On Ty Jones, the contested catch and Fresno State building a better pass game in 2022

There was a play, early in spring practice. Fresno State wideout Ty Jones was flying up the right sideline with a defensive back on his hip, in position to make a play. They were not step for step, but close enough, and the timing wasn’t quite right anyway. The ball was just a little late, and hanging in the air, ripe for a pass break-up or maybe an interception. In a competitive 7 on 7, the defense was anticipating a score.

But then Jones with a suddenness adjusted, launched himself off one foot and went up to high-point the football, plucking it out of the air before the defensive back could react.

It’s only spring and it was a practice in helmets and shorts. But it was a big play because the contested catch is the one hole in the game of a very talented group of Bulldogs wideouts and because it was Jones, who has been bouncing around the practice field like that all spring.

The Bulldogs resumed practices on Wednesday, but before they took a spring break with nine of their 15 practices in the books, coach Jeff Tedford said this of Jones: “He’s having a great spring, probably the best spring of anyone right now. He’s doing everything right. He’s making plays downfield. He’s mentally into it. He’s got a great attitude.

“Obviously, he brings a lot to the table with his range and his size, and he can run. He has great ball skills. I’ve been really pleased with him and impressed so far.”

That, of course, was the expectation a year ago when the 6-foot-4 wideout transferred in from Washington.

Jones already had a rapport with quarterback Jake Haener, both starting their college careers with the Huskies, and they were expected to work big things together in the Bulldogs offense.

Jones back in 2018 was on the receiving end of the first completed pass that Haener threw in college, his first explosive pass play of 20 or more yards and his first touchdown pass.

A connection with QB Jake Haener

Jones caught the first touchdown pass Haener threw last season, as well, in a 45-0 rout of UConn. He destroyed man coverage with a hard stutter step that left the Huskies cornerback on his knees before breaking toward the corner so wide-open that Haener almost missed him.

But, after that, Jones faded and admittedly fell into a funk.

He ended the season with just 30 targets and 18 receptions for 193 yards with the one touchdown. In the final seven games of the season Jones had just one target four times, and he had none in a victory over Nevada while playing just eight snaps.

“It was frustrating, not being able to play to what I feel is my potential, and I let that get the best of me,” he said. “I threw a fit. Looking back, I’m upset about it, but, new mindset. I’m just focusing on the process.”

There was simply a volatile mix at play a year ago with the transfer and a new offense, a new environment and those expectations. Not just his, but those of his coaches and those from the outside.

“It’s hard to transfer, man,” said Haener, who ran the Bulldogs scout team while sitting out in 2019 under NCAA transfer rules that were in place at the time.

“It’s not an easy thing to do, especially when the expectations are so high for yourself and all the people around you. You have one bad game or one bad practice and it’s human nature. Things start creeping into your head and you start not being yourself.”

Jones clearly has worked through it, starting with a clean slate with Tedford, who is returning to the sidelines after stepping away following the 2019 season due to heart-related health issues.

A second chance at a first impression

“He wasn’t here when I was here before, but I had my meeting with him and we talked about just different things, how the year went and so on and so forth,” the Bulldogs coach said. “The expectations that he had, it didn’t quite turn out like he wanted it to turn out.

“He made it known that he probably didn’t handle that the right way, but he can mature from that experience and I’ve seen nothing but good things from him so far. He has a renewed energy to him. Through the offseason, through our training sessions and things like that he worked really hard and I think he’s in a good place right now.”

But it took some work, and some reflection.

“I talked with my family over the offseason. I spent time with myself, deciding what I truly want,” said Jones, who was slowed just before the break with a hamstring injury. “I think I’ve grown, matured to a point where I know what I want and I know what I’m capable of and I’m not going to let myself fall below that standard.”

Haener said he told Jones that if he had a question about his love for the game to get away, to give himself some time to think about it, and to think about what he really wanted to get done in his final season of college football.

The senior wideout came back with a definitive answer.

“He was like, ‘Dude, I really sat down and talked about it, talked to my girlfriend and this is what I want to do,’” Haener said. “’I want to be here and I want to grind. I want to put my head down and just work.’ I think he’s done a much better job of just focusing on himself.”

There is a lot there, and it is evident every time Jones steps on the football field. He is a long 6-4, plays with physicality. He stands out, even in a receivers room that includes Jalen Cropper and Josh Kelly, who last season dominated the Bulldogs’ targets and receptions working with Haener.

The Bulldogs and the contested catch

The play in practice, Jones just smiled. “That’s something that (offensive coordinator Kirby Moore) and (receivers coach Pat McCann) are really trying to emphasize,” he said. “If it’s hanging, you have to be like a Frisbee-snatching dog. You have to go get that.”

That is not an area Fresno State excelled, even while racking up nearly 330 passing yards per game.

The Bulldogs last season pulled down only 39.3% of their contested catch attempts, according to Pro Football Focus, and that number was bloated by the bottom of the receptions list. Jones was 2 for 3 on contested catches, and slot receiver Erik Brooks 3 for 5.

The Bulldogs ranked eighth in the Mountain West, and well off other top passing offenses in the conference – Nevada pulled down 53.3% of its contested catch attempts, Boise State 52.5%, Utah State 49%.

By winning more of those contested catches, the Bulldogs definitely could take a step forward after ranking second in the conference in passing offense and scoring a year ago.

“Ty can be a game-changer for us,” Haener said. “I think he’s done a much better job of just focusing on himself. When he comes out here, he’s confident. He uses his body and he’s making some really good plays. That’s what I expect out of him. I hold him to a high standard. He holds himself to a high standard and I’m just continuing to push him and he pushes me and the sky’s the limit for that kid.

“There’s no reason he shouldn’t be one of the best receivers in this conference or on the West Coast because he has all the skills.”

This story was originally published April 19, 2022 at 3:05 PM.