Vandals hold 1st scrimmage today
MOSCOW - Classes don't start for almost two weeks, but the University of Idaho's football players have a big test already when they head into the Kibbie Dome today for their first scrimmage of fall camp.
"It's showtime," an ever-enthusiastic coach Robb Akey said as he looked ahead to the Vandals' first game simulation. "It's, 'Here's where I am now. Here's my chance to do it without you in my ear, you standing behind me.'
It's a test. It's an opportunity for them to start writing the depth chart."
There are known entities and unknown entities as the Vandals take to the field at 2:30 p.m. in the remodeled Kibbie Dome. It is the first of three fall scrimmages with the second on Aug. 15 at 2:30 p.m. and the final one Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. Idaho opens the 2011 season Sept. 1 against 2009 Humanitarian Bowl foe Bowling Green State. Kickoff is 6 p.m. at the Kibbie Dome.
"I'm seeing both sides of the ball start to do things well," said Akey, whose team will have notched seven practices prior to the scrimmage kickoff. "I'm seeing things click. Both sides are making plays. That's a good thing."
On the flipside: "There's a lot of clean up that has to take place. There's a lot of consistency that has to develop."
Akey likes what he's seeing in senior quarterback Brian Reader, who has a handful of backs from which to choose out of the backfield with returners Kama Bailey, Princeton McCarty and Troy Vital, along with newcomer Ryan Bass. Akey had praise for some of the athleticism and effort he's seen among the receivers so far - but he hasn't seen it often enough.
The line has veterans Matt Cleveland, Tyrone Novikoff and Sam Tupua working with younger players intent on writing their names on the depth chart. The same can be said of the defensive front with Mike Cosgrove providing the senior leadership to a host of aspiring younger players.
The linebackers - with Tre'Shawn Robinson and Homer Mauga in the leadership roles, also are an experienced group as is the secondary, but with the added dimension of more depth to challenge those who've been in the lineup.
Punter Bobby Cowan and kicker Trey Farquhar are special teams mainstays and even though both are juniors, the pair hold spots in the Idaho record books. Steady Chris Ramos, however, has graduated as the long snapper with German national Marius Burgsmueller taking that role.