BSU recruiting: where are all the linemen?

The Boise State recruiting tally looks like this: a quarterback, a running back, two tight ends, two linebackers, two cornerbacks, one wide receiver...and zero offensive or defensive linemen. Strange, don't you think?

The Broncos have been the most proactive team in the WAC this summer, but they have yet to reel in a linemen on either side of the ball. Is this the curse of Ryan Clady leaving early? Is the WAC transitioning into a seven-on-seven conference? Whatever the case may be, the whole situation is making us very curious.

But perhaps we should clarify. Despite the lack of linemen, we could not be happier to have nine verbal commitments in mid-July. This kind of activity is something you normally expect from a BCS-conference school, so it is great to know that the Broncos have such an outstanding reputation in recruiting pockets around the country. Plus, Boise State is really separating itself from the rest of the WAC as a premier destination for football, and with early recruits becoming more and more the norm, the Broncos are at the forefront of the future of recruiting. Taste the revolution, Fresno State!

That said, we would still like to see some linemen.

In our opinion, the line is the most important position on the football field, so we would figure that it would be a focal point of Bronco recruiting classes. We imagine that when all is said and done, there will be plenty of hefty high school kids in the '09 class. But in the meantime, we are left to wonder why no big kids have come out and declared their BSU allegiance yet. Are they riding go carts at Camp Hope or what?

Here are some theories we have on the situation.

1. Linemen are harder to recruit.
   This could be true for a number of reasons: No one knows how big 17-year-old kids will get. The potential of linemen is harder to judge at an early age. There is not as much game tape available on linemen as there is for other positions. There hit-or-miss probability with a lineman is extremely high.
2. Boise State coaches are looking for JC transfers. Certainly, having two years in college under their belt would give any lineman an advantage. Plus, the coaches would be more aware of what to expect when the kids arrive on campus.
3. Linemen aren't born; they're created. Perhaps BSU is not in a hurry because they know they can grow their own linemen whenever necessary. Bronco coaches are notorious for molding players into outstanding linemen.
4. The line is young enough as it is. If this year's young class of linemen pan out, the Broncos will be set for at least a couple more years. Maybe the next recruiting class will be the windfall of big uglies we've been expecting.
5. The line isn't as important in the WAC. To be successful in the WAC, you have to score points and create turnovers. Linemen are not prominently involved in either.
6. The more you weigh, the less decisive you are. We have no evidence of this theory other than Jared Lorenzen's NFL career.

On an encouraging note, Scout.com has a list of linemen who are at least interested in the Broncos. Here some of the top guys:

• OT Charles Siddoway: 6'7", 310 pounds (offered)
• DE Jackson Powell: 6'5", 220 pounds
• OT Gavin Pascerella: 6'5", 260 pounds

The list also includes some junior college players and other big high schoolers, so at least the Broncos are trying. And the fact that we are concerned over a lack of linemen in a recruiting class that still has seven months to fill out and which has absolutely no bearing on anything that will happen on the football field this year, well, it's probably a bit presumptive of us. As always, the Bronco coaches know what they're doing, so we really needn't worry.

Our anxiety would be better spent on the "Q."

Boise State's NFL Draft scouting report

To help NFL teams with their drafting needs, we have provided the following scouting reports for Boise State players who might hear their names called in this weekend's NFL Draft. Granted, we are not professional scouts, so our opinions might not carry much credence or value. Also hurting our cause? Intense non-objectivity. Oh well. Here goes nothing!

Ryan Clady
Clady has the potential to be a star at the next level. He can dominate an opponent in a number of different ways: with power, with technique, with Jedi mind tricks. WAC competition did him a disservice because flipping Utah State pancakes is a lot harder than mauling BCS competition.

Clady could stand to add some girth and muscle, but he will always have his quickness and athleticism. The NFL is the perfect place for a prospect like Clady, and he should only get better year after year.

Orlando Scandrick

O.S. is fast, aggressive, and confident—attributes that make him an ideal NFL cornerback. He is a younger, saner version of DeAngelo Hall, and he will be an asset in coverage and in run support.

