ANALYSIS: From strength to struggle for UI’s defense

The Idaho Vandals’ defense has taken a significant step back from last season, falling from one of the Big Sky Conference’s better units to one of its worst in several categories.

Idaho just gave up 38 points in a loss to Weber State, which was the Big Sky’s highest-scoring offense going into last week.

Now, Idaho now faces another challenge Saturday against Montana, the Big Sky’s new highest-scoring offense at 38.1 points per game.

An issue all season that Idaho coach Thomas Ford Jr. and defensive coordinator Lee Stalker have mentioned has been poor tackling.

“It starts with just our pre-snap eyes. If you have poor pre-snap eyes, it’s gonna be hard to have the right angles that the scheme is drawn up, and so I think part of it is the angles we’re taking,” Ford said.

Ford said that the Vandals have to “continue to improve (their) tackling” and that there will be live sessions during practices to keep working at it.

“Definitely want to get some more good-on-good work going as well,” Ford said. “Continue to compete. I think that’s really helped our football team these last three weeks. Really, just with competitive practice, and so those are all things that we’ll do to really improve that part of our game defensively. But it’s certainly something we’ve got to tighten up.”

There is quite a difference between the Vandals’ top tackler and the second-most on the team.

Fifth-year linebacker and Lewiston product Cruz Hepburn leads Idaho with 55 total tackles (20 solo) and a team-high three tackles for loss. Just halfway through the season, Hepburn is on pace to burn past last year’s leading tackler Dylan Layne, who had 88 total tackles (32 solo).

Sophomore linebacker Nikko Speer is second on the team with 33 total tackles (11 solo) and has two tackles for a loss and one sack.

But looking at last year’s defensive total statistics compared to this year’s is staggering.

It is important to note that this year’s statistics are out of 13 Big Sky teams, while last year’s were out of 12 teams; also, 2026’s stats are through six games while 2025 is through the entire season.

So far in 2026, Idaho is No. 11 in average points allowed at 40.0 per game; they are better than just Utah Tech at 42.9 and Portland State at 45.0 points allowed per game. In 2025, the Vandals were No. 4 in average points allowed per game at 26.4 and were just 0.1 off of third best in the Big Sky.

This year, Idaho is No. 7 in yards allowed per game at 453.2, while last year the Vandals were No. 3 with 382.5 yards allowed per game.

The Vandals are dead last in the conference at No. 13 in rushing yards allowed per game at 246 yards per game. Idaho has allowed 1,476 yards and 14 touchdowns. In 2025, Idaho was No. 5 in rushing yards allowed per game at 159.3 yards per game. The Vandals allowed 1,912 rushing yards and 18 TDs.

Idaho is also last in the Big Sky in red zone defense, allowing the opposing offense to score on 29-of-30 attempts with a 96.7% conversion rate, with 22 TDs (10 runs, 12 passes) and 7-of-7 on field goals, forcing one turnover on downs. In 2025, Idaho was No. 3 in red zone defense, allowing the opposing offense to score on 40-of-49 attempts with an 81.6% conversion rate, with 26 TDs (14 runs, 12 passes) and 14-of-16 on field goals, forcing five turnovers on downs.

A few stats remain similar, including total sacks; last season Idaho was last in the Big Sky at No. 12 in total sacks with 15. Defensive lineman Matyus McLain, who has since transferred to Washington State, led the Vandals with 4.5 sacks.

This season, Idaho is No. 11 in total sacks with eight. Defensive linemen, fifth-year Mitch Jaskowiak and sophomore Mason Krahn lead the Vandals with 1.5 sacks.

The Vandals also have just one interception this season and rank No. 13 in the Big Sky in interceptions. Freshman safety Luca Moore had Idaho’s first pick of the year last week against Weber State.

Last season, Idaho was No. 11 in total interceptions with six on the season.

Where the Vandals’ defense is best this season is in pass defense. They rank No. 2 in the Big Sky, allowing 207.2 yards per game. Idaho has allowed opposing quarterbacks to go 103-for-157 for 1,243 yards with 15 passing touchdowns.

Last year, Idaho was No. 5 in pass defense, allowing 223.2 passing yards per game. Through 12 games, Idaho allowed opposing QBs to go 223-for-342 for 2,678 passing yards and throw for 17 TDs.

Where is it going wrong for Idaho’s defense this season?

Ford was asked if there is an issue with game planning and schematics to installation and execution.

“Well, I mean that’s a difficult question to ask because it’s not one thing, right? Part of it could potentially be some schematic things we need to do a better job of. Part of it is our players need to execute the scheme a little better than we had,” Ford said.

He mentioned two long runs that Weber State had, a 75-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage and a 58-yard run later on. He said that was not a schematic issue and that players simply made the wrong check and then missed tackles that they should have. On the second one, a defensive player was unblocked and simply didn’t make the tackle.

“I think it’s a mix between scheme and execution by our players, but certainly we got to continue to put them in even better positions to make those plays,” Ford said. “And then at the end of the day, when the guys are there to make plays, especially unblocked players, we’ve got to make those plays.”

Junt can be reached at 208-848-2258, tjunt@lmtribune.com or on X @TrevorJunt.