Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Wyoming: Tough spot for Haener-Cropper combo; things to watch
Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener and wideout Jalen Cropper were developing into one of the most consistent and most dynamic play-making combos in college football, until they went to Hawaii.
The Bulldogs lost that game, blowing a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter. The inability to run the ball was a primary culprit. The defense also allowed 17 unanswered points to end the game. But their primary threat in the passing game also wasn’t quite the same, though not through a lack of trying.
Haener had hit 78% of his passes when targeting Cropper through the Bulldogs’ first five games, and he went that way 13 times at Hawaii. But the Rainbow Warriors, at times dropping eight defenders into coverage, held the speedy wideout to five receptions for 73 yards and one touchdown.
That was by far the lowest percentage of the season for a duo that had hit on 39 of 50 passes for 455 yards and eight TDs – they were 3 of 5 against UConn, 7 of 10 at Oregon, 5 of 5 against Cal Poly, 14 of 17 at UCLA, 10 of 13 against UNLV and then 5 of 13 at Hawaii (38.5%).
In a number of ways, the Bulldogs are in rebound mode at Wyoming. But the duo of Haener and Cropper bears watching in what could be another difficult matchup.
The Cowboys are leading the Mountain West Conference in passing defense, in large part because they haven’t played a team that throws the football as often or as well as the Bulldogs to this point.
In a loss at Air Force last week they defended only 10 pass plays.
But in allowing opponents to hit only 57.4% of their passes and average just 171.2 yards per game the Cowboys have also been able to limit top wideouts, the volume of targets or talent on the field aside.
“They’re probably the most physical secondary we’ve played,” offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said. “Their corners play a lot of man coverage-on technique, playing hard and getting in receiver’s heads. They do a good job of that.
“They play physically and they’re looking for contact. They probably have more (pass interference) calls than anybody we’ve played, so I think there’s a little takeaway, but there’s a lot that don’t get called and won’t get called. We told our guys, be ready for a physical matchup and don’t wait for the guys in black and white to make the calls.”
Lance McCutcheon is the leading receiver at FCS Montana State and ranks in the top four in the Big Sky Conference in receptions, receiving yards, yards per catch and touchdown receptions.
He was targeted 11 times in an opening loss at Wyoming, and caught five passes for 71 yards and one touchdown.
Tyrice Richie is the top wideout at Northern Illinois. He was targeted 11 times in a loss to the Cowboys and caught five passes for 40 yards.
Justin Hall leads Ball State in receiving. He was targeted eight times in a loss at Wyoming and caught three passes for 20 yards.
Add in the leading receivers at UConn and Air Force and the Cowboys have allowed the top quarterback-wideout duos that they have faced to hit on only 21 of 45 targets, 46.7%.
Wyoming coach Craig Bohl and defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel, armed with 10 returning starters, figure to make it as difficult as possible for Haener and Cropper to get back into rhythm, as well.
Who starts up front?
Fresno State has done a lot of tinkering with its offensive line during its bye and into game prep this week, trying to find some answers for a run game that is generating only 3.8 yards per play.
They have had to do a lot of shuffling the past few seasons due to injury, but any lineup changes this week will be due to one thing. “Performance,” Grubb said.
The Bulldogs have had six players start games – Dontae Bull, Mose Vavao, Matt Smith, Bula Schmidt, Dante Adkins Jr. and Alex Akingbulu – and have had the same starting lineup four games in a row.
Here is how they lined up in their first six games from left tackle across …
UConn: Bull, Vavao, Smith, Schmidt, Akingbulu
Oregon: Bull, Vavao, Smith, Schmidt, Akingbulu
Cal Poly: Bull, Vavao, Schmidt, Adkins, Akingbulu
UCLA: Bull, Vavao, Schmidt, Adkins, Akingbulu
UNLV: Bull, Vavao, Schmidt, Adkins, Akingbulu
Hawaii: Bull, Vavao, Schmidt, Adkins, Akingbulu
But, seeking more from the group, they have worked a number of combinations and highly-touted freshman Braylen Nelson, who can play guard or tackle, has received an extended look in practice.
The goal: “Moving humans, consistently, for No. 20 (Ronnie Rivers) and No. 7 (Jordan Mims),” Grubb said. “That’s what we need, more consistent production in the run game so we can ease the pressure back there for Jake and ultimately get the ball to Ronnie and Jordan. Those guys need the ball in their hands a little bit more.”
Turning takeaways into points
Fresno State is coming off a six-turnover loss at Hawaii, with Haener throwing four interceptions and the Bulldogs losing two fumbles. A repeat would not bode well for the Bulldogs, obviously.
Wyoming has scored three defensive touchdowns this season, tied with Iowa and South Carolina for second in the nation. The Cowboys had a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Chad Muma at Northern Illinois and a 50-yard interception return by safety Keyon Blankenbaker and a 45-yard interception return by Muma against Ball State.
The Cowboys have forced six other turnovers and the offense has scored a touchdown following three of them.
The Fresno State defense also has not reacted well in sudden-change situations – and they have had plenty of practice, considering the Bulldogs are tied for 128th of 130 in the nation in turnovers lost.
They have turned it over 15 times with 13 resulting drives not ended by the end of the half or end of the game. The defense has allowed 10 scores on those drives including seven touchdowns.
Winning first down, before third
Wyoming is leading the Mountain West in third-down conversions, even though quarterback Sean Chambers has completed only 45.6% of his third-down passes and on third-and-long is just 7 of 23, 30.4%.
One reason for that: the Cowboys are almost automatic running the football on third-and-short, converting 14 of 16 into a fresh set of downs, by far the best percentage in the conference.
The question is whether Fresno State can win on first downs and consistently get the Cowboys and Chambers, the former Kerman High standout, behind the sticks and out of a comfort zone.
Wyoming is leading the Mountain West in averaging 5.6 yards per rush on first down, keeping it out of too many situations where it is throwing the football on third-and-long. The Cowboys have been there just 23 times.
The Bulldogs’ run defense has been solid all season, but in their past two games have not been as consistent particularly on those first-down rushing plays.
UConn: 11 for 22, 2.0 yards per play
Oregon: 17 of 79, 4.6
Cal Poly: 16 for 57, 3.6
UCLA: 12 for 58, 4.8
UNLV: 20 for 112, 5.6
Hawaii: 27 for 134, 5.0
In the Bulldogs’ first four games including matchups against then-No. 11 Oregon and then-No. 13 UCLA, which are ranked fourth and second in the Pac-12 in rushing offense, they allowed 3.9 yards on first-down rushing plays. In the past two it has been 5.2 yards per play against the Rebels and Rainbow Warriors, which are 10th and sixth in the Mountain West.
Fresno State vs. Wyoming
When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Where: War Memorial Stadium, Laramie, Wyo.
TV: FS2 (Dan Hellie, Petros Papadakis)
Find it fast: AT&T (Channels 651, 1651), Comcast (410, 779, 1209), DirecTV (618), Dish Network (149)
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 (7-5 in second season), Craig Bohl (42-45 in eighth season)
The records: Fresno State 4-2, 1-1 in MW; Wyoming, 4-1, 0-1
The series: Fresno State leads 7-5
Last meeting: Fresno State won 27-3 in 2018
The line: Fresno State -3.5