MOSCOW - Robb Akey isn't surprised. Idaho, in his mind, isn't doing the unexpected. For the ever optimistic University of Idaho head football coach, the Vandals hot start is as should be.
"I expected us to have a good start this season," said Akey as his 3-1 Vandals head into Saturday's nationally televised, inter-conference showdown with Colorado State (also 3-1). "This team has started to grow up a little bit."
Growth has been on both sides of the ball. Junior quarterback Nathan Enderle is making good decisions and good throws with a host of receivers and running backs in his arsenal. The offensive line - led by highly touted senior guard Mike Iupati, has given him the time and protection he needs.
Enderle has mixed his passes to 11 receivers with four hitting double digits and taking turns leading the air attack. Senior DeMaundray Woolridge leads the ground assault but ever ready are junior Deonte Jackson and Princeton McCarty. Together, they've accounted for 587yards and seven touchdowns.
Defensively, players in the right positions on the line has helped the Vandals to No. 1 against the run among Western Athletic Conference teams. Junior captain Jonah Sataraka, a tackle, has been a driving force along with sophomore Mike Cosgrove. Junior Aaron Lavarias and sophomore Andre Ferguson have the motors to provide the outside rush. Experience and added depth are keys among the linebackers and in the secondary.
Safety Shiloh Keo is the tackle leader with 35. Not far behind are Jeromy Jones, another safety, and linebacker Paul Senescall with 22 each and linebackers JoJo Dickson and Robert Siavii with 21 each. Freshman corner Aaron Grymes weighs in with 19.
"I'm really excited about the direction we're headed," Akey said. "We've made good strides. We expected to make those strides. It has the attention of the outside world (now). But we're staying, 'Let's pay attention to what we're saying and what we're doing. That's all history. We have to pay attention to a good Colorado State team."
Akey is the first to note there is room for improvement.
"We need to play better on special teams," he said, noting the yards given up on returns. "We need to continue to take care of the ball like we have and make big plays on offense. We need to continue to stop the opposing teams running game, answer the big plays in the passing game and create more takeaways than we have in the previous ballgames. If we do those things and do them we'll, we'll give ourselves a chance to win the ballgame."
