Jason Haskins's Blog, page 13

Four quarterbacks beginning attack run of their sixth season

 

Continuing the series of following the careers of the five quarterbacks taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, recapping through week 13 of season six.

Heading into the final five weeks of their sixth NFL season, the four active quarterbacks from the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft are all vying for playoff spots.

Yes, a lot can happen in five weeks and success can turn on a dime. But barring a major meltdown, two of the players and their respective teams should get there with some ease. Two others, well, finding and keeping momentum will be entirely up to them.

Okay. All four will need to do that. Three, really, when boiling down to it. Unless an injury happens, the rise and fall of the team is not really in their control.

In most regards, the three quarterbacks who are starters from this class have similar, and in some instances better, stats than in recent seasons. But the overall success and production hasn't necessarily elevated their teams to new levels in all cases.  They have the final stretch of the 2023-24 season to prove naysayers wrong. If so, one of them could be the first of these quarterbacks selected in the 2018 first round to become a Super Bowl champion.

Lamar Jackson

Lamar Jackson already has one MVP award under his belt. And if 2023 continues the same way, Jackson could very well add a second MVP honor to his name.

Jackson has had a stellar season so far. While he's no lock and not a runaway favorite, there's certainly a case for MVP to be made. Numbers aren't eye-popping but Jackson has the Baltimore Ravens (9-3) atop a strong AFC North.

And the Ravens have found ways to win in style and through imperfection, even with an odd loss to the Cleveland Browns (which, sidenote, the Browns are quite the surprise at 7-5, especially without their star running back Nick Chubb and starting quarterback).

Though his completion percentage has faltered in recent weeks, Jackson remains at 68.3 percent on the season. Jackson has passed for 2618 yards, putting him on pace to surpass his career-high of 3127 from the MVP season in 2019. These are nice and Jackson has thrown only five interceptions but only 13 touchdown passes.

That's because the Ravens have had a semi-healthy running game in '23-24 that has 22 touchdowns and a budding star in Keaton Mitchell. And that's without Jackson leading the way or being forced to carry the load. While still with 574 rushing yards, second on the team, Jackson is only averaging 5.1 yards per carry and has accounted for only five ground scores.

The passing game has helped, too, with a productive receiving corps led by rookie Zay Flowers and a suddenly resurgent Odel Beckham Jr. Tight end Mark Andrews was injured in week 11, so that was unfortunate but the Ravens have responded well.

A difficult close to the season is on the horizon, with a possible Super Bowl preview against the 49ers on Christmas Day. Meetings with Jacksonville and Miami also await but the Ravens should finish the season at least 12-5 and an AFC North title to their name.

Weeks 14 - 18: vs LAR (12/10), @ JAX (12/17), @ SF (12/25), vs MIA (12/31), vs PIT (1/7/24)

Josh Allen

The season for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills (6-6) could very well be on the line in the coming weeks, with games in back-to-back weeks against the Chiefs and the Cowboys. Not to say that a loss in both weeks would ruin the season but playoff chances might look very slim at that point.

And despite Allen having the stats similar to the rest of his career, a lot of the losses can be blamed on him and the offense. Mostly due to a penchant for turning the ball over.

It's not only Allen but he is a top culprit. The sixth-year quarterback has thrown at least one interception in 10 of the team's 12 games, including in eight straight games. 

Frustration has grown in Buffalo, with the six losses for the Bills coming by a combined 26 points, with two coming in overtime. To shake things up, offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was fired after a week 10 loss to Denver.

Allen has thrown 83 passes in the two games since, completing 49 of them for 614 yards and five touchdowns. He even had his best game on the ground in week 12, gaining 81 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

Still, the Bills went 1-2 in the recent stretch. Looking at stats, Allen is having another outstanding year (aside from the 13 interceptions). He's at a 68.1 completion percentage with 3214 yards and 24 touchdown passes. Allen's added 342 rushing yards and has been sacked only 15 times this season.

Even after the Chiefs and Cowboys, the Bills face a daunting task down the stretch. They will need to be at their best on both sides of the ball. A 9-8 season is a real possibility and the one question left to be seen if that happens will be: is that good enough to get into the playoffs?

Weeks 14 - 18: @ KC (12/10), vs DAL (12/17), @ LAC (12/23), vs NE (12/31), @ MIA (1/7/24)

Baker Mayfield

The NFC South is up for grabs with five games remaining on the schedule. Believe it or not, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7) are hanging around because Baker Mayfield is their quarterback.

Their record isn't the prettiest and Mayfield isn't the sleekest of these quarterbacks and not even in the top-10 in league. But he is putting up more-than-modest numbers despite a shaky offensive line and a stuck-in-cement running game.

The Bucs managed to go 2-2 in their last four games despite not once scoring over 21 points. In fact, they've only done such on three occasions thus far in '23-24. And while some of the blame for the losing record can be blamed on quarterback play, Mayfield is the best option for the team at the moment.

Mayfield is coming off one of his weakest games this season, a 21-18 victory over the Carolina Panthers. He was 14-29 for 202 yards, one touchdown, and one pick. Seven of those completions, and the touchdown, went to Mike Evans, who finished with 162 receiving yards.

Mayfield has seen some regression in recent weeks but I suppose that's what happens when one is sacked 13 times in a span of three games. After throwing only four interceptions in the season's first nine weeks, Mayfield has thrown four in the last four, notching one a week.

The completion percentage is lowest of these 2018 quarterbacks this season, at 63.8 percent. But Mayfield has thrown for 2790 yards and 18 touchdowns and is on pace to put up similar to numbers as those in his first three seasons in the league.

