Robb Akey can only be kind of happy at the conclusion of the
University of Idaho football team's Silver and Gold Scrimmage Friday night.
“I'd like to see the quarterbacks make some great throws and
get the offense moving,” he said as the Vandals' braced for their spring
practice finale. “I'd like to see some receivers make some big plays. I'd like
to see a run or two break.
“Then I'd like to see our defense not give up anything. How's
that going to work?”
Friday's 6 p.m. scrimmage at the Kibbie Dome is the third
for the Vandals this spring and airs on Spokane's SWX-TV as well as on radio
stations KCLK (1430-AM, Lewiston), KVNI
(1080-AM, Coeur d'Alene), KLER (1300-AM, Orofino) and KFXD (630-AM, Boise), and the online
VandalExtra at www.GoVandals.com.
It is the coaches' final opportunity to see the Vandals in a
full contact scrimmage until fall camp opens on August. It also is another
chance to see how much the players have absorbed from new coaches, new schemes
and new teammates.
“It's soaking in. It's sinking in. It's make sense,” said
Akey of the revised offensive schemes put in place by first-year coordinator
Jason Gesser along with tight ends coach Al Pupunu, offensive line coach Gordie
Shaw and receivers coach/passing game coordinator Mike Levenseller.
“It's helped us to be more effective. We're doing things
better. We're more disciplined on that side of the ball.”
Some questions for which there will not be answers Friday
are the full view of the offensive line after injuries depleted the unit this
spring and who will be under center Mike Marboe, the one definitive on the
line. Akey likes what he's seeing in juniors Taylor Davis and Dominique
Blackman. Neither, however, has taken charge of the quarterback position and
earned the starting nod.
“I'm looking for something clean and consistent from those
guys,” Akey said. “They've both done some real good things. They both have had
success in situations and they both have thrown the ball well.”
The Vandals kickoff the 2012 season against Eastern
Washington Aug. 30. Season tickets are on sale at www.GoVandals.com or by calling
208-885-6466.
