Vandals find No. 7 unlucky

Another week, another seven points.

Those aren’t the types of point totals University of Idaho football followers are accustomed to seeing. Even during the last four seasons, when Idaho won 11 games combined, the Vandals found the end zone with some regularity.

In 2003, Idaho averaged 20.7 points. In 2002, 23.75. In 2001, 28.45. In 2000, 29.2.

In two games this year, Idaho has scored two touchdowns, one on freshman running back Jayson Bird’s 71-yard run with 1 minute, 20 seconds remaining against Boise State. The Vandals rank No. 111 nationally in scoring offense. The bottom four teams (Nos. 114-117) have played one game.

“Seven a game doesn’t cut it,” Idaho coach Nick Holt said.

Holt said Idaho’s passing game was the biggest culprit in a 14-7 loss to Utah State on Saturday. Junior quarterback Michael Harrington was 17 of 23 for 101 yards with one interception.

“It’s not real good right now, which it should be,” Holt said. “There are a lot of moving parts in the passing game. You have to protect, run the right routes and put the ball on the money. Like Woody Hayes used to say, a lot of bad things can happen when you throw the ball. We need to address that because we have to be able to throw the ball.”

“We’re making critical mistakes in scoring positions,” Harrington said. “The last game we moved the ball down field and fumbled, the next time we moved down and I threw an interception and the next time we had a field goal blocked. We just have to find a way to score.”

Idaho’s ground success against the Aggies influenced the play-calling, particularly in the second half. The Vandals ended up with a near 14-minute edge in time of possession. But Holt acknowledged that the interception and a fumble after a pass reception in the first half led to more run calls in the second half. Idaho is also closer to having its expected offensive line, with Hank Therien’s return from suspension and guard Ryan Waage playing extended minutes.

“We got pretty conservative because we felt we could run the ball,” Holt said. “We probably should have been throwing more later in the game but it was nice to keep the defense off the field.”

Idaho gained less than six yards per reception. The Vandals called a number of short passes, hoping for yards after the catch “but Utah State tackled well,” Harrington said. In two games, Idaho has completed two passes of 20 yards or longer.

The running game, though improved against Utah State, hasn’t produced many big plays either. Three of Idaho’s four double-digit runs against BSU came against backups. Bird had four runs of 10 yards or longer against Utah State, topped by a 19-yarder.

The Vandals are constantly facing second-and-long. On the initial play of seven first-half possessions against Utah State, Idaho gained 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 6 and 3 yards. Five of those seven plays were runs.

Harrington has faced a steady diet of blitzing the last two years, including a heavy dose from Saturday’s opponent, Washington State, in the 2003 season opener.

“Last year they blitzed, maybe because it was my first start ever,” he said. “I don’t ever remember them not blitzing and it worked for them. We have to prove we can pick up pressure and beat people outside and make the throw. Until we do that, we’ll continue to see stuff like that.

“Utah State on film didn’t blitz at all. They played us and they blitzed all the time. I think Boise State had success with it so Utah State tried it. As an offense you should want them to blitz because there’s fewer people covering your receivers.”

In seven career starts, the most touchdowns Idaho has generated with Harrington at the controls is two. Last season, Idaho scored zero, five, 10, 14 and nine points in Harrington’s five starts. He was removed late in the third quarter of the Montana game with Idaho trailing 31-9. Brian Lindgren directed three scoring drives as Idaho lost 41-28.

Harrington played well in relief of Lindgren against Louisiana-Lafayette last season. Idaho lost 31-20, scoring twice with Harrington at the helm and also on Rod Bryant’s 79-yard kick return.

Holt said it “crossed my mind” against Utah State to remove Harrington and insert Brian Nooy. The latter warmed up in the first quarter, but didn’t play. Nooy, a redshirt freshman, saw mop-up duty against BSU.

“Michael played better (than he did against Boise State) and there were a couple of passes dropped,” Holt said. “But there are a couple of things he needs to do. He needs to set his feet better. He’s coming around.”

Harrington expects questions about the offense to continue as long as Idaho loses.

“You can sit and talk about what’s right and wrong, but it’s hard losing,” he said. “You lose all the time and the same questions come up and you try to be positive. We have to win some games, that’s the bottom line. Whether it’s 100-99 or 2-0, I don’t care.”