Athlon's All-WAC first team lacking a certain Kellen Moore quality

by Kevan Lee on May 21, 2009 6:53 AM PDT in Boise State football Comment 9 comments

Notice anything funny about the following excerpt from Athlon Sports' Boise State preview?

Kyle Wilson is named Third-Team All-America as a CB and First-Team All-WAC as both a CB and PR.

WR Austin Pettis, TE Kyle Efaw, DL Ryan Winterswyk, S Jeron Johnson and K Kyle Brotzman are named First-Team All-WAC.

QB Kellen Moore, RB Jeremy Avery, C Thomas Byrd and CB Brandyn Thompson are named Second-Team All-WAC.

First off, congrats to Kyle Wilson and the rest of the Broncos who are getting loads of preseason hype. Second, Kellen Moore on the WAC's second team? Didn't we go over this last season?

In 2008, Nevada's Colin Kaepernick beat out Moore for the honor of first team All-WAC quarterback (as well as offensive player of the year), despite evidence to the contrary of Kaepernick even being a quarterback. Do quarterbacks go 19-for-50 in big games? Do quarterbacks look to run first, pass second? Do quarterbacks look like the love child of Stretch Armstrong and an emu? I'm preaching to the choir, but you get my drift.

Yet here Moore is again, one year later, stuck in the same spot he was at the end of last season: looking up at Kaepernick.

Athlon Sports is far from the only preseason rag that will be making conference predictions, but it is one of the most accurate and noteworthy. As such, it's a little disappointing to see them make the same mistake that everyone else made last fall.

For the record, Kellen Moore is the best actual quarterback in the WAC, and Colin Kaepernick is the WAC's most enigmatic. And yes, this is what I wrote in my tasteful letter to the Athlon Sports editor.

Apart from Moore, Athlon's preseason All-WAC teams are kind of exciting to see. It's always a mystery which Boise State players will rise up to put their mark on the season (Ellis Powers, for instance), so seeing names like Kyle Efaw and Thomas Byrd is encouraging.

Austin Pettis as first-team All-WAC? Agreed.

Ryan Winterswyk and Jeron Johnson on the first team? Okay by me.

Jeremy Avery as a second-team All-WACer? Not the way I picture it in my dreams, but I can't complain.

No mention of Billy Winn, Titus Young, George Iloka, or Richie Brockel? (Awkward silence.)

But honestly, it's May. There's a lot of football to be played (like, all of it) and a lot of time to talk about the football that's going to be played. Athlon Sports naming nearly half of Boise State's starting 22 to an all conference team is great news.

And by the end of the season, when Kellen Moore is matting his WAC Offensive Player of the Year certificate and granting OBNUG interview requests to discuss his spot on the conference's first team, it'll be even better news.

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Keep the chip on his shoulder

I think it could be a good thing that Kellen isn’t on the 1st team All-WAC. He is still pretty young and sometimes these things can go to your head. You start thinking you are so good maybe you don’t need to study the playbook tonight, or run the stairs, etc. Not that I think Kellen is anything like Mr. Zebransky, but look what happened to him in 2005. He started to get a big head and did not continue to play and train with the intensity he did in the previous year. Luckily we have a good coach who was able to bring him back down and get focused again in 2006. My point is that many of the players that come to Boise State were passed over by many of the bigger schools (including Kellen Moore) and they come here with a “chip on their shoulder” trying to prove themselves. So while I agree with you that Kellen should be on the 1st team All-WAC, I would really rather he proved it on the field this year. Pre-season All-American team awards don’t win championships or payout BCS money. Go Broncos!

by thr04 on May 21, 2009 10:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Kaepernick

“Do quarterbacks go 19-for-50 in big games?” Yes if the talent around them is unable to catch the ball.

Do quarterbacks look to run first, pass second?" In college football many quarterbacks run first and pass second. Many team run first, run second, run third and pass as a last resort.

I know this will be unpopular, but I would take Kaepernick over Moore at QB for the following:

Stats wise, in 2008 Kaepernick had 3,979 total yards, 39TDs, to Moore’s 3,456, 26TDs.

Kaepernick has the ability and give the right group of players surrounding him could win a game through the air and on the ground. In college football athletic ability makes up for a lot of things, ask Vince Young. Plus imagine if Kaepernick was starting at Quarterback for the Broncos. Finally, if it were not for Kaepernick, do you think the last two games versus Nevada would have been as close and exciting as they were. It is a pleasure watching a guy who can actually take it to you. Love or hate him Kaepernick quite possibly will be the best QB the Bronco Defense sees all season.

The Bronco Nation Podcast: A Podcast By Fans, For Fans

by Bronco Nation Podcast on May 21, 2009 12:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow!!

“I know this will be unpopular, but I would take Kaepernick over Moore at QB…..”

I know you follow the Broncos as closely as anybody, which makes that a very surprising (and unpopular) statement. Kaepernick’s statistics are impressive and being a duel threat certainly adds another element, but I will take a guy like Moore everytime because of something the stats do no show. Poise. A good part of Kaepernick’s stats are due to being in close games or shootouts. The Broncos took the air out of the for the better part of the second half in most games last year.

