Two words: Ashton. Jeanty.
In what is a defensive game to not remember, we do have a very bright shining spot on this Broncos team, and that is the 205-yard monster that is Jeanty. Behind him and a patient running game, the Broncos made it out of San Diego with a closer than it should have been 34-31 win.
Taylen Green was 12-22 passing, 162 yards, and one passing TD with one more rushing TD.
The aforementioned Jeanty had 254 total yards with 49 receiving (he was second in yards for the Broncos) and two well-deserved touchdowns.
Eric McAlister is once again showing up to ball with five receptions, 90 yards, and a TD.
Also to note, the Herculean effort by the Boise State offensive line to help pave the way for Jeanty and Green to have the success they do. The offensive line came to play tonight and it showed.
The Broncos defense had (mostly) a night to forget allowing 166 yards rushing and another 273 passing. They did cause two fumbles that lead to turnovers so that is a positive. The tackling, though, was an issue as the Aztecs were allowed to convert six 3rd and long plays in a row. Quite the frustrating thing. Andrew Simpson and Jayden Virgin did recover those fumbles to give the Broncos extra posessions.
The Broncos special teams not named James Ferguson-Reynolds and Jonah Dalmas struggled a bit what with some busted coverage on a kickoff return and kicking the ball out of bounds penalty. But JFR had some beautiful punts that Boise State was able to flip the field. His longest was a 67-yarder that pinned SDSU on the one. Gorgeous. Dalmas was perfect on the night with two field goals made and four extra points.
For the Aztecs part, Jalen Mayden was 16/22 and had 13 straight passes that were caught. He had 241 yards in the air, a passing TD, and a rushing TD.
There are some very big red flags that one would hope the coaches are able to address. But getting out of a weird matchup with the Aztecs with a dub is nothing to sneer at.
The Broncos are next at Memphis on 9/30 at 2 pm EDT on ESPN 2.
GO BRONCOS!
Agreed! Games with SDSU are always weird. Our boys got it done!! Some real positives (JEANTY!!!, O-Line, McAlister, Green looking a little better, + on TOs, etc.). If our Defense could tackle much better and cut the big plays allowed in half, we might be really good. Go Broncos!
Agree. Feel like the defense had a lot of fixable mistakes. Remains to be see if we can be those fixed, but this team has the talent to be very good. Needs to grow to get there
Agree that there are red flags. For me, the offense has a complete stud at running back that covers a lot of our shortcomings. The passing game is still a huge question mark. McAllister made some huge plays on hitch passes. Aside from the McAllister TD in the end zone, and McAllister making something out of nothing, the passing game hasn’t been good. Green can sling it but he’s staring down receivers. If we are being completely honest, a lot of the concerns about Avalos remain. Our special teams continue to struggle, our defense (and remember, he’s a defensive minded… Read more »
Boise, I do agree. There is something about Avalos’ tenure that isn’t quite right. I want to be positive (something that does not come naturally to me!). However, IMO , this season is the “make or break” for Avalos. If the team wins out (or close) and looks like they are improving/cleaning things up each week – maybe we are good? If not, this should be his last season.
From what I read he has one more year under contract. I don’t know what his buyout is. I’m hoping he turns things around. Better to lose 2 games at the beginning of the season than the last.
SDSU at home brings their best game. Perhaps one of their most important. It’s a good win.
However, Boise can’t pass, can’t catch, can’t get open.
Boise’s opponents, no matter what, the Broncos seem to pad their passing stats for them.
Jonas Dalmas, MVP; 4 XPs and 2 FGs. Plus it was his bump that slowed the runner down so he could be tackled. Without that bump, SDSU would have had 7 more.
Agree with Dalmas MVP, but would add punter. He’s a stud!
I don’t understand how the defense can’t do something that is so fundamental to the game. It’s almost as if the opposing players are covered in grease and can’t be touched. I understand not always being able to tackle someone that a player is reaching out for but so many times they are squared up to the player and just get dusted. And it’s amazing how often that a player is faced with multiple players and still somehow inevitably gets through the tackle. On the other hand, Jeanty does a good job of doing this to opposing defenses. Certainly am… Read more »
The one that jumped out as me as super egregious was the punt return where FR absolutely boomed it and the San Diego return man fielded it running up the field the wrong way. So he had to catch the ball, stop his momentum and then start again. 2 broncos were within 10 yards and then simply ran right past him. It wasn’t even close. It didn’t even look like they were attempting a tackle. I don’t jump around and scream like a crazy person often, but it was so offensive to my senses that I completely lost control of… Read more »
The one that really caught my eye was SDSU’s last TD run….I had a little vomit in my mouth after seeing that one.
Yep. U-G-L-Y we ain’t got no alibi….
Would it make you feel better to know that Avalos is going to practice tackling this week? Because who could have known that tackling would be so critical to the game back during summer and fall camp?