UI prepared to defend early, often
Sun belt notebook
University of Idaho cornerbacks Ed Rankin and Rod Bryant know what's coming. Question is, will they be able to do anything to stop it?
Rankin, Bryant and nine of their defensive teammates Saturday face a San Diego State offense that torched Arizona State for 516 yards passing last week.
Along the way, 6-foot-2 J.R. Tolver had 296 yards receiving, 13th-highest in NCAA history. He ranks first nationally in receiving yards per game (177.7) and second in receptions per game (10) behind 6-5 teammate Kassim Osgood (11).
Quarterback Adam Hall (352.7 yards per game) is No. 3 in total offense.
Can you say, forward pass?
"That's their game plan, no matter who they play," Rankin said. "It's up to us to stop it."
Idaho defenders have been doing extra running after practices this week. San Diego State sometimes uses a no-huddle offense, which makes conditioning even more critical.
The cornerbacks know their success will depend on help from safeties Robert Ortega and Sergio Robleto and from the pass rush.
"The more time he (Hall) has to sit back there, the more time for the receivers to get open, the more pressure on us," Bryant said. "Their receivers are pretty fast, real big and they run some crisp routes. We know they're going to come at us."
Idaho has allowed 261.7 passing yards per game, but there have been signs of improvement.
"We feel a lot more comfortable out there this year," Rankin said. "We've been able to keep the ball in front more and make more plays."
They'll have plenty of chances to make plays. Hall has tossed 119 passes the last two Saturdays.
More Mallette?
Idaho coach Tom Cable might give backup quarterback Adam Mallette a series this week. Mallette and No. 3 Michael Harrington made their season debuts against Oregon last week. Cable attempted to get then-No. 2 Brian Lindgren at least one possession in every game last season.
"I think it helps us," Cable said. "My gut feeling is Adam will play again."
Here comes the Sun
As conference openers go, the Sun Belt's doesn't exactly push the Pac-10's or SEC's off the front page. But ready or not, Arkansas State and Louisiana-Monroe open the Sun Belt slate Saturday in Monroe.
ASU has lost 14 straight road games. UL-Monroe lost its coach earlier this week when Bobby Keasler resigned. Arkansas State coach Steve Roberts coached Keasler's son at Southern Arkansas.
Change at the top
Not only is Keasler out as coach at Louisiana-Monroe, but freshman Steven Jyles is in at quarterback. Keasler made the announcement before he stepped down.
Jyles was promoted after going 8 of 23 for 185 yards in a loss to McNeese State last week. He replaces junior Daniel DaPrato. Jyles will be the first freshman to start at UL-Monroe in 25 years.
Notes
Middle Tennessee's Dwone Hicks started the season with a "Hicks 4 Heisman" campaign. But Hicks doesn't even lead his team in rushing. He has 75 yards, trailing quarterback Andrico Hines' 112 yards. . . . Idaho leads the Sun Belt in scoring offense (18.7 points) but is last in scoring defense (48.3). . . . La.-Lafayette wide receiver/return specialist Nick Dugas was suspended for the second time in three weeks.
Dugas, 2001 second-team All-Sun Belt receiver, violated team and university policy.
Sun belt notebook
University of Idaho cornerbacks Ed Rankin and Rod Bryant know what's coming. Question is, will they be able to do anything to stop it?
Rankin, Bryant and nine of their defensive teammates Saturday face a San Diego State offense that torched Arizona State for 516 yards passing last week.
Along the way, 6-foot-2 J.R. Tolver had 296 yards receiving, 13th-highest in NCAA history. He ranks first nationally in receiving yards per game (177.7) and second in receptions per game (10) behind 6-5 teammate Kassim Osgood (11).
Quarterback Adam Hall (352.7 yards per game) is No. 3 in total offense.
Can you say, forward pass?
"That's their game plan, no matter who they play," Rankin said. "It's up to us to stop it."
Idaho defenders have been doing extra running after practices this week. San Diego State sometimes uses a no-huddle offense, which makes conditioning even more critical.
The cornerbacks know their success will depend on help from safeties Robert Ortega and Sergio Robleto and from the pass rush.
"The more time he (Hall) has to sit back there, the more time for the receivers to get open, the more pressure on us," Bryant said. "Their receivers are pretty fast, real big and they run some crisp routes. We know they're going to come at us."
Idaho has allowed 261.7 passing yards per game, but there have been signs of improvement.
"We feel a lot more comfortable out there this year," Rankin said. "We've been able to keep the ball in front more and make more plays."
They'll have plenty of chances to make plays. Hall has tossed 119 passes the last two Saturdays.
More Mallette?
Idaho coach Tom Cable might give backup quarterback Adam Mallette a series this week. Mallette and No. 3 Michael Harrington made their season debuts against Oregon last week. Cable attempted to get then-No. 2 Brian Lindgren at least one possession in every game last season.
"I think it helps us," Cable said. "My gut feeling is Adam will play again."
Here comes the Sun
As conference openers go, the Sun Belt's doesn't exactly push the Pac-10's or SEC's off the front page. But ready or not, Arkansas State and Louisiana-Monroe open the Sun Belt slate Saturday in Monroe.
ASU has lost 14 straight road games. UL-Monroe lost its coach earlier this week when Bobby Keasler resigned. Arkansas State coach Steve Roberts coached Keasler's son at Southern Arkansas.
Change at the top
Not only is Keasler out as coach at Louisiana-Monroe, but freshman Steven Jyles is in at quarterback. Keasler made the announcement before he stepped down.
Jyles was promoted after going 8 of 23 for 185 yards in a loss to McNeese State last week. He replaces junior Daniel DaPrato. Jyles will be the first freshman to start at UL-Monroe in 25 years.
Notes
Middle Tennessee's Dwone Hicks started the season with a "Hicks 4 Heisman" campaign. But Hicks doesn't even lead his team in rushing. He has 75 yards, trailing quarterback Andrico Hines' 112 yards. . . . Idaho leads the Sun Belt in scoring offense (18.7 points) but is last in scoring defense (48.3). . . . La.-Lafayette wide receiver/return specialist Nick Dugas was suspended for the second time in three weeks.
Dugas, 2001 second-team All-Sun Belt receiver, violated team and university policy.
