Boise State has already stacked up a few defensive bright spots through two games, but the numbers that matter most are flashing red in the secondary.
The Broncos have been stout in a few key moments. They’ve turned away all five fourth-down tries they’ve faced, picked off a pass, tightened up their tackling and held Memphis scoreless in the second half. Even so, the pass defense has been vulnerable, and the big plays have piled up fast.
Through games against Oregon and Memphis, Boise State has given up 762 passing yards. That breaks down to 378 through the air against Oregon and 384 against Memphis. Among 137 FBS teams, the average of 381 passing yards allowed per game puts the Broncos at 131st nationally.
“Obviously, it’s a huge concern,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said Monday. “We’re going through some things this week in practice to put our guys in those situations. We have to win 50-50 balls more.”
The damage has come in chunks. Boise State has allowed passes of 15 yards or more eight times against Oregon and six more times against Memphis. Those 14 plays account for 584 yards, which is 76.6% of the total air yardage the Broncos have surrendered.
Memphis did much of its early damage in the first half, when its spread offense stretched Boise State’s linebackers and defensive backs. The biggest play came when the Broncos brought heavy pressure on Memphis quarterback Marcus Stokes, only for Stokes to hit tight end Hunter Tipton on a pop pass that turned into an 87-yard touchdown.
“Overall, it’s an execution issue, but the way that they presented the play caused a little issue for our guys and some indecision,” Boise State defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said Monday. “If there’s indecision out there, ultimately that’s on me, and so I needed to clean that up.”
A number of Memphis’ other first-half explosives also came with Boise State blitzing. Chinander backed off that approach after halftime, and the Broncos forced Stokes into shorter throws while blanking the Tigers the rest of the way.
Still, the plan isn’t to sit back and play soft. Boise State has already dealt with Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who is a Heisman Trophy candidate, and a Memphis offense that forces defenses to cover plenty of ground. Danielson said the Broncos aren’t going to stop attacking.
“We are going to be on the attack defensively, but we have to execute,” Danielson said. “(Allowing) 500 yards of offense is not executing.
“There are some good stops in there; we finished the game well. I want our players to understand I’m proud of how they finished, but 500 yards of offense is not good.”
South Dakota, Boise State’s next opponent, brings its own challenge. The Coyotes’ quarterback, Austyn Modrzewski, has completed nearly 70% of his passes for 727 yards and 11 touchdowns in three games. South Dakota has also run for 753 yards during its 3-0 start and is averaging more than 500 total yards per game.
Boise State will face South Dakota at 8 p.m. Mountain time Saturday at Albertsons Stadium.
The Broncos are 1-1, while the Coyotes are 3-0. Boise State is a 22.5-point favorite.
The forecast calls for a sunny day with a high of 76, a low of 52, 45% humidity and no chance of rain.
In Other News...
Boise State Looks Like The Pac-12 Team To Beat With One Concern
Boise States 38-20 home win over Memphis did more than give the Broncos a non-conference rsum boost, it helped frame the early picture of a new Pac-12 still trying to establish its footing. Among the leagues first few weeks of results, that was the biggest out-of-conference statement any of the rebuilt conference teams has made so far, and it arrived at a time when the league badly needed somebody to look the part.
The broader backdrop is still messy, with the Pac-12 sitting 0-7 against ranked opponents through two weeks and several teams sorting out what they are. Boise State, though, has at least flashed the kind of profile that can carry the league forward, even if there is one obvious concern hovering over the conversation. The next round of games should tell a little more about whether the Broncos are simply the early favorite in name or the team everyone else in the league has to chase. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Faces A Bigger Test Than Fans Might Expect
Boise State gets a late kickoff at Albertsons Stadium against a South Dakota team that has quietly turned into a real early-season test. The Coyotes are 3-0 under a first-year head coach, and quarterback Austyn Modrzewski has already put up enough passing production to make this more than a routine nonconference tune-up for the Broncos.
Spencer Danielson has been pressing the need to clean up defensive breakdowns, which makes this matchup feel like a useful barometer for where Boise State really stands. Randy Cross has pointed to the key players on both sides and the competitiveness of the game, and if South Dakota brings the same edge it has shown so far, Boise State may have a much tougher night than the setting suggests. [Read more 🡒]