Tampa Bay went 2-1 in the division on the first go-around, so a division title is very much in play. They are only one game back of the Atlanta Falcons, their next opponent (and only division loss so far). A win this week and they'll be in play until the final two weeks. A loss makes things more difficult but there's a chance an 8-9 Mayfield-led Bucs squad could very well sneak into the playoffs.

Weeks 14 - 18: @ ATL (12/10), @ GB (12/17), vs JAX (12/24), vs NO (12/31), @ CAR (1/7/24)

Sam Darnold

The (9-3) have found their winning ways again, notching four straight victories by an average of nearly 23 points per game. Quarterback Brock Purdy has recaptured his magic and the team is fresh off a 42-19 throttling of the Philadelphia Eagles.

This means Sam Darnold is riding the backup quarterback high, mostly entering games late in the action to hand the ball to others or take a knee. Darnold has collected nine carries this season for negative nine yards, really taking a bit out of his career average. 

Darnold is 2-3 for seven yards this season. On paper, the Niners have not-so-terrible schedule down the stretch. Perhaps, if all goes to plan, the team will have a no. 2 seed or homefield advantage sewn up by week 18 and Darnold could earn a start. If not, well, he'll continue to carry the clipboard, waiting for his chance to shine.

Weeks 14 - 18: vs SEA (12/10), @ ARI (12/17), vs BAL (12/25), @ WAS (12/31), vs LAR (1/7/24)

Josh Rosen

With all the quarterback injuries this season, I wonder if Josh Rosen has received any calls? Is he taking calls? Or is his pro career effectively over? Nothing new to report but perhaps one day Rosen's career will be written about as a miraculous turnaround with future success. Or, this space will remain blank in future years.

Be sure to check back in after the final week of the regular season to see which quarterbacks are playoff bound and which are staying home.

photo credit: Flickr

5 NFL QBs: Previewing season six

5 NFL QBs: Season six, thru week four

5 NFL QBs: Season six, thru week nine

Boise State Broncos men's basketball clamps down on 'D'

 

Outside, the weather was frightful in eastern Idaho. Inside the arena, however, the first 10-15 minutes against Saint Mary's, the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team was scorching.

Offense was firing, the defense was in lockdown mode, and the Broncos looked every bit like a team ready to run the Gaels out of the gym.

Then, action stagnated and shots stopped falling. Thankfully, the defense was impressive as the Broncos (4-3) held on to pick up a 63-60 victory.

An active, often trapping defense had Boise State giving Saint Mary's (3-5) fits all night. The Gaels were only 2-14 on three-point attempts and had five turnovers (14 overall) in the game's opening minutes as Boise State opened on an 11-0 run.

Boise State showed off the depth of its roster, partially due to first-half foul trouble from multiple players. And it was a nice mix of upper and lower classmen contributing at key moments in the victory.

Broncos weather the storm

After the fast start for the Broncos provided a nice cushion, Saint Mary's was able to slowly chip away at the lead. Thanks, in large part, to a frigid Bronco offense that went without a field goal for minutes at a time.

The Gaels, however, never really got on a true hot streak. Boise State held a ten-point lead at the half and it wasn't until early in the second half that Saint Mary's got on a little roll.

A 13-2 run brought the Gaels to within one, at 38-37, and they seemed poised to get their first lead of the night.

Then freshman Andrew Meadow took over.

Meadow connected on back-to-back threes with his only buckets of the night and the lead was once again at seven. Meadow was part of a second unit that saw a lot of minutes in the second half, often rotating in with only one or two starters on the floor for the stretch run of the game.

Saint Mary's hung around and Boise State once again went cold. Both teams missed too many free throws but the Broncos did enough to hold on.

Tyson Degenhart led Boise State with 17 points (only five after halftime), adding four rebounds and five assists. Chibuzo Agbo chipped in 11 points and 8 rebounds, with O'Mar Stanley adding 10 in the scoring column.

The bench had a nice night with 22 points. Roddie Anderson III had 7 points to go along with Meadow's six and RJ Keene scored five.

While there were contributions across the board, there were still far too many moments where the offense struggled to keep things going.

East coast recap

Going three to four minutes without a field goal has long seemed a problem with Boise State. And it's reared its head again early this season.

A 1-3 road trip proved that. Granted, the Broncos played some very tough defensive teams, and they were in every game they lost. 

In losses to Clemson and Virginia Tech, Boise State still managed to score 68 and 75 points. Defense, rebounding, and turnovers did the team in those losses, though not all three areas at the same time in each game.

Like most teams, Boise State is best on offense with ball movement and fluidity. Too often, the Broncos can get stuck in isolation or locked in with a two-man game on one side of the court, eating away too much of the shot clock. Then, shots are forced, and lack of scoring ensues.

It's part of today's game, really, with the dribble-handoffs and allowing all players to create. It just seems the Broncos are much better with quick ball movement, back cuts, and motion.

A nice win over VCU was part of the trip, and I think when it's all said and done, these losses won't necessarily be bad ones (just that another victory might have been nice to pad the old resume).

Scoring droughts are going to be part of most games. But the Broncos can overcome those, as long as the defense remains solid and the bench, one of the deepest for Boise State in recent years, can contribute. And those droughts should be less apparent as the season wears on. 

Boise State will look to keep their momentum going when they take the court on December 5, hosting the North Texas Mean Green (5-2). Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. (MST).

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boise State Broncos football: Turmoil begats the improbable

 

The end of the 2023 season was nigh for a storied Boise State Broncos football program. A downfall culminating in turmoil, player transfers, and a head coach who was let go with two games left in the regular season. Toss in frustration at a lack of dominance, and the storm brewed for a big offseason of change.

All that led to clinching an appearance in the Mountain West title game for the seventh time.

