Boise State rolled into Statesboro with high expectations and they leave with…well, still high expectations, but also some things to clean up. Particularly on defense. Coaches claim to prefer that though. Danielson even said so, after the game. “That’s what I’m excited about as a coach. Week 1, when you can find a lot of things to clean up on film and still find a way to win the game? That’s what I’m proud of our team doing.” But you know what doesn’t need cleaning up? Ashton Freaking Jeanty! The sensational junior smashed faces, broke ankles, and pulled away from defenders for a school-record 267 rushing yards and SIX touchdowns! Not to be forgotten, true freshman Sire Gaines also made some waves with a 100+yard rushing game of his own (and another 44 yards receiving). He scored 2 TDs; one of the “receiving” variety. That touchdown was Maddux’s lone passing TD.
(Update: For those wondering why Breezy Dubar didn’t play but still suited up, the word is that he might be nursing something and didn’t need to push it unless it was an emergency)
About the quarterback play, Maddux looked pretty okay. He had one bad pick and another on a two point conversion attempt but he also uncorked a few long passes to Camper and Caples, respectively. They came after the interception and seemed to indicate he was dissatisfied and raged his way to two long bombs. That kind of fire is good to see. His final statline was 22/31 for 280 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.
Also, credit to the offensive line. In addition to blocking for 371 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns, they also didn’t allow Maddux to be sacked a single time.
Overall, the offense was GREAT.
Now, we have to talk about the part of the game that was…less great. Boise State’s secondary struggled mightily last season and it was seemingly shored up with the arrival of a couple notable Pac 12 transfers in Earby and Banks. This was supposed to be further bolstered by another year of development for guys like Benefield, McCoy, and Reed but it hasn’t felt that way. Yet! The defense got four sacks, but allowed 322 passing yards and claimed no interceptions. However, Teubner did recover a fumble forced by McCoy. Then, there’s the context:
The Broncos went into an unfamiliar, hostile environment, that’s ensconced in the loving embrace of endless humidity from hell, and was complemented by 92 unforgiving degrees of heat, in order to face an air raid offense that was top 10 last season. So, the fact that they got up 28-9 at first, before allowing a lead change in the third quarter (37-36), and then still got up by 19 again by late in the fourth is…well, that’s pretty hopeful.
To add some additional hopefulness, it’s currently the 4th quarter in Eugene, Oregon and the Ducks are only leading (FCS-level) University of Idaho, 17-14.
But, that’s next week. Before we close out today, let’s all enjoy this one just a little bit more…
No one is gonna forget that statline anytime soon.
Until next week, let’s all be relieved that this is back:
…and it is GLORIOUS!
Maybe the next best thing to Ashton Jeanty’s amazing day was Latrell Caple’s ninja flip to get back on his feet after a killer catch.
First game in a less than hospitable environment, and I’m referring to the weather. I live in TN, so I’m somewhat used to the heat/humidity so, let me tell you, that will suck the life out of you faster than you can imagine. So, for Jeanty to rack up the numbers he did, along with Gaines and his own show, in the heat says a lot. The OL was opening up holes left and right-literally! Madsen had good stats with a few brain farts in there as well. Kudos to his receivers making him look better (on occasion) than he… Read more »
So to get this right… It’s a knock against Madsen for receivers making him “look better than he was.” But when Jeanty basically says, “hey, my O Line did all the hard work and made me look better than I am” then that’s just a further sign of Jeanty’s greatness?
I concur. Madsen showed real guts. He threw two great balls after having thrown an interception. This attitude is why he has the room…
Yeah, Kellen Moore would have been just another guy without Pettis and Young.
Other than that int, Madsen did just about everything we could have wanted. We lose this game with Bachmeier or Green (not to mention Tiller). And he wasn’t just a game manager. He converted difficult 3rd downs and had explosive plays. Bro has room for improvement, but I feel good about him after game 1. If Nelson had done what he did, people would be anointing him as the new goat hall of famer heisman winner.
Are people really going to pretend like Kellen Moore didn’t throw ints or like his receivers never had to make plays on the ball? A lot of the qb job is to put the ball where your guy has a chance to go get it. Madsen also hit a lot of guys perfectly in stride. I’m not a Madsen super fan yet, but it seems to me a lot of people are unfair. About half of Jeanty’s TDs were set up by long passes by Madsen…
Memories like goldfish, I say! There were a couple of drives where the run game was struggling and Madsen drove us down the field. I’ll say it again: we lose this game with any other qb we’ve had since Rypien
A couple plays things about Madsen’s play that won’t age well and they all really stem from the primary issue, lack of ball velocity 1) in the first quarter we saw him try to throw an out route, ball was on an arc, defender got 1 hand on it and batted it away, if he’s going to throw those outs he has to put them on a rope or they’ll be pick 6’s 2) even on that long ball that Caples caught, he just chucked it up into double coverage, if the defender in front of Caples turns his head… Read more »
1 I disagree. I thought the deep out was poorly timed. It’s one of the hardest plays to time and I thought it came out late 2 It was hard to tell what might have happened because what did happen. He put it where his guy had a chance to go get it. Could another guy in theory have gotten it? Maybe. But they didn’t. And Madsen threw it with the relative positions of the players in mind. Criticizing someone with a hypothetical counterfactual is just grasping at straws. Madsen had some misses early in the game and didn’t see… Read more »
GS’s O really is that good it seems. Top 10 last year and carrying on again.
There is a lot of discontent with the defense. I’ll just say this… watched a lot of Mountain West teams yesterday. They looked really good early and couldn’t maintain when facing adversity. Granted they weren’t playing slouches, but being able to win in a hostile environment when the other team punches you in the mouth isn’t easy. We got it done. That bodes well for conference play. We are still the team to beat. New Mexico’s QB is going to be a problem! He was really fun to watch! A magician with the football. Incredible awareness of the field. Fresno… Read more »
The MWC suddenly looking like a challenge. I’m also delighted that CSU’s hype fell so flat 😂
I went back and watched the game with a fan’s eyes. I think there were holes I could run through. The O-line played a monster game. The plays worked just as drawn and taught. That fourth and short call; well, Danielson said he would call it again. I think that is more hubris than logic. Maybe it wasn’t the best play selection. GS managed to convert a fourth and short with a QB keeper. I don’t understand all the “hate” on Madsen. He played a terrific game; not perfect. But remember, neither did Jeanty or Gains. Madsen’s throws, for the… Read more »
Found obnug again after all these years. Let’s gooooo!
Glad you did.
My biggest takeaway from this game is that the Broncos have improved as a team from last season. The biggest reason I say this is last year in similar situations they found wsys to lose games. Saturday, I thought here we go again, but instead of finding a way to lose they found a way to win. The D has room for improvement, but when BSU needed big stops they came through. Neither side of the ball quit, instead they played to the end. That is an improved team.
I was losing my mind in the middle of the game when we were giving up the lead and looking like we would puke it away. Still, much props for our team. As someone else mentioned, last year we would have lost a game like that. A few other thoughts: 1) Jeanty is amazing! 2) OL looks really solid; 3) Madsen was pretty good … still some worries in my mind about the middle of the field interception and his overall arm talent; 4) Defense had a rough, rough day. They toughened up when it mattered, but if they don’t… Read more »