By Chadd Cripe
ccripe@idahostatesman.com
© 2010 Idaho Statesman
The only question about the Broncos’ quarterback situation this season is who would replace junior starter Kellen Moore in an emergency.
Senior Mike Coughlin, the backup last year, has four years in the system and has thrown the ball better this spring than at any other point in his career, offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin said.
Then there’s Joe Southwick, the bright, athletic freshman who has been turning heads since he arrived.
Those two likely will battle throughout the year for the second spot.
“Joe picks things up very fast,” Harsin said. “… The speed of the game is very fast for him right now. The more reps he gets, the more comfortable he gets with it. … (Coughlin) has been very consistent. He’s thrown the ball great. His decisions have been pretty good.
“Those two guys, they’re in there just battling with their own scenarios right now. Once we get through spring, we’ll evaluate it. When we get into fall camp, those guys will get a chance to battle.”
Meanwhile, Moore continues to impress coaches this spring. He’s working on a few details — most notably his footwork and his efficiency with the deep ball — while the Broncos experiment with different combinations of players around him.
For Moore, it’s not about fixing weaknesses but about improving his already outstanding game, Harsin said.
“Now you’re talking about pushing toward perfection,” Harsin said. “And he’s into it. … He’s such a sharp kid. When we sit down and talk about what our goals are for him, we’re on the same page.”
Here’s a quick look at the Broncos’ quarterback situation — the last of my spring position previews:
Priorities — Improving Moore’s accuracy through those footwork details; developing depth.
Returning starter — Moore, a strong Heisman Trophy candidate for 2010, threw 39 touchdown passes and three interceptions last year to finish second in the nation in pass efficiency.
Other potential contributors — Coughlin and Southwick can run, so it’s possible one of them could come in for specific plays.
Also on the roster — Freshman Mike Tamburo.
Not practicing — Tamburo is limited to individual drills as he recovers from a torn anterior cruciate ligament. He’ll spend this year getting acclimated to the college game.
Here are my previews for wide receivers, the offensive line, linebackers, special teams, tight ends/fullbacks, defensive backs, defensive linemen, running backs and nickels.
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Tamburo
I thought Tamburo had left the program and was transferring after the spring semester.
really?
First I've heard of that...where did you hear it originally? I hope that's not the case...
Tamburo
Tamburo is Not Transfering. Don't know where you heard that but it's inaccurate. He's simply re-habbing from his ACL Surgery. He's actually participating in All Non-Contact Drills during Spring Practice.
Let the Haters Hate
JocDoc, IdaDuck, Freddie Blasie, lol.
The same ole same ole....Weak OOC schedule, Weak conference. blah blah blah.
Bought my Va Tech tickets today!
Whats up Swanpig
Been a while since I've been on here. I'm getting my tix when they come available to the public may 1. Trying to wrastle a bunch of buddies to head there and make a lot of noise as it will be needed for pretty much a VT home game, should be a blast.
me!!!!!-----I will kick some
me!!!!!-----I will kick some b-u-t-t
VA TECH GAME
Glad to see some of you are going to the big game. We are going to need BRONCO NATION to represent so grab your buddies and go to the game. BSU requested 7,500 tickets and VA TECH requested 40,000.........SCARY!!!!!!!!!!
Heisman?
I dont know if he is a strong Heisman candidate. Maybe a dark horse.
No, he is
I've heard some analysts say they expect him to make the trip to New York this year. He was a dark horse at the end of last season. He's much higher on voters radars this year.
He can be a serious candidate ... but....
...the Broncos are going to have to have a great, great year. If the Broncos do as many are suggesting and go undefeated in the regular season - then he's a NYC trip maker - no doubt about it - and a serious candidate to win. Should they stumble along the way then I think all bets are off for 2011. 2012 is yet another year.
I sincerely hope that BSU gets behind Moore for a decent run at the Heisman. It takes a LOT of PR, especially in Moore's case. And that takes some money. Hopefully BSU springs some bucks to push him up the candidate list. We need a serious "Kellen Moore for the Heisman" campaign. These can be very 'graxxroots' (sorry, the Statesman 'goodie two shoes' won't let me write g-r-a-s-s-r-o-o-t-s because within the word is the word a-s-s ... I can't believe it!!!!) oriented. So.....any ideas? We can do this!