The Broncos will be seeking their fourth title this Saturday in Las Vegas, taking on the UNLV Rebels (9-3, 6-2). The matchup is in part thanks to the computer rankings placing Boise State higher than the San Jose State Spartans; a determination needed when all teams finished 6-2 in conference after the Spartans defeated the Rebels last Saturday.

After a loss to Fresno State, all seemed lost for the Broncos in finishing in the top two in the conference. Thanks to some help from New Mexico and Hawaii, the improbable happened. Even more generous considering the Broncos fired head coach Andy Avalos after a resounding victory over New Mexico.

Amid a coaching search, interim head coach Spencer Danielson has fired up the Boise State team, bringing renewed optimism after two victories to close the regular season. Whether Danielson ultimately is named head coach or not, Boise State is likely best served going forward by keeping him on the staff. Especially if he and the Broncos bring home another title Saturday.

Boise State Broncos on the rise

A win-loss record of 7-5 is not exactly something to write home about when standards are 10-win seasons around these parts. Still, the Broncos were 1-2 plays away in four losses from being 11-1 and had plenty of offensive firepower to carry this season's team at times.

That starts at the top with Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year Ashton Jeanty.

The sophomore running back had a season for the ages and is considered one of the top backs (if not best) in the nation. Playing in ten games, Jeanty rushed for 1109 yards and added another 537 receiving (on 37 receptions). Jeanty scored 18 touchdowns and was a threat to score every time he touched the ball.

Jeanty's skill was on full display in last Friday's 27-19 victory over Air Force, scoring on a 75-yard screen pass and 50-yard run. Jeanty finished with 225 scrimmage yards, punctuating an excellent regular season.

Jeanty was part of a rushing attack that was solid all year. The Broncos rushed for 787 yards in the last three games, including a whopping 352 against Utah State. 

George Holani rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns that game. Though not the season he expected, playing in only six games so far, Holani has rushed for 534 yards and five touchdowns.

Four players rushed for at least 300 total yards this season for the Broncos, including quarterback Taylen Green. Green, who split much of the conference season with Maddux Madsen, has 344 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

Leaps were expected in the passing game for Green, who has taken over again as starter for Boise State after Madsen suffered a season-ending injury against New Mexico. Passing has been serviceable by Green, just not the improvement expected. Perhaps the expectations were too high or the coaching not up to par in that regard. Either way, Green is still an explosive asset who completed 55.3 percent of his passes, with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.

One of the positive developments in the last two games has been the re-integration of getting the tight ends involved. For years, this position was an important part of the Broncos passing game and it's fantastic to see them involved again.

Overall, the Broncos averaged 32 points per game, scoring 30 or more in nine straight games at one point. The firepower will be needed to compensate for a subpar Bronco defense, to balance against an UNLV team who can put up points with the best of them.

UNLV riding a special season

The Boise State defense has had its moments, and there have been individual efforts worth of mention. Alexander Teubner leads the team with 63 tackles and Ahmed Hassanein has been a force on the defensive line with 12 sacks.

Linebacker Andrew Simpson has been special, too, with 59 tackles and 15 tackles for loss.

Boise State is solid against the run, allowing 127.2 yards per game. It's in the passing game where the Broncos struggle, allowing nearly 255 yards per game. And they will be tested by a Rebels team locked in through the air.

Primarily, it's a freshman quarterback connecting with two solid receivers Boise State needs to keep an eye on.

Jayden Maiava has taken the reins and completed 64 percent of his passes this season. Maiava has thrown for 2628 yards, 14 touchdowns, and six interceptions. 

Two receivers dominate the stat lines for the Rebels, hauling in 57.9 percent of the receptions for UNLV this season. Ricky White III has 75 for 1300 yards and seven touchdowns, while Jacob DeJesus has 46 for 456 and two scores (and also a threat in the return game).

This isn't to say UNLV doesn't run the ball. The Rebels have 36 rushing touchdowns this season and have a trio of players who can produce, keeping legs fresh. 

UNLV enters the game averaging 35.6 points per game. In five of their first six games this season, the Rebels scored 40+ points, making up for a defense allowing 25.6 points per game.

Jackson Woodard has 104 tackles and Jaxen Turner has four interceptions for UNLV.

Boise State faced a difficult uphill battle in getting to this game and UNLV is having a spectacular season by their program's standards. Either could walk away victorious in this game but it will be Boise State's running game that shines, outlasting UNLV's passing attack in a 31-24 Bronco victory.

Boise State @ UNLV. December 2 at 3 p.m. (EST) on Fox.

Boise State Broncos: Turmoil begats the improbable

 

The end of the 2023 season was nigh for a storied Boise State Broncos football program. A downfall culminating in turmoil, player transfers, and a head coach who was let go with two games left in the regular season. Toss in frustration at a lack of dominance, and the storm brewed for a big offseason of change.

All that led to clinching an appearance in the Mountain West title game for the seventh time.

The Broncos will be seeking their fourth title this Saturday in Las Vegas, taking on the UNLV Rebels (9-3, 6-2). The matchup is in part thanks to the computer rankings placing Boise State higher than the San Jose State Spartans; a determination needed when all teams finished 6-2 in conference after the Spartans defeated the Rebels last Saturday.

After a loss to Fresno State, all seemed lost for the Broncos in finishing in the top two in the conference. Thanks to some help from New Mexico and Hawaii, the improbable happened. Even more generous considering the Broncos fired head coach Andy Avalos after a resounding victory over New Mexico.

Amid a coaching search, interim head coach Spencer Danielson has fired up the Boise State team, bringing renewed optimism after two victories to close the regular season. Whether Danielson ultimately is named head coach or not, Boise State is likely best served going forward by keeping him on the staff. Especially if he and the Broncos bring home another title Saturday.

