Defense could be Broncos’ speciality in 2019
While Boise State has a lot of question marks on offense, their defense returns far more of last year’s roster. The secondary should be especially talented, with six of last year’s top seven defensive backs returning for the 2019 campaign. That includes standout cornerback Avery Williams, who broke up 11 passes last season.
Top defensive end Curtis Weaver is back after racking up 9.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss in 2018. His partners in the rotation on the edge — Jabril Frazier and Durrant Miles — are now on the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons rosters after signing as undrafted free agents this spring. Gone as well from the front seven is Tyson Maeva, who transferred to FIU after getting kicked off the Boise State team for using cannabis in a hotel room before the team’s ultimately-canceled bowl game.
On top of the loss of Maeva, the linebacking corps will be dependent on Riley Whimpey returning better than ever from an ACL injury that ended his season prematurely last year. Zeke Noa could also blossom at the position after another year of development.
Focusing on the coordinator position
The biggest change of all for Boise State on defense this year is not due to the loss of a particular player but rather the departure of defensive coordinator Andy Avalos to take the same position at Oregon. Avalos coached a unit that ranked 30th in points allowed and in the top 40 in yards given up to opponents.
That leaves the pressure high on his replacement, former Eastern Washington defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding, who will take over the position after helping lead the Eagles to 10 playoff appearances, two national title games, and one national championship over a 15-year run working his way up the coaching ladder internally within the team.
Schmedding and co-defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson will have plenty of pieces, and Danielson is in his third year on the staff so there is some continuity in place. Avalos is obviously a brilliant mind who was due to leave for a bigger program eventually, but Boise State should be set up to transition fairly smoothly to the new staff members.