Fresno State quick hits: McMaryion not yet enrolled so not in practice; film from scrimmage shines on offense, run game

The Bulldogs went through a light practice on Wednesday in helmets and shorts, focusing primarily on special teams and some clean up from the first fall camp scrimmage.

Marcus McMaryion, the transfer quarterback from Oregon State, did not practice and can’t until he is enrolled in school. That could take a couple of days – there is no definitive timetable. Until then coach Jeff Tedford and the Bulldogs’ staff are not allowed to comment on McMaryion, his chances to wrest the starting job away from Chason Virgil or anything else.

The former Dinuba High star will be playing catch up in a Bulldogs’ offense that is continuing to move forward when he is cleared, and he already has missed the first camp scrimmage. The second is set for Saturday and the third for the following Saturday, Aug. 19, but the first step is getting him into school.　

Solid film review – The Bulldogs, particularly the first offense, had a solid scrimmage. They had about 75 plays in the bank and after watching the tape offensive coordinator Kalen DeBoer said they were able to work the calls with a minimum of errors and while playing fast.

“We’ll be able to continue to work through those concepts and get more reps at it and improve the execution,” DeBoer said. “It’s a quick turnaround for our second scrimmage. There are more situations and stuff that we’re working on and a couple more packages we’ll put in here this week before Saturday, but it seems like the guys are picking it up pretty well.

“When they leave the facility here, I think they’re doing a good job of getting their heads in the playbook and in their install and then also watching film. Guys are asking why the film isn’t up right after practice, so that means they’re looking for it and wanting to get better. I’m happy with where their minds are at right now.”　

Run game fun game – The No. 1 line was on the field when the Bulldogs popped a few big runs, which obviously was a positive sign. Fresno State last season ranked last in the Mountain West Conference in rushing yards per play (3.2) and per game (116.2).

It’s becoming a fun part of the job for Virgil, who gets a front row seat watching those plays develop.

“They’re playing really well,” he said. “The line is just more together. It was their first year last year just all playing with each other and the second year it’s coming all together. They all have that bond with each other. They all know their assignments.

“(Center Aaron Mitchell) is making great checks and everybody is communicating. We’re getting in the right protection and blocking things the right way. They’re making it easier for everybody on the back end.”　

View from the other side – Defensive coordinator Orlondo Steinauer on the scrimmage: “I’m going to stay consistent in my comments and really speaking from the heart ... as a coach, it’s never good enough. But there’s progress and the biggest thing from that scrimmage, obviously there are things to improve, we limited explosions but the explosions we gave up were great execution by the offense but at the same time we didn’t do our job. Our eyes wandered a little bit.

“I think what we’re finding out is who we can trust and who we can depend on, who has been able to take in our standards and our expectations and really apply them. We’re slowly finding out who we’re going to be able to depend on, so we’re slowly ramping up for opening day and that’s the whole focus.”

This story was originally published August 9, 2017 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Fresno State quick hits: McMaryion not yet enrolled so not in practice; film from scrimmage shines on offense, run game."