Stop griping and email onlinenews@idahostatesman.com
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Stop whining about the stupid signature and think for yourself.
Better yet...
Do this also...
http://www.idahostatesman.com/forums/?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion&plckDiscussionId=Cat%3afd8ca5b2-9afb-4999-a123-2c182528533cForum%3afa1053dc-068f-438d-b2c2-27ead02395a3Discussion%3a62b11b3c-dd3b-4ca1-bbb0-6b68a714abae&plckCurrentPage=0
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Stop whining about the stupid signature and think for yourself.
Dark horse?
If he performs as last two years he should be a favorite. Come on, last year 39 touchdowns with only 3 interceptions? Undefeated. Do that this year and he would be a shoe in. After we win the NC, big if, but if that happened he would be the most popular guy on the planet for his 15 minutes.
apache64
The NC will have zero effect on Moore winning the Heisman. The award is given out before the big game is played. Just FYI.
Yeah
I fixed it. Got a little excited. I'll calm down and go take my meds.
haha
You need to stop forgetting that...
BSUFB4GOOD
Could only put my money down for the tickets today. They didn't give me a*signed seats yet. Trying to get a few more. PM me and we can chat about High Valley.
We don't have pivate message here. IS.com profiles are public.
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Stop whining about the stupid signature and think for yourself.
Triple Option
It would be fun to see the Broncos come out on their first offensive possession against VT and run the triple option with Coughlin at QB. It looks like we have the personnel for it, and it would certainly take the Hokies by surprise. They had big problems with Georgia Tech's offense last year.
We certainly have the right players for a triple option
but I think that Southwick or Tamburo, would be better suited for it than Coughlin, but with players like Coughlin, Southwick, Tamburo, Martin, Avery, Harper, Johnson, Kaiserman, and Lambert, I'm sure that Coach Bhonapha could mix it up quite a bit, but I do like the way you think
Good idea but....
...the triple option takes GREAT timing to run effectively. Too much practice time would have to go into that one. Blocking is different too. Nice idea....but I don't think so. My first question would be what is wrong with their offense the way it is???
It does take good timing, but that can be worked on
I love the BSU offense and think that it's one of the better offenses in the country, and I don't think there's anything wrong with it at all, however, the coaching staff did recruit Tamburo and Southwick for a reason, and I don't think that reason was so they could drop back into the pocket and throw the ball. I thiunk we'll see them continue to build an offense around Moore, but you do have to admit that we've already seen Harsin run a good number of option plays, so perhaps well see more options with Southwick in the game, who I think is going to end up being the #2 QB
I saw all the Heisman chatter above, but I think that Coach Pete and his staff are more interesteD in winning a national championship than they are having their QB get a shot at the Heisman.
I mentione dit above, but I think that the staff is already looking at what their offense will look like after Moore leaves, and if you look at the type of QB's they've recruited in Tamburo and Southwick, you see that those two QB's aren't the traditional BSU quarterback, so I suspect that they've got a few option style plays up their sleeve that we may see quite a bit in the next couple of seasons.
I don't disagree Kid....
...a quarterback with speed (and arm) is always perferred. Moore comes along and they quickly gave up speed and an arm for smarts and an arm.
Option plays work with speed and I'm sure they will incorporate 'some' option plays into the system with different quarterbacks behind center. My comments were directed toward the "triple option" that some were talking about. My point is/was that the "triple option" takes a lot of timing, a lot of practice time dedicated to different types of blocking and different 'reads' by the quarterback and lineman. In other words, the time spent to get the timing down perfect would probably be far too much for the 'triple option'.....and 'option' is a bit different.
Hopefully I made myself a bit clearer on that one.
I think that we'll see variations of the triple option soon
Why do I think that? Because Tamburo and Southwick are very athletic QB's who were recruited for a reason and I don't think they were brought in to run the style of offense that we're used to seeing. Factor that in with the fact that we've already seen Martin and Avery under center in some of the option playcalling, so I suspect that we're going to see some amazing things in a short amount of time, considering that there's 9 RB's including Malcolm Johnson on the roster right now, so perhaps variations of the wishbone and the I-veer might be in the works as BSU continues to establish itself as the forerunner in offensive innovation. who knows, but it sure would be fun to see.
