Idaho football brings speed to defense, experience on offense

University of Idaho football coach Paul Petrino appeared at the Sun Belt Conference media day in New Orleans Monday accompanied by the most valuable player from the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, who triggered the Vandals’ 61-50 win in that shootout last December.

Yet Petrino’s first words weren’t about his senior quarterback Matt Linehan, but instead about what a force Idaho could be on defense this year.

“It’s the most speed I’ve seen on defense since I’ve been at Idaho,” he said.

A Vandal team that not only stuns opponents with a machine gun spray of points but stymies them as well? That scenario played into a dominant line of questioning for Petrino and Linehan at media day. What is Idaho going to do for its Sun Belt swan song before it returns to the Football Championship Series and the Big Sky Conference in 2018?

In answering, coach and quarterback hewed to a common theme – what matters is now.

“Our monicker is ‘raise the bar,’ try to exceed expectations for us,” Linehan said. Even last year, when the Vandals first dealt with the impending return to FCS, according to Petrino, they kept a sharp focus on the season in front of them and not 2018. Last season’s 9-4 record, third-place finish in the Sun Belt and bowl game win carries over to 2017, where the goals are “win a championship, win a bowl game,” he said.

“Then you just worry about whatever cards are dealt. You play them. We’ll keep winning bowl games or we’ll win playoff games and national championships.”

Having junior defensive tackle Aikeem Coleman, the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year, anchoring the line helps back up such talk. “We’re excited Aikeem’s back,” said Petrino. The foundation on defense is probably the linebacker corps, where last year’s starters Kaden Elliss, Tony Lashley and Ed Hall return.

“The three of them are one of the reasons we took such a big step forward defensively last year,” Petrino said.

Senior Dorian Clark, who missed last year with an injury, is still the Vandals’ most talented cornerback, according to the coach, but a rapidly improving sophomore Lloyd Hightower will give Idaho a balance of expertise on the corners. They’ll flank a deep, competent group of safeties led by seniors Armond Hawkins and Jordan Grabski.

With all the new-found focus on defense, however, Petrino still could not travel across the country with Linehan without mentioning his senior quarterback.

While the Sun Belt may not be the cradle of quarterbacks, “there is no quarterback in the league I would take over him,” Petrino said flatly. He also cited senior offensive tackle Jordan Rose as “definitely one of the top offensive linemen in the league.” Petrino also said replacing last year’s standout senior tight ends – Deon Watson and Trent Cowan – is less worrisome with Joseph Wysocki and Alex James set to step in. Those two come in without a Watson or Cowan pass catching resume, but as bigger tight ends they can add power to the run blocking, according to Petrino.

He also said Linehan has a bunch of proven receivers to throw to, led by seniors Jacob Sannon, Alfonso Onunwor, and Reuben Mwehla.

The bowl game win over Colorado State established a template for Idaho. From now on, the Vandals want to be that team that is never out of a game. “It was huge…a big springboard for next season for us,” said Petrino.

Linehan added “we’re going to continue to build off the experience we gained last year.”

He sees himself as a quarterback who has matured to the point he brings not only physical skills but intangibles of leadership to his team. Also, “I took the pressure off myself to make all the plays. When you’re a quarterback, staying within yourself is the most important thing.”

Taking what a defense gave him and protecting the football allowed Idaho’s offense to flourish last year, he said.

As a senior starter in Idaho’s last year in FBS, and as the son of another standout Vandal quarterback, Scott Linehan, Matt Linehan is prepared for questions about legacy.

He wants one, he says, but “we’ll worry about legacies when we get to that point. As of now, I’m just focused on this year.

“This is my last run with this team. I’m going to try to make it a good one.”