Broncos have a lot of 'voodoo' in their offensive arsenal
The Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 10-29-2004
How is the Boise State football team going to celebrate Halloween?
Perhaps with a trick play or two tonight when the Broncos play host to Hawaii in a game being televised nationally from Bronco Stadium by ESPN2.
Trick plays are nothing new to Boise State, which has had a wealth of success with various reverses, option passes and other deceptive devices.
Last week against Fresno State, it was "Near Right 28 Ted Toss Double Pass (see diagram below) that helped ignite the Broncos to a win.
On that play, quarterback Jared Zabransky tossed the ball to running back Jeff Carpenter, who pretended to take off around the right end. He then turned around and threw the ball back to Zabransky. The quarterback proceeded to launch a long pass to a wide open Sherm Blaser for a 42-yard gain.
"The double pass ? we just put that in last week," Zabransky said. "We have plays that we won't get into games that we'll hold onto and practice three or four weeks."
For trick plays to work, the BSU coaching staff is looking for a particular look by the defense or a certain situation. If those instances don't occur, the trick plays are put on hold.
"You'd be surprised how much voodoo we come up with that we don't actually use," BSU coach Dan Hawkins said. "We all kind of look at tape and come up with various ideas, but the vast majority is (offensive coordinator Chris Petersen.)"
The one thing that Petersen is expecting out of the trick plays is impact.
"We're hoping it's going to change momentum and hoping that it's going to be one of those explosive plays that ignites us a little," Petersen said. "We're always looking for a handful of explosive plays. We don't necessarily pride ourselves on being one of those methodical, march-it-down-the-field teams. We're going to be a little hit-or-miss because of the nature of our offense."
Hit-or-miss also could be a way to describe what could happen on a trick play. There definitely is some risk/reward when the Broncos ? or any other team ? dig deep into their playbook.
"The nature of these plays are ? and there is no in-between ? you're either going to look really good or really bad," Petersen said. "The crowd is either going to be totally cheering or totally silent thinking, 'What was that?' "
As good as the Broncos have been the past few seasons, they've experienced similar success when calling trick plays.
"They usually work out for the best," said BSU running back Jeff Carpenter, who has thrown a pair of touchdown passes for the Broncos on option-pass plays. "Coach Pete does a great job of scheming them up. He'll set up the play earlier on in the game. I've never had to make a decision of whether or not to throw the ball."
On Carpenter's plays, Petersen will have the junior from Kuna take a pitch or toss from Zabransky and run the ball once or twice. So the next time the play is called, the defense might cheat up to snuff the run and leave an opening for a pass play.
"We need a certain look, and we are hoping for a certain reaction (by the defense)," Petersen said.
Carpenter, of course, loves being involved in those type of plays.
"I kind of got thrown into it last year," he said. "I was running a scout team play that was a halfback toss pass, and I threw it to the quarterback. I did a pretty good job, and ever since I kind of have been that guy."
Hawkins said an important part of any trick play is the personnel. He and his coaches have to make sure they are putting players in positions and circumstances where they can succeed.
"You can't just throw anybody out there," Hawkins said. "You don't have to be a rocket scientist to tell some guys can do it and others have no chance."
While trick plays build momentum, fire up the crowd and the team, they also serve another important purpose ? they help keep defenses honest.
"You can't allow everyone's reads to be consistent throughout an entire game," Hawkins said. "You've got to throw them a little bit of a curve. You always want a certain amount of deception in your package."
Most of the trick plays BSU runs are one-and-done deals. Rarely, if ever, do the Broncos repeat a trick play. Carpenter's two pass plays were different plays. Last week's double-pass probably will go into the archive, especially after Petersen was kind enough to share a diagram of the play (see Football Friday cover) with The Statesman.
Zabransky thinks the way BSU uses the plays is consistent with the attacking style of the offense.
"This time will put the ball in the end zone any way we can," he said. "Sometimes it's trickery."
Petersen calls the plays, usually after consulting with other coaches on the headset. Hawkins, as head coach, does maintain veto power. He hasn't used it yet.
"You know me, I'm always good with it," Hawkins said. "I tell them to run it."
So what trick will the Broncos play on Hawaii tonight?
