2008 Fresno State Bulldogs Preview

The Bulldogs have their bite back. Now if they can only muzzle their own bark. With nine starters back on offense and seven on defense, this could be the most successful team in Pat Hill’s 12-year tenure. Coming off last year’s 9–4 campaign, capped by an impressive bowl victory, Fresno State is the WAC preseason favorite and a contender for an at-large BCS spot.

Two Minute Drill

A Quick Look at the Bulldogs

Fresno State will be a trendy pick to crash the BCS postseason party, following in the footsteps of Boise State and Hawaii. But neither of those teams braved a non-conference schedule that includes Wisconsin, UCLA and Rutgers. On top of that, the Bulldogs have lost at least two WAC games in every season of Pat Hill’s 11-year tenure. Most of the optimism can be attributed to a loaded offense led by quarterback Tom Brandstater and tailback Ryan Mathews. Brandstater returns all his weapons, including All-America-caliber tight end Bear Pascoe and big-play receiver Marlon Moore. The explosive Mathews will be motoring behind a talented and experienced offensive line. The biggest question is how the players will mesh with new coordinator Doug Nussmeier, the program’s fourth playcaller in four years. Things aren’t nearly as rosy on defense, which graduated two all-conference standouts. While the secondary should be solid, linebackers Ben Jacobs and Quaadir Brown and defensive tackle Jon Monga are the only certainties among the projected front seven. The kicking game is also a question mark. Even if the Bulldogs stumble early, they’ll have plenty of time to right the ship before the Nov. 28 showdown at Boise State, which could decide the WAC title. Anything less would be a disappointment.

With quarterback Tom Brandstater, a blossoming NFL prospect, throwing to a deep receiving corps, and tailback Ryan Mathews running behind an experienced line, the offense looks scary. Defensively, the Bulldogs aren’t nearly as formidable but should have enough in reserve to mask the losses of WAC Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Riley and sack-master Tyler Clutts.

“I’d expect this group will pick up where last season finished and be ready to make a run,” Hill says.

Expectations are fine, if you can handle them. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs fall into the other category. Too many times over the years, Fresno State has made early national waves only to get capsized by some head-scratching WAC losses. This is a program that has a tendency to think globally while forgetting to act locally.

As usual, the non-conference schedule is brutal, another Hill trademark. No matter what Hawaii did last season or Boise State the year before, neither of those teams had to contend with the likes of Rutgers, Wisconsin and UCLA. If the Bulldogs somehow weather that storm, even the BCS computers won’t question their credentials.

Quarterbacks

Something clicked for Brandstater last fall, and the Bulldogs’ passing game never looked back. Brandstater emerged as a junior and enters 2008 as arguably the WAC’s top quarterback. What changed? Accuracy, for one. Brandstater completed 62.6 percent of his passes, capped by an MVP performance (23-of-30, 285 yards) in Fresno State’s 40–28 victory over Georgia Tech in the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl. That development is a big reason why former coordinator Jim McElwain now wears Alabama crimson instead of Bulldog red. That means Brandstater has a new tutor in Doug Nussmeier, the team’s fourth offensive coordinator in four years. The good news is that Nussmeier, hired from the St. Louis Rams, is keeping McElwain‘s offense. Behind Brandstater, things get dicey. Sophomore Ryan Colburn and redshirt freshman Matt Faulkner battled for second-team snaps in the spring. Incoming freshman Ebahn Feathers, a Fresno product, is talented enough to merit a look.

Running backs

Few true freshmen in school history exploded on the scene like Mathews, who rushed for 866 yards and 14 touchdowns. Three of those touchdowns came from beyond 50 yards, showing him to be a true breakaway threat. Mathews appeared 100 percent healthy in spring practice after an injury sidelined him for the bowl game. Fresno State also has someone to pick up the tough yards. Junior Lonyae Miller, who started seven games last season, is the battering ram the Bulldogs used to soften defenses before turning Mathews loose. It was a pretty good strategy, though Mathews has the starting job locked up. Junior Anthony Harding also has a role, since he’s the unit’s best receiver and pass blocker. Rather than use a true fullback, the Bulldogs will often bring in a second tight end and sometimes line him up in the backfield. Isaac Kinter caught two touchdown passes last season in this manner.

