Before the big games, Bulldogs have two key areas of focus heading to date at UNLV

Before the football season started, the Fresno State Bulldogs could have circled two games in November and thought, “That’s the season, right there.”

The Bulldogs have Boise State on a Friday night on the road and then San Diego State, 11- and 10-win teams a year ago and top contenders in the conference again this season.

Before they get there they have a date Saturday night at UNLV, which has lost five games in a row and allowed 40 or more points in four of those games, 50 or more in three of them.

They also have a chance to get a few things back on track, and take a last look at some potential trouble spots on special teams.

When the Bulldogs take on the Rebels, here are some things to watch …

Getting right in the red zone

The Bulldogs had been one of the most efficient teams in the Mountain West Conference in the red zone, scoring a touchdown on 24 of their first 31 possessions.

But they fell to fifth in the conference in red zone touchdown percentage after scoring two touchdowns on six trips inside the Hawaii 20-yard line last week.

That likely is just a temporary malfunction, but UNLV could be a problem. It has allowed a touchdown only 59.5 percent of the time it is defending in the red zone.

Fresno State wasn’t far off on red zone rushing yardage last week compared to the first seven games:

▪ vs. Hawaii: 5 rushes for 11 yards, 2.8 yards per play, 0 TD

▪ First 7 games: 63 for 180 yards, 2.9 ypp, 16 TDs

But the Bulldogs weren’t as efficient throwing the ball inside the 20:

▪ vs. Hawaii: 5 of 11 (45.5 percent) for 49 yards, 2 TDs

▪ First 7 games: 24 of 30 (80.0 percent) for 154 yards, 8 TDs

The Bulldogs have churned out the rushing touchdowns in the red zone – 16 of their 19 have come from within an opponent’s 20-yard line, and 11 of those 16 have come from inside the 5.

Against Hawaii, they didn’t get close enough to make that work. Fresno State only ran three red zone plays from inside the 5. One was a rush for no gain by Josh Hokit, the next two incomplete passes.

That isn’t special

Fresno State has not been pressed yet in conference play, winning its games by an average of 25.8 points per game, and the halftime margins have been getting larger.

The Bulldogs led Nevada 7-3, then Wyoming 13-3, New Mexico 24-7 and Hawaii 37-13.

But after playing at UNLV there are much bigger games against much better opponents. And that’s when special teams play that’s been spotty so far could become a factor.

The Bulldogs have hit only 6 of 10 field goal attempts, the misses from 50 yards and a more reasonable 38, 42 and 43 yards. They have missed four extra-point kicks after touchdowns (38 of 42), and only two teams in the nation have missed more.

Kickoff return is another area the Bulldogs are lagging in the conference, averaging only 18.5 yards per return. They had five returns against Hawaii and only one was taken back past the 25-yard line – the Bulldogs started that drive at the 26.

“Missing extra points is concerning, there’s no doubt about it,” coach Jeff Tedford said. “We need to improve there. We need to be more consistent. If you miss a field goal, you miss a field goal, as long as you hit it right and things like that. Sometimes, you’re going to miss field goals. But extra points, those should be automatic so we’re going to continue to work at it.”

Redshirt freshman Asa Fuller has handled all of the place kicking. After the Bulldogs’ victory over Hawaii, Tedford said that Fuller has been dealing with a hip issue.

In the return game, senior Dejonte O’Neal had all five returns against Hawaii and leads the team this season with seven returns, averaging 18.6 yards.

The Bulldogs have options with the return of wideout Michiah Quick from a foot injury and with wideout Jamire Jordan.

O’Neal, the senior from Bullard High, said the Bulldogs are close to breaking a big one: “If you hit it right and that gap is there you get to explode through and it’s go time. All it takes is one, really. You never know. If everything hits perfect, that’s the one.”

O’Neal had a return of 59 yards in 2016, the Bulldogs’ longest that season. Jordan has the Bulldogs’ longest return this season at 37 yards, had the longest last season at 71 yards and the longest in 2015 with a 50-yarder.

Those are big plays, especially for a program that has not returned a kickoff for a touchdown since 2008.

Count the three-and-outs

UNLV has gone from rushing the football a lot to throwing the football a lot, after quarterback Armani Rogers went down with a foot injury.

The Rebels with Rogers taking most of the snaps threw the ball 27 times in a loss at USC, 14 times in a victory over Texas-El Paso, 21 times in a win over Prairie View A&M and 21 times in a loss at Arkansas State, just 20.8 times per game.

With Max Gilliam at quarterback, UNLV has averaged 39.8 passes per game and hit the Big 5-0 last out in a loss at previously winless San Jose State.

Before Saturday, the Rebels hadn’t thrown the ball 50 times in a game in more than two seasons.

More passes could mean more incomplete passes, more incomplete passes could mean more third downs and both could mean an interminably long game.

For entertainment value only, one could count the Rebels’ three-and-outs.

Gilliam is completing only 55.0 percent of his passes this season and has an efficiency rating of 125.85, ninth in the Mountain West.

And the past four games, with the ball in the air, the Rebels average yards to gain for a first down has been fairly daunting.

▪ Against Air Force: 8.3 yards

▪ At Utah State: 8.3 yards

▪ Against New Mexico: 10.1 yards

▪ At San Jose State: 8.1 yards

The Fresno State defense this season has allowed opponents to complete only 19 of 38 passes on third-and-7 or longer and only nine of those passes has resulted in a first down.