As a safety, Scandrick showed range and toughness, but his greatest Boise State season came last year at cornerback. Scandrick’s steady improvement hints at untapped potential, and provided he can overcome cockiness, riskiness, and shirtlessness, he should make a solid pro.

Marty Tadman

All personal biases aside, Tadman is the greatest football player we have ever seen. We’re not sure if this is because we have attended mostly Seattle Seahawks and 2A high school football games or if Tadman is, in fact, God’s gift to secondaries. We’re going with the latter.

Tadman has the intangible qualities that scouting combines and drills can’t measure. He is football smart, like Stephen Hawking is math smart. His ability to always be in the right place at the right time is invaluable, and he is rarely caught out of position.

Weaknesses? Is being too perfect a weakness?

Dan Gore

Gore may become the second BSU lineman to go in the draft thanks to his room to grow both physically and technically. At well over six feet tall, Gore definitely has the height, and a solid NFL weight training program could bulk him up to pro playing weight. Plus, having played defensive line for years, Gore’s O-line prospects are much more limitless than most people realize.

Also, his last name is a type of torture. That can’t hurt his chances.

Tad Miller

NFL teams would be wise to give Miller a long, hard look. He is a powerful, sound blocker who has proven to be a winner over his years on the Bronco O-line. Also, he regularly checks his GMail account and responds to pretty much any interview request (notably, ours).

Nick Schlekeway

An excellent pass rusher is a valued commodity in today’s NFL, and Schlekeway would certainly revitalize a team’s pass rush. During his BSU days, he showed great speed and power off the edge, and he had the ability to make an impact in a game. Bigger and stronger defensive ends may be available on draft day, but there will be no player who matches the amount of consecutive consonants in Schlekeway’s last name.

Jeff Cavender

A key member of the Broncos line over the past few years, Cavender has made his mark as a jack of all trades. He can seamlessly switch between different offensive line positions, playing everything from guard and tackle to center and giant tight end. His maneuverability masks a remarkable talent for always being in the right position with his excellent technique and footwork.

Of course, we could be talking about Pete Cavender right now and not know it.

Taylor Tharp

If third-string quarterbacks were valued as highly as franchise left tackles, Tharp would be a Top Ten pick. He proved at Boise State that the spotlight is a little much for him, but mop-up duty against third-teamers couldn’t be more up his alley.

He put up great numbers with the Broncos with his quick decision-making, knowledge of the offense, and accurate arm. His sideline tosses lacked urgency, but his deep balls always had enough behind them.

As a bonus, Tharp would make best friends with the kickers.

Scrimmage today at Mountain View HS

The Broncos' second open scrimmage of the spring takes place today at Mountain View High School at 3:30. For directions, click here.

Living up to the lofty expectations set by last month's scrimmage will be hard to do. QB Kellen Moore had his coming-out party, and the BSU backs looked solid. We'll be looking for improvement from a few key areas this time around, namely blocking, short-yardage plays, zone coverage, and concessions. Seriously, is it too much to ask to get a bag of kettle corn?

Also, we'll be handing out numerical rosters beforehand so that the following conversation doesn't take place again.

Old guy: "Who's 41?"
Us: "That's Johnson."
Old guy: "Johnson?"
Us: "Ian Johnson."
Old guy: "Oh."
Us: (moving to another seat)

See you there (except for you, Old guy).

WIR: Thank you, Tad Miller

Week in Review (WIR) sure missed football this week, but the great Tad Miller made the lack of spring practice much more bearable. His interview was just what we needed to get us through until Monday, when the Broncos hit the field again. We plan on talking to him often through the long summer.

• Kellen Moore's coming-out party.
• What about the O-line?
• Vandals start spring football....Fresno, too.
• Tad Miller interview.
• OBNUG's Facebook group.
• The reason behind our distaste for Kaepernick.
• Bronco Nation podcast, featuring OBNUG.
• We pick the starters on the O-line and D-line.
• Another entry in the BSU's QB derby?
• Losing starting to get to Idaho President.

See you next week, Bronco fans.