"There's a few plays we have in our back pocket," Zabransky said. "We don't disclose them. The public will see them when we bust them out."
==============
When the Warriors have the ball
Everybody knows what the Warriors will do: Spread the field with four wide receivers and try to pick you apart.
Stopping it is another matter. It helps if the Warriors are off, as tends to happen on the road.
Quarterback Timmy Chang needs 241 yards to break the Division I-A career passing record held by Ty Detmer. He has 15 touchdown passes and just three interceptions this season.
"He's accurate, he's real accurate with his passes," BSU cornerback Gabe Franklin said. "Him and his receivers are on the same page most of the time."
Chang is the shooter in coach June Jones' run-and-shoot offense. The runners are a group of small, quick, slick receivers.
The most dangerous is senior Chad Owens. He's third nationally in receptions and he has nine total touchdowns this season (six receiving, three on punt returns).
"He's a great player," Franklin said. "He's been making plays all four years in college."
Senior Britton Komine stepped up last week against San Jose State. He averages 16.9 yards per catch.
The Warriors also are a threat to run the ball, a fact that goes easily unnoticed. They have rushed for at least 100 yards in all three wins and fewer than 80 yards in all three losses.
Boise State owns the top rushing defense in the country, but has allowed the Warriors some success on the ground in past meetings. Hawaii rushed for 103 yards in last year's loss.
The Warriors use a contrasting pair of tailbacks. Michael Brewster, who is 5-foot-5, 185 pounds, averages 7.3 yards per carry. West Keliikipi, who is 6-foot, 280 pounds, averages 5.8 yards per carry.
BSU used an offensive lineman to play Keliikipi on the scout team.
Key matchup
BSU cornerback Gabe Franklin vs. Hawaii wideout Chad Owens. The Broncos' pass defense has been the subject of much consternation among fans, and it will get a mighty test today.
Nobody, however, questions Franklin ? the WAC leader with 15 passes defended. Hopefully, he'll get lined up on Owens a few times so fans can see two of the WAC's best players go head to head.
"You can't cover (Owens) one-on-one," Hawaii coach June Jones said. "I don't know of a corner who has the quickness to stay with him."
Replied Franklin: "We'll see."
When the Broncos have the ball
The Broncos' offense is approaching max efficiency. Clean up a few mistakes ? particularly in the red zone ? and this is a 50-points-a-night outfit.
The best sign for Broncos fans last week was the play of sophomore quarterback Jared Zabransky, who was efficient and error-free. He missed a few throws, but for the first time this season did not toss an interception.
"I'm really starting to see him emerge, starting to throw the ball on time, throw the ball with confidence," BSU coach Dan Hawkins said. "You're just starting to see him develop that kind of rhythm to his game."
The Broncos have been in a rhythm for quite a while in the run game. They average 200 yards per game on the ground, with Lee Marks posting his second 100-yard game of the season last week against Fresno State.
In fact, the Broncos rank 11th nationally in pass offense and 20th nationally in rush offense ? a balanced combination that puts them fifth in total offense.
"It takes a lot of stress off, because that opens up the whole passing game," Zabransky said.
The Broncos continue to lead the nation in scoring at 44.1 points per game.
Kicker Tyler Jones also is No. 1 ? with 2.14 field goals per game. That's a number the Broncos would like to change.
"I love my man T-Jones, but it's disappointing for us when we get into the red zone and we can't finish," center Klayton Adams said. "We put that on us as an O-line. We need to be better than that."
The Warriors come to town with a battered defense. Three starters are out today, and five more are probable to doubtful. Defensive end Kila Kamakawiwo'ole was the latest casualty with an appendectomy this week.
Rush defense has been a major problem ? San Jose State topped 300 yards last week ? and the unit has struggled mightily on the road.
Key matchup
BSU quarterback Jared Zabransky vs. Hawaii cornerback Abraham Elimimian. Elimimian leads the nation with five interceptions, including three in a half against UTEP. He's hobbled, but capable of swinging momentum on a single play.
"He's got real good make-up speed," Zabransky said. "He's not the lockdown corner that maybe like (BSU senior) Gabe Franklin is, but he's got really good feet and he seems to be able to make up on the ball very easily."
The Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 10-29-2004
How is the Boise State football team going to celebrate Halloween?
Perhaps with a trick play or two tonight when the Broncos play host to Hawaii in a game being televised nationally from Bronco Stadium by ESPN2.
Trick plays are nothing new to Boise State, which has had a wealth of success with various reverses, option passes and other deceptive devices.
Last week against Fresno State, it was "Near Right 28 Ted Toss Double Pass (see diagram below) that helped ignite the Broncos to a win.
On that play, quarterback Jared Zabransky tossed the ball to running back Jeff Carpenter, who pretended to take off around the right end. He then turned around and threw the ball back to Zabransky. The quarterback proceeded to launch a long pass to a wide open Sherm Blaser for a 42-yard gain.
"The double pass ? we just put that in last week," Zabransky said. "We have plays that we won't get into games that we'll hold onto and practice three or four weeks."
For trick plays to work, the BSU coaching staff is looking for a particular look by the defense or a certain situation. If those instances don't occur, the trick plays are put on hold.
"You'd be surprised how much voodoo we come up with that we don't actually use," BSU coach Dan Hawkins said. "We all kind of look at tape and come up with various ideas, but the vast majority is (offensive coordinator Chris Petersen.)"
The one thing that Petersen is expecting out of the trick plays is impact.
"We're hoping it's going to change momentum and hoping that it's going to be one of those explosive plays that ignites us a little," Petersen said. "We're always looking for a handful of explosive plays. We don't necessarily pride ourselves on being one of those methodical, march-it-down-the-field teams. We're going to be a little hit-or-miss because of the nature of our offense."
Hit-or-miss also could be a way to describe what could happen on a trick play. There definitely is some risk/reward when the Broncos ? or any other team ? dig deep into their playbook.
"The nature of these plays are ? and there is no in-between ? you're either going to look really good or really bad," Petersen said. "The crowd is either going to be totally cheering or totally silent thinking, 'What was that?' "
As good as the Broncos have been the past few seasons, they've experienced similar success when calling trick plays.
"They usually work out for the best," said BSU running back Jeff Carpenter, who has thrown a pair of touchdown passes for the Broncos on option-pass plays. "Coach Pete does a great job of scheming them up. He'll set up the play earlier on in the game. I've never had to make a decision of whether or not to throw the ball."
On Carpenter's plays, Petersen will have the junior from Kuna take a pitch or toss from Zabransky and run the ball once or twice. So the next time the play is called, the defense might cheat up to snuff the run and leave an opening for a pass play.
"We need a certain look, and we are hoping for a certain reaction (by the defense)," Petersen said.
Carpenter, of course, loves being involved in those type of plays.
"I kind of got thrown into it last year," he said. "I was running a scout team play that was a halfback toss pass, and I threw it to the quarterback. I did a pretty good job, and ever since I kind of have been that guy."
Hawkins said an important part of any trick play is the personnel. He and his coaches have to make sure they are putting players in positions and circumstances where they can succeed.
"You can't just throw anybody out there," Hawkins said. "You don't have to be a rocket scientist to tell some guys can do it and others have no chance."
While trick plays build momentum, fire up the crowd and the team, they also serve another important purpose ? they help keep defenses honest.
"You can't allow everyone's reads to be consistent throughout an entire game," Hawkins said. "You've got to throw them a little bit of a curve. You always want a certain amount of deception in your package."
Most of the trick plays BSU runs are one-and-done deals. Rarely, if ever, do the Broncos repeat a trick play. Carpenter's two pass plays were different plays. Last week's double-pass probably will go into the archive, especially after Petersen was kind enough to share a diagram of the play (see Football Friday cover) with The Statesman.
Zabransky thinks the way BSU uses the plays is consistent with the attacking style of the offense.
"This time will put the ball in the end zone any way we can," he said. "Sometimes it's trickery."
Petersen calls the plays, usually after consulting with other coaches on the headset. Hawkins, as head coach, does maintain veto power. He hasn't used it yet.
"You know me, I'm always good with it," Hawkins said. "I tell them to run it."
So what trick will the Broncos play on Hawaii tonight?