Boise State Broncos on the rise

A win-loss record of 7-5 is not exactly something to write home about when standards are 10-win seasons around these parts. Still, the Broncos were 1-2 plays away in four losses from being 11-1 and had plenty of offensive firepower to carry this season's team at times.

That starts at the top with Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year Ashton Jeanty.

The sophomore running back had a season for the ages and is considered one of the top backs (if not best) in the nation. Playing in ten games, Jeanty rushed for 1109 yards and added another 537 receiving (on 37 receptions). Jeanty scored 18 touchdowns and was a threat to score every time he touched the ball.

Jeanty's skill was on full display in last Friday's 27-19 victory over Air Force, scoring on a 75-yard screen pass and 50-yard run. Jeanty finished with 225 scrimmage yards, punctuating an excellent regular season.

Jeanty was part of a rushing attack that was solid all year. The Broncos rushed for 787 yards in the last three games, including a whopping 352 against Utah State. 

George Holani rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns that game. Though not the season he expected, playing in only six games so far, Holani has rushed for 534 yards and five touchdowns.

Four players rushed for at least 300 total yards this season for the Broncos, including quarterback Taylen Green. Green, who split much of the conference season with Maddux Madsen, has 344 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

Leaps were expected in the passing game for Green, who has taken over again as starter for Boise State after Madsen suffered a season-ending injury against New Mexico. Passing has been serviceable by Green, just not the improvement expected. Perhaps the expectations were too high or the coaching not up to par in that regard. Either way, Green is still an explosive asset who completed 55.3 percent of his passes, with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.

One of the positive developments in the last two games has been the re-integration of getting the tight ends involved. For years, this position was an important part of the Broncos passing game and it's fantastic to see them involved again.

Overall, the Broncos averaged 32 points per game, scoring 30 or more in nine straight games at one point. The firepower will be needed to compensate for a subpar Bronco defense, to balance against an UNLV team who can put up points with the best of them.

UNLV riding a special season

The Boise State defense has had its moments, and there have been individual efforts worth of mention. Alexander Teubner leads the team with 63 tackles and Ahmed Hassanein has been a force on the defensive line with 12 sacks.

Linebacker Andrew Simpson has been special, too, with 59 tackles and 15 tackles for loss.

Boise State is solid against the run, allowing 127.2 yards per game. It's in the passing game where the Broncos struggle, allowing nearly 255 yards per game. And they will be tested by a Rebels team locked in through the air.

Primarily, it's a freshman quarterback connecting with two solid receivers Boise State needs to keep an eye on.

Jayden Maiava has taken the reins and completed 64 percent of his passes this season. Maiava has thrown for 2628 yards, 14 touchdowns, and six interceptions. 

Two receivers dominate the stat lines for the Rebels, hauling in 57.9 percent of the receptions for UNLV this season. Ricky White III has 75 for 1300 yards and seven touchdowns, while Jacob DeJesus has 46 for 456 and two scores (and also a threat in the return game).

This isn't to say UNLV doesn't run the ball. The Rebels have 36 rushing touchdowns this season and have a trio of players who can produce, keeping legs fresh. 

UNLV enters the game averaging 35.6 points per game. In five of their first six games this season, the Rebels scored 40+ points, making up for a defense allowing 25.6 points per game.

Jackson Woodard has 104 tackles and Jaxen Turner has four interceptions for UNLV.

Boise State faced a difficult uphill battle in getting to this game and UNLV is having a spectacular season by their program's standards. Either could walk away victorious in this game but it will be Boise State's running game that shines, outlasting UNLV's passing attack in a 31-24 Bronco victory.

Boise State @ UNLV. December 2 at 3 p.m. (EST) on Fox.

Boston College Eagles: Bumpy flight to close regular season

 

A five-game winning streak is a long forgotten fever dream after the Boston College Eagles lost three straight to close the regular season.

The wins can be applauded but it still proves this young team has work to do in being a consistent winner.

A variety of missteps and bad fortune down the stretch disrupted the Boston College Eagles (6-6, 3-5) and their bid for an eight-win season. Turnovers. Injuries. Dropped passes. And a defense, once getting by on pluck and red zone stands, couldn't find a way to stop opponents during the losing streak.

Two of those three games weren't even close, including the finale on Friday, a 45-20 Miami Hurricanes victory. The streak kicked off with Boston College allowing 48 points to the Virginia Tech Hokies.

The meat of the losing sandwich, and perhaps the most disappointing game, was a 24-16 loss to the Pitt Panthers. Turnovers and mental errors were the main culprits in this defeat, and were ever-present down against the Hurricanes as well.

Hot & cold offense

Turnovers turned into a nightmare for Boston College, giving games away early and preventing comebacks late. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos, a work in progress in the passing game, threw six interceptions during the losing streak.

Against the Hurricanes, Castellanos was a perfect 4-4 on the game's opening drive. Things were looking up, and it appeared the Eagles were primed for a huge day on offense.

A dropped pass to open their next drive turned everything around. Hard to say that with the game only in the first quarter but Boston College never really seemed to be on track the remainder of the way.

Castellanos wasn't exactly horrible on the day, finishing 15-25 for 152 yards and a touchdown (along with two interceptions). He made some nice throws and showed flashes in the passing game that will eventually make him a fantastic all-around quarterback.

It was again in the ground game where Castellanos truly shined. In fact, he was the running game, as the Boston College running backs mostly floundered against the Hurricanes with the limited opportunity they had. 

Castellanos carried the ball 19 times for 130 yards and a score, while Kye Robichaux and Alex Broome carried the ball a grand total of seven times for 13 yards.

Lewis Bond capped off a fine regular season with six receptions for 46 yards and Dino Tomlin had one of his best days, finishing with three catches for 48 yards.

