No. 22 Fresno State Bulldogs vs. UNLV Rebels: An easy target for ‘Dogs D, and things to watch
The No. 22 Fresno State Bulldogs take on the UNLV Rebels in their Mountain West Conference opener on Friday, and the matchup could be a target-rich environment for the home team from quarterback Jake Haener to running back Ronnie Rivers and wideouts Jalen Cropper and Josh Kelly.
That also includes the ‘Dogs pass rush.
UNLV hasn’t thrown the football much, just 61 times in three games, and the four Rebels quarterbacks who have attempted a pass have hit only 47.5% of those throws.
One reason for that might be pass protection.
UNLV has allowed 4.0 sacks per game, and that coincidentally is a benchmark for the Bulldogs defense.
Led by tackle Kevin Atkins and end Arron Mosby, Fresno State has had 4.0 sacks or more in six of the 10 games it has played in the 4-2-5 alignment that was installed by coordinator William Inge and the defensive staff last season.
That’s a big number considering the Bulldogs had 4.0 sacks or more in the 33 games they played before Inge arrived, that streak dating to 2017.
Fresno State did not have a sack in its victory at UCLA – the only time it has not had one the past season-plus four games – but is second in the Mountain West with 11.0 on the year.
Atkins, Mosby and the defense could have opportunities to fatten that number against the Rebels.
When the Bulldogs beat UNLV 40-27 last season at Allegiant Stadium they racked up 6.0 sacks, each one coming from a different player.
Can Rebels dent ‘Dogs defense?
The Fresno State defense is in a similar situation as it was last week at UCLA – take away what they do best by stopping the run and see if they can make the offense play left-handed, so to speak.
UNLV has running back Charles Williams, the former Bullard High star, and he has hurt them in the past so that obviously will be a focus. But the quarterback also could come into play for the Bulldogs, as well, maybe not so much throwing it but in making plays on the ground.
The Rebels’ depth chart lists Doug Brumfield or Cameron Friel as the starter, and Brumfield at least has had some success on the ground. He has hit only 42.3% of his passes, but did rush eight times for 43 yards at Arizona State and has rushing TDs against FCS Eastern Washington and against the Sun Devils.
He also is the Rebels’ second-leading rusher, behind Williams.
Fresno State has crushed some run games and the backs who lead them, but quarterbacks Anthony Brown at Oregon and Dorian Thompson-Robinson at UCLA did make some plays rushing the football. Brown gained 62 yards while being sacked three times and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 30-yard run with 2:57 to go, and Thompson-Robinson netted for 67 yards with four first downs among runs of 10, 11, 8, 9, 9, 15 and 13 yards.
A second glimpse at Jaylen Henderson?
Fresno State is a 30.5-point favorite and quarterback Jake Haener exited the win over UCLA with serious bumps and bruises, so if the Bulldogs get out to a big lead like they did against UConn and FCS Cal Poly, freshman quarterback Jaylen Henderson would be in line for some more reps.
Henderson played against the Mustangs, completing 4 of 6 passes for 44 yards and rushing nine times for 62 yards including a 40-yard run, one of two runs of 40 or more yards by the Bulldogs through four games.
With Haener banged up at the start of a short work week, Henderson did get some reps with the No. 1 offense.
Can the ‘Dogs run? Really?
Fresno State offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said the Bulldogs line played what he thought was its best game in two years in their 40-37 victory at No. 13 UCLA, and it’s tough to argue with 40 points, 569 total yards and 32 first downs, their most in a game since 2013.
But Grubb also said he thought the offense left a ton on the table. Get that cleaned up and it bodes well for the Bulldogs’ prospects as they enter Mountain West Conference play.
There were three pass plays down the field that just missed, all for potential touchdowns. But that does have to include the run game, as well.
The line did play well at UCLA – they were efficient on first-down plays and the Bulldogs’ rushing total was impacted significantly by a 34-yard loss by Haener on a fourth-quarter fumble from the UCLA 9-yard line.
But it also allowed three sacks and for every solid rush by running back Ronnie Rivers there was one that didn’t really go. Rivers rushed it 21 times and had 10 plays that went for 4 yards or more and 10 plays that went for 2 yards or less, the other a gain of 3.
Jordan Mims had two rushes, one for 4 yards the other for no gain. Jalen Cropper had one rush, for 1 yard.
Fresno State no doubt is looking for a better ratio there, but that’s what it has been the first third of the season, no matter the opponent.
Rivers has carried the football 62 times this season with 28 plays going for 2 yards or less, 25 going for 4 yards or more and nine for 3 yards.
Against UConn and FCS Cal Poly, he has run it 27 times with 12 going for two yards or less, 11 for four yards or more and four for three yards.
Against Oregon and UCLA, he ran it 35 times with 16 going for 2 yards or less, 14 for 4 yards or more and five for 3 yards.
UCLA threw a lot at the Bulldogs and most of the game was heavy in the box, but Fresno State will see some softer defenses in conference play, including UNLV, which is 10th in the Mountain West in rushing defense.
No. 22 Fresno State vs. UNLV
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Where: Bulldog Stadium
TV: CBS Sports Network (Jason Knapp, Donte Whitner)
Find it fast: AT&T (Channels 643, 1643), Comcast (418, 732), DirecTV (221), Dish Network (158)
Radio: Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler, Pat Hill, Cameron Worrell)
Find it fast: Fresno (AM1340), Bakersfield (AM970), Visalia (AM1130), Modesto (FM92.9), Stockton (AM1280), Bulldogs App, iHeartMedia app
The coaches: Kalen DeBoer (6-4 in second season), Marcus Arroyo (0-9 in second season)
The records: Fresno State 3-1, UNLV 0-3
The series: Fresno State leads 16-7
Last meeting: Fresno State won 40-27 in 2020
The line: Fresno State -30.5
Tickets: 559-278-DOGS or gobulldogs.com