Receivers

Brandstater’s full arsenal of weapons returns, led by all-conference tight end Bear Pascoe and big-play receiver Marlon Moore. The 6'5", 260-pound Pascoe is usually Brandstater’s No.1 target. With a frame like that, he’s hard to miss and surprisingly light on his feet. Pascoe, who caught 45 passes for 553 yards and four touchdowns as a junior, will attract plenty of attention from opposing defenses and NFL scouts. Moore led all Bulldogs receivers with 48 catches for 694 yards and five touchdowns but will be remembered more for two fumbles at the 1-yard line while trying to stretch the ball across the goal. The first time, Moore probably cost Fresno State a victory over Texas A&M. Seyi Ajirotutu starts alongside Moore, and Jason Crawley joins the mix when the Bulldogs line up three receivers. Chastin West, the former No. 1 receiver, participated in non-contact drills in his first action since 2007 knee surgery.

Offensive linemen

In an era of mammoth linemen, Fresno State has taken the opposite tack by emphasizing agility over bulk. You won’t find a single 300-pounder in the projected starting five, which averages a shade above 285. Left tackle Bobby Lepori and left guard Cole Popovich each have extensive starting experience. They both battled injuries in the spring (Lepori was held out completely), but both are expected to be ready for training camp. The right side also returns intact with guard Andrew Jackson and tackle Kenny Avon. Jackson, in particular, had an excellent spring and may rival a healthy Popovich as the Bulldogs’ top run blocker. The biggest worry is at center. Projected starter Joe Bernardi tore knee ligaments during the fall and might not be ready to go until midseason.

Defensive linemen

Tackle Jon Monga, who had 6.5 sacks last season, goes non-stop and plays the run and pass with equal ferocity. But the list of standouts ends there. Nosetackle Cornell Banks is impressive in practice but unproven. And with Clutts gone, there’s no disruptive pass rusher on the edge. Wilson Ramos and Ikenna Ike are better against the run, and Kenny Borg suffered a season-ending injury in the spring. Michael Stuart or Chris Carter, who held their own in the spring, could be part of the pass-rushing solution. The same can’t be said for Pac-10 transfer Jason Roberts, who has been a disappointment thus far.

Linebackers

Anytime you lose the best defensive player in the conference, there’s going to be a transition period. This one could be especially rough. Sophomore Nico Herron has the unenviable task of replacing Riley. Herron had two tackles last season; Riley had 132. The other outside linebacker, Quaadir Brown, plays more like a safety and can be overpowered at the point of attack. At least sophomore Ben Jacobs returns in the middle. One of 2007‘s biggest surprises, Jacobs started all 13 games as a redshirt freshman. He is a sure tackler and rarely caught out of position. Besides Nick Bates, there isn’t much depth. Considering the state of affairs, 3-star recruits Ricky Pemasa and Damion Whittington will get auditions the moment they hit campus.

Defensive backs

The secondary boasts both experience and depth. Now it needs to produce. The Bulldogs forced a meager 13 turnovers last season, including four interceptions. Juniors Moses Harris and Marvin Haynes form perhaps the WAC’s best tandem of safeties. Both recorded more than 60 tackles last season and provide strong run support. Haynes sat out spring drills following a bowl-game injury. If he isn‘t ready to go by September, senior Jake Jorde is a capable fill-in. There is similar depth at cornerback, where Damion Owens, Sharrod Davis and A.J. Jefferson probably will battle for playing time all season. Owens, whose coverage skills are the most polished, draws the toughest assignments. Not many WAC teams can boast three 6-foot corners, all capable of starting.

Specialists

The Bulldogs are breaking in a new kicker in freshman Kevin Goessling and a new punter in sophomore Robert Malone — and won’t know if they can count on either until it’s too late. Good thing special teams coach John Baxter has a sterling track record in this area. It’ll be interesting to see how many teams kick off in Jefferson’s direction after he led the nation last season with a 35.8-yard average. Once Jefferson gets his long stride going, he’s gone. Just ask Utah State and Hawaii, the two teams he burned for touchdowns.

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