When the Broncos run the ball ...
Boise State has struggled to get the ground game going, with senior quarterback Montell Cozart?s 179 yards a team high. The Broncos? 146 yards per game are 88th in the FBS and they?re averaging 3.3 yards per carry outside of a 49-yard TD run by Alexander Mattison against Troy.
?As an offense, we?ve got to continue to pound the ball. We want to be a run-first team, and I feel like (Thursday) we didn?t do that,? Cozart said. ?That?s something we?re going to put an emphasis on with Virginia coming in here.?
The Cavaliers allow 4.0 ypc, which isn?t great, and allowed 207 yards last week to UConn, but it?s difficult to trust the Broncos? backs.
ADVANTAGE: Virginia
When the Broncos pass the ball ...
Two years ago, Brett Rypien torched the Cavaliers in his first start, with 321 yards and three TDs. Whether he or Cozart gets the nod, the Broncos hope to push the ball down the field a little more, with their 11 yards per completion 92nd nationally.
?That?s the area, we haven?t quite had the production there on some of those easy throws, get the ball in their hands, make somebody miss and turn that into an explosive play,? Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. ?I think we?re lacking in some explosiveness. We?ve got to create some opportunities to make some people miss.?
None of Virginia?s first three opponents can throw it like Boise State, and the 69 attempts they?ve faced have been among the fewest in the nation. Opposing passers are completing 63.7 percent of passes, however.
ADVANTAGE: Push
When the Cavaliers run the ball ...
Virginia has a solid No. 1 back in Jordan Ellis (219 yards), but the way the Cavaliers have operated thus far is to rely on the air attack. Their 3.6 yards per carry are 98th nationally. Against Indiana and William & Mary, Virginia rushed for fewer than 100 yards. With some deep passes, it found a little more running room Saturday against UConn.
?When they play further off, the run game is better,? Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall said. ?So it was the clearest evidence and clearest display, so far, of what we?re trying to accomplish offensively since at least we?ve been together.?
On the other side, Boise State has handled every foe?s rushing attack with impressive results. The Broncos are one of 26 teams to yield fewer than 100 yards per game (98.7), and only four of them have faced more rushing attempts.
ADVANTAGE: Boise State
When the Cavaliers pass the ball ...
Senior quarterback Kurt Benkert tossed it around quite a bit at his previous stop, East Carolina, and has done so this season (96-of-145 for 976 yards with seven TDs and an interception). He has a strong corps of receivers, with three going over 100 yards last week against UConn.
Boise State has faced three seniors thus far, including two of the best in Troy?s Brandon Silvers and Washington State?s Luke Falk. The Broncos have allowed four touchdowns and have four interceptions. Their young secondary has handled every challenge so far, and with more than a week to prepare, there?s no reason to doubt it can happen again.
?They?ve got a lot of guys over there that can make plays,? Boise State junior cornerback Tyler Horton said. ?(Benkert) and his receivers, they?ve been on point with things.?
ADVANTAGE: Boise State
Special teams ...
Punt returner Avery Williams again helped turn the tide of a game with a return to New Mexico?s 17-yard line to set up a much-needed score in the fourth quarter last Thursday. Punters Joel Velazquez and Quinn Skillin had long punts and kicker Haden Hoggarth is a perfect 16-of-16 on field goals and extra points.
Virginia has yielded a punt return for a touchdown and a 60-yard kickoff return. Kicker A.J. Mejia is 2-for-3 on field goals and punter Lester Coleman is averaging 40.9 yards per punt. ESPN ranks the Cavaliers? special teams efficiency as 128th out of 130 FBS teams.
?Our depth is still an issue that?s manifesting on special teams,? Mendenhall said. ?... We?re getting closer on offense, defense, but special teams is lagging behind.?
ADVANTAGE: Boise State
Boise State has struggled to get the ground game going, with senior quarterback Montell Cozart?s 179 yards a team high. The Broncos? 146 yards per game are 88th in the FBS and they?re averaging 3.3 yards per carry outside of a 49-yard TD run by Alexander Mattison against Troy.
?As an offense, we?ve got to continue to pound the ball. We want to be a run-first team, and I feel like (Thursday) we didn?t do that,? Cozart said. ?That?s something we?re going to put an emphasis on with Virginia coming in here.?
The Cavaliers allow 4.0 ypc, which isn?t great, and allowed 207 yards last week to UConn, but it?s difficult to trust the Broncos? backs.
ADVANTAGE: Virginia
When the Broncos pass the ball ...
Two years ago, Brett Rypien torched the Cavaliers in his first start, with 321 yards and three TDs. Whether he or Cozart gets the nod, the Broncos hope to push the ball down the field a little more, with their 11 yards per completion 92nd nationally.
?That?s the area, we haven?t quite had the production there on some of those easy throws, get the ball in their hands, make somebody miss and turn that into an explosive play,? Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. ?I think we?re lacking in some explosiveness. We?ve got to create some opportunities to make some people miss.?
None of Virginia?s first three opponents can throw it like Boise State, and the 69 attempts they?ve faced have been among the fewest in the nation. Opposing passers are completing 63.7 percent of passes, however.
ADVANTAGE: Push
When the Cavaliers run the ball ...
Virginia has a solid No. 1 back in Jordan Ellis (219 yards), but the way the Cavaliers have operated thus far is to rely on the air attack. Their 3.6 yards per carry are 98th nationally. Against Indiana and William & Mary, Virginia rushed for fewer than 100 yards. With some deep passes, it found a little more running room Saturday against UConn.
?When they play further off, the run game is better,? Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall said. ?So it was the clearest evidence and clearest display, so far, of what we?re trying to accomplish offensively since at least we?ve been together.?
On the other side, Boise State has handled every foe?s rushing attack with impressive results. The Broncos are one of 26 teams to yield fewer than 100 yards per game (98.7), and only four of them have faced more rushing attempts.
ADVANTAGE: Boise State
When the Cavaliers pass the ball ...
Senior quarterback Kurt Benkert tossed it around quite a bit at his previous stop, East Carolina, and has done so this season (96-of-145 for 976 yards with seven TDs and an interception). He has a strong corps of receivers, with three going over 100 yards last week against UConn.
Boise State has faced three seniors thus far, including two of the best in Troy?s Brandon Silvers and Washington State?s Luke Falk. The Broncos have allowed four touchdowns and have four interceptions. Their young secondary has handled every challenge so far, and with more than a week to prepare, there?s no reason to doubt it can happen again.
?They?ve got a lot of guys over there that can make plays,? Boise State junior cornerback Tyler Horton said. ?(Benkert) and his receivers, they?ve been on point with things.?
ADVANTAGE: Boise State
Special teams ...
Punt returner Avery Williams again helped turn the tide of a game with a return to New Mexico?s 17-yard line to set up a much-needed score in the fourth quarter last Thursday. Punters Joel Velazquez and Quinn Skillin had long punts and kicker Haden Hoggarth is a perfect 16-of-16 on field goals and extra points.
Virginia has yielded a punt return for a touchdown and a 60-yard kickoff return. Kicker A.J. Mejia is 2-for-3 on field goals and punter Lester Coleman is averaging 40.9 yards per punt. ESPN ranks the Cavaliers? special teams efficiency as 128th out of 130 FBS teams.
?Our depth is still an issue that?s manifesting on special teams,? Mendenhall said. ?... We?re getting closer on offense, defense, but special teams is lagging behind.?
ADVANTAGE: Boise State
