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Senior core looks to lead defense
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Two years ago the Boise State defensive was walking tall. They’d just come off one of the most successful seasons in school history in which they only gave up 17.6 points a game and had 20 interceptions.
Last season it was a bit of a different story. They gave up 21.6 points a game and had 14 interceptions. Last season also ended with a bowl loss to East Carolina in which they gave up 41 points.
Now the defensive hopes to get back their blue collar mentality and get back to where they once were.
“I think that [the defensive line] has made huge strides and I think that they have worked their tails off,” senior linebacker Dallas Dobbs said. “I think that our linebackers have improved. Our defensive backs are really young, but they are catching on really quick. We have some great athletes in the backfield … I think that we have the potential to be better than we were last year.”
That likelihood of improvement from last year falls solely on the senior leaders this season. The only seniors on the line are Tim Brady, Kyle Gingg and Dobbs.
“We take it upon ourselves to really push the guys,” Dobbs said. “We need to be the guys who everybody looks to, to help everybody know what is going on in the defense. To give it their all.”
Last season all three of the seniors improved and stepped up their game from 2006. Gingg led the Broncos with 94 tackles, while Dobbs had 71 and Brady registered 57. However, one guy who puts in the extra effort has been Gingg.
“I think a guy that is really stepping up right now is Kyle Gingg,” Dobbs said. “He has obviously had a lot of experience throughout the years. He is a guy that I look at and really bursts into the ball and makes his picks right. He is doing well and his leadership is pushing everybody else to do the same thing.”
The leadership that Gingg displays has trickled down and had an effect on some of the younger players on the line who will be the future of the Bronco defense.
“Gingg’s been awesome with me, he’ll be starting ahead of me, he’s been doing a terrific job, he’s one of the senior leaders, he’s just been great to me, and helped me … it’s been awesome,” freshman linebacker and special teams player Hunter White said.
One of the reasons the line should be amazing this year is simply because of practice and whom they go up against.
The linebackers face some of the top running backs in the Western Athletic Conference everyday.
“Ian Johnson, Jeremy Avery, Doug Martin and D.J. Harper. Any of those guys come up against you in one-on-ones you’re thinking, ‘Man, I got to catch this guy.’ It’s not exciting to go against any of them, but it makes us that much better,” Dobbs said. “I would tell you if I thought that one was better than the other, but they are all so good. Good luck sharing all of those reps.”
When the season opener comes Aug. 30, the line will get their first real test against an opponent other then their own offense. And don’t be surprised to see the growth and development when they’re down on the blue.
“I think that we are getting really good and that we are going to be solid. I think that we are going to see an improvement from last year,” Gingg said.
Mary Albl
