After a poor first five games of the season – and a terrible first half against San Jose State – something starting clicking for the Boise State defense.
The Broncos posted an impressive shutout in the second half against the Spartans to fuel a crazy comeback win, and then the defense allowed no points the following game in the first half at Colorado State.
It looked like the Boise State defense was back.
Then came an almost fluky, hard-to-explain collapse in which an onside kick fueled 21 points for Colorado State in the final five minutes – capped by a Hail Mary touchdown on the final play of the game – in a stunning 31-30 loss in Fort Collins.
Progress gone.
At least on the scoreboard.
Despite the collapse at Colorado State, the Broncos have started to show signs that a young group is improving. Coaches and players point to the 60-minute stretch against San Jose State and Colorado State – heck the Rams had 10 points with five minutes left, so let’s make it an 85-minute sample size – to back up their point.
The season stats won’t show it – but the Broncos believe they are close to making significant strides on defense.
“Oh there’s no question,” co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Kane Ioane said. “There’s no question. We have improved, which is what you want to see from week to week. From game one to weeks two, three, four, five, six – you’ve got to see that improvement, and I think we have. The numbers will back that up.”
But the improvement has been for a half here or a few drives here. It hasn’t been consistent enough to show up on the scoreboard. And that’s what the Broncos hope to fix starting Saturday against Wyoming.
“The ultimate number is still the win-loss column and that’s where we’ve got to continue to put four quarters together,” Ioane said. “The consistent play is what we’re looking for and we haven’t done that to this point.
“But I’m looking forward to all the lessons we’ve applied, the small details we continue to put together every single day on a consistent basis helping us get to that ultimate number as far as the win column.”
The season stats aren’t pretty.
Boise State ranks No. 116 of 133 teams in total defense, allowing 428.3 yards per game. How bad is that? The Broncos are on pace for their second-most yards allowed in program history behind only the 455.1 yards per game they gave up back in 1996.
The Broncos are No. 108 in scoring defense, allowing an average of 30.9 points per game. Passing defense? Even worse. Only four teams in the nation have allowed more passing yards per game than the Broncos, who rank No. 129 at 304.3 passing yards allowed per game. And it’s on pace to be the most passing yards allowed in program history, ahead of the 293.2 allowed through the air in 1994.
“Very aware of the stats,” defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson said. “Very aware that we aren’t playing to where we need to, but I really believe we have what it takes in regards to our players and the staff to get it fixed.”
Boise State ranks No. 129 in the country with 35 passing plays allowed of at least 20 yards. They rank even worse, No. 132 of 133 teams, with 20 passing plays allowed of at least 30 yards. How about 40 yards? Yep, the Broncos check in at No. 132 again by allowing 11 in just seven games. And only four schools have given up more than the six passing plays of at least 50 yards the Broncos have surrendered as well.
Last year the Broncos allowed 77 passing plays of at least 10 yards in 14 games. The Broncos have already surpassed that, allowing 78 passing plays of 10-plus yards, in just seven games.
Cornerback Kaonohi Kaniho said the issues have come from a “lack of focus” and the Broncos not being able to turn the page from one bad play and moving on.
But the Broncos have shown, they believe, what can happen when they play good football. The goal now is to put it together more consistently.
“We’ve seen what this defense and what this team is capable of when we play our brand of football and string drives and sequences together,” safety Alexander Teubner said. “When we play like that, it’s a scary sight in all honesty. It is. We’re a damn good football team when we’re rolling on all cylinders.
“We’re talking about a half here and a half there, and our mindset is how do we put entire games together without those lapses or beating ourselves.”
Said linebacker Andrew Simpson: “We’re close, but if we’re not there yet none of it matters.”
Saturday may be the chance for the Broncos to put it all together.
Boise State faces a Wyoming team that is not one of the better offensive groups in the country. The Cowboys ranks No. 85 in scoring offense at 26.0 points per game and No. 112 in total offense at 324.7 yards per game. They are No. 120 in passing offense at just 160.3 passing yards per game.
The Broncos believe their recent play has improved and they’ve started to figure some things out. They are confident that dominant game is near.
“When that happens,” Ioane said with a smile, “it’s going to be fun to watch.”
Saturday would be a nice day for it.
