Chalich, Linehan vie for QB job at Vandals spring practice
MOSCOW — The reward for Chad Chalich earning the starting quarterback job at Idaho last fall as a redshirt freshman — he has to win the job again this fall.
Chalich and Matt Linehan — a redshirt freshman this year — will get equal reps at the position as the Vandals begin spring practice today at 4 p.m. on the SprinTurf practice field east of the Kibbie Dome.
“No matter what, they’re the two guys that are going to compete for the job,” said Paul Petrino, whose Vandals went 1-11 last fall in his first season as Idaho coach. “We thought Matt was a really good player when we recruited him, I thought he was a good player all fall, so those are our two quarterbacks, and they are going to compete for it. They’ve got a little different skill sets, but I think they’re both real tough winners, and look forward to seeing them both compete and see who the best guy is.”
Chalich (6-0, 205 pounds) started Idaho’s first seven games last season, including the Vandals’ lone win. He suffered a shoulder injury early in that seventh game and didn’t play again the rest of the season. He completed 113 of 184 passes for 1,224 yards and five touchdowns, with three interceptions. He also rushed for 204 yards.
Linehan (6-3, 185), son of former Vandal quarterback and current Dallas Cowboys passing game coordinator Scott Linehan, redshirted last year after starring at St. Mary’s High School in Orchard Lake, Mich.
Petrino said Chalich is healthy and has been throwing as part of the Vandals’ offseason conditioning. He said Chalich told him his shoulder gets “tired” at times, so the Vandals may limit some of his throwing during spring drills.
Joshua McCain, a juco transfer who saw some action at quarterback last year, has been moved to wide receiver this year, Petrino said. The only other two quarterbacks on the roster are Jake Luton, an incoming freshman who is expected to redshirt, and Gunnar Amos, the former Coeur d’Alene High standout who plans to greyshirt and enroll in January.
Other Vandal notes:
• There will be one big difference in spring practice this year, Petrino said.
“We’re not going to hit the quarterbacks this spring,” he said. Last year, quarterbacks were fair game, and when running, were encouraged to take on tacklers, rather than run out of bounds.
• Petrino said there’s competition at nearly every position this year. Last year in some spots, the starter wasn’t challenged.
• Though he’s coaching many of previous coach Robb Akey’s recruits, Petrino said he doesn’t like when people refer to “my guys” or “other people’s guys.”
“We just had a team meeting two days ago,” Petrino said Thursday, “and we’re all in this thing together. Everybody that’s here is here, in my opinion. They’ve bought in, by now.”
• Petrino repeatedly referred to junior defensive end Quinton Bradley as a “beast.”
“I told him, nobody’s going to stop him but himself,” Petrino said.
• Petrino is looking to expand the role of running back Richard Montgomery, who rushed for two touchdowns and caught four TD passes last year. He may line up at receiver some this year as well.
“The thing Richard has to do is get stronger, so he can run through some of those arm tackles,” Petrino said. “I think his role has to expand, to play some more receiver.”
• Spring drills will conclude with the annual Silver and Gold Scrimmage on April 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kibbie Dome.
n Practices are:
March 28, 4 p.m. March 30, 3 p.m. April 2, 4 p.m. April 4, 4 p.m. April 7, 4 p.m. April 9, 4 p.m. April 14, 4 p.m. April 16, 4 p.m. April 18, 4 p.m. April 21, 4 p.m. April 24, 4 p.m.
n Scrimmages are:
April 5, 10 a.m. April 11, 4 p.m. April 19, 10 a.m. April 25, 7:30 p.m. (Silver and Gold Scrimmage)