Tad Miller interview

Former Boise State OL Tad Miller is busy preparing for the NFL Draft and NFL training camps, but he still found time to chat with OBNUG about football, life, and never blocking for Idaho Vandals. The following is an email interview with one of our favorite Broncos:

OBNUG: What are you doing now in regards to football?
Tad: I'm currently training. Since the beginning of January I've been down in Southern California at a facility called Pro Active Sports Performance. Marty Tadman was down there with me, we were roommates. We trained twice a day, six times a week. We got Sundays off to relax.

Marty and I both came back to Boise for the Pro Day and will probably be heading back down to California to continue training at Pro Active until the Draft (end of April).

OBNUG: If you had to block for an Idaho guy, would you do it?
Tad: No.

OBNUG: Compare Coach Hawkins to Coach Pete.
Tad: They were both great coaches. I highly respect Coach Hawk and Coach Pete. Coach Hawk had a lot more sayings and metaphors, Coach Pete is more to the point. Both styles were very effective and I enjoyed playing for both.

OBNUG: When Dan Hawkins left, did the team feel betrayed? Was there any motivation the following year to show him what he missed out on?
Tad: No, he did what he thought was best for his career, and our team was just focused on playing football.

OBNUG: Aside from the Fiesta Bowl, what was your favorite BSU experience?
Tad: Just being able to play football every week and Clady's Lambeau Leap into the endzone.

OBNUG: What was your worst experience?
Tad: Losing to Georgia in 2005.

OBNUG: Which player gave you the most trouble when you faced him?
Tad: Montavis Stanley from Louisville. It was my freshman year and he was a great player.

OBNUG: Which player did you own?
Tad: I played against too many guys to remember just one in particular.

OBNUG: What do you think of Andrew Woodruff?
Tad: He is one of my best friends, he is also a groomsmen in my wedding coming up in July. He is going to do great this year leading the O-line.

OBNUG: Do you know the other new guys on the line?
Tad: Yeah, they are all good guys and they'll have an awesome year.

OBNUG: Do you stay in touch with the other senior lineman?
Tad: Yes, were all good friends. We all hang out and keep in touch.

OBNUG: Did you have any nicknames for each other?
Tad: No, not really.

OBNUG: Are the Cavenders really twins or are they just one person?
Tad: No, they are twins. They are best friends. Each of them have their own
personality.

OBNUG: What is Tad short for?
Tad: I get asked that a lot. It's just Tad, it's not short for anything. I got the name from my Grandpa.

OBNUG: Do you have any kids? Are you going to make them play football?
Tad: No, I'm getting married July 5th of this summer. Maybe a couple years
after that though. And I'll let them play whatever they want.

OBNUG roster update: offensive line

Spring football gets OBNUG in the mood to speculate, so over the next few weeks, we will be making blind guesses as to who will be starting for the Broncos in the fall. We’ll do it position-by-position. Today: Offensive line.

Offensive line

Ideal candidate: This kid


Worst candidate: Kyle Brotzman


Actual candidates: Andrew Woodruff, Nate Potter, Chris Byrd, John Gott, Matt Slater, Garrett Pendergast, Paul Lucariello, others

OBNUG picks: Andrew Woodruff and John Gott at guard, Nate Potter and Matt Slater at tackles, Chris Byrd at center

Yesterday, we wrote about the importance of the offensive line, especially as it relates to the quarterback position. This group of guys has little experience (Woodruff is the only one with meaningful playing time), but we feel that they have the talent to get the job done for the Broncos. With senior leadership from Woodruff and Gott, things should go smoothly for the underclassmen, and we could be looking at a dominant bunch in a year or two.

Bronco fans asking the wrong question

The debate over BSU's starting quarterback is the most talked about issue among Boise State fans.

But should it be?

Quite frankly, no. Sure it is fun to debate Moore vs. Hamdan, but the quarterback can't do anything without a good offensive line in front of him. This was no truer than in Friday's scrimmage, and while we left feeling good about the future of the team, we also felt that the QB debate pales in comparison to the topic of the offensive line.

Losing five of the top six linemen off of last year's squad hurt more than any other personnel loss (Marty Tadman, you were a close second). Those guys were the heart and soul of the offense, and the team would not have performed as well as it did without the play of the offensive line. Since so much attention rests on the QB position, it is easy to forget that we have four of the most important spots on the team up for grabs. Bronco fans can argue about QBs until they are blue in the face, but it is our opinion that the O-line debate will be infinitely more important.

