At the end of the game on Saturday vs. UNLV looking at the final score, one might say, “Wow, the offense really dominated this game.”
However, if you saw the game, your thinking would be vastly different. Not that the offense didn’t improve on last week’s performance, but the defense was the true dominating factor in
this game.
“They’re playing great, we’re so proud of them. I think we got some good players out there. I really think the seniors that are out there, are taking that next step we’ve been talking about and I think they’re being coached really well,” Head Football Coach Chris Petersen said. “Its not one or two guys out there making a bunch of plays, it’s a bunch guys out there and that’s how you play good defense.”
Playing great may be an understatement. Over the past five games, the Boise State defense hasn’t allowed a point scored in the
first half.
“Well, we want to not give up points period but we are just playing great as a unit. Everybody is kind of doing their job. We are just flying around to the ball. I think whenever you can do that, you get great results,” said senior cornerback Jamar Taylor.
Both Taylor and senior cornerback Jerrell Gavins had impressive games.
Taylor had a career-high nine tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles. Gavins finished with three tackles, two pass break-ups, one highlight-reel interception and one fumble return for a touchdown.
“I mean, people finally went after him. When you go after him he’s going to make you pay. He’s a beast, just being with that guy every day, he comes to practice ready to work, he gives it his best and he showed up today,” Taylor said when asked about Gavins having a breakout game.
Petersen joked about the timing of Gavins’ break
out game.
“I kind of went on the bench and looked at my watch and said ‘About time’. We’ve been waiting for this, he can do those things. When those two guys can play at a high level, a lot of guys feed off them,” Petersen said.
For the third time this season, the Broncos have kept an opponent to less than 100 yards passing in a game; only 71 passing yards were gave up to the UNLV offense.
The cornerbacks are a great strength on this team. However, they aren’t the only ones that make this defense the force that it is.
“I like to go back to those two inside linebackers. I think those guys have done a tremendous job. Those are guys nobody talked about in the past. Those guys are now anchors inside there with Mike Atkinson. Greg Grimes is doing a great job of stepping up,” said Petersen when asked about the successful game from the corners.
If the Broncos make a BCS bowl, it’s the defense that led the way.
