MOSCOW, ID – With 11 days until the season opener, the Idaho Vandals are entering the final stretch of fall camp with a stronger sense of urgency and more depth than they had a year ago.
Idaho head coach Thomas Ford Jr. said the biggest difference between this year’s camp and last year’s is the team’s sense of urgency. Ford said the coaching staff is emphasizing the small details and holding players accountable for them.
“If you can’t handle the small things, you can’t handle the big things,” Ford said.
That attention to detail has also carried into Idaho’s situational work. The Vandals have spent camp putting the offense and defense into different down-and-distance scenarios, preparing players for situations they could encounter on Saturdays.
“Everything we’re trying to do is to get us ready to play regular football on Saturdays,” Ford said.
Ford believes the work is helping the Vandals develop better football intelligence, one of three characteristics he expects to define this year’s team. He also described Idaho as physical and gritty, saying the team has grown closer throughout the offseason.
Depth is another area where Ford sees significant improvement.
On offense, Ford pointed to a veteran offensive line, a more experienced quarterback room and depth at running back. Idaho returns quarterback Joshua Wood, who now has more than 800 career snaps, while the Vandals also have multiple players competing for opportunities at running back and receiver.
Defensively, Ford said the defensive tackle room is further along than it was a year ago, with roughly six players capable of contributing. He also highlighted improvements at cornerback and continued development at safety and linebacker.
Overall, Ford said he does not see a glaring weakness on the roster and believes Idaho has more competitive depth than it did last season.
“I feel pretty good about our depth and talent,” Ford said.
That depth could become particularly important in the Big Sky, where Ford expects every conference game to be a challenge.
The Vandals are also focused on getting off to a fast start after last season faded late. Ford said an early stretch of success would provide confidence and show the team that the work it has put in since January is paying off.
Idaho opens the season August 28 at Cal Poly.
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