'Dogs' Hill not blaming QB Colburn

Fresno State offense performing well despite losses, he says.

Published online on Thursday, Oct. 01, 2009

Pat Hill won't retool his offense or reopen the quarterback battle this week as Fresno State takes a bye before its next game at Hawaii on Oct. 10.

The Bulldogs, with first-year starting quarterback Ryan Colburn, have moved the ball well and are among the best nationally in several statistical categories.

The main negative offensive statistic, though, is seven: the number of Colburn's interceptions. But Hill, in his 13th season leading the Bulldogs, says the junior is still his man.

"The [teams] Colburn has played against have been the type of games where every little mistake is magnified tenfold," Hill said. "Offensively, we're generating yards and generating points, staying on the field on third down. Our time of possession is good. We have seven interceptions. That's our No. 1 flaw right now."

Highly touted freshman quarterback Derek Carr sat out two practices last week because of illness but will receive more snaps in practice this week, Hill said.

"I didn't say it's open," Hill said. "It's Ryan Colburn's job right now. But Derek Carr's got to get back into it."

Carr said he got five snaps per drill Wednesday instead of seeing three or four per drill as he did earlier this regular season.

Carr, who saw action Sunday night in the weekly scrimmage that's reserved for younger players, fought Colburn for the starting spot in the off- season.

Colburn had a preseason completion percentage of 67 to Carr's 64, which helped give the junior the edge over the freshman.

This is the first time in his football career that Carr has been relegated to the backup role, he said. Unfamiliar with such duty, Carr said, this season has been up and down with one key focus.

"Right now, I'm just going to be the best backup in the nation," he said.

Colburn has led the Bulldogs to highly ranked offensive numbers but a 1-3 record.

Letting the Bulldogs know they're headed in the right direction are their No. 3 ranking (among 120 teams) in rushing, No. 11 in total offense, No. 28 in scoring and No. 14 in third-down conversions.

"As far as stats go, it sounds pretty good," said tight end Vince Pascoe. "But we still have a lot of details to clean up."

Receiver Jamel Hamler called this season's offensive production bittersweet -- just like his experience Saturday, when he led the Bulldogs with four catches for 57 yards and his first career touchdown, only to leave Cincinnati with a loss.

"We get all these yards, all these accolades, score all these touchdowns, but yet it's like we have nothing to show for it," Hamler said. "It kind of hurts a little that our numbers can't go with our record. ...

"But we know we work hard, we know what we've done and know what we have to do to get better."