Fresno State vs. Hawaii: 5 things to watch in Mountain West football opener
Last season among Fresno State football receivers, Jalen Cropper was tied for the most explosive plays of 20 or more yards, even while limited to 10 games due to a knee injury.
Most of those plays came on the fly sweep, a play the Bulldogs hadn’t run with much success before his arrival from Buchanan High. That included the Bulldogs’ two longest plays from scrimmage – an 82-yard run against UNLV and a 79-yard touchdown run at New Mexico State.
But Fresno State could make more use of the speedy wideout in its pass game this season, which no doubt would add to the explosiveness of an offense that was only seventh in the Mountain West Conference in pass plays of 20 or more yards.
“He really has evolved,” coach Kalen DeBoer said, during fall camp. “He has put in a lot of time, you can tell, this summer, just developing his route-running. When I watched last year, a lot of it was he was learning the offense, and now he knows the offense. He’s confident being in the offense, and we can put him in different spots very easily.
“He’s comfortable being inside in the slot. We see the fly sweeps he ran last year and how explosive he was that way, but I think now what you’re seeing is him feeling comfortable catching the ball. It can be a simple hitch, but a lot of things where he’s on the run is really what you’re trying to do – crossing routes, deep balls, down the field, posts, things where he can continue to utilize his speed.”
Cropper is listed on the depth chart at “H,” the slot receiver. But the sophomore could line up at different positions, as could Chris Coleman and Keric Wheatfall, who are No. 1 at the “Z” (flanker) and ‘”X” (split end) spots.
“Those guys can all move,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. “It’s one of the things that I think is really different about us this year. There’s going to be guys playing in multiple spots.
“In the second year with some of those guys they have the ability to not just play one position so we’re moving those guys around a little bit and the fact that they can all play multiple spots is a big part of that … that’s more a product of those guys doing a great job of really completely comprehending the offense in all positions and being able to move themselves around.”
Everyone’s scoring
It’s a safe bet the Bulldogs will need to put some points on the scoreboard.
Since college football made its return this fall in the ACC, Big 12 and SEC as well as the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA and the Sun Belt offenses have been ahead of defenses.
Tackling definitely has been an issue, and scoring is up.
Through Oct. 17, 42 of the 77 teams that have played a game are averaging 30 or more points a game, 54.5%.
Last season with most teams through five games, 51 of 130 teams had averaged 30 or more points a game, 39.2%.
Can the ‘Dogs finish?
A 4-8 record would suggest a team had a few issues, and for Fresno State last season the fourth quarter absolutely was one of them.
The Bulldogs scored only 58 fourth-quarter points in 11 games against FBS competition and their average of 5.3 points left them ranked 11th in the Mountain West and 101st in the FBS.
On the flip side, the Bulldogs’ defense allowed 100 points and with an average of 9.1 points allowed they were ranked ninth and 114th.
The result, predictable. Against FBS opponents, Fresno State went into the fourth quarter in a one-possession game eight times and lost seven including three times when it was leading.
- Minnesota up 21-14, lost 38-35 OT
- Air Force down 29-24, lost 43-24
- Colorado State up 28-24, lost 41-31
- Hawaii up 31-24, won 41-38
- Utah State down 31-28, lost 37-35
- San Diego State down 10-7, lost 17-7
- Nevada tie 28-28, lost 35-28
- San Jose State up 16-10, lost 17-16
Playing the hot corner
Hawaii with its run-and-gun offense will be a fascinating first test for Fresno State and its new 4-2-5 defense on Saturday, and particularly for its cornerbacks, a position the Bulldogs had some injuries a year ago and were forced to run through a lot of options.
Jaron Bryant was for the most part a fixture on one side, starting 11 of 12 games. But opposite Bryant, four players started at least one game and they went back and forth almost every other week – Chris Gaston started two, Deshawn Ruffin one, Chris Coleman four, Randy Jordan one, Coleman one, Gaston two and Jordan the final one.
On Saturday, none of those players, on either side, will start.
It’s Wylan Free and Bralyn Lux up against a Hawaii offense that figures to put the football into the air quite a bit.
Free moved to safety from corner as a redshirt freshman and last season played there, starting eight games at free safety and two at strong safety. He has played a lot of football for the Bulldogs,
Lux is a redshirt freshman who did not get into any games last season. But he has moved up the depth chart with his consistency.
“Time and time again he has shown up,” defensive coordinator William Inge said. “He has done his job. Each position group has a set of musts and he has really managed his by being able to stay above the cut, being able to attack the ball and being able to make plays when the ball is in the air.
“He has a lot of trust within the individuals on the defense, but the one thing we really like about Bralyn is he has the ability to drive. He understands things, so he’s smart. He’s great in his communication and he has the swag you want in a corner and also in the same sense, you have to have a quick and good short-term memory.”
That would serve all of the Bulldogs in the secondary against a Hawaii offense that will put four receivers on the field, play fast and force a defense to try to keep up.
Rivers’ milestone watch
Senior Ronnie Rivers starts his senior season in 14th place on the all-time Fresno State rushing list with 2,122 yards and if he were to match the 60.6 rushing yards per game over his career would move into the Top 10.
1. Robbie Rouse (2009-12) 4,647
2. Ron Rivers (1991-93) 3,473
3. Ryan Mathews (2007-09) 3,280
4. Marteze Waller (2012-15) 3,108
5. Michael Pittman (1993-97) 3,017
6. Dwayne Wright (2003-04, ‘06) 2,683
7. Dean Philpott (1954-57) 2,533
8. Lorenzo Neal (1990-92) 2,405
9. Bryson Sumlin (2002-05) 2,398
10. Aaron Craver (1989-90) 2,316
With Jordan Mims back healthy after missing the past season plus two games with an injury and Jevon Bigelow eligible after sitting out last season as a transfer from Wyoming, it’s worth keeping tabs on Rivers’ workload.
The senior dominated the running back carries a year ago, but in 2018 Rivers (132 carries) and Mims (113) were fairly even and in 2017 Mims led the Bulldogs with 151 rushing plays while Josh Hokit had 128 and Rivers had 101.
Fresno State-Hawaii matchup
Where and when: Bulldog Stadium, 4:30 p.m. Saturday
TV/Radio: KSEE24/ESPN940AM
Fans: No fans are allowed to attend due to state coronavirus guidelines.
Records: Bulldogs 4-8 and 2-6 (tie, fourth) in MW in 2019, Rainbow Warriors 10-5 and 5-3 (first)
Series: Bulldogs lead 29-22-1, and 14-8-1 in Fresno
Last meeting: Fresno State won 41-38 at Aloha Stadium when Cesar Silva kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired.
Coaches: Kalen DeBoer (0-0, 67-3 in five seasons at NAIA Sioux Falls), Todd Graham (0-0, 95-61 in 12 seasons at four FBS programs)
Line: Bulldogs -4