For the second straight season, Boise State has a quarterback controversy.
After Boise State’s 35-32 loss at Memphis on Saturday, coach Andy Avalos would not say if there was a true quarterback competition. He would also not say if Taylen Green was still his starting quarterback or whether Maddux Madsen had done enough to earn his first career start.
Instead, he kept repeating this: “We’ll look at what’s best for our team and move forward.
“I’m not gonna make that decision right now,” he said after a number of questions about the quarterbacks. “We’re gonna go back and watch film and we’re gonna evaluate. We’re gonna make decisions, as we always do, as a staff.”
The fact Avalos even had to comment on that tells you all you need to know: For the second straight year, Boise State has a quarterback competition.
A year after Hank Bachmeier was benched for Taylen Green at Oregon State, it was Green who was benched for Madsen during the fourth quarter after the Broncos blew a 17-0 lead.
The early inklings came in the first quarter. All week, Boise State planned on giving Madsen the third drive of the game. According to Avalos, this is a move to “build depth.” Perhaps it also built a fire inside the belly of Green. After Madsen came on the field, Green led the Broncos on back-to-back touchdown drives.
Boise State QB Taylen Green celebrates during the Broncos’ win over North Dakota. (Photo by Boise State Athletics)
But the good times did not roll in Memphis. A double-digit Boise State lead turned into a 28-17 deficit in just 25 minutes of game time. After the second scoring drive, the Broncos did not score again with Green under center.
Early in the fourth quarter, down four points, Boise State punted from the Memphis 38. Green didn’t take another snap all night.
On the Broncos’ next drive, Madsen trotted out from the sideline. The 5-foot-10, 200-pounder from Utah operates like he’s got the frame of The Rock. The dude is so cool. So poised. So relaxed.
“He does a great job keeping his composure,” receiver Billy Bowens said of Madsen.
And he came out firing. You can tell Boise State offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan trusts Madsen because every time the redshirt freshman takes snaps, it seems like he’s slinging the ball.
Down 11, Madsen entered the game. He handed the ball off to Ashton Jeanty for four yards. The wheels were greased. He threw the ball to Jeanty for 14 yards. Then misfired to Eric McAlister. Then hit Billy Bowens over the middle for 52 yards. And finally hit Jeanty, who trucked a defender for the touchdown.
On his next drive, with the Broncos still down two possessions, Madsen led the Broncos on a 7-play, 75-yard drive that ended with another touchdown drive. After that score, ESPN broadcaster Beth Mowins said on the broadcast: “Are we witnessing the arrival of Maddux Madsen?”
It’s more than fair to ask.
“We’ve got two quarterbacks who are very capable,” Avalos said, “and so now finding the mixture of what that looks like, what’s best for our offense and ultimately what’s best for our team is what we’ll decide on as we move forward.”
On Saturday, Green completed 50% of his passes (12-24) for 200 yards. Madsen completed 78% of his throws (11-14) for 175 yards and a pair of touchdown passes.
It is hard to argue Green’s talent. His potential. His athleticism. It is also hard to argue that Boise State’s offense has looked better with Madsen under center. And not just on Saturday. Remember the UCF game? Green left with an injury and Madsen led the Broncos to a late-game, go-ahead touchdown.
It is a hard decision because we know what Green can be. We all want to believe Green is a game away from turning the corner, a drive away from looking like the guy who ran for a million yards against San Diego State last year. We all want to think that he is on the cusp of something great.
Maybe he is. But maybe his confidence is shot — heck, Hank wasn’t the same after that Oregon State game. Maybe his passing is not a quick fix — he missed on several much-needed throws against Memphis. Maybe Green is not the answer to the Broncos’ problems — they are 2-3, for goodness sake.
“I don’t think it’s an ability thing at all,” Avalos said of Green. “For him to take the next step, the consistency we have in practice, we’ve got to have that carry over into the games.”
Or maybe Green’s struggles fall on Hamdan. Let’s not forget, in one week last year, Dirk Koetter turned Green from a backup into one of the best quarterbacks in the Mountain West.
Or, perhaps, Madsen is the answer. Maybe in the current offense with the current weapons, he is the best guy for the job.
What is known for sure is this: Avalos has a decision to make about his quarterback. His choice will define his future.
