How are Bulldogs addressing their one must-do in spring football? Social (long) distancing

Fresno State coach Kalen DeBoer had a few things to work through during spring football practices, now on hold due to the coronavirus. There was to be a quarterback competition, the Bulldogs are installing a new 4-2-5 defense and there are some extra-large pieces from the past two seasons that have moved on. Then, there is the intangible with six new position coaches.

It’s not a disconnect, but a yet-to-fully-connect.

“I was looking for the handbook for this one,” DeBoer said. “No one has written a handbook on how to handle a coronavirus your first year as a head coach. But I have a great staff around me that’s doing a great job, worrying about what we can do and taking care of business.”

Most of the Bulldogs are scattered across the state at home and all team-related activities including spring practices on hold until at least April 13 due to the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.

“There are guys in different position groups or especially on the other side of the ball that don’t know our staff as well as I want them to know them,” DeBoer said. “That happens in practice and that happens from being around each other, and that’s not happening right now.”

The Bulldogs are practicing social long distancing. They still have their academic meetings with their position coaches – some have two a week, some have one, all online. The strength and conditioning staff led by Ron McKeefery has given individualized workout plans to players with and without access to weights. DeBoer has had his staff sending out motivational and informational messages in face-to-face meetings using Zoom or FaceTime.

“We’re just trying to continue to build that team chemistry and that understanding of each other to where this fall we have a trust and a belief in one another that comes through in victories, especially in crunch times,” DeBoer said.

It is something DeBoer has been pushing since the Bulldogs were in their eight-week winter strength and conditioning program, and when they do reconvene that could pay off.

As it stands, and the situation is very fluid, Fresno State will have a lot to do likely in a compressed time frame.

Quarterback competition

There’s that quarterback competition, set up for third-year sophomore Ben Wooldridge and fourth-year junior Jake Haener to go at it; third-year sophomore Steven Comstock, the No. 3 last season, has moved to safety.

The Bulldogs also need reps in that 4-2-5 defense, and to find some replacements on that side of the ball for linebacker Mykal Walker, safety Juju Hughes, cornerback Jaron Bryant and interior defensive linemen Keiti Iakopo, Ricky McCoy and Jasad Haynes.

Then there are those new position coaches: defensive coordinator, defensive line, “Huskies,” safeties, tight ends and running backs. Besides getting to know the current Bulldogs, they also must get up to speed on recruiting future Bulldogs.

“No. 1, we’re making sure we do everything we can to make sure our guys are ready to go academically, athletically,” DeBoer said. “No. 2, we’re taking care of business with recruiting. We’re watching a lot of film and doing a good job communicating with each other what our recruiting boards look like, where we’re at, and working extremely hard to build relationships with these guys in the recruiting process.”

Challenge nationwide

Even with the effort to connect players and new staff, the Bulldogs are counting on their players to a large degree. Get the school work done. Get the workouts in. Stay in it, avoid distractions.

“There’s no way we’re going to cut corners and win in the fall,” DeBoer said. “We have to adapt. Every team in the country is in the same position right now. We’ve told our guys that there are going to be teams that collapse under these obstacles because there just isn’t the accountability piece or just even the desire to do great things as a team this fall.

“We’re going to make up our minds that we’re going to take care of business today and stack day upon day upon day and then great things can happen. We’re about what we can control today. That’s about all we can do.”