"There's a few plays we have in our back pocket," Zabransky said. "We don't disclose them. The public will see them when we bust them out."
==============
When the Warriors have the ball
Everybody knows what the Warriors will do: Spread the field with four wide receivers and try to pick you apart.
Stopping it is another matter. It helps if the Warriors are off, as tends to happen on the road.
Quarterback Timmy Chang needs 241 yards to break the Division I-A career passing record held by Ty Detmer. He has 15 touchdown passes and just three interceptions this season.
"He's accurate, he's real accurate with his passes," BSU cornerback Gabe Franklin said. "Him and his receivers are on the same page most of the time."
Chang is the shooter in coach June Jones' run-and-shoot offense. The runners are a group of small, quick, slick receivers.
The most dangerous is senior Chad Owens. He's third nationally in receptions and he has nine total touchdowns this season (six receiving, three on punt returns).
"He's a great player," Franklin said. "He's been making plays all four years in college."
Senior Britton Komine stepped up last week against San Jose State. He averages 16.9 yards per catch.
The Warriors also are a threat to run the ball, a fact that goes easily unnoticed. They have rushed for at least 100 yards in all three wins and fewer than 80 yards in all three losses.
Boise State owns the top rushing defense in the country, but has allowed the Warriors some success on the ground in past meetings. Hawaii rushed for 103 yards in last year's loss.
The Warriors use a contrasting pair of tailbacks. Michael Brewster, who is 5-foot-5, 185 pounds, averages 7.3 yards per carry. West Keliikipi, who is 6-foot, 280 pounds, averages 5.8 yards per carry.
BSU used an offensive lineman to play Keliikipi on the scout team.
Key matchup
BSU cornerback Gabe Franklin vs. Hawaii wideout Chad Owens. The Broncos' pass defense has been the subject of much consternation among fans, and it will get a mighty test today.
Nobody, however, questions Franklin ? the WAC leader with 15 passes defended. Hopefully, he'll get lined up on Owens a few times so fans can see two of the WAC's best players go head to head.
"You can't cover (Owens) one-on-one," Hawaii coach June Jones said. "I don't know of a corner who has the quickness to stay with him."
Replied Franklin: "We'll see."
When the Broncos have the ball
The Broncos' offense is approaching max efficiency. Clean up a few mistakes ? particularly in the red zone ? and this is a 50-points-a-night outfit.
The best sign for Broncos fans last week was the play of sophomore quarterback Jared Zabransky, who was efficient and error-free. He missed a few throws, but for the first time this season did not toss an interception.
"I'm really starting to see him emerge, starting to throw the ball on time, throw the ball with confidence," BSU coach Dan Hawkins said. "You're just starting to see him develop that kind of rhythm to his game."
The Broncos have been in a rhythm for quite a while in the run game. They average 200 yards per game on the ground, with Lee Marks posting his second 100-yard game of the season last week against Fresno State.
In fact, the Broncos rank 11th nationally in pass offense and 20th nationally in rush offense ? a balanced combination that puts them fifth in total offense.
"It takes a lot of stress off, because that opens up the whole passing game," Zabransky said.
The Broncos continue to lead the nation in scoring at 44.1 points per game.
Kicker Tyler Jones also is No. 1 ? with 2.14 field goals per game. That's a number the Broncos would like to change.
"I love my man T-Jones, but it's disappointing for us when we get into the red zone and we can't finish," center Klayton Adams said. "We put that on us as an O-line. We need to be better than that."
The Warriors come to town with a battered defense. Three starters are out today, and five more are probable to doubtful. Defensive end Kila Kamakawiwo'ole was the latest casualty with an appendectomy this week.
Rush defense has been a major problem ? San Jose State topped 300 yards last week ? and the unit has struggled mightily on the road.
Key matchup
BSU quarterback Jared Zabransky vs. Hawaii cornerback Abraham Elimimian. Elimimian leads the nation with five interceptions, including three in a half against UTEP. He's hobbled, but capable of swinging momentum on a single play.
"He's got real good make-up speed," Zabransky said. "He's not the lockdown corner that maybe like (BSU senior) Gabe Franklin is, but he's got really good feet and he seems to be able to make up on the ball very easily."
