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TE
Bear Pascoe (PHOTO CREDIT: Keith Kountz) |
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2007
Statistics |
Coach:
Pat Hill
85-55,
11 years |
2007
Record: 9-4 |
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SACRAMENTO
ST |
WON
24-3 |
at
Texas A&M |
LOST
45-47 (3OT) |
at
Oregon |
LOST
21-52 |
LOUISIANA
TECH |
WON
17-6 |
at
Nevada |
WON
49-41 |
at
Idaho |
WON
37-24 |
SAN
JOSE STATE |
WON
30-0 |
BOISE
STATE |
LOST
21-34 |
UTAH
STATE |
WON
38-27 |
at
Hawai'i |
LOST
30-37 |
KANSAS
STATE |
WON
45-29 |
at
New Mexico State |
WON
30-23 |
HUMANITARIAN
BOWL |
Georgia
Tech |
WON
40-28 |
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2007
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-31, BCS-UR
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2008
Outlook |
Head
man Pat Hill enters his 12th
season with high expectations
after 2007 saw his team turn
around their 4-8 record from
the previous year into a 9-4
bowl-winning effort. Before
’06, he had reeled off
seven .500-or-above campaigns
to bring the Bulldogs back to
prominence. But for a smaller,
non-BCS-aligned school, one
losing year is enough to knock
itself from the national spotlight
and therefore many pollsters’
minds. Ergo, many thought Fresno’s
recent run was done and Hill’s
squad had fallen back into WAC
mediocrity as Boise and Hawai’i
took any national attention
away.
We
see Hill has his guys back to
basics and at No.23 in our preseason
poll. The five-game turnaround
from the previous year was due
to Tom Brandstater, a decent,
hard-to-bring-down hurler who
manages his skills well now…a
trend that should continue with
new coordinator Doug Nussmeier
calling the plays/shots. Nussmeier
has never led an offense as
a coach (great QB career at
Idaho – one of only three
QBs to throw for 10,000 yards
and run for 1,000 in his career),
but his prowess as a QB coach
should keep Brandstater on the
learning track and the offense
humming. To trade up from the
coordinator who made last year’s
poignant adjustments (McElwain)
must mean Hill believes strongly
in the change. RB Ryan Matthews’
good health guarantees enough
ground production to keep opposing
back-sevens honest, and the
line back in full has Bulldog
fans chomping already.
The
defense has its work cut out
- allowing 27 and 28 points
per game in ’07 and ’06,
respectively, after only allowing
around 21-22 points per game
from 2003-05, signals what needs
the most attention for State
to continue its upward trend.
It all starts up front (after
allowing five yards per carry).
The line has well-sized bodies,
led by Jon Monga, that can shuffle
into many different looks just
before the snap to confuse blocking
schemes. Already better in coverage
as a team, almost every DB is
back to improve its decent 56th
ranking. This defense will be
solid by November, but that
doesn’t mean much when
three tough BCS-caliber teams
are up for September. What happens
on defense will directly dictate
how far Fresno is capable of
going.
There
is some solace in knowing that
the best of the non-cons –
Wisconsin – doesn’t
travel west so well and they
come into Bulldog Stadium. So
does new-look Hawai’i,
and with Boise as the last regular
season tilt, Fresno will know
its status heading into the
game…if this a game is
for the WAC title, the momentum
from a strong campaign will
assure they are playing top
ball by then. The conference
is winnable with BSU also retooling
its offense (new QB). The time
is now for Hill & Co. to
retake the top spot and reestablish
itself as a power in the west
that even the biggest schools
dread facing.
Projected
2008 record: 9-3
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FRESNO
STATE
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 4 |
DL
- 2.5 |
RB
- 4 |
LB
- 3 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 3.5 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
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FRESNO
STATE
2007 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
14 |
2 |
Passing: |
71 |
6 |
Total
Off: |
38 |
5 |
Sacks
Allow: |
22 |
1 |
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DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
85 |
8 |
Passing: |
56 |
3 |
Total
Def: |
73 |
3 |
Sacks: |
25 |
2 |
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RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Tom Brandstater, 211-337-5,
2654 yds., 15 TD
Rushing: Ryan Mathews,
145 att., 866 yds., 14 TD
Receiving: Marlon Moore,
48 rec., 694 yds., 5 TD
Scoring: Ryan Mathews,
14 TD, 84 pts.
Punting: Robert Malone,
2 punts, 36.0 avg.
Kicking: None
Tackles: Ben Jacobs,
81 tot., 33 solo
Sacks: Jon Monga, 6.5
sacks
Interceptions: Moses
Harris, Damion Owens, Jake Jorde
- 1 each
Kickoff returns: A.J.