The Broncos were most successful in Friday's scrimmage when the offensive line gave the quarterbacks time to throw and gave the running backs holes to run through. The Broncos can have all the talent in the world at RB, WR, and QB (and they do), but it won't mean a thing if the offensive line doesn't perform well. Such was the case in the first scrimmage.

Everyone has been quick to praise the performances of Kellen Moore, Titus Young, and the running backs, but there was a large portion of the scrimmage where the Boise State offense did nothing. Plays were stuffed behind the line, QBs were running for their lives, and the Broncos were not moving the ball well at all. The defense dominated for stretches, and the line was mostly to blame.

Things turned around in the second half when the guys up front started performing better. Moore had time in the pocket to find his receivers. Ian Johnson and Doug Martin ran nearly untouched into the end zone. The offense ran much smoother when there weren't defensive linemen in the backfield. Imagine that.

With the big scores late in the scrimmage, it is easy to forget about how disjointed the offense looked at times--a scary thought considering the absence of so many defensive starters.

Does the offensive line have work to do? Absolutely. Does the rest of the team? Sure. But instead of placing so much focus on which quarterback will be taking snaps, perhaps Broncos fans should be more concerned with who will be protecting him.

Spring football practice: Day Two

Tuesday seemed to be the day for offensive linemen as both the Statesman and Press-Tribune focused their pieces on the front five. Despite losing five of the top six guys off of last year's line, the newcomers fighting for spots look to be a good bunch, but it is far too early to tell who will be starting come August 30.

“Basically, right now it’s gonna be the best five guys, I don’t care it they are all left tackles,” Boise State offensive line coach Scott Huff said.

Well, we actually do care if they are all left tackles, so we hope Coach Huff was joking.

Chadd Cripe had a decidedly firmer stance on the o-line race:

A few seem like safe bets to play significant roles, but definitely not sure things — freshman center Thomas Byrd, freshman left tackle Nate Potter, senior guard Andrew Woodruff and senior guard Jon Gott.

Other guys who look like serious contenders include sophomore tackle Matt Slater (a promising walk-on), freshman tackle Garrett Pendergast and junior tackle/center Paul Lucariello.

In QB news, Cripe made a point of singling out Bush Hamdan for his play thus far.

Senior quarterback Bush Hamdan has made some nice plays the first two days of practice, including one Tuesday when he picked up a fumbled snap and threw a touchdown pass.

Hamdan has declined interview requests this spring in order to focus on competition for the starting job. We seem to remember him doing this before, so maybe he has a phobia of handheld voice recorders.

Huff searching for right O-line combo [Idaho Statesman]
Bronco O-line a work in progress [Press-Tribune]

Tad Miller needs a job; OBNUG needs an intern

The Idaho Statesman wrote an interesting profile piece on former Boise State offensive lineman Tad Miller yesterday. The article was mainly about Miller's recovery from a knee injury and how he hopes to catch on with an NFL team this summer.

The item that caught our eye was the final paragraph:

Football is far from the only item on Miller's agenda these days. He's getting married in July, he's taking an online class to complete his degree in criminal justice and he's looking for a part-time job while he awaits word from the NFL, which holds its draft April 26-27.

It just so happens that One Bronco Nation Under God is looking for a part-time fact checker who has experience on the Broncos' offensive line. Drop us a line, Tad, and we'd love to get you in for an interview. Compensation DOE.

Miller, back from injury, works out [Idaho Statesman]

Boise State football spring practice dates

The official spring football dates for the Broncos have been posted on Rivals.com. We heard of dates awhile ago, but we wanted to make sure they were correct before we posted. Here are the details:

Start: March 10
End: April 11

Spring game: April 11

Rivals.com lists questions that each team needs to answer in spring ball. The questions for Boise State are who will be the new quarterback and how will they replace four offensive line starters. We at OBNUG just want to know when Vinny Perretta jerseys go on sale at the Bronco Shop.

Work begins anew across the country [Rivals.com]