Boise State QB Bachmeier strives for consistency. For once, he sees it on the sideline
Consistency. It’s essential to success in any walk of life.
It’s also something Boise State quarterback Hank Bachmeier will experience for the first time in his college career this season when it comes to who is calling plays for the offense.
Bachmeier hasn’t had the same offensive coordinator in consecutive seasons since joining the Broncos in 2019, but he told reporters Monday that he’s more excited and confident than ever as he prepares for year No. 2 in Tim Plough’s offense.
“I would say right now that mentally I’m the best I’ve ever been,” Bachmeier said. “I had a lot on my plate last year, but it’s nice having a year’s worth of experience in the playbook, and coming into my fourth year, I feel like I’m seeing the field really well.”
Zak Hill was Boise State’s offensive coordinator when Bachmeier enrolled early and arrived on campus in January 2019. Hill left for Arizona State following that season and was replaced by Eric Kiesau, who was already on staff as Boise State’s wide receivers coach. Kiesau followed former coach Bryan Harsin to Auburn after the 2020 season.
Plough was hired in January 2021 as part of Boise State head coach Andy Avalos’ first staff. He came in with plenty of high-scoring games on his resume from his time at UC Davis, an FCS school, but the Broncos’ offense didn’t light up the scoreboard last season the way his teams have in the past.
Boise State averaged 29.2 points a game last fall, which ranked No. 5 in the Mountain West and was a far cry from the half-a-hundred mantra Plough touted when he was hired.
Plough said last week that players’ understanding of his scheme is light years ahead of where it was when spring practice began last year.
“We very much had to start at square one last year, and it was all we could do to get lined up right some days,” Plough said. “Now these guys are well versed in what we’re trying to do and the tempo we need to do it with, and that can only result in a big step forward.”
Unless something unexpected happens, there isn’t going to be a quarterback controversy at Boise State this year. Bachmeier, who beat out former USC transfer Jack Sears to keep the job last year, should open the season as one of the few four-year starters in program history — a list that includes Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and Denver Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien.
Despite playing much of last season on an injured knee, Bachmeier posted career highs in completions (252), passing yards (3,079) and passing touchdowns (20). He already ranks in the top 10 at Boise State in career passing yards (6,108, No. 7) and career TD passes (35, No. 10).
But the senior still has room to grow, Plough said.
“As tough as he is, it’s just him learning to get rid of the ball sooner and play on time and anticipate things,” Plough said. “He knows the offense. The next step for him is understanding defensive structure and protections, because we ask our quarterbacks to do more presnap than most teams in the country.”
When asked on Monday where he believes he can still improve, Bachmeier said it all simply comes down to consistency.
“It’s the consistency to make the best decision for every play,” said Bachmeier, who will have one season of eligibility left after the 2022 campaign because of the NCAA’s COVID-19 allowances. “You can’t do it for three quarters and struggle in one. It’s every single play, and that’s what separates good quarterbacks from great ones.”
NOTES
▪ Boise State defensive end Shane Irwin confirmed over the weekend that he’s not practicing this spring because he’s rehabbing from surgery on both ankles. Irwin, a former junior college transfer, led the Broncos with 6.5 sacks in 2020. The fifth-year senior posted three sacks last season.
▪ Center Kekaniokoa Holomalia-Gonzalez didn’t go into specifics over the weekend about the injury that forced him to miss all of last season, but he said he’s back to 100% this spring. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound redshirt senior made the first two starts of his college career in 2019 and started six games in 2020.
▪ Defensive tackle Scott Matlock has been busy packing on the pounds this offseason. He said last week that he played at around 290 pounds last season, and he’s up to 305 this year. The fifth-year senior from Homedale posted career highs in tackles (41), tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (7) in 2021, and also caught the first touchdown pass of his career.
