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In case you missed Bronco's Monday morning press conference live on ksl.com (via the "X-Stream), or haven't listened to the podcast yet, you heard him say that Andre Saulsberry will get the start at boundary corner this week v. Eastern Washington.
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This will be Saulsberry's third consecutive start in place of fellow senior Ben Criddle, and while Criddle's ankle injury initially necessitated Saulsberry's promotion, it wasn't the only reason Criddle lost his job.
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During the week of the New Mexico game, and again last week, Criddle missed a mandated weightlifting session, and as Bronco told us on the postgame show the other night, he holds all of his players--starters or not--to high standards and expects them to meet certain criteria. Bronco said if those standards and criteria are not met, "certainly the reward isn't to be a starter in the game." He added the Saulsberry has done everything asked of him, exactly the way he's been asked. Today, Bronco said in no uncertain terms, the job is now Andre's to lose.
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Bears noting that Bronco also told us on the postgame show that he expects Criddle to keep battling and working to get his job back. And anyone who knows Bronco or has played for him knows, he holds no grudges and he plays no favorites. If Criddle gets his starting job back, you will know he has beaten Saulsberry out, on and off the field. Meantime, Bronco now has two solid options at boundary corner and field corner--since Brandon Howard has also played well in place of Kayle Buchanan when given the chance this season.
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Buchanan, by the way, strained his neck in the UNLV game, while offensive linemen David Oswald and Dallas Reynolds, and running back Harvey Unga all sprained ankles. Linebacker David Nixon got his bell rung, but none of the above listed players are in doubt for the Eastern Washington game.
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