Against Miami, there were simply too many three-and-outs by Boston College that involved one carry and then two incomplete passes. A lot of this took place in the first half, where this and a leaky defense contributed to Miami taking a 28-7 halftime lead. 

Wherefore art thou, defense?

Too easy might be the best description for opposing offenses the last three weeks. The Boston College defense wasn't stingy in the season's first nine games but they also weren't necessarily porous. 

Some sort of switch flipped the last three games, and not the good kind one wants to see.

Injuries played their part, as did a natural wear down of the season. The secondary's depth was tested, and the team simply ran out of steam.

Virginia Tech rang up 600 yards of offense against the Eagles. How did Boston College follow that up? By allowing 439 rushing yards in their final two games, allowing Pitt and Miami ball carriers to average six yards per attempt.

A lot of different players saw action in the final weeks, with a fair number of underclassmen seeing more time on the field. One was defensive back KP Price, who had six tackles against Miami.

Khari Johnson, though a senior, had one of his finest games as an Eagle. The transfer from Arkansas had nine tackles against the Hurricanes.

The slide at the end of the season for Boston College didn't ruin all the goodwill of that five-game winning streak. The Eagles will be headed to a bowl game, with a final chance to send the seniors out winners. Bowl games are a nice bow to a season, especially with a victory, but at some point one wonders when, and if, Boston College will take that next step. Hopefully soon, or chances are another coaching regime will be flipped out and brand-new hope ushered in. To repeat the cycle, all over again.

photo credit: Flickr

More on Boston College football 2023:

Tough loss in Red Bandanna Game Boston College win streak reaches four

Boise State Broncos women's basketball off to races in '23-24

 

The success the Boise State Broncos women's basketball team saw in the waning weeks of the 2022-23 season has carried over to begin '23-24.

A schedule that hasn't been the most difficult has helped. Still, a deep and talented Broncos squad is playing (mostly) excellent basketball in running to a 4-0 start.
In achieving their best start since beginning 5-0 in the '20-21 season, Boise State is outscoring opponents by nearly 24 points (69.8 - 46) per game.  All have been home games, a decided plus, with the closest a 63-55 victory over UC Riverside (2-3). And the Broncos are finding success on both sides of the ball.
Boise State averages 44.2 percent from the field while holding opponents to 30.3. The numbers from three-point range are steady on offense, 41.2 percent, and suffocating on defense at 23.9 percent. Rebounding is impressive, with an average of plus 13.5 per game, and the Broncos have 32 blocks so far this season.
One area of concern is turnovers, where the Broncos average 17 per game. The lack of care allowed both UC Riverside and Pepperdine to hang round, though Boise State pulled away late in a 63-47 victory over Pepperdine.
Results have seen Boise State arrive as promised, with a deep roster where through four games no player is averaging more than 30 minutes per game.
Individual efforts for Boise StateThe sophomore class for the Broncos was expected to carry a lot of weight with this season's team. And so far, they have, with two of them leading the team in scoring out of the gate.
Splitting time between coming off the bench and starting last season, Natalie Pasco has started all four games this season, scorching the bottom of the net in playing 21.5 a contest. Pasco is 10-18 from three-point range and leads the Broncos in scoring with 12 points per game. 
Fellow sophomore Mya Hansen is second in scoring at 10 points per game and not too far off in the long ball department, too, shooting 7-15 from deep. Hansen also has 12 assists, dishing out seven in a victory over Weber State.
Sophomore Dani Bayes has struggled a bit from the field but has knocked down six threes. Bayes is one of eight Broncos to connect on a three-point attempt this season.
Not to be outdone, the three seniors for Boise State are off to strong starts. Point guard Mary Kay Naro has found the knack for a key bucket to stop opponents runs and is third on the team in scoring with 8.3 points per game. Naro is shooting 55 percent from the field and averages 29 minutes per game. She has 21 assists and has taken care of the ball with only nine turnovers.
The frontcourt of Elodie Lalotte and Abby Muse are contributing a variety of ways. Lalotte, who missed the Pepperdine game with an illness, averages 7 points and 5 rebounds per game. Muse, a first-team preseason all-conference selection, is up to the usual shenanigans on the defensive end, where she already has 15 blocked shots.
Muse averages nine rebounds per game to go along with 6.8 points. While she is shooting 52.4 percent from the field, improvement can be had. Easy inside misses will start to turn into makes as the season flow progresses, and free throws can be improved upon, where Muse is off to a 5-13 start.
College of Southern Idaho transfer Alyssa Christensen has picked up some of that frontcourt slack. Christensen started in the place of Lalotte against Pepperdine and averages 6.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
All told, nine players average at least six points for the Broncos. This depth will be tested over Thanksgiving weekend at the South Point Classic in Las Vegas.
Broncos upcoming gamesFor the first time this season, Boise State takes to the road. Though not true road games, the two match-ups in Las Vegas should provide the Broncos with good competition.
The first is on 11/24 at 5 pm (MT) against their fellow mascot namesake, the Santa Clara Broncos (5-1). Santa Clara is off to a good start themselves, riding a four-game winning straight with their only loss a 71-56 game against the Cal Bears.
Santa Clara also owns a 39-point victory over Oregon and defeated San Jose State by eight to open the season.
These Broncos are a solid perimeter team on offense and like to shoot the three. They average 68 points per game but do have some turnover trouble as well, with nearly 15 per contest.
Guard Tess Heal leads the team with 18 points per game and is shooting 50 percent from the field, including 63.6 percent from deep. Heal also averages four assists but that is balanced out with 3.7 turnovers per game.
Olivia Pollerd has knocked down 12 three-pointers and averages 11 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Another Santa Clara player to keep an eye on is Marya Hudgins, who contributes 8.3 points and 7.5 rebounds.
Santa Clara's last three wins have all been by more than 20 points and the team averages nearly 10 steals, with Ashley Hiraki snagging 2.7 a game.
Boise State turns around and plays again on Saturday (11/25 @ 7:30 pm MT). This time their foe is Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights currently sit 3-3 and play Texas Tech in Vegas prior to Saturday's match-up.
Rutgers has trouble taking care of the ball and maximizing possessions, with 21.5 turnovers per game. However, they make up for that with over 43 rebounds per game, with many across their roster contributing.
Destiny Adams is one of two players averaging 9.2 rebounds per game for the Scarlet Knights. Adams is also tops in the scoring department at 13.5, with Kaylene Smikle not far behind at 12.2.
The other Rutgers player with 9.2 rebounds per game is Chyna Cornwell, who also scores 9.8 a game while shooting 59.4 percent on field goal attempts.
Rutgers loves the three-point attempt but has struggled in the first six games. Though only shooting 31 percent from deep, volume helps make up some of the difference. Rutgers attempts nearly 20 three-pointers per game. Jillian Huerta is 13-31 from deep, while Adams has connected on only six of 24 attempts.
Rutgers enters this two-day tournament coming off a 78-54 loss to Fairfield.
Two prime opportunities await Boise State this weekend in Las Vegas. Both are winnable games, and each present a different test. Hopefully Boise State can show their versatility and walk away with their perfect record intact, building towards a successful season run through the Mountain West.
photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
Boise State season preview 2023-24 2022-23: Broncos playing best at right time

