Matt Weir / Collegian File Photo

Quarterbacks take live hits in spring for first time in 12 years

Not much has changed with coach Pat Hill̢۪s practice routine in his time with Fresno State. And only once before have quarterbacks been under pressure from the defense in a spring scrimmage.

But for the first time since Hill̢۪s first season, 12 years ago, the quarterbacks went live in a spring scrimmage and were fair game for the defense.

Normally, Hill keeps the defense from hitting or tackling the quarterbacks to prevent injury. But Saturday, all the quarterbacks took and delivered hits to the fired-up defense.

“When a quarterback knows that bullets are flying, it’s different,â€Â junior quarterback Ryan Colburn said Saturday following the Bulldogs’ scrimmage at Bulldog Stadium. “You can tell him that [the defense is coming], but once they hit you, you know it’s coming.â€Â

The defense was in the backfield on almost every play and was in Colburn̢۪s face for most of his throws. It may have made his day that much more difficult, but Colburn was happy to see the defense playing fiery energy.

“They’re playing with a lot of fanatical effort,â€Â Colburn said. “They are playing with a lot of energy. I think defense is a lot of that.â€Â

Colburn and the other two quarterbacks, Derek Carr and Ebahn Feathers, all took snaps in the scrimmage and each saw their share of pressure from the defense.

For Carr and Feathers, it was their first time going live against a defense in their college careers. Carr was a senior at Bakersfield Christian last fall and Feathers was redshirting with the ̢۪Dogs.

Colburn, the veteran of the quarterback group, hadn̢۪t seen much time since a blowout loss in 2007.

“I haven’t done that since I’ve been here. We haven’t been live one time,â€Â Colburn said. “Really, I’ve been hit one time, and that was at Oregon in ’07.â€Â

Both Feathers and Carr had their moments in the scrimmage, most notably, Feathers’ 25-yard designed quarterback draw in the Bulldogs’ “compete zone,â€Â a drill designed to work on red zone offense and defense.

Matt Weir / Collegian File Photo

“[Feathers] showed that when we empty the box and [the defense] is going to try and cover guys, it’s going to open some things up,â€Â Hill said. “It changes the whole complexity of the game.â€Â

Feathers̢۪ day was spent mostly running designed quarterback runs, including the spread option, traditional option and quarterback draws. He only attempted one pass in the scrimmage and it fell incomplete.

New offensive coordinator Jeff Grady said that the new plays have been added to the offense and that the Bulldogs could be using them in the fall, depending on their opponents.

He also said that it doesn̢۪t necessarily have to be only one particular quarterback that will be running the new option plays.

“We’ve got athletic quarterbacks, they can all do it and they’re all tough guys,â€Â Grady said. “It’s just a different dimension.â€Â

Colburn had the most productive day of the three potential starters, completing passes of 62, 40 and 32 yards. His longest pass of the afternoon, the 62-yard completion, was a screen pass to reserve tailback Michael Harris.

Harris also had a 33-yard touchdown run on the day and hopes that he can find a spot on the 65-man travel roster in the fall.

“Right now, I am trying to get on special teams so I can travel with them,â€Â Harris said. “But if any back goes down, I’m going to be ready regardless.â€Â

The Bulldogs now have one week until the official spring game, which will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.