Applying lessons from Petersen and Harsin, Boise State OC has a plan — with ‘wrinkles’

Editor’s note: This is the third installment of a series exploring the top 10 questions surrounding the Boise State football team this season. Articles will run every Tuesday and Thursday in July and will be accompanied by a video online featuring Idaho Statesman reporter Ron Counts and Boise State super-fan Jacob Bleymaier. The videos also will appear on his Bronco Bleymaier YouTube channel.

Boise State offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan developed his scheme while working under several coaches who once roamed the sidelines at Albertsons Stadium.

Hamdan said he got a crash course in how to study opponents and prepare creative game plans as Arkansas State’s co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under former Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin in 2013.

“There aren’t many coaches who work harder than coach Harsin,” Hamdan told the Idaho Statesman. “He puts everything he has into preparation, and he’s kind of fearless as a play caller.”

Hamdan, a former quarterback at Boise State, was hired at his alma mater last December. He spent the past three seasons coaching wide receivers and quarterbacks at Missouri, where he worked for former Boise State offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz.

He said Drinkwitz taught him not only how to get the most out of every practice, but also out of every interaction with a player or coach.

“It’s easy to get bogged down with a game plan and all the day-to-day stuff that comes with coaching and forget that you’re, first and foremost, a teacher,” Hamdan said.

Hamdan said he learned the most valuable lessons of his career during multiple stints with one of the most recognizable coaches in Boise State history: Chris Petersen.

Hamdan joined Petersen’s staff at Washington as an offensive quality control coach in 2015. He was promoted to wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator the following year. He left to spend the 2017 season as the Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach, but returned to Washington as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2018 and ‘19.

He said he gleaned more from Petersen about life and how to treat people with love and respect than any other coach. Hamdan also said he learned a simple lesson that continues to resonate with him.

“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to be successful,” Hamdan said. “What you have to do is understand your personnel, their strengths and weaknesses, and make them understand that while you’re going to push them, you’re still going to love them regardless of the outcome.”

Will Boise State’s packed, experienced backfield help run-heavy offense set new records?

Hamdan will debut his scheme at Boise State this year. He has a chance to bring stability to a position that had some instability last year.

Boise State coach Andy Avalos fired offensive coordinator Tim Plough following a loss at UTEP in September. Former Boise State and Arizona State head coach Dirk Koetter ended the season as interim coordinator. He returned to retired life after the season.

“Sometimes change is needed, but it’s never easy,” Hamdan said. “You make it a little easier with how you develop relationships, but it just takes time, and sometimes it takes going through something that’s uncomfortable.”

Hamdan said his scheme will resemble Koetter’s, especially in the running game.

The Broncos averaged just 120.2 rushing yards per game through the first four contests of 2022, but that increased to 226.8 yards a game with Koetter calling plays and Taylen Green starting at quarterback. Green replaced four-year starter Hank Bachmeier, who left the team after Plough’s firing and eventually transferred to Louisiana Tech.

“There has been a great tradition here for a long time, and I would be foolish to deviate from that too much,” Hamdan said. “That doesn’t mean there aren’t going to be wrinkles.”

Hamdan said his offense will begin with a physical, downhill rushing attack, the importance of which was instilled in him by Petersen.

“We feel like you have to be able to run the ball to win championships,” Hamdan said.

Green and running backs George Holani and Ashton Jeanty are all back in uniform after they combined for 2,564 yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground last season. Hamdan said they’re all going to get their touches, including 10 to 12 carries a game by Green.

The Broncos’ new offensive coordinator also said he has to be careful not to hamper their natural abilities.

“Sometimes the best thing you can do is let a special athlete go be special,” he said. “That doesn’t mean we aren’t going to coach them up and try to put them in position to succeed, but we have to be careful not to over-coach.”

Hamdan said he’s taking a similar approach with the Broncos’ quarterbacks.

Plough put a lot on his quarterback’s shoulders when it came to setting protections and identifying defensive fronts. Koetter took some of that away. Hamdan has taken it a step further.

Boise State reveals timeline for ambitious renovation of Albertsons Stadium’s north end

The center will be responsible for identifying defensive fronts and blitzers, Hamdan said, adding that will allow Green to rely more on his athleticism and play more quickly.

“If we can take some stuff off the quarterback and get him locked in on what he’s supposed to be looking at, that can really help,” the coach said.

The move paid off last year. Green’s completion percentage hovered around 50% in his first two starts against San Diego State and Fresno State, but he steadily improved and even completed a season-high 80% of his passes in a win against Colorado State.

Green ended last season completing 61.2% of his passes while he racked up 2,042 yards and 14 touchdowns through the air. Hamdan said Green is poised to have another big season, but he has to continue to develop as a passer in the pocket.

“For his whole career, he’s been able to escape and outrun people,” Hamdan said “But the art of playing in confined space and staying in the pocket is what is going to take his game to the next level.”