'Dogs work on deep threat

Downfield passing has become priority again after recent struggles.

Published online on Monday, Aug. 17, 2009

Don't be surprised if Fresno State's first play from the line of scrimmage Sept. 5 is a deep ball.

The Bulldogs have spent much of the offseason and this training camp working on their quarterback-receiver timing on down-field passes.

It's part of Fresno State's effort to open up the field more and take advantage of their receiving talent.

"When teams try to scout us, we want them to know that Fresno State likes to throw the deep ball," freshman quarterback Derek Carr said. "We want it to be a high percentage play for us, something we hang our hat on."

It's not just talk, either.

With new offensive play caller Jeff Grady at the helm, Fresno State has regularly thrown long-ball passes during the first 11 days of practice and connected with 25-plus yard strikes with a high success rate.

"We're practicing it a lot and hitting it a lot," Grady said. "You see them connect, there's a higher level of comfort -- not only in the coaches to call it more but with the players in executing it."

Carr and fellow quarterback Ryan Colburn have taken turns working on post-corner passes that allow receivers to catch the ball over their shoulder and near the back corner of the end zone.

The number of downfield strikes slowed in recent workouts with some key receivers sidelined with minor injuries, particularly expected starters Marlon Moore and Seyi Ajirotutu.

Yet even with an undermanned receiving corps, the Bulldogs aired it out a handful of times during Saturday's scrimmage.

Receiver Jamel Hamler, who has looked impressive at camp, reeled in a 30-plus yard pass from Carr after the quarterback found his target streaking down field with one-on-one coverage. The pass sailed to the exact location that allowed Hamler to jump up and make the catch, with his hands extended at chest level.

Later, Colburn connected with receiver Devon Wylie downfield for a catch that had the Bulldogs offensive sideline cheering.

"Every route we have stems from the idea that we have the ability to go deep," Colburn said. "We want to build that base first, push the ball downfield.

"If you can't convince a defensive back that you're going to go deep, then you can't get him to back up to run some shorter routes.

"That was some of the problems we've had in the past," Colburn added. "Defenses were jumping on some of our shorter routes because we weren't very effective throwing the ball deep."

When Pat Hill lauded Carr's abilities and his long-ball touch during national signing day in February, the 13-year Fresno State coach said the Bulldogs hadn't had an accurate deep-ball passer since Carr's brother, David Carr, last started at quarterback in 2001.

Thus, the deep passes have slowly crept out of the Bulldogs' offense.

Carr's immediate successor, Grady, jokes that he struggled just to throw 30 yards.

Paul Pinegar, the Bulldogs starting quarterback from 2002-2005, had a noticeable drop in his down-the-field accuracy as a game wore on because of arm fatigue and a pectoral muscle injury that zapped some of his strength.

Tom Brandstater, the Bulldogs starting quarterback the past three years, was known for having a strong arm. But he didn't have much success downfield because passes regularly sailed out of bounds, were overthrown, dropped or the Bulldogs simply lacked the personnel to get open downfield. In one of his NFL scouting reports, Brandstater was criticized for floating deep-ball passes rather than firing them down.

Hill said he'd like to bring back what's been missing.