Vertical passing a work in progress for Vandals

It will take Idaho quite some time before it's able to match wits in the passing game with its cross-town, Pac-12 contemporary in Pullman.

The Vandals' stable of running backs may have something to do with that. But even with a talented thunder-and-lightning combo of Elijhaa Penny and Aaron Duckworth, the team has still made it a point to work on perfecting its vertical passing attack.

It just hasn't gone very well.

Few times during fall camp quarterbacks Matt Linehan and Jake Luton have been able to connect with their receivers on long balls. Drops are the culprit, occasionally, but most of the time the quarterbacks and receivers just aren't in sync.

"It just comes with time and working it, working it and working it," Linehan said. "The more you get comfortable - especially with the new guys coming in - throwing down field, the better it will be. There are some guys I already feel comfortable throwing to downfield and there are some guys I've had to get the timing down with."

Linehan said he had his best day throwing the ball downfield on Monday when "we weren't worried about throwing picks, we were just going out there and playing."

"We were throwing downfield, being comfortable with our guys and trusting them to go get it," he added." That's really what vertical passing is: trusting your receivers and putting it on the money."

The third-year sophomore followed up Monday's effort with what coach Paul Petrino called one of the QB's "best practices" on Tuesday, Day 13 of camp. Linehan hit Duckworth on a deep ball during an early 11-on-11 team period, but misfired when targeting receiver David Ungerer, who had a step on his defender later in the day.

Quarterbacks coach Bryce Erickson said his guys are improving their vertical game, but would still like to see more as camp continues.

"It's just timing with different receivers and locating the receiver when they get their release," Erickson said. "The more you practice them the better you're going to get at them. It's different from throwing routes when there's not a defender out there opposed to when there's a defender on you, it's tight. We gotta make those plays down the field if we want to be successful on offense."

Erickson listed three components to a successful vertical game: protection from the offensive line, poise from the quarterback and a good release from the receiver off of the line of scrimmage against press coverage.

For the receivers, outside wideout Jacob Sannon added two more key elements.

"We basically focus a lot on getting back over the top of the DB (defensive back)," said Sannon, who caught a deep pass from Linehan on Monday. "We talk about running the yellow line and basically get back on top of the DB (so) they won't be able to get back and reach us."

The secondary has done its part in preventing long passes, which hasn't always been the case at the UI the past couple of years. Cornerbacks coach Aric Williams said he loves seeing his guys tested deep, especially knowing that it's an area of the game their opponents won't shy away from.

"Coach (Petrino) is taking the deep ball and that's going to make us better on both sides of the ball," Williams said. "I want my guys to get up in their face and challenge them and still be able to cover the deep ball. I think on both sides, the offense attacking up field is going to make us better come game day."

Cornerback Jayshawn Jordan had the best example of what Williams is looking for during camp. The senior ran stride for stride with Ungerer, turned his head as the ball arrived and soared in the air to intercept the pass.

But that was on Day 2, and since then none of the defensive backs have had much luck in that area. Fortunately for them, the receivers still need to figure things out, too.

"You gotta get burnt a few times to learn to look for the ball and get it," Williams said. "Hopefully we get that out of the way in camp before we go live bullets on (Sept. 3)."

Michael-Shawn Dugar can be reached at (208) 883-4629, by email to mdugar@dnews.com or on Twitter to @MikeDugar. Visit dnews.com/blogs for more Vandal fall camp coverage.