Bengals have room to improve

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Senior Ryan Phipps swore he would remember the victory, not the 11 losses.

Hobbled by a bum ankle all season, senior Eddie Thompson vowed he could feel no pain in his lower leg.

Sophomore Isaiah Burel promised this was the future.

After Idaho State's season-ending, 36-33 overtime victory last week, those three weren't the only Idaho State players spouting their enthusiasm. It seemed all of them were calling it the biggest win of their lives.

Monday, two days after finishing the season 1-11, coach John Zamberlin arrived at his weekly news conference with a smile that had been suppressed -- or at least rendered wry -- for more than a year.

"That was an emotional game, it really was," Zamberlin said. "I've been in overtime games before, I've been in undefeated seasons, but this game will stick out."

Still, there's work to be done. Regardless of its timing, Idaho State's victory was the only one of the season. The Bengals went 1-11 and lost more games in a season than all but two teams in program history. The 15-game losing streak that started Oct. 27, 2007, and ended last week was Idaho State's second-longest ever.

The Bengals lose starters at wide receiver, offensive tackle, running back, linebacker and cornerback -- not to mention along a defensive line that underachieved and was injured all season.

"We've got to get better," Zamberlin said. "We've got to go out and recruit. ... We've got to keep bringing in quality talent."

But at least, he added, the most recent image in coaches' and players' minds is of a victory celebration at Holt Arena.

"Now that we see how we can play, we can build off that," Burel said after the game. "This is just the beginning."

First, though, the Bengals must address what worked and what did not work during the 2008 campaign.

Special teams proved to be a strength. Junior Jon Vanderwielen, who hadn't punted once in college until this year, finished with the second-best average in the Big Sky at 42.4 yards per punt. Aside from Montana's Marc Mariani and Weber State's Bryant Eteuati, no one else in the conference had a better return average on punts than Kenyon Blue (10.9 yards).

But aside from that, it was a poor statistical season for the Bengals -- especially defensively.

They gave up 41.2 points per game, the most in program history. Teams rushed for 2,784 yards against Idaho State, the second-most ever.

A big reason for those struggles was the lack of a pass rush. For the third straight year, no one player recorded more than 4.5 sacks; Phipps led the way with 3.5 this season.

On the year, Idaho State earned just 18 sacks. Eastern Washington's Greg Peach had that many by himself.

"We need to get better up front on the defensive line," Zamberlin said.

The Bengals' pass defense wasn't much better, either. While the raw rankings look OK -- Idaho State was fourth in the Big Sky in pass defense -- a deeper look reveals that teams succeeded when they chose to throw against the Bengals. It's just that their rushing defense was so poor, teams rarely had to throw.

In pass efficiency defense, Idaho State ranked last in the nation. That even includes its final two performances in which Montana and Sacramento State completed a combined 23-of-50 pass attempts for 221 yards and one touchdown.

Whenever an opponent threw a pass against the Bengals, regardless of whether it was completed, the team gained 9.3 yards on average. Idaho State's seven interceptions were the second-fewest in one season in program history.

Essentially, opponents were rarely troubled by the Bengals' defense.

Idaho State coaches are hopeful, however, that the experience younger players gained this year will pay off down the road. There is no better way to learn, they said, than to play.

And play they did. Eight sophomores or freshmen started at least one game this season, and a handful of others saw playing time.

Nevertheless, Zamberlin stressed how important it will be for the Bengals to infuse the team with another talented class of freshmen and transfers. Ending the season with a victory certainly will help in the recruiting process, he said. Players agreed.

"We all would love to have the 12-0 season and go to the playoffs," Thompson said after the game. "But this win right here was a priceless win, and we can build on that."

As coaches make their pitches to recruits in California, Washington, Idaho and beyond, they will point to the season-ending victory as a springboard to next year. But they still will need to answer to the 1-11 record.

That mark wasn't erased by beating Sacramento State. But it sure looks better than 0-12.

For that much at least, the Bengals can be happy.

Looking back at 2008

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