Jefferson, 26 ret., 35.8 avg.,
2 TD
Punt returns: Marlon
Moore, 2 ret., 8.0 avg., 0 TD
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CB/KR
A.J. Jefferson (PHOTO CREDIT: Keith
Kountz) |
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FRESNO
STATE |
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OFFENSE
- 10 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Nate Adams-FB, Clifton Smith-TB,
Ryan Wendell-C, Clint Stitser-K |
DEFENSE:
Charles
Tolbert-NT, Tyler Clutts-DE, Marcus
Riley-OLB, Trevor Shamblee-OLB,
Damon Jenkins-CB, Kyle Zimmerman-P
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2008
OFFENSE |
QUARTERBACK
The turnaround of senior quarterback
Tom Brandstater was the primary reason
Fresno was able to turn itself around.
The Turlock-product went from throwing
13 INTs in ’06 to only five
last year, and that increased his
yards-per-attempt from 5.6 to 7.9
over the same span. Defensive back
sevens have to respect his abilities,
which gives the RBs that extra second
to find more open ground. Ergo, ground
production also increased (by 30 yards
per game) from two years ago to last
year. We feel it is unfortunate that
Jim McElwain leaves after only one
season as OC after getting such great
results, but four years have seen
four different coordinators, so Doug
Nussmeier’s hire becomes a critical
pivot for State to keep its momentum
on this side of scrimmage. The offense
has worked out of basic, traditional
formations since coach Hill is an
OL specialist and has yet to need
much of the new-fangled looks to get
results. He worked in both the NFL
and over his entire coaching career
as a line coach, so we expect his
blocking schemes will take precedence
to keep the offense from changing
much. Brandstater knows it and should
have more improvements for ’08
with Nussmeier’s tutelage.
RUNNING
BACK
Still, this is a run-first offense,
and Ryan Matthews will show the nation
his full arsenal of talents as the
starter behind Brandstater. This former
national prep rushing champ will still
share the load with Lonyae Miller
but will also be hard to take out
after he scorches foes with his moves.
Look for Matthews to sneak over sometimes
to take the snap directly, something
he did with great success in high
school and a technique that can work
when defenses are caught napping on
who is behind center (ala Darren McFadden).
The third back getting carries will
be fullback Anthony Harding, the junior
who expanded this position’s
role by getting over 100 carries and
scoring four TDs. But Harding isn’t
as bruising as now-departed Nate Adams,
paving the way for either of the two
other FBs on the roster (Reynard Camp
and Vince Pascoe) to see the field
in short-yardage/goal-line situations.
RECEIVER
/ TIGHT END
The WRs are one year older, an important
fact when considering that the entire
four-deep were all underclassmen in
’07. Marlon Moore is impressive
in the open field and will move past
Crawley and/or Ajirotutu after leading
the Bulldogs in receptions. Tight
End Bear Pascoe is the All-WAC senior
leader who switched from QB as a freshman
and can block as well as he runs his
routes to occupy over-matched safeties.
There was a bit more balance in 2007,
a trend that needs to continue if
Hill is to make production equal more
wins.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
This was the 14th-ranked rushing team
in 2007, and all five starters back
from the line will mean just as strong
of a showing this time around. The
senior bookends are California City’s
Kenny Avon and Bobby Lepori, and classmate
Cole Popovich is on the inside at
LG. Andrew Jackson, a special two-way
player out of Sacramento, was pretty
amazing in his freshman campaign,
enough so that he earned the start
and gives promise to the youth movement
that will need to be ready when the
three seniors leave after ’08.
Also emerging will be well-groomed
center Joe Bernardi. The OL starters
are mostly athletic and mobile, as
is most of the two-deep, and only
allowing 18 sacks proves what they
give up in bulk translates in pass
protection.
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OG
Cole Popovich (PHOTO CREDIT:
Keith Kountz)
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FRESNO
STATE 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Tom
Brandstater-Sr (6-5, 220) |
Ryan
Colburn-So (6-3, 220) |
FB |
Anthony
Harding-Jr (6-0, 215) |
Vince
Pascoe-So (6-0, 230) |
TB |
Ryan
Mathews-So (5-11, 205) |
Lonyae
Miller-Jr (6-0, 215) |
WR |
Jason
Crawley-Jr (6-1, 185) |
Chastin
West-Jr (6-1, 210) |
WR |
Marlon
Moore-Jr (6-1, 185) |
Seyi
Ajirotutu-Jr (6-3, 205) |
TE |
Bear
Pascoe-Sr (6-5, 260) |
Isaac
Kinter-Jr (6-2, 245) |
OT |
Bobby
Lepori-Sr (6-5, 285) |
Kenny
Wiggins-So (6-6, 310) |
OG |
Cole
Popovich-Sr (6-3, 285) |
Pierce
Masse-Sr (6-4, 285) |
C |
Joe
Bernardi-So (6-4, 285) |
Richard
Pacheco-Sr (6-2, 285) |
OG |
Andrew
Jackson-So (6-5, 290) |
Adam
McDowell-Sr (6-4, 285) |
OT |
Kenny
Avon-Sr (6-3, 285) |
Devan
Cunningham-So (6-5, 315) |
K |
Kevin
Goessling-Fr (5-10, 180) |
.. |
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2008
DEFENSE |
DEFENSIVE
LINE
Struggles to find consistency plagued
Fresno on defense, so rotating in
some new starters will hopefully supply
needed fresh attitudes and better
stopping results. Senior Joe Monga
will lead the line’s attempt
to pare down the Bulldog’s 85th
ranking in run stopping. Monga produced
11 TFLs from his DT spot, 6.5 of which
were sacks (second on the team in
each category). His girth isn’t
found in many other tackles on the
roster; not-so-green first-time starter
Cornell Banks should work at NT versus
most smaller WAC squads, but those
first three BCS foes should handle
him more easily. End Wilson Ramos
is the incumbent on the outside, but
he will have to stay on his game to
hold off emerging talents Mike Cheese
and Kenny Borg. Borg is slated to
start, but look for senior Wazzu-transfer
Jason Roberts to get into the game
early and often. All of these linemen
are around 250-280lbs, allowing shifts
on the line (to find the optimal gaps)
to help the D keep its sack total
high (36). But a few of those sacks
should be sacrificed – rushing
the passer in contained lanes instead
of all-out bull rushing is important
so opponents don’t again get
five yards per carry.
