Another option foe for Vandals
Assignment football. That is the focus — offensively and defensively, again tonight for the Idaho Vandals when they take on the UNLV Rebels at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.
For the defense, the assignment is to stay disciplined in watching the option as it unfolds out of the backfield. For the offense, it’s being precise and accurate with every step.
“They’re very athletic,” Idaho coach Robb Akey said of the Rebels, who come to Moscow with an 0-2 record that includes losses to No. 12 Wisconsin (41-21) and at No. 20 Utah (38-10). “They have a lot of things they are very capable of doing.”
Idaho is 1-1 after winning at home in its opener against North Dakota (45-0) before a road loss at No. 6 Nebraska (38-17).
Akey is seeing big strides in the defense from a year ago. As a defensive unit, the Vandals are ranked in the top 15 nationally in four statistical areas, which includes tying for first with Florida in total takeaways with nine. Among those nine takeaways are an NCAA-best six fumble recoveries. The improvement in the secondary is witnessed by the Vandals’ No. 12 ranking in pass efficiency defense (86.01) and No. 15 in pass defense (116.50 yards per game).
Senior safety Shiloh Keo has an interception in each of the Vandals’ first two games. Linebacker Robert Siavii is 14th nationally in tackles-for-loss per game with an average of 2.0. He’s tied for No. 2 nationally in forced fumbles per game with an average of 1.5 after knocking three balls loose at Nebraska.
“That was one of the great building blocks for our defense,” Akey said of the Nebraska game during which the Vandals yielded just one second-half score. “The way they were able to perform in sudden change, the red zone stops, the fourth-down stops, the goal line stands. Those were things against a very good football team; things that can help this defense to grow.
“If we can clean up some of those things in between, we have a chance to be a pretty good outfit.”
Once again, Idaho’s developing offensive front — made up of one returning starter from 2009, will be tested against a big UNLV defensive front and an aggressive linebacking corps.
“They’ve got almost 600 pounds worth of defensive tackle in their starting lineup,” Akey said, noting the heft of starters Isaako Aaitui (315) and James Dunlap (265). “Their two outside linebackers are making a ton of plays.”
The tricky part to UNLV’s offense is similar to what the Vandals witnessed at Nebraska. Senior Omar Clayton replaced junior Mike Clausen in the third quarter of the Wisconsin game. Clayton started vs. Utah, and is listed as the starter this week. Clayton is the team’s leading rusher, with 87 yards in two games. He also is 24 of 53 through the air for 299 yards and a touchdown.
“The gun read is like the option of the old days,” Akey said. “You have to be accountable for the dive man, the quarterback, the pitch man while still playing full speed to the football. That’s the biggest thing — maintaining discipline.”