1/2
OFFENSE
For the first time in nine games, Boise State was held to less than 34 points and 430 yards of total offense. The Broncos knew they would have to outscore Hawaii — and they just couldn’t do it. Quarterback Taylor Tharp threw an uncharacteristic interception that ended the Broncos’ first drive. The receivers, who have been excellent, dropped several passes. The offensive line allowed pressure, including on Tharp’s interception and on a pivotal fourth-down play in the fourth quarter. Outside of Ian Johnson’s 50-yard scoring run in the first quarter, the running game wasn’t a huge factor. As in the loss to Washington, it appeared the Broncos abandoned the running game — which sets up their play-action passing attack — a little early. Johnson had seven second-half carries after rushing 15 times in the first half. Grade: C
DEFENSE
Hawaii torched the Broncos’ defense for 574 yards, including 495 through the air. Boise State struggled to generate pressure, outside of one late first-half stretch, on Hawaii QB Colt Brennan. With time, Brennan and his talented crew of receivers carved up an ailing Boise State secondary. Without cornerbacks Orlando Scandrick (thumb) and Rashuan Scott (knee) and safety Jeron Johnson (back), the Broncos didn’t have enough defensive backs to play man-to-man coverage and bring blitzes.
Instead, they were forced into mostly zone coverage, and Hawaii had success exploiting it over and over again. Most of the completions came on in-routes behind the Broncos’ linebackers, who were dropping into coverage, but unable to keep up with the speedy pass catchers. Hawaii is the No. 1 offense in the nation for a lot of reasons, and Boise State saw them on display Friday night. Grade: D
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Broncos’ special teams dominated, but Boise State needed even more out of them. The Broncos blocked two extra points and held the field-position advantage much of the night thanks to their return units and punter Kyle Brotzman. Brotzman did miss a field goal late in the first half which would have given the Broncos a halftime edge. With its offense and defense struggling, the Broncos could have used points — and not just long gains — out of its return units. But that’s asking an awful lot, especially after Scott, the team’s best return man, was injured. Grade: A-
COACHING/INTANGIBLES
Playing in an extremely hostile environment at sold-out Aloha Stadium, the Broncos showed some nerves and made some uncharacteristic mistakes. It’s possible the Broncos should have stuck with the run game longer and, perhaps, mixed things up defensively. The score and injuries made some of those changes impossible. It certainly wasn’t Boise State’s finest hour and the loss cost them a sixth consecutive WAC championship, a heavy price. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding season, the Broncos worked 12 freshman into the lineup and still finished 10-2. Impressive. Grade: C
Brian Murphy: 377-6444