LINEBACKER
The LBs are less without Riley, but
the talent is there for the group
to play well enough together to compensate
for his lost contributions. Ben Jacobs
played well enough as a backup in
’07 to earn the starting role
in the middle. This ex-wrestler is
the top returning tackler. Quaadir
Brown bounced back after missing all
of 2006; he finished as the third-best
LB (tackles) playing behind Riley,
evidently learning well from him.
Walk-on Nick Bates is another guy
who played over his head to take the
inside track for the other outside
start. Super-fast Todd Chisom and
senior leader Mark McKinley bolster
this unit, but behind them, inexperience
abounds. This LB group is the jumping
off point for the whole defense to
come together as one unit.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
The DBs get the job done, though it
isn’t always pretty and more
INTs are needed. Without top corner
Jenkins, Damion Owens and new starter
Sharrod Davis will lead a game group
that features All-WAC nickel A.J.
Jefferson (how an all-conference selection
doesn’t get an open starting
slot proves the talent level back
here). These guys are big enough to
handle the three sets of BCS non-con
WRs that are soon to come. SS Moses
Harris seems to be as strong in coverage
as he is at run-stopping, and local
FS product Marv Haynes is a heady
ex-RB who needs to hit his upside
for this defense to take another step.
Ex-WR Lorne Bell is solid at nickel,
and more depth exists that just needs
reps to prove their worth.
Dan
Brown (coordinator) saw his squad
allow 45 more yards per game yet finish
higher in the defensive rankings (from
86th to 73rd), and though, the offense
rolled to increase the win total higher
by five games, experience has to pay
off if this group is to help Fresno
to even more wins…watch the
third-down conversion percentage (40%
in ’07) to see if the D is holding
its own or not.
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DT
Jon Monga (PHOTO CREDIT: Keith
Kountz)
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FRESNO
STATE 2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Ikenna
Ike-Sr (6-3, 245) |
Chris
Carter-So (6-2, 220) |
NT |
Cornell
Banks-So (6-3, 285) |
Mark
Roberts-So (6-4, 290) |
DT |
Jon
Monga-Sr (6-2, 280) |
Bryce
Harris-Fr (6-6, 280) |
DE |
Wilson
Ramos-Jr (6-5, 265) |
Kenny Borg-So (6-3, 245) |
OLB |
Nico
Herron-So (6-2, 235) |
Kyle
Knox-Fr (6-2, 220) |
MLB |
Ben
Jacobs-So (6-3, 225) |
Austin
Raphael-Fr (6-2, 220) |
OLB |
Quaadir
Brown-Jr (6-2, 215) |
Nick
Bates-So (6-1, 210) |
CB |
Sharrod
Davis-Sr (6-0, 185) |
Will
Harding-Sr (6-0, 195) |
CB |
Damion
Owens-Jr (6-1, 185) |
A.J.
Jefferson-Jr (6-1, 190) |
SS |
Moses
Harris-Jr (6-1, 200) |
Jake
Jorde-Sr (6-1, 195) |
FS |
Marvin
Haynes-Jr (6-1, 205) |
Lorne
Bell-So (5-10, 195) |
P |
Robert
Malone-So (6-2, 215) |
.. |
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2008
SPECIAL TEAMS |
The
punting game needs help. Robert Malone proved
in his two tries of ’07 that he can
place kicks well – both landed inside
the 20. Malone had 20 tries as the starter
in 2006 before an injury knocked him onto
the second-team for all of 2007. Kevin Goessling
looks like the same kind of guy…a
solid prospect who needs help to get his
game up to the highest of college standards.
All of these iffy unknowns are offset by
Jefferson still here to return kicks. Two
of his 26 from last year were good for six
as, overall, he led the nation in kick runbacks
(35.8 per return). Finding a compliment
for PRs could be a short search (Marlon
Moore) or one that becomes a work-in-progress
throughout the fall. The talent is here
to get the needed results, even if Jefferson
has to do this, too.
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