Boise State Broncos men's basketball looking to feast this week

College basketball seasons are not defined in November and December. Results in those months, however can determine where a team ends up come March Madness time.

For the Boise State Broncos men's basketball team, the upcoming slate of games could possible leave them stuffed from positive results. And, concurrently, provide the hunger and a glimpse of an exciting season to come.

Boise State (2-0) is off to a strong start in the 2023-24 season. Home victories over Vanguard, 89-55, and the San Francisco Dons, 63-58, are already on the resume. The Broncos' win against the Dons was an impressive early season defensive effort. And given San Francisco has postseason aspirations of their own, should be a nice resume qualifier for Boise State come March.

Tyson Degenhart, face mask and all, made his season debut against San Francisco. The junior led the team with 17 points (on 6-13 shooting) and pulled down five rebounds. Degenhart also spearheaded the attack on defense, with three of the team's 10 steals, and Boise State held the Dons to a frigid 4-19 from deep.

Chibuzo Agbo has already provided glimpses of taking his game up to another level and has 34 points on 54.2 percent shooting in two games. Super-duper senior Max Rice has 22 points but only 3-12 from three-point range in the early going (that middle of the paint floater is still top notch, though).

Degenhart, Agbo, and Rice will be the focus but it's a deep bench that's going to determine how far the Broncos go in '23-24. Especially with high-value resume building opportunities on the horizon.

Boise State vs Clemson

A rotation stretching nine or ten deep is ideal for Boise State. There's a possibility they can go even deeper, if necessary. Some of the numbers are skewed, the season being only two games old and all, but they have been encouraging. Except for maybe three-point shooting but that aspect will turn around.

The Broncos are averaging 76 points per game and their rebounding margin is through the roof (average: 47.5 - 29). The margin was huge against Vanguard, with Boise State holding a +4 advantage against San Francisco.

Rebounding and interior play will be tested against the Clemson Tigers (3-0). Boise State's two big men transfers are off to solid starters. O'Mar Stanley has scored 25 points while shooting 81.8 percent, with seven offensive rebounds to his credit. And Cam Martin has 15 points and 17 rebounds this season.

They will be in for a battle against Tigers big man PJ Hall. Hall averages 21.3 points and seven rebounds per game. He is shooting 56.8 percent from the field and also stretches the floor with fluidity, knocking down six of his 15 three-point attempts.

Clemson can also get it done with the backcourt, too. Chase Hunter averages 11 points and 3.7 assists per game. Joseph Girard III has knocked down seven three-pointers and averages 8.7 points per game.

The Tigers have had a couple of close victories after opening the season with a 22-point win over Winthrop. Clemson held off UAB 77-76 and most recently defeated Davidson 68-65. Entering Sunday's contest against the Broncos, Clemson averages 32 rebounds, 18 assists and 6.3 blocked shots per game. The Tigers are shooting 46 percent from the field and knock down 37.8 percent of their attempts from deep.

Boise State @ Clemson. 11/19 @ 2 pm (ET)

Boise State Broncos: ESPN Events Invitational

The ESPN Events Invitational boasts eight teams who all could be in the NCAA tournament in March. Some will fall by the wayside, yes, but all programs have made tournament appearances in recent years.

Boise State tips-off with a game against the Virginia Tech Hokies, who are currently 2-1 and have a game with Wofford prior to facing the Broncos. Boise State will see another solid big man, with the Hokies boasting Lynn Kidd. 

Kidd is shooting 80 percent from the field, averaging 16.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.

The Hokies won the ACC tournament in the 2021-22 season, and boast Sean Pedulla (15.3 ppg, 6.7 assists per game) and Hunter Cattoor (10-24 on threes). The Hokies lone loss to date was a two-point game against South Carolina.

Next up will either be Iowa State or VCU. The Cyclones are 3-0 while VCU is 2-1, suffering an 11-point loss to McNeese State.

The other side of the bracket is a beast, with final game of the Invitational for Boise State against one of these four teams: Penn State, Texas A&M, Florida Atlantic, or Butler.