I think you are right and that Kaepernick’s play is what kept Nevada close in the last two games against the Broncos – but he is also the kind of guy that can take you out of a game in a hurry with mistakes or lack of execution. He is a lot like Zabransky in that way, with even less accuracy as a passer. For that reason, I wouldn’t want him starting for the Bronco’s. I would much rather hvae a quarterback that can distribute the ball to the playmakers – especially a QB that is apt at finding the third and fourth option on a play when the primary targets break down.

"...he could have run for 500 yards if only the end zone hadn't kept getting in the way"

by MKingery on May 21, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow!!

“I would much rather have a quarterback that can distribute the ball to the play makers” Who are the play makers for Nevada?

When you talk Poise, who was playing QB for Nevada in his first start when they took the Broncos to 4 OT’s? When you look at the 2009 Schedule name me a player that causes more of a concern than Kaepernick? Sure I may be giving the guy too much respect with that comment, but after the Oregon game no other game on the schedule concerns me more than the Nevada game. Back to Poise, though not all his fault, it was Kellen’s two interceptions that led to the comeback by Nevada in last years game.

In the end, I made a bold statement for someone to make an actual argument as to why Kellen should be seen as the best QB in the WAC. You did a decent job of making the point. I just remind you in 3 key games last year Kellen was superman against Oregon on the road, showed he was human against Nevada and TCU Kellen with plenty of time left Kellen forced a pass (please note Kellen took a ton of lumps in that game and probably gained more respect from his team, media and fans in that game then any other game). In all these games the Broncos went 2-1. With another year under his belt, the Broncos go 3-0 without a doubt.

The Bronco Nation Podcast: A Podcast By Fans, For Fans

by Bronco Nation Podcast on May 21, 2009 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed - both are probably a little overrated

Both Moore and Kaepernick had one of their worst games of the season last year in the BSU/Nevada game.
Nevada doesn’t have the arsenal of playmakers that the Broncos have available. I think that leads Kaepernick to press and try and do too much at times, but with the offensive focus running through him, he is going to put up gaudy numbers. Ryan Howard may lead the MLB in homeruns, but he will also have the most strikeouts.
BSU showed the blueprint (minus the offensive turnovers and prevent defense) on how to stop Kaepernick and company. Utilize a spy and make him throw the ball. Not everyone has the athletes BSU’s defense has, so he will still have a very productive year.
Moore is no superman and athletically is not in the same zip code as Kaepernick. What Moore does show is a knack for timing and accuracy that hasn’t been seen at BSU since Dinwiddie. Some of his stats are smoke n mirrors as well since a lot of the offensive revolved around quick hits, slants and screens. I am curious to see what he does with a more mature offensive line and a possibly more dominant running game.

"...he could have run for 500 yards if only the end zone hadn't kept getting in the way"

by MKingery on May 21, 2009 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kellen Moore's

Performance against Oregon last year was really good. Can you honestly say it was better than Kaepernick’s against Boise as a freshman? The difference? The win which is attributed to Boise’s Defense actually stopping Oregon for 3 quarters where as Nevada’s defense couldn’t stop Boises for 7. It’s a team game.

You look at Kellen’s game last year at Nevada as his worst game? I would challenge that by saying it was his best half, and worst half, in the same game. 1st half he owned us. Second half he let us back into it.

If Kaepernick was at Boise, the Bronco running game would have been top 5 in the nation last year. The passing game would not have been. And if Moore was at Nevada, they would not have had the success they did at running the football.

It’s apples to oranges.

IMO, the worst thing Pete did by not offering Kaepernick was that he allowed the weapon to fall into the hands of an enemy. Fortunately for me, I’m the enemy :)

by Packfan7 on May 22, 2009 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

We’ll happily concede rushing stats to you every year, Packfan…as long as Boise State gets the W.

If Kellen hadn’t had a full body cramp in the 3rd quarter last year, it would’ve been a bloodbath.

by Drew Roberts on May 22, 2009 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Re: Kaepernick

I’d take Kaepernick (CK) over Taylor Tharp, over Kellen Moore….no. CK wanted to goto BSU, but Hawkins and coach Pete didn’t have a spot for him. Why? He doesn’t fit into BSU’s style of play. He does fit into Nevada and Coach Ault’s “pistol offense”. I really think CK would be just ahead of Coughlin on the roster, a wasted talent. He “fits” Nevada’s stlye and that has a lot to do with a QB’s success or failure. I like the kid, he may find a spot on a professional baseball team. I hear he’s got a 90 mph fastball.

by thr04 on May 21, 2009 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

How about Avery?

Yeah, Kellen Moore may have been snubbed for 1st team, but how about Avery making 2nd team all-WAC after backing up Ian Johnson for two years. If he’s preseason 2nd team as a back-up, will he be a first teamer by the end of the season? Avery’s got some skills.

by Dr. Jrig on May 21, 2009 7:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs