Aikeem Coleman, Zach Cable lead resurgence of Idaho’s defense

MOSCOW, Idaho – As the University of Idaho clawed its way to respectability, a 9-4 record and a bowl game win last year after six straight losing seasons, a defense that had struggled in the past stiffened and became a Vandals strength.

Going into this season, two seniors on that defensive front look to continue what they have achieved.

The leader of the 2016 group, Tueni Lupeamanu, is trying to make the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars this year. But Idaho returns the Sun Belt Conference defensive newcomer of the year in tackle Aikeem Coleman, along with fellow senior Zach Cable. Those two hope to build on last year’s legacy.

“We had great leaders last year,” Cable said. “Me and Aikeem are trying to do what they did.”

Vandals coach Paul Petrino uses the term “unbelievable person” when talking about Lupeamanu.

“I owe him a ton,” Petrino said. “That being said, we’re playing really good now.”

Maybe going against your own offense every day in preseason camp offers an illusory perspective. But Petrino and his players are struck by the quickness of this year’s defense – line, linebackers and secondary.

“Our whole front seven is playing at such a high level right now,” Cable said.

Coleman feel the responsibility of maintaining this.

“This year, for me, it’s different,” Coleman said. “I have to lead, not just by talk but by example.”

He isn’t coasting on last year’s conference honor. “That was last year,” he said. “The challenge is to get better every day this year.”

Coleman, 6-foot-3, 275 pounds and Cable (6-3, 258) are not huge. But defensive line coach Luther Elliss is satisfied having committed workers on the line.

“I love the guys we have,” Elliss said.

Defensive line depth and effort will get Idaho where it wants to go, he said.

“I tell them give me 100 percent for five or six plays,” Elliss said. “On every play, give me that turn and burst for 5 yards until we diagnose what happened with the ball.”

Two weeks into fall camp, Idaho has its entire defense in place, Elliss said.

“If we see something now and think, ‘This blitz would work against it,’ we could play it,” he said.

Coleman, from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, chose Idaho over offers from Texas State and Nicholls State. He said Petrino sold him on being a Vandal.

Cable simply gave into history. His father, Tom Cable, the Seattle Seahawks’ offensive line coach, played for the Vandals more than three decades ago and coached Idaho from 2000-03.

“He loves it here,” Cable said of his father. “I visited here and Montana. I was not sure where I wanted to go. I committed on my visit here, and I called my dad. He said, ‘I didn’t want to steer you until you chose, but I’m glad you’re a Vandal.’ ”

Perched on the edge of the 2017 season, with a couple of weeks of impressive preseason practices under the belt and with last year’s resurgence in the bank, that seems to be a good decision.