Fresno State at Boise State: What to watch, including a game-plan quandary for Bulldogs

By Robert Kuwada

October 6, 2022 12:19 PM

Boise

Fresno State quarterback Logan Fife will make career start No. 2 on Saturday at Boise State, which is a much more difficult task than he faced a week ago playing at UConn. That, obviously, did not go well. The Bulldogs, heavy on the pass in their first three games, went heavy on the run against the Huskies, which could have alleviated some pressure on the young quarterback had they had any amount of success on the ground.

So, how do the Bulldogs approach Boise State in their Mountain West opener?

Boise State has the best rushing defense in the conference, allowing just 2.9 yards per play. Fresno State is coming off that loss to the Huskies in which it generated only 30 rushing yards on 26 plays, and UConn going in was ranked 113th in the nation in total defense. Take two sacks by the UConn defense out of the equation and the Bulldogs still had only 44 rushing yards on 24 plays, a skinny 1.8 yards per play.

Can Fife play a more composed four quarters of football without much from the Bulldogs’ run game?

He was solid after picking up an injured Jake Haener in the third quarter at USC when hitting 11 of 12 passes for 140 yards. But at UConn, while hitting a high percentage of his passes (72.7%), the Bulldogs quarterback also lost a fumble on the Huskies’ side of the field and threw two interceptions including one that led to a touchdown and turnovers more than anything have slowed his development.

Or, do the Bulldogs need to insert Jaylen Henderson and a more credible quarterback run threat into the offense to bolster the run game and move the football?

The Bulldogs’ game plan this week will be very interesting given where they are as an offense, what they have done well and not so well, and trying to attack one of the better defenses on their schedule, statistically at least.

Boise State in its losses at Oregon State and at Texas-El Paso gave up some yards against the run — the Beavers rushed for 178 yards at 4.8 yards per play and the Miners 199 yards at 3.7. In its other games, it allowed New Mexico 25 rushing yards at 0.9 per play, FCS Tennessee-Martin 26 at 1.3 and San Diego State 81 and 2.3.

The Beavers and Miners also did something Fresno State surprisingly has struggled to do this season — hit passes down the field. Oregon State hit four passes that traveled 20 or more yards in the air, two for touchdowns. UTEP hit one, and it also went for a score.

Fresno State this season is 1 of 8 taking shots of 20 or more yards.

But that, again, will be an area to watch when the Bulldogs offense is on the field.

HOW BULLDOGS CAN BREAK THE BRONCOS

Boise State has allowed opponents to hit only 47.7% of their passes and average 134.4 yards per game.

That’s second in the nation, in both statistical categories. But, those are just statistics and this could be a spot for the Bulldogs even with a backup quarterback in Fife to make some plays in the passing game.

How does that make sense?

Fresno State’s Nikko Remigio lunges forward for a few more yards against Oregon State in the first half of their game at Valley Children’s Stadium in Fresno on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com

The Broncos have been aided greatly by their schedule, having played New Mexico, San Diego State, Texas-El Paso and Oregon State, which are ranked 10th and 12th in the Mountain West, 9th of 11 in Conference USA and 10th in the Pac-12 in passing offense.

Boise State has also defended an average of only 21.4 passes per game including a game against FCS Tennessee-Martin, which is the fewest in the nation.

It has played FBS teams that don’t throw it often or well, but when those teams have managed to complete a pass against the Broncos they have averaged 15.2 yards per play. That’s 127th in the nation.

Fresno State is much more competent in the passing game and even throwing for just 157 yards last week in the loss at UConn is leading the Mountain West in passing offense.

A key for the Bulldogs could be Jalen Moreno-Cropper, who to this point has similar numbers running the majority of his routes outside (83.5%) as he did a year ago running from the slot (94.5%).

Jalen Moreno-Cropper hydrates while warming up before the start of the Fresno State-Cal Poly game at Valley Children’s Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com

The receptions per game are close — 7.0, up from 6.5. The yards per catch are close — 10.1, down slightly from 10.6. The yards per game also are close — 71.0, up from 69.2. The biggest difference at this point in the season is touchdown receptions — he has yet to get one this season, and had 11 a year ago.

But that could change if the Bulldogs can get Moreno-Cropper into the right matchups against the Broncos.

NOT-SO-FUNDAMENTALS

Fresno State had a bye week before traveling to UConn and, coach Jeff Tedford said, did a lot of work on fundamentals. Tackling remains an issue, though. Fresno State had 13 missed tackles against the Huskies, according to Pro Football Focus. The Bulldogs also had 13 in the loss at USC and 15 in the loss to Oregon State.

That could become a problem very quickly against the Broncos.

Boise State running back George Holani has 26 missed tackles forced according to Pro Football Focus, the most in the Mountain West. Backup Ashton Jeanty has 17, and he has only carried the football 39 times this season.

THE GAME