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Vandals start fall practice tonight

by MARK NELKE
Sports Editor | August 4, 2014 9:00 PM

Who's the starting quarterback at Idaho?

Vandal football coach Paul Petrino offered no clues again Sunday, when he addressed the media in advance of Idaho's first fall practice in Moscow, scheduled for tonight at 6.

"I don't have a timeline, exactly," Petrino said when asked when he might determine a starter between redshirt sophomore Chad Chalich and redshirt freshman Matt Linehan. "And to be honest with you, I could see both of them playing in the Florida game."

Both QBs received a fairly equal amount of reps during spring ball. Petrino said if one moves clearly ahead of the other, he'll name a starter.

"I was telling my wife the other day, it's too bad it wasn't two guys battling at receiver," Petrino said. "Because they're two kids that you love, and you want on the team, they're two of the best kids on the team, they battle. But you only play one quarterback at a time. But we're very fortunate to have both of them, and it's just going to make us better and better."

Chalich's reps were somewhat limited in the spring as he recovered from a shoulder injury suffered in the Vandals' seventh game of the season last fall. Chalich, the former Coeur d'Alene High star, started the first seven games before the injury knocked him out for the season. Idaho finished 1-11.

"I think it's something we're going to have to keep an eye on in fall camp," Petrino said. "No matter what, quarterback's arms get tired in fall camp. The biggest thing I don't want to do is get him tired and have him try to use different technique in order to get the ball out because his arm's so sore."

Petrino, beginning his second year as Vandal coach, said he expects his offensive line, anchored by four-year starting center Mike Marboe, to "play way better this fall."

"They've all made huge strides in the weight room this summer, I think they made strides, especially in our pass protection in the spring," Petrino said. "Now we've just got to take it to the next level."

Petrino said he saw improved play from his secondary last spring, and there's more depth there than last year. One addition is Joe Smith, a fifth-year transfer who graduated from Utah. He played mostly nickelback for the Utes, but figures to play cornerback at Idaho.

"We can run more nickel and dime (five- and six-DB packages), something we didn't run enough of last year," Petrino said.

With the receiving corps hurt by top receiver Dezmon Epps being kicked off the team recently, Petrino is looking for former Coeur d'Alene High standout Deon Watson, along with Jacob Sannon and Josh McCain, among others, to pick up the slack.

"I think we have a lot of explosion and speed at receiver; I think that needs to be one of our strengths," Petrino said.

Two Vandals underwent shoulder surgeries in the offseason. Safety Desmond Banks played last year as a true freshman and will likely redshirt this year, as his injury could keep him out most of the season. Defensive lineman Will Schmidt redshirted last year.

Senior Jerrel Brown returns at running back, Richard Montgomery returns at running back and receiver, and Petrino said he is excited to see what junior college transfer Elijhaa Perry and freshman Aaron Duckworth can do in the backfield.

Robert Asencio, a 6-foot-9 basketball player who tried out at receiver last fall, has been moved to defensive line, Petrino said.

Austin Rehkow handled punting and placekicking duties last year as a true freshman. Jordan Burke, a juco transfer and son of former Vandal tight end Paul Burke, will compete for placekicking and kickoff duties.

Idaho will practice every day but Sunday through Aug. 22. Scrimmages are planned for Aug. 9 and 16, both at 10 a.m., with the final practice Friday, Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. before the Vandals begin preparations for the season opener at Florida on Aug. 30.