Boise State vs Virginia Tech. 11/23 @ 8 pm (ET)

Boise State vs Iowa State/VCU. 11/24 (5:30 pm ET w/ a gm 1 win OR 8 pm ET w/ gm. 1 loss)

Boise State vs TBD. 11/26

It's a daunting road trip but this is the type of schedule that builds winners in March. Winning all four games would be absolutely stunning and doable for the Broncos. On a more realistic scale, I do expect Boise State plays no worse than 2-2 and hopefully 3-1 in the next week. Predictions: Wins over Clemson and the final two games of the Invitational. 

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boston Celtics: Sam Hauser cooking and booking

 

The right hand of Sam Hauser has been an added delight for the Boston Celtics in the young days of the 2023-24 NBA season.

While it seemed Payton Pritchard the player set for a sky high season and provide the spark off the bench, it has been Hauser so far assuming that role. Pritchard has struggled with his shot while still finding ways to contribute but it is Hauser who has provided the scoring punch.

It's hard to be surprised by this development, given Hauser's steady rise with Boston last season. He was the occasional spot starter (eight games) and contributor (80 regular season appearances) last season, garnering more responsibility as the season progressed. Hauser rewarded the faith with hard-nosed defense and sweet three-pointers, and is proving to be worth the three-year contract the Celtics signed him to in the summer of 2022.

Moves in the offseason meant more for Hauser to contribute and 11 games into the '23-24 season, the dividends are paying nicely.

Hot start Hauser

The Boston Celtics (9-2) are off to a blazing start and Hauser is a big part of that. Not "starting five" big but a huge factor in averaging 20.9 minutes per game.

Hauser did find himself at the receiving end of his first start this season on Wednesday night, with both Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis getting the night off.

There were struggles, with Hauser shooting only 3-9 from the field, finishing with eight points. But he was a pest on defense and, in 35 minutes, helped Boston secure the 117-107 road victory over the 76ers.

In his third season, Hauser's start could lead to his best season yet. Hauser is averaging 9.5 points and 3.2 rebounds per game. He is shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from three-point range. Four games Hauser has made four or more threes in a game this season.

All are jumps over last season, including minutes (from 16.1 to 20.9) per game. Shooting has been better, leading to a higher points per game average. And it's a trend that will hopefully continue as the season goes on, helping the Celtics aspire to greater things.

Boston Celtics going strong

The new-look Celtics are coming together nicely in the early going. Even their two losses were competitive, with Boston losing back-to-back road games in Philadelphia and Minnesota by a combined eight points.

After those losses, the Celtics have won four straight by an average of nearly 16 points per game, including their first two games of the season of holding opponents under 100 points.

The most Boston has given up this season is 114 in the loss to the Timberwolves. They are winning games by an average of 13 points per game (119.4 - 106) and ran wild in a 155-104 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

The player at the top of the team is again Jayson Tatum, who is off to an outstanding start and taking things up a notch this season. He can score steadily throughout the game or can go in spurts, letting the stars around him get going as needed.

Tatum is averaging 28.5 points per game, shooting 51.6 percent from the field, and 8.8 rebounds per game. All five starters are averaging double digits in scoring, with Porzingis (19.7) just short of joining Tatum and Brown (22.9) in the 20+ points per game club.

A healthy, cohesive start is exactly what was wanted for the Celtics to open the season. They are also proving to have a deep, interchangeable bench. Hauser, Pritchard, and Al Horford are the ones seeing consistent minutes. Beyond that, it's any number of players seeing time and contributing.

For now, the top of the bench line belongs to Hauser. And if the threes keep dropping, the spot will be his all season long.

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Boise State Broncos football: Building a future amidst chaos

 

Change is afoot for the Boise State Broncos football team.The bumpy 2023 season for the Boise State Broncos football encountered even more bumps on Sunday. Head coach Andy Avalos was relieved of his duties with two games remaining in the regular season, a decision perhaps made even more abrupt considering the Broncos were fresh off a 42-14 over the New Mexico Lobos on Saturday night.

At 5-5, disappointment in the Broncos and Avalos was warranted. However, at 4-2 in conference, Boise State remains in the hunt for an appearance in the Mountain West title game. They still need some dominos to fall their way but had help over the weekend when Hawaii defeated Air Force and the San Jose State Spartans took down Fresno State.

Boise State's final two games will be coached, on an interim basis, by defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson. A national search by athletic director Jeremiah Dickey is likely already under way and I imagine Danielson and offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan will at least get courtesy interviews, if they are interested in the position.

From there, well, who is to say what route is ultimately taken to help repair the mess that is the '23 season. Members of the Boise State family could be considered, with Jeff Choate, Ryan Dinwiddie, and Kirby Moore among the possibilities. Sorry to those clamoring for Kellen Moore to take over. While it's a nice dream to have, I imagine he's on the NFL head coach track and won't return to his alma mater. At least for the time being.

Avalos and the Boise State standard

Avalos' firing was a product of bad luck, improving competition, a changing college football landscape, bad in-game decisions, and ultimately (this is only a guess), a locker room where he'd lost the respect of players. I have a hard time believing not all players and respect, because if that was the case, the Broncos would have put up an absolute dud against the Lobos on Saturday.

Instead, the Broncos were a team that, despite a slew of injuries on both sides of the ball, had a fairly fantastic victory over New Mexico. And I wonder how much of a different tune the world would be swinging if the Broncos were 9-1 right now instead of .500.

The loss against the Washington Huskies was truly the only game in which Boise State was not close to winning. What if special teams played better, avoiding blocked field goals returned for touchdowns or game-changing kickoff return for touchdowns right before halftime? What if the defense came up with just one more stop or last-second Hail Mary was defended in any of the four losses Boise State suffered by a combined 13 points?

This is not to say the offense is not to blame. Two interceptions ended drives in the Fresno State loss that could have turned the tide of the game Boise State's direction. 

