Boise State depth chart versus San Jose State: Broncos will be just fine without Michael Atkinson

Boise State DT Michael Atkinson is gone from this week's depth chart and all other depth charts this season, which would be a big blow to the Broncos' D-line depth if Boise State was, say, Louisiana Tech. Fortunately, the Broncos are not LaTech, the D-line depth is just fine, and J.P. Nisby is as close as you can get to being Michael Atkinson without being Canadian.

After the jump, find out what other roster news is worth discussing, and leave your thoughts on the suspension of Atkinson, the redshirting of Kirby Moore and Jeremy Ioane, and the palpable tension of Ryan Winterswyk sack watch. Let's discuss.

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! Chase Baker better watch out for J.P. Nisby!

And here's to you, Michael Atkinson, Bronco Nation turns its lonely eyes to you and whatever team violation you are so fond of

We may never know Michael Atkinson's transgression that earned him an indefinite suspension, at least not unless one of us is willing to woo Max Corbet, get him tipsy on Shirley Temples, and trick him into giving us the key to the black box where all Bronco secrets are stored. That person is not me, even though I am very curious the story behind the Idaho Powerball mascot's disappearance.

When Coach Pete closes a 320-pound door, he opens a 301-pound window ... and J.P. Nisby is just wide enough to fit through. Nisby seemed to gain the most from Atkinson's absence on Saturday as he earned a QB hurry and a QB hit before the first half was even over. Plus, he's like 30 years old, so he has that going for him.

Old Man Nisby and Greg Grimes will be counted on to fill in for Atkinson, and I think they will do just fine. It would have been one thing to lose Atkinson days prior to the Nevada game, where stout defensive tackles are in high demand. Having five weeks to get Nisby and Grimes comfortable rotating with the twos can only help.

No Kirby Moore or Jeremy Ioane this year, plenty of them next year

In the big picture, it is probably a very good move by the Broncos to redshirt Moore and Ioane, considering Boise State's inestimable depth and talent at virtually every position. Besides, both players figure to be a much better help next year when Austin Pettis, Titus Young, Jeron Johnson, and Winston Venable graduate.

Poor Jeremy Ioane. He never got to taste WAC incompetence. Oh wait. Fresno's coming to the Mountain West. Never mind.

The Mitch Burroughs Experience coming to San Jose, possibly

Burroughs, who suffered an ankle sprain versus Wyoming, has been improving steadily and could hit the field as early as Saturday against the Spartans. Now, I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure  we don't need to be rushing Burroughs back to play against San Jose State. I know the Broncos will be returning lots of punts and all, but still. It's San Jose State.

Ryan Winterswyk sack watch enters Week Six, fragile San Jose quarterbacks put on alert

Winterswyk was inches away from getting sack No. 1 against Toledo, but selfish Billy Winn just had to have his second sack of the game. Winn owes Winterwsyk a Blizzard, and I know just the place to get one.

Boise State's stars are on special teams, I guess

Bronco fans rejoiced at the news that Byron Hout, Jeron Johnson, Dan Paul, and Ryan Winterswyk had returned to their special teams roles this week, forgetting to notice that those players don't all play kickoff return. But hey, Trevor Harman does, and he would like you to know that the line drive kickoff is here to stay!

You'll get playing time and no catches, and you'll like it .. you'll love it!

In a rare moment of elitism, Kellen Moore completed passes to only five receivers against Toledo, and they were all starters. Pettis, Young, Tyler Shoemaker, Tommy Gallarda, and Jeremy Avery were the only five to catch passes, rendering Geraldo Hiwat, Aaron Burks, Chris Potter, and Co. as little more than decoys and blocking sleds. If any of those people were Nick Lomax, they would so have transferred by now.

Boise State likes these players, so I like these players

The Broncos' internal players of the week were Kyle Efaw (offense), George Iloka (defense), Cedric Febis (special teams), Will Lawrence (linemen), and Ryan Winterswyk (Hammer). 

Miscellaneous

• Chris Petersen described OL Jake Broyles as "a terror" in mop-up duty against Toledo last week. I have just one question: Who's Jake Broyles?
• I guess Chuck Hayes was supposed to come in for Will Lawrence at times on Saturday. Did anyone notice? Joe Glenn was too busy making up the word "incoachable" to mention it.
• NB Jonathan Brown must be doing something right in practice since he was on the field in the first half of last week's game, dropping interceptions and such. Presumably, that means Boise State is rotating three-deep at the nickel spot. 
• In related news, Jonathan Brown can hit.
• I don't think I have ever gone a whole game without noticing Tommy Gallarda before.
• I could not be happier that Joe Southwick and Michael Coughlin are becoming known as Boise State's running quarterback when they enter the game. Some day, one of those two guys is going to throw a pass before garbage time and the opposing defense isn't going to know what hit them. It's Boise State's version of rope-a-dope.

Your turn

How do you think J.P. Nisby did filling in for Michael Atkinson? Bummed you won't see any Jeremy Ioane this year? Think this will be the week that Ryan Winterswyk breaks through for his first sack? Share your thoughts in the comments.