Boise State Broncos
Overall Rank: #8
#1 Mountain West Conference
Boise State Team Page
2010 Record: (12-1, 7-1)
2010 Bowl: Macco Bowl vs. Utah (26-3 W)
Coach: Chris Petersen (61-5 at Boise State, 61-5 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Brent Pease
Defensive Coordinator: Pete Kwiatkowski
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: Doug Martin, RB, 1,260 yards
Passing: Kellen Moore, QB, 3,845 yards
Receiving: Tyler Shoemaker, WR, 582 yards
Tackles: J.C. Percy, LB, 65
Sacks: Shea McCllelin, DE, 9.5
Interceptions: Two players with 2
Other Key Returnees: LT Nate Potter, C Thomas Byrd, OG Joe Kellogg, WLB Aaron Tevis, S George Iloka, NT Chase Baker
Key Losses: WR Austin Pettis, WR Titus Young, RB Jeremy Avery, RB Jarvis Hodge, OG Will Lawrence, OT Matthew Slater, DE Ryan VanWinterswyk, K/P Kyle Brotzman, NB Winston Venable, CB Jeron Johnson, CB Brandyn Thompson
Boise State comes into 2011 on a mission to finish the job from last season of trying to reach the BCS National Championship game in New Orleans. The loss at Nevada should fuel Kellen Moore in his senior season to some more video game type stats even with a new receiving core to work with. Also, look for Moore to be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy and earn an invite as a finalist to New York in December
Strengths:
Its starts with Kellen Moore. He’s the senior, the team leader and arguably one of the most efficient college quarterbacks to ever the play the sport. He will have a lot more responsibility put on him this season. It will take time for new playmakers to develop, especially with a new offensive coordinator, Brett Pease. Pease replaced Bryan Harsin, who left for the offensive coordinator position at the University of Texas. The defensive line should be absolutely dominant again. In 2010, the Broncos accumulated 48 sacks, tying them for first in the nation. With three starters back, including Shea McClellin, this group should anchor a defense that could very well be the signature unit of the 2011 edition of Boise State football. Head Coach Chris Petersen has built a culture of excellence. It’s about the system and getting the right players for Boise State and getting the most out of them once they get on campus.
Weaknesses:
Finding an answer in the receiving core will be very important early on for Kellen Moore and Boise State. You don’t easily replace highly productive receivers like Austin Pettis and Titus Young. Tyler Shoemaker will be relied on heavily to lead a young, talented group of receivers. Also, depth at running back is a little bit of a concern after Doug Martin. There is not a whole of experience behind him if he were to suffer an injury. The secondary could be an issue as a couple new projected starters develop to replace the likes of Jeron Johnson and Brandyn Thompson. The kicking game is a mystery with the graduation of Kyle Brotzman. Junior Jimmy Pavel is expected to take over the placekicking duties in spite of his lack of playing experience with just 9 PAT’s last season.
The Bottom Line:
The non-conference schedule that has plagued the Broncos over the years for being too weak, in conjunction with being the WAC, will definitely not be an issue in 2011. Each non-conference opponent Boise State will face was in a bowl game in 2010. They get the big stage early with the Kickoff Classic game against Georgia down in Atlanta so it will be a virtual road game just like last year in Landover against Virginia Tech. If the Broncos can find a way to win that one, they should without question, be in the national championship conversation until the end of November. Boise State coach Chris Petersen has taken this program to unprecedented heights. With the return of a very dominant defense back from 2010, look for the Broncos to continually dominate their new competitors in the Mountain West Conference in 2011 and beyond.
Projected Bowl: Fiesta Bowl
2010 Team Stats
Rushing Offense: 200.2 (21st in nation, 2nd in conference)
Passing Offense: 321.1 (6, 2)
Total Offense: 521.3 (2, 1)
Scoring Offense: 45.1(2, 1)
Rushing Defense: 103.8 (7, 1)
Pass Defense: 150.9 (4, 1)
Total Defense: 254.7 (2, 1)
Scoring Defense: 12.8 (2, 1)
Turnover Margin: 0.62 (22, 2)
Sacks: 3.69 (1, 1)
Sacks Allowed: 0.62 (3, 1)
Madness 2012 NFL Draft Rankings:
#17 Nate Potter
#88 Billy Winn
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