Despite the troubled two-quarterback system implemented, Boise State has scored 30+ points in the last eight games. The offense had its hiccups, battling inconsistency, turnovers, injuries, and transfers, but they are far from the biggest issue on this team. 

Perhaps firing Avalos was a pre-emptive move to stem the swell of players looking to transfer from Boise State. A move, likely a difficult one for Dickey, in effort to convince them to stay and learn under a new coach and new atmosphere. To this outsider, it also makes me wonder if the locker room was a divided one. What about the players who Avalos recruited, who loved to play for him, and now will be looking to get out? Is that risk worth the reward.

Sadly, coaches with short hooks and getting fired quickly is the norm. This is not to say Avalos didn't have plenty of opportunity to turn things around. 

Jumping around from school to school, too, has long been the state of college football coaches, especially at Boise State. Because of their excellence, the coordinator position has often been a revolving door of coaches. They move on to bigger pay days and better opportunities. Head coaches, too, have moved on, with Boise State now looking for their fourth head coach since the start of the 2006 season. Not exactly a "gasp" situation but, as a perceived elite program, something you'd like to see a little more stability with (money talks, as they say).

Through it all, the Broncos have continued to win. Their last losing season was in 1997, a streak on the line in the last two regular season games. We'll never know if Avalos, with a career record of 22-14, would have taken the Broncos there in 2023. 

In the end, Avalos, the 2022 Mountain West Coach of the Year, failed in his tenure to reach a high standard previous coaches at Boise State had set. Now, we'll get to see if the grass is greener (or bluer, to wit) with Danielson and whoever comes after. Or if all that clamoring in recent weeks was all for not and there wasn't enough patience to see if Avalos could grow this program to the top of the mountain once again. 

photo: Jason Haskins

Boston College Eagles grounded as winning streak ends

 

The end of the winning streak arrived with a loud, emphatic thud for the Boston College Eagles on Saturday afternoon. Bad omens started early, with an interception on the first play of the game, and only grew worse as the game wore on.

First quarter competitiveness disappeared and Boston College (6-4, 3-3) never got back on track in a 48-22 loss to the Virginia Tech Hokies.

Positive aspects in this loss for the Eagles is hard to come by. Boston College battled but at every turn, the Hokies awaited with a nearly flawless game. An early lead was achieved by the Eagles. A second interception by Thomas Castellanos, plus a recovered onside kick by the Hokies, really took the wind out from under Boston College.

The defense couldn't find a stop and the offense, with its top two running backs on the shelf, never found a rhythm. Toss in Virginia Tech (5-5, 4-2) excelling in every aspect and it was perfect storm of the Eagles falling in a rout. 

Boston College Eagles offenseThe overpowering Boston College running game never really had a chance to make a huge impact against Virginia Tech. Injuries to the top two backs, Kye Robichaux (565 yards) and Pat Garwo III (270 yards) already meant the Eagles might need some magic on Saturday.

Alex Broome appeared like he was going to fit right in, busting out a 36-yard run in the first quarter, followed by a four-yard touchdown run.

Unfortunately, that would be the brightest spot of the day for Broome. Falling behind 31-7 by the end of the second quarter did the Eagles and Broome no favors. And while Boston College tried to get the running game going in the third quarter, it was far too late to make a real impact.

Broome finished with nine carries for 56 yards. He did run hard but opportunities were limited. 

Hopefully Robichaux is back next week while, if believing the words of today's broadcasters, Garwo's leg injury may sideline him for the remainder of the season.

The Eagles had only 29 carries totaling 124 yards and added another touchdown on the ground late, with a 1-yard scamper by Xavier Coleman.

Castellanos didn't get much of a chance to showcase his skills in the ground game but had a couple of nice flourishes. He finished with 11 carries for 46 yards.

It was in the passing game where the young quarterback struggled. Right off the bat with the two picks in his first four attempts, Castellanos looked off. There were overthrows and underthrows, with a drop or two mixed in, as Castellanos finished 10-20 for 110 yards.

There was a nice drive in the third quarter, where Castellanos found Jaedn Skeete for an eight-yard touchdown pass.

Skeete finished with two receptions for 20 yards and the score, with Jeremiah Franklin having a solid game. The tight end led the Eagles with three receptions for 52 yards, with Dino Tomlin also hauling in three receptions.

Penalties in the second quarter also helped spin the game out of control. Still in striking distance, Castellanos converted on a third down run, only to have it negated by a holding penalty. This was immediately followed by a delay of game and the drive basically over.

Putting this game behind them is a must for the offense and top priority for a defense that lost its way for most of four quarters.

Defense an open book

Defensive back Elijah Jones, he of five interceptions this season, missed Saturday's game.

Not that his contributions might have helped a whole lot.

The Boston College defense gave up 600 yards of total offense to Virginia Tech. Big play after big play was executed by the Hokies, via both the passing and running game. Five of the six Virginia Tech receivers who had receptions finished with at least one catch of 15 or more yards. This included a 70-yard catch-and-run, where the Eagles displayed a knack for missed tackles (a game-long theme).

Run defense was no better, where Boston College allowed 363 yards and 7.1 yards per carry. Runs of 60, 59, and 35 were among the highlights for the Hokies, who scored four times on the ground.

The final score might have seen a larger deficit if not for a punt return for a touchdown called back. And Victor Nelson prevented a late score by forcing a fumble that bounced out of the end zone.

John Pupel was busy, collecting nine tackles (seven solo). Linebacker Vinny DePalma notched eight as the defense was on the field for nearly 36 minutes of game time.

The rearview mirror is the best place to retire this game. One would like to forget about it completely, but lessons can be learned. Chances remain to fly high again, starting this upcoming Thursday against a struggling Pittsburgh team.

Boston College Eagles: 4-game report

Boston College Eagles: 8-game report

photo credit: Wikimedia Commons