WAC Preview: Idaho Vandals
July 2nd, 2008 by Kevan Lee
At least the Vandals didn’t go winless last year, thanks to Cal Poly. The Mustangs, a Division I-AA school, provided the only solace to an otherwise gloomy Vandal season. Without Cal Poly, Idaho went 0-for-Division I-A, dropping every WAC contest in the process.
There is obviously room for improvement in Moscow. The defense could be better. The offense could be consistent. The wins could be less few and far between. But in order for that to happen, the Vandals are going to need a facelift, and 2008 will be way too soon to see any results.
The good news for the Idaho offense is also its bad news: sophomore quarterback Nathan Enderle is back. To have a returning starter is an encouraging sign for an offense that has struggled for consistency through coaching changes and ineffective play. However, Enderle was not especially good last year, completing just 44 percent of his passes and throwing 18 interceptions in the nine games he played. Still, Enderle managed to earn the starting quarterback spot in the spring, defeating sophomore Quin Ashley. He goes into the fall as the number one quarterback. Enderle has potential to be a decent starting quarterback, but fantasy points are not awarded for potential. Nor are they awarded for incomplete passes and interceptions. For the Vandals to be successful and for Enderle to become a solid starter, he will need to fix his uneven play. He may be a fantasy option in his junior and senior years, but he needs to earn that distinction with his play this season.
The Vandals return all eleven players from their starting offense, including 1,000-yard rusher Deonte Jackson and the entire offensive line. That fact alone should make Jackson worth a look this season. The sophomore back runs hard, is difficult to bring down, and he should be the focus of the offense in 2008. Last year, Jackson was able to pile up the yards and find the end zone. That is a rare double dip for a player on a bad WAC team. No doubt the Vandals will continue to be a bad WAC team this year. However, if Jackson can have success amidst ineptitude, then there is no reason why he shouldn’t be a threat this year.
At wideout, the blame for a bad receiving corps could be placed on Enderle’s poor play. Of course, the Vandal receivers deserve to have several fingers pointed their direction also. They were not especially good at any number of things, namely gaining separation, catching passes, and stretching the field. Other than that, they were fine! Last year’s leaders Max Komar and Lee Smith are back,. A better choice may be sophomore Eric Greenwood, who had a great spring game. Then again, he was going up against the Vandal defense. The best Idaho receiver is probably TE Eddie Williams, and he could have a big season if Enderle relies on him as a security blanket. Williams averaged 12 yards a catch last year and caught three touchdowns in an anemic offensive season. If the receiving unit gets a bump this year from better play at quarterback, Williams should reap the rewards.
While the Vandal offense returns in tact, the Idaho defense has plenty of holes to fill. Needless to say, there were plenty of holes in the defense last year also. A group of new players might make a difference. New talent will be everywhere on the Idaho “D”. Safety Shiloh Keo, the defensive leader, will have his work cut out for him.
The kicking duties will once again fall into the capable hands of senior Tino Amancio. Perfect on extra points last season, Amancio showed some range by making two field goals of 50-plus yards. Still, he kicks for a potentially tepid offense, so he may not have the opportunities afforded the placekickers at Boise State or Nevada.
Conclusion
The Vandals have an experienced offense returning in 2008, but that experience was one of failure, disappointment, and an unfathomable amount of turnovers. Still, while the team hardly instills confidence in wary fantasy owners, there could be some worthwhile picks for later rounds. Deonte Jackson should continue to run well. Tight end Eddie Williams could have a big year. And the fantasy Gods could grant a miracle and give Nathan Enderle a 60-percent completion percentage. At any rate, the risk/reward for Vandal players is at least intriguing. Fantasy owners could find themselves with a surprisingly productive sub, or they could find themselves with a predictably sterile benchwarmer. With no Cal Poly on the schedule, the majority of owners should play it safe and assume the latter.
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