No doubt a 'wildcat' type option may come into play...
...it's been proven to work with the right players on the field. I agree that some sort of option may become yet another tool for the Broncos come next year. They have the speed in spades to put something like the 'wildcat' into the offense.
Okay....one more time Chad...
...since the Statesman wiped out the previous four pages when can you or someone else explain this very sorry 'edit' software that won't let us write very, very simple words like axxume, embarraxxed, etc. etc.??
How many times do we have to ask this question without a response from someone??
Other blog sites don't block the way the Statesman does!
I know the paper is ultra CONSERVATIVE but please, stop with the extreme!!
Back to why BSU can't sellout all their home games!!!
...since the other posts on this subject have vanished from the front page, I thought I'd better make a new post just to keep you kool aid drinkers happy and have something to complain about! (Kid and TTT)
THE POINT:
Someone (Travelbug) recently posted on the 'other blog' (Murph's blog -- gee, talk about nobody reading that one!) that he sits outside the stadium 'tailgating' at every Bronco game along with a thousand or so others that NEVER go into the stadium. His issue was the price of the tickets.
My point has always been to sell out every home game by offering tickets (the unsold ones) at discounts a few days before the game. I don't know what BSU's average 'income' is from each fan for each game (food, drinks, merchandise, programs, etc.) but there is a figure attached somewhere in the $15 and on up range. There are leaving that money on the table by not putting a 'butt in the seat' -- plus of course the revenue from the ticket, regardless of price.
On top of it they would get a SELL OUT....I personally believe that it's a real slap in the face to the PLAYERS AND COACHES (who have produced a TOP PROGRAM) not to sell it out. The AMAZING thing to me is that these game COULD BE SOLD OUT with just a bit of sales and marketing effort! So where's the effort? Where's the 'smarts' in sales and marketing?? You can't tell me that the Athletic Department can't come up with something creative to sell out these games!!
There....now we can get back to the serious stuff that ALL Bronco fans should be concerned about!
Fire away!
Nothing has disappeared
It's all under the "Wyoming" article, wher it's always been.
I know .... just disappeared from these front pages..
...of Bronco Beat. I should have been more specific.
Okay, TBR
Your new name, The Broken Record, since you have a pathological obsession with a single topic and seem to be unable to process any of the information that you've been given as to why five games didn't sell out last year.
Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, but you, is able to understand that last year was possibly an aberration as an expanded stadium combined with a down economy led to attendance of less than 100% of capacity for the first time in six years. Even then, 97.9% of the tickets were sold and Boise State set a new average attendance record. If they continue to not sell out, then, and only then, might you have a valid point.
Everyone but you understands that the home schedule wasn't all that attractive last year and that poor weather conditions for two games and a home game over Thanksgiving contributed to the lack of sellouts. Again, these are things that doesn't occur on a regular basis and therefore may be a one-year anomoly.
As far as selling discounted tickets, everyone but you understands that having done this in basketball has led to discontent among the most ardent financial supporters of the athletic department. Everyone but you understands that there has already been negative feedback from boosters because the athletic department is selling non-discounted football tickets in areas that require BAA membership fees to buy season tickets. Why should I continue to pay $950 per year in BAA membership fees if I can buy basketball tickets at the door at half price (and get a better seat) and football tickets in the same section without paying the fee? Consider how much that backlash would increase, and donations decrease, if the football tickets were to be discounted.
You see, if you look a little deeper and actually analyze a situation instead of continuing to scream the same "sky is falling" rhetoric, you may actually learn something. Now can you please put it to rest and try to discuss another topic?
There is many more that 'everyone but you'....
....many share my opinion. I know and you know it.
What was the 'aberration of the expanded stadium and the economy'??? Is it not true that many other college football stadiums were expanded in a bad economy (top programs) and they had no trouble selling out the stadium? Also, my point in the earlier post was what Travelbug had written (that he and 1500 others just sit in the Bronco parking lot and tailgate because the tickets are too expensive).
You say "EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THE HOME SCHEDULE WAS NOT VERY ATTRACTIVE" --- well, well. Thank you!! Isn't that what I've been saying all along?????? Remember my point on the "value" of the ticket??? BINGO!!
On discounting of the seats that are unfilled/unsold a day or two prior to the football game? Well, if you want to compare a discounted ticket offered weeks in advance to watch a very , very poor basketball team to a discounted ticket offered a day or two prior to the football game to watch one the nations BEST football programs -- then you're crazy. Do you really think that is what I was talking about? Do you really think the two tickets (BBall vs. Football) are equal in 'value'?
You idea that BAA fees and 'discounted last minute tickets' are connected is really whacky. Make ZERO sense!! Not at all what I am talking about. And......you know it too.
Here is your option in other words. Who cares about the sellout as long as I can pay my $950 BAA fee and get a good seat. Also...you must not be in favor of increasing the size of Bronco Stadium since you're so pleased with the way it works now! Also....if the tickets can't be sold at the high prices they are asking -- you say fine! Let em sit in the parking lot! Also, you care little that the team on the field (and coaches) deserve a sold out home stadium since they are one of the TOP PROGRAMS IN THE NATION!!
I find your repsonse hilarious!
Reading comprehension a problem?
1. No, it's not true that many top programs expanded their stadiums during the bad economy and had no trouble selling out. Name one.
2. I'm sorry your reading comprehension is so poor. Please show me where I compared a discounted basketball ticket offered weeks in advance to a discounted football ticket offered two days in advance. Let me try to explain this again - when you sell discounted basketball seats in a section that requires BAA membership, you alienate the biggest donors to the program - the BAA members. There is already backlash from BAA members because game day NON-DISCOUNTED football tickets are sold to the general public. How can you not realize the discontent would grow if DISCOUNTED seats were sold in those areas? Again, explain to me why someone would continue to pay $950 per year to buy those seats if they can buy them at a discount with no donation needed? Again, explain to me why alienating your biggest donors is somehow going to be in the best interests of the program?
3. Please show where I said BAA fees and discounted tickets were connected. I didn't. I simply stated the fact that selling discounted or non-discounted tickets in BAA sections to non-BAA members has caused some discontent with the donors. This is a fact, you can certainly confirm it with GB if you wish. I travel to road games with two BAA board members who have discussed this issue at length. Your source?
4. Please show me where I made any comparison between the value of a football ticket and basketball ticket. Reading comprehension is a good thing, give it a try sometime.
5. Please show me where I stated I was against stadium expansion and that I'm pleased with the way it works. I didn't. The fact that, unlike you, I understand a situation does not in any way indicate that I agree or endorse it.
6. Please show me where I said it was fine that all the tickets are not being sold and people are sitting in the parking lot. This reading comprehension thing is really getting you, isn't it.
7. Show me where I said that I care little that the team deserves a sellout. Once again, I said nothing of the sort. I did say that you're the one who is fixated on what MAY BE a one-year aberration and apparently can't wrap your little brain around the fact that there were some unusual circ*mstances last year. Again, if they have trouble selling out this coming season, then you might continue your one-track mind rant about attendance, while ignoring the fact that there was record attendance last year.
By the way, in addition to my BAA membership, I have four season tickets for football, two for basketball, make additional donations to the scholarship fund, sponsor player attendance at the annual banquet and attend the non-revenue sporting events (men's and women's) regularly. Who are you to question my level of commitment to Bronco athletics? What have you done?
Aren't the BAA sections season tickets sections????
....If the season ticket is sold, then it's sold. It applies to a sell out situation. If a ticket in the end zone down low (and is not a BAA section) then it's not a 'season ticket section' ... it's general public. Make sense?
BTW, I appreciate what you have done for Boise State. You should be commended. What have I done? Well, you'll never know as I don't wear that sort of thing on my sleave but for you're satisfaction I will tell you that I pull my weight.
Basketball and Football attendance is important
Mike Prater said that he spoke to Bleymaier about basketball attendance and brought up the question of marketing and promotions, so evidently Prater is reading these blogs. Anyway, Bleymaier told him that marketing would only bring in a few hundred fans, while winning would bring in thousands of fans, so it appears that our athletic department, under Gene Bleymaier, isn't going to do anything to market and promote the new era of Bronco Basketball, which for me, was quite disappointing to hear, because the program is in dire need of an aggressive marketing strategy geared to attract not only the current bronco fans and season ticket holders and keep them, but to reach out into the treasure valley and create interest in the new basketball program and create new one in an attempt to grow a much larger fanbase.
