The 2012 Boise State football team is a mystery wrapped in an enigma, according to some

Although I don’t think we are going to go undefeated, I’m not worried about next season. I don’t think the number of returning starters is going to effect our team. Our 2nd and 3rd string players got so much playing time last year, it really isn’t going to be much different. In addition, we had a lot of injuries and we saw kids step up and fill in with very little drop-off in production. Our coaches know how to coach as a “team” not just the starters. With that said, I’m most concerned about the quarterback position because that is one spot that we haven’t have to worry about for 4 years and that is one position where the back-ups didn’t get as much playing time with the 1st string as the other positions. I hope, whoever is the next quarterback, he can make his own “mark” instead of trying to fill Kellen’s shoes. I’m sure that the offense will look a lot different next year, but different isn’t necessarily bad.

How he actually arrived at 6 returning starters is off as well. He’s obviously not considering starters that were injured all or most of last season, and he’s not considering all of the ‘co starters’. What I’m getting at is that ‘returning starters’ can be somewhat arbitrary and/or innacurate.

Probably the best stat nerd writer for football on earth. He took a lot of heat last year because his formula continued to rank Boise State very, very high after the loss to TCU, but he stuck to his guns.

His concerns are legitimate. There is a chance that we are, in fact, the 61st best team in the country next year. There is also a chance that the 61st best team in the country is good enough to walk through the weakened MWC. So what he is saying, basically, is that there is a chance that next year will look like 2007, in that Boise State will go 9-4 or 10-3, still have a chance to win their division and not be the dominant team that they were the year before. This is a very real possibility.

There is a possibility that this does not occur, as well. Bill’s gut tells him that Boise State will not drop that far, but Bill didn’t build that formula of his to agree with his gut. The formula shows some concerns. Bill thinks Boise State will overcome those concerns. The truth is that it can, at this moment, go either way.

I think, though, that the Las Vegas Bowl showed me something that will make the difference and push Boise State to the “better than expected” side: Coach Pete is still one of the most daring, exciting and amazing coaches in college football. There was a lot of asymmetrical play calling in that bowl game, and that play calling was like a shot across the college football fanbase’s bow. Hey, the Boise State that rose to prominence is still in existence and can still do the flashy, unconventional things that made it famous. Boise State just didn’t have to do that as much with Moore and Martin in the backfield. Next year is sort of going to be a gamble, and Coach Pete is a professional gambler. One thing that will be true, and that numbers often struggle to capture, is that Boise State will be a much more exciting and risk-taking team next year.

So Bill is right in being nervous about BSU’s season next year, and you are right for thinking that Boise State is going to be fine. The truth is probably somewhere in between, but I’d never bet against Coach Pete on anything.

for us, 20 returning starters and 1 loss got us to the vegas bowl… i would have taken chik-fil-a over that anyway. I think the only bowl games we can go to will be equal or better for the most part!

The Broncos lost a passle of “starters” but what about all the others that didn’t graduate that played regularly in all sorts of different packages both on the offense and defense. They didn’t start per se but they played a ton and that is why this prediction really doesn’t look at the Broncos properly. Yes we will have a different QB but I am so excited to see what the new look is going to be. This is going to be a great season and there will be a lot of weeping wailing and gnashing of teeth by the bcs bunch once again because I believe the Broncos will probably run the table once again. And don’t give me that line about Michigan State, they lost a lot of personnel as well including Cousins. We have a bunch of studs that will take the field and will be ever bit as good as those that have left us. I will miss Chase Baker and all the rest of the D line along with Hout and Tevis but believe me, our coaches have recruited a LOT of soon to be great playmakers.

We finally made it through the Kellen age. Yes it’s great to have a quarterback who can make a third and two pass. But it will be nice to have a quarterback who can face third and two and think about an option, a draw, a rollout or a keeper that can get those two yards. We haven’t had that. Don’t weep or despair. This is a BSU team that can go beyond its limits, which were considerable. I know we weep for losing so many great players on the d-line, but the fact is they didn’t have many sacks. Please, don’t hate me. I love these guys, and I don’t even know them. They played their hearts out. I know.

But the fact is there are guys behind them who are better, faster, and hungrier than anybody who has ever been at that position. That’s just the way it is. And BSU is what they’d call a “growth property” in that you can make your mark there in ways you never could anyplace else, and these are the people we’ve attracted and that is the motivation of those who are there.

We used to pride ourselves on the “nobodies who are going nowhere” and there’s something to that. they wanted great college careers because that’s all they would ever get. I love that. But it’s now true that more than a half-dozen players might get a serious look at the NFL. That’s different, but it’s not worse.

The guys coming into the program now are awesome. i just hate to say this, because I’m such a fan. But this is a top 10 program that is now virtually guaranteeing that instead of just hoping it might be true. These aren’t motivated guys performing above their considerable potential, they’re guys who have proven their worth, have choices, and have chosen to be Broncos.

Thanks for that. Despite evening your odds (you’ve got a 14% chance at the NFL at Boise, a little less than half that at Alabama) you’ve chosen to be a part of the most incredible story in college football; JC Champions, Division II Champions (and finalists), BCS Busters, the most unlikely yet weirdly probable National Championship team in the country.

I love Moore. Wish him well. But BSU with a versatile quarterback? Forget about it. Give me a fullback to boot, and they’re undefeated.

Meant twice that at Alabama. No question. You go to a “major” program and all your chances are better.

But it used to be that BSU was no chance. Now it’s half-chance. Not perfect, but an improvement.

Hi Everyone,
Boise has been successful because of good talent that becomes outstanding through excellent coaching, and the belief that you can win. You can. Attitude is everything. It results in out working and out thinking the opposition, and never quitting. It’s a day to day grind, and game day behaviour. This has been exhibited over the years by earlier Boise teams. These attributes are the responsibility of each player and coach on the team. Emulate the past and you will succeed in the future. From down under in New Zealand, I believe in you.
Regards, Bill (ex-Pittsburg, Kansas)

First off we still play in the MWC and our non-conference games against BYU and USM are both wins. Noone in the MWC will touch the Broncos and we don’t play Air Force. I will be shocked at anything but 12-0 or 11-1. The only game BSU won’t be a double digit favorite is Michigan State. As far this 6 starter myth. I have seen it multiple times. Sure the defensive line and linebackers are big losses but Gavins and Taylor will be the best corner tandem this side of the SEC, Lee Hightower started and will step in at Safety. On offense the way we rotate WRs I don’t see an issue there so you can basically count 2-3 starters there. SUre we lost Potter on the OL but you could make a case that we essentially return 5 started on the o-line with the amount of playing time they got especially with Cory getting his 6th year. Then there is the backfield. DJ Harper is not much of a drop off from Doug Martin (Ask TCU and Va Tech about his abilities) and let’s not forget about Dan Paul returning. BSU is no longer the cute little offense on the blue field. They are a legit perennial top 15-25 team.

Looking at the schedule and the returning players and the new recruits, if Coach Pete can get them playing as a team, the odds will be even (IMHO) against Mich State. If the Broncos can beat the Spartans, I see them going undefeated in regular season.

Hopefully, they will be the Non AQ who is rate within the top ten (or at least top 14) for a BCS Bowl.

The 2012 team will be much more explosive and even on offense. The defense will be just as talented, but much hungrier. The 2011 team was spoiled by Kellen Moore. The Offensive line couldn’t block for the run if their life depended on it. Receiver blocking for running outside was non-existent. Both the defensive line and the D Coach were complacent and it killed us in the Frog game.

The 2012 team and coaches have a lot to prove. I’m looking forward to it. Just hope the polls don’t screw them over —again.