If there was ever a week for Boise State to hang “hashtag half a hundred” on the scoreboard, it would be this one.
The Broncos are 0-2 for the first time since 2005 and facing major questions about how dynamic its offense is and how legit its defense is. The Broncos need a blowout on Saturday — not just so fans will stop the social-media slander, but so Boise State can garner some confidence heading into Mountain West play next week.
The Broncos will host the 13th-ranked FCS squad, North Dakota, on Saturday. Kickoff is at 10 a.m. The game will air on Fox Sports 1.
Those are the facts. Here are five thoughts:
1. Is Taylen Green OK?
Green hasn’t looked like himself this season— and that’s before he left Saturday’s loss against UCF with what head coach Andy Avalos called “cramps.” Even before the exit, the Fox cameras zoomed in on his right ankle, which looked like it had about a mile worth of tape wrapped around it.
Green looked off for parts of the Washington game and most of the UCF game. It’s tough to pinpoint a reason why.
Is he hurt more than we know? Is OC Bush Hamdan’s new system tough for him to run? Is he thinking too much? Are the receivers just not getting open? Is Green being put in the best spots to succeed?
Aside from a wonderful pass to Stef Cobbs in the first quarter of the first game, Green hasn’t completed another pass that traveled over 20 yards in the air. The large majority of his yards have come from screens or dump passes — which isn’t always a bad thing. Boise State is doing what it should: getting its best players the ball in space.
But we all expected to see Green take a massive jump after getting his feet wet last season. Perhaps we’ll start to see signs of progress on Saturday.
2. Give some respect to Tim Keane
A year ago today, a good faction of fans did not just want offensive coordinator Tim Plough out of town, but they also wanted his buddy from UC Davis, OL coach Tim Keane, to carpool with him to the airport.
The Broncos’ offensive line struggled mightily. Quarterback Hank Bachmeier constantly had pressure in his face. Even the run game was lethargic and unproductive.
Everyone, as they often do, pinned the blame on the offensive line. A year later, it’s very clear that blame should have gone more to the play-caller or Bachmeier for holding onto the ball too long.
Now in his third year on Avalos’ staff, Keane has built one of Boise State’s best groups.
He endured an injury to starter Mason Randolph, moved Garrett Curran to center despite the fact he’s never played center and tasked two redshirt freshmen to start.
Even with all that, the Broncos have held up mightily in the trenches, paving the way for an explosive running game and giving Green plenty of time in the pocket.
On Wednesday, I asked Keane if he feels any vindication watching his group perform the way they have.
“It’s tough because when you look for outside vindication, it can be given to you and it can be taken right away,” he said. “So it’s really difficult for us to completely rely on that. What we try to really do is earn the respect of the guy next to us in the room. Roger (Carreon) is a young guy. Kage (Casey) is a young guy. Those guys have to earn the respect of the older guys.”
3. The defensive mistakes are all-encompassing
For football outsiders, there are two things very tough to do: judge offensive line play and know exactly who messed up on defense.
The Broncos’ secondary has not played to the level they want. The defense has given up almost 1,100 yards in two games, consistently getting beat over the top.
I will refrain from saying any specific names because I’m not always sure who botched their assignment. Sometimes it’s safety. Sometimes it’s a corner. Sometimes it’s both. And sometimes it’s the defensive line not getting any pressure on the quarterback, which has been a theme of the season.
That’s the thing with defense though. It’s a harmony and when one player or one position group is out of tune, the whole thing gets bungled. And until the Broncos show improvement, teams are going to keep attacking them.
“The end outcome is everything you look at as far as success,” defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson said. “When you play good offenses, they are going to look back and see what has hurt you. And if you have not fixed it or you do not have an answer, it’s coming again.”
4. Boise State adds its 15th commit
Late last Friday, following Chandler High’s (Ariz.) victory over the Top-40 program, Orange Lutheran, Chandler tight end Kaden Anderson lifted up his jersey, showing all his teammates and all the cameras the Boise State shirt underneath.
The three-star tight end, who has been silently committed for months, finally announced his decision. He becomes the 15th commit to Boise State’s 2024 recruiting class, which currently ranks No. 66 in the nation and top in the Mountain West (based on average ranking).
“(What makes me effective) is just being able to do everything,” Anderson said. “(Tight ends coach Nate) Potter told me that’s the reason he recruited me. He wants a tight end he doesn’t have to take out.”
Hours after his announcement, Anderson was on a plane, heading to Boise for his official visit with his entire family.
“It was awesome,” Anderson said. “The city is beautiful. The structuring of downtown is awesome. And it’s just so blue-collar and that’s what I loved the most about it.”
5. Break in case of emergency
I do not think Boise State is going to lose on Saturday. I also don’t think Andy Avalos is on the hot seat.
But if disaster strikes and Boise State loses to North Dakota, folks will be vocal.
If those calls come, send them here. If Avalos were to be terminated after the season, his buyout would be around $3.25 million. For any other inquiries, one can do the math using this info from his contract.
“In the event that the University terminates this Agreement for its own convenience, the University shall be obligated to pay Coach, as liquidated damages and not a penalty, a percentage of the remaining base annual salary set forth in Section 3.1.1(a) through the conclusion of the Term, as follows: 75% of the remaining base annual salary if the Agreement is terminated on or before March 31, 2023; 85% of the remaining base annual salary if the Agreement is terminated between April 1, 2023 and March 31, 2025, inclusive; 100% of the remaining base annual salary if the Agreement is terminated between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026 inclusive; excluding all deductions required by law, on the regular paydays of the University until the Term of this Agreement ends.”
Avalos’ annual salary is as follows:
Year 1 – January 10, 2021 – March 31, 2021 = $312,309.12 (prorated)
April 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022 = $1,400,000;
Year 2 – April 1, 2022 – March 31, 2023 = $1,475,000;
Year 3 – April 1, 2023 – March 31, 2024 = $1,550,000;
Year 4 – April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025 = $1,625,000;
Year 5 – April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026 = $1,700,000;
PREDICTION: Boise State 38, North Dakota 23
