Boise State depth chart versus Oregon State: Make way for Geraldo Hiwat and Aaron Burks

Boise State has released its depth chart for the Oregon State game, and it is very bad news if you have Mitch Burroughs on your fantasy team. Also, you probably do not understand how fantasy football works, so that's strike two.

No Mitch Burroughs means more Geraldo Hiwat and Aaron Burks, which can only be a good thing, right? Join me after the jump for a discussion on how much Burroughs will be missed as well as a whirlwind tour of the rest of the Bronco roster.

Disclaimer: Depth charts mean as much as you want them to mean. Keep in mind that things change over the course of a game week and that game situations, injuries, and performance will render some of this depth chart moot. Still, it's fun to speculate ... with hyperbole! Mitch Burroughs will never see the starting lineup again!

Injury update: The Mitch Burroughs Experience on temporary hiatus

The most serious Boise State injury in the Wyoming game belonged to Burroughs who suffered a high ankle sprain after getting rolled up from behind on a running play. He will be out at least a month, according to Tom Scott who speaks fluent Bronco Injury Report. 

"Mitch will be out for a while, he has a high ankle sprain," Petersen said.

As much as I like to root for other people to start over Burroughs, I was beginning to have a change of heart this season. Burroughs was playing with confidence, something he lacked pretty much all the time last season. I was no longer cringing when passes were thrown his way, Burroughs was no longer cringing when passes were thrown his way. Life was good. It was almost exactly like Uncle Buck.

In other injury news:

• Shea McClellin suffered a concussion and is day-to-day. Does anyone remember the play where this happened? I don't. Which is ironic because McClellin probably doesn't either.
  
• Kharyee Marshall was not mentioned whatsoever in the team's injury report despite Marshall coming off the field against Wyoming with an apparent shoulder injury. He was laughing and joking on the sidelines later in the game, which either proves he is just fine thanks or that shoulder injuries are hilarious.

Geraldo Hiwat and Aaron Burks get the high ankle sprain they've been waiting for

With Burroughs on the mend, Geraldo Hiwat and Aaron Burks step into the backup lineup. That's right, Bronco fans. They are an Austin Pettis funky chicken dance away from running with the ones.

Coach Pete remained solid on the team's stance of redshirting Kirby Moore, so the Broncos will need to count on Hiwat, Burks, and Chris Potter to replace Mitch Burroughs's production. Granted, Burroughs only had one catch for 5 yards through two games, so "production" might not be the right word, but you know what I mean. Burroughs was on the field and involved in the offense on many more plays than that.

Think that stable of backup wide receivers is enough? If not, don't forget that the Broncos have some pretty WR-like tight ends, including Gabe Linehan who was on the field for BSU's two-minute drive against Virginia Tech.

Titus Young to return punts until that is no longer a good thing

Young got his hands on a punt against Wyoming after Mitch Burroughs went down and he proceeded to snake his way all over the field for a 36-yard gain. Bronco fans might get more of that on Saturday since Burroughs is out and Young is in, unless coaches think Chris Potter would be a better choice back there.

I guess there's this to think about: If you were Bronco coaches, would you want your starting receiver running 100 yards right before you start an offensive series? Probably not.

Offensive line not a jumbled mess for once

Hooray for consistency! The same starting five from last week is listed as the starting five for this week. Coach Pete, what cryptic analysis can you give us?

I think if you can get an offensive line to get a little bit of rhythm, and you're pleased with it, that's a good thing.

Let's all assume he's talking about these five guys and move on. Quickly!

The Mike Coughlin package: Respect!

Coughlin entered the game against Wyoming in very real situations on Saturday night and well before his appointed mop-up duty. The reason: to run the read option, natch. Coughlin went for 26 yards on 4 carries, and yes you read that right. He was effective.

Ryan Winterswyk Sack Watch enters week three

The Broncos' defensive line leader is two games into the season and sack-less, thanks to constant double teams and an old man leg. Will this be the week that Winterswyk breaks through with his first sack of 2010? You better pray not, Ryan Katz. That sack is going to have eight extra quarters of aggression behind it.

Give Matt Slater an inch and he will take your starting spot forever

Slater remains entrenched at the starting right tackle position ever since spelling an injured Brenel Myers in the team's opener in D.C. For all we know, Myers is healthy, yet Slater's performance in the starting lineup has been good enough to keep the future Ryan Clady on the bench. This has the makings of a much less exciting Tom Brady - Drew Bledsoe memory.

Bronco secondary improves, except for Jerrell Gavins

I guess you can think of it this way. All the Bronco cornerbacks opened the season against Virginia Tech with bad performances in pass coverage. Jerrell Gavins did not play defense against Virginia Tech. Therefore, Gavins's bad day had to come against Wyoming.

Really, the only success that Wyoming had through the air was throwing at Gavins whose night could be best epitomized by the ill-advised moonshot pass that found its way over Gavins's arm and into the hands of a Cowboy receiver. He just seemed to be a step off all night long, which could very well be attributed to not being in a game situation for nine months. He should be better on Saturday.

Miscellaneous:

• Trevor Harman handled kickoffs for Boise State against Wyoming, and he did fine. Expect him to continue in that role on Saturday, despite what the depth chart says.
• Thomas Byrd is two-for-two with holding penalties in each game so far for the Broncos. Can he make it three-for-three on Saturday? You know someone is betting on this somewhere.
• Drew promised that the Doug Mad, Doug Smash tee shirt would be made available in the OBNUG store if Martin rushed for 100 yards without fumbling against Wyoming. He did just that, Drew did just that, and now you can buy it if you want.
• Jamar Taylor was used a lot more often to spy on Austyn Carta-Samuels than he was against Tyrod Taylor. Might we see Jamar matched up against Colin Kaepernick later this year?
  
• Last week at least, Mike Coughlin was ahead of Joe Southwick on the QB depth chart. Take that for what it's worth, which is nothing.
  
• Matt Kaiserman made a very late appearance against the Cowboys, which was odd because he was pretty much the No. 3 back last season. What is he now? No. 5? No. 6? Jarvis Hodge got in before him, and I believe Drew Wright did too. It is clear what he needs to do: officially change his name to Brock Forsey. Let it be written, let it be done.
  

Your turn

What do you make of Boise State's depth chart against Oregon State? Excited to see what Hiwat and Burks can do? Miss Mitch Burroughs? Think this is the week that Winterswyk breaks through with a sack? Share your thoughts in the comments.