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MOSCOW, Idaho — With the Utah State Aggies and Idaho Vandals squaring off in the Kibbie Dome Saturday, the casual fan would have assumed that USU should take advantage of a weaker conference opponent, but that would not be in style with WAC games — especially games involving Utah State.
The Aggies headed home after this one with a 49-42 overtime win, but it was certainly not the way head coach Gary Andersen and his staff would have liked to.
Observation 1: The Aggies struggle with the lead. Utah State led 21-10 going into the second half and then proceeded to turn the ball over, leave the field after three-and-outs and make costly penalties to let the Vandals back in the game.
USU began the game very aggressive with junior transfer quarterback Adam Kennedy under center, but late in the game offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin, once again played it safe with the play-calling. Baldwin was seen giving Kennedy an ear-full after another three-and-out with 5:30 left in the game, but in truth it was Baldwin's lack of aggression that kept the Aggies from progressing the ball downfield.
It would be easy to say that it was the defense that struggled in Moscow (giving up 42 points), but that is not the whole story. The Aggie coaching staff will say (with good reason) that they gave the game away. Turnovers and the offense's inability to move the ball in the second half and keep the Vandals off the field is what cost the Aggies from winning a little more easily.
Observation 2: Turnovers hurt Utah State and almost cost the Aggies the game. Utah State has playmakers, but when giving the ball away three times it is very difficult to win a football game. The Aggies finished the game with three different plays of 60 yards or more and scored 49 points, but left many more on the field due to the inability to hang on to the football.
When a team is struggling to hold on to the football that is the time they should lean on their horse the most. Even the arm-chair coach can see that running back Robert Turbin is the man who needs to have the ball when the game is on the line. On fourth-and-2 early in the fourth Andersen and Baldwin didn't blink to hand the ball off to Turbin who got them the important yards the Aggies needed. Baldwin needs to find a way to get Turbin the ball in open space so he can make big plays and keep Utah State from playing in so many close games.
Observation 3: The Aggies play very well against the run. Teams that try and run on Utah State struggle. Where senior linebacker Bobby Wagner and Co. get into trouble is when the opposing offense decides to throw the ball down field. Sure, the Aggies allowed three rushing touchdowns, but it was the pass that truly hurt Utah State in this one.
Idaho senior quarterback Brian Reader finished the game 27-of-39 for 275 yards and a touchdown. Several times all the defensive back needed to do was turn his head and put his hands up and that would prevent a big play, but instead the Vandals either gained a lot of yards or the Aggies committed a costly pass-interference penalty.
The defensive secondary still has a lot of work to do and will need to improve for the Aggies to contend for the WAC title next year — especially being without help from the defensive front seven that will be without senior linebackers Wagner and Kyle Gallagher.
As has been said, the win is all that matters and the Aggies now sit at 5-5 on the season (3-2 in WAC play) and are just one win away from being bowl eligible. That one game is what Andersen has been planning for during his whole tenure in Logan. The Aggies have just two games left to prove they deserve to play in college football's postseason, but the way this season has gone it's anyone's guess as to how it will finish.
Justin McKissick is a KSL.com contributor originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is currently seeking a communications degree. Justin has been covering USU sports since 2011. Follow him on Twitter: @justin_sr.
