MOSCOW, Idaho – On what was to be the eve of spring football at the University of Idaho, Paul Petrino was excited to see the transformations another year of experience and winter conditioning had on the Vandals.
“I'm just real excited going into the third spring because there are so many guys who have played football for us already and know the systems on both sides of the ball,” he said. “We just have to go out there and really improve.”
Petrino confirmed Tuesday that Matt Linehan, the returning starter at quarterback, will miss the entirety of spring ball because of a football injury. And, the start of spring drills was moved from Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. to Thursday at 4:30 p.m.
“We're going to go about business to be the best we can be and get better every single day,” he said.
Linehan's absence from the field – but certainly not from the huddle, gives 2015 backup Jake Luton and redshirt freshman Gunnar Amos opportunities to showcase their progress.
“The most important thing is they get better every day,” said Petrino, who moved Charlie Molnar from receivers to replace Bryce Erickson (now head coach at Lake City High School) as quarterbacks coach. “The more reps you take, the better chance you have to get better.”
That storyline is repeated across the board for the Vandals who have 38 lettermen returning – and 23 redshirts who spent a full year in the system. There are nine full-time starters to replace and Petrino like the competitions that are taking place for those jobs.
“That's what spring ball is about – competition,” said Petrino, who takes over are receivers coach while adding Troy Purcell to the staff as inside linebackers coach. “We have a lot of competition at all the positions. That's when you get good – when nobody is comfortable; when everybody knows there's a guy right there. That's how everyone raises up their game.”
The Vandals practice Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week and will follow a similar slate for the next five weeks when spring drills wrap up with the Silver and Gold game April 22 at 6 p.m.
