistical categories.

He’s No. 1 on UI’s list of defensive priorities. Though his numbers are similar to those of Idaho’s Willie Alderson, White gains his yardage in different ways. White returns punts and kicks. Alderson was on kick returns early in the season, but those chores now fall on Chris Lacy and Jeffrey Townsley.

Both are fine receivers. Alderson has 29 receptions; White 23.

“You don’t see him as a receiver, because he doesn’t line up as a receiver,” Cable said. “He’s done it a little bit, but not like what we do (with Alderson). In terms of (White’s) catches, they throw almost every screen to him.”

Utah State, like Montana, which defeated the Vandals in September, is big on screens. Dennehy previously coached at Montana, which passed for 505 yards against Idaho. Dennehy has installed the Grizzlies’ offense at USU, but White’s presence and that of new quarterback, sophomore Jose Fuentes, keep the Aggies a bit closer to the ground.

“When the kids saw the (Montana-Idaho) film, they could identify with what Montana ran,” Dennehy said. “But like every week, every team does so much stuff formationally. We feel like we have to be able to run the ball against them if we’re going to have any success.”

Notes

Idaho is favored by 10.5 points… . The series is tied 13-13-2… . Today is the opening day of deer season in Utah, which figures to lop a couple thousand off the attendance. Temperatures should be in the low 50s with a 60 percent chance of showers… . Those aren’t misprints. USU left tackle Jim Newton is 6-foot-10 and 294 pounds and right tackle Jeff Long is 6-9, 309. “I’ve never seen a 6-10 tackle,” Cable said… . Dennehy said USU is looking at joining the Sun Belt. The Aggies will be independent in 2001. “We’re certainly interested,” he said, but wants “to see what happens with some issues in college football.”