Yesterday afternoon, Caves, Prater and Murphy had Leon Rice on for a while and they asked him about attendance, and Rice's response was that he had no control over attendance and that all he could do was focus on basketball. He knows the attendance is something that the athletic department is responsible for, but he didn't want to come right out and say it, but then again, he said what he needed to say without actually saying it.
Football attendance isn't any different. Sure...the economy was bad, but if it was really that bad, then explain the new average attendance record that was set. What Bleymaier and his staff needs to do is to figure out how to get Bronco fans out of the area's local sports bars and get them into the stadium. I have friends who work as waiters and waitresses, and they'll tell you that people spend more on food and beer at sports bars, than they would have spent going to the game, so to make excusses as to why the 4th ranked team in the country isn't at least 5 years into a sellout streak is completely asinine.
The fact of the matter is that if you kool-aid drinking Bronco fans who see TTT as pathological obsessed about sellouts, would consider for just for a minute, that if BSU had an AD who was obsessed a fraction of what you claim TTT is, then perhaps BSU would be right smack in the middle of a sellout streak, but Bley isn't obsessed with attendance, but if he were, then TBA would have had crowds large enough to support the basketball program and he'd have a sellout streak going on at Bronco Stadium, so perhaps it's time that Kustra decides his athletic program needs a change, and especilly so provided that there's no BCS money left because his AD blew it all on travel expenses, well..except for the band, they had to ride a bus!
So if you want to discuss a new topic, then lets discuss the role of the athletic department
Thanks Kid......
...I appreciate the fact that you understand exactly what I am saying (as do others I've talked with) while others want to throw up 'road block' excuses for the lack of sellouts.
Question to pose: If winning in basketball brings attendance why doesn't winning in football sell it out? I mean we only have the number four ranked team in the nation!
Yes, I will agree with the Bley that winning will bring people into Taco Bell -- but so does creative marketing, especially win you have a brand new product you're about to introduce! I also happen to think that Kustra needs to push for the marketing with the Bley.
Here's another question to pose: Do we really think that the fans and boosters are going to donate more money for stadium expansion if what we have can't be sold out?
The Bley lost BSU $130,000+ with his over the top commitment for Fiesta Tickets. Gee, what would 130k in marketing expenses do for both BBall and football??
Well written response Kid, per usual.
One problem: I don't think these kool aid drinkers are going to want to discuss the athletic department as they are too busy getting that 20 foot bronze statue of the Bley erected in front of Bronco Stadium.
Did you listen to Caves & Prater yesterday
Caves was talking about how he couldn't believe that BSU's athletic department wasn't selling tickets to excited basketball about the upcoming Leon Rice Era. Evidently, the ticket office is telling fans that they can't buy tickets yet, but that they'll put their names on a list instead!
Caves did however give them the benefit of the doubt by saying that it could be possible that they weren't selling tickets because they "might be" working on a new pricing structure, but if that is the case, then why aren't any of the local media calling the athletic department and finding out what's going on.
Keep in mind that this occured yesterday afternoon and on the air, and Brian Murphy was right there alongside Caves, but guess what Murphy wrote about in his blog today, yep, he chose to write about how Gene Bleymaier isn't having any luck finding an opponent for Sept. 3, 2011!
Caves went on to talk about how the department needed to act while the iron was still hot, and I couldn't agree more. They need to start selling basketball tickets, and promoting and marketing A New Era of Bronco Basketball. They have their youth camps coming up in a few months, and they should already be airing radio and tv spots about those camps. They need to create a new pricing structure, advertise it, and offer early bird discounts just like Bogus Basin does. If I was calling the shots, that what I'd do. I'd also tarp off the entire upper deck of TBA with logo'd BSU banners which would look pretty cool and make the area appear smaller, which in turn would make the crowds seem larger, and if attendance ever required their removal, well, that would indicate that the program is doing quite well.
Why don't you just BUY THEM...freakin Haysoos that's dense
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Stop whining about the stupid signature and think for yourself.
better yet why doesn't our AD buy them
and donate them to gowen field personnel?
That one was for you funky
hope ya have a good weekend!