Anyone who watched the Idaho State football team in the final seven games of the 2011 saw two things that stood out as areas of need for 2012.

    The offensive and defensive lines.

    If ISU is to have any success in 2012, the offensive line must be able to protect quarterback Kevin Yost. Yost was sacked 55 times last season.

    The defensive line must be able to stop the run. Last year, the Bengals gave up 5.6 yards per carry and 250.4 yards per game.

    Those two areas were a focus during the recruiting period by head coach Mike Kramer and his staff during the offseason. On Tuesday, the Bengals took to the Holt Arena field for practice, the first of fall camp and the first practice since the spring game in late April.

    “I like us,” Kramer said. “I like how we have done academically. I like what we have done recruiting wise coming in here with guys that can fit. I like the fact that 16 of the guys out on the field were former walk-ons that have received scholarships, 12 guys remain on scholarship from when coach Zamberlin was here so we have had almost a complete turnover and changeover. I am anxious to get going.”

    During Tuesday’s opening practice, the team spent most of its time working on position drills. For the first time in Kramer’s short tenure at ISU, he feels that the team has the kind of depth he is used to having.

    “It’s fun to have the kind of numbers you need to run a major college program,” Kramer said. “We have not had enough quality numbers and players to run our drills effectively. In face our coaches were scrambling tonight because many are in their second year as full-time coaches and have never had to run drills with a full roster. We have to make some adjustments for today’s practice as coaches to adjust to the size of our squad and I like that.”

    “Every recruit that we brought in is bigger than someone who is already here,” Kramer said. “A lot of those guys have the opportunity to play and play early. A lot of those guys have the chance to bring some quality to our offensive production because Kevin (Yost) cannot be running for his life every time he drops back to pass.”

    Kramer said he has 25 true freshman in camp this fall. He said eight will be on the two-deep roster and another three of those will play immediately.

    One of those three will be at center, as freshmen Travis Namohala and Wesley Wingrove are atop the depth chart.

    The rest of the offense returns healthy and intact.

    Yost and Rodrick Rumble return as does Josh Hill and Derek Graves. Mark Clampitt has moved from center to right guard to give the offensive line some depth and experience inside.

    Defensively, ISU must replace linebackers A.J. Storms and Bo Hudeen, and find a way to stop the run.

    Leki Fuapau returns healthy as do Austin Graves and Jake Rouser. Kramer will hopefully soon have the services of Florida State transfer Terrance Carey. He was unable to practice Tuesday because the athletic department is still going over his transcript.

    Carey is a 6-foot 300 pound nose tackle, something the team has needed for years.

    “We needed to get big up front and the arrival of Terrance will help with that,” Kramer said. “We need to be bigger  in our front and spend more emphasis on it. But most of all our safeties have to come to the games.”

    The linebacking corps looks to be Mitch Beckstead, Demetrius Allen, Jake Pele and Trevor Spence.

    All four defensive backs return, led by Donovan Henley and Cameron Gupton.

    The Bengals will practice just once a day for the remainder of the fall camp and all practices are open to the public until Aug. 23.

    The team hits the Holt Arena field today at 3 p.m.