Matt Weir/The Collegian
With the 2011 season opener only about five months away, the Bulldogs hit the field for their annual spring game.
But due to poor weather in the days leading up to Saturday’s scrimmage, the difference between this year’s spring game from previous years is that it took place at the practice facility adjacent to Bulldog Stadium.
As the ‘Dogs took the field on the cold Saturday evening, fans pulled in to see the 2011 version of the Fresno State Bulldogs.
With some notable newcomers getting their chances to hit the field for the first time, excitement was in the air. The most notable newcomer to the starting lineup is quarterback Derek Carr.
After watching from the sidelines for the past two seasons, Carr finally got his chance to be under center with the first team and get some game situation reps before the players have to conduct workouts with no coaching supervision until fall camp in August.
Head coach Pat Hill is aware of his young quarterback’s potential, but is also aware there is still some stuff he has yet to experience.
“I think he’s really good right now,” Hill said after the spring game. “Once again though, it’s going to be different. Candlestick Park and 70,000 against Cal will be a lot different situation than he’s ever seen. Like I said, we’ll see how we pass that next test. Talent wise, I have no doubt. Knowledge wise, I have no doubt. It’s just we got to get it done in a real big boy game situation, and he’s going to get that in his first six games.”
As Carr started with the first-team offense for the first time, some notable players didn’t play on offense, which included running backs Robbie Rouse, A.J. Ellis and Michael Harris.
With those players sitting out Saturday, UCLA transfer Milton Knox hit the field as the first-team running back and showed some glimpses of what his playing style could be.
“Milton Knox ran physical,” Hill said. “That’s what we need out of him. We didn’t play Robbie at all tonight. Robbie’s had a great spring. We still got Michael Harris and [A.J.] Ellis.
We’ve got a stable of skill players. It’s exciting.”
The highlights didn’t just come from the offensive side of the ball; the defense came up with big plays throughout the spring game.
The defensive unit made some noise with tight coverage on receivers, sacks, constant pressure on the quarterback, forced fumbles and tipped passes.
With the defense being so active, it showed a lot after it had replace some key cogs from last season which includes: Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year Chris Carter, four-year starter at middle linebacker Ben Jacobs, two-year starter at free safety Lorne Bell, as well as cornerback Desia Dunn, defensive end Chris Lewis and nose tackle Cornell Banks, a three-year starter.
Although the ‘Dogs have to replace a lot of experience on the defensive side of the ball, Hill still recognizes that the returning players have something you can’t teach.
“I think they’re playing really well,” Hill said. “Last week’s scrimmage, the defense really dominated in a third-down oriented scrimmage. We got a lot more team speed. We held a lot of starters out tonight on defense, but I think a lot of people by watching the scrimmage you’d have to say that the team speed looks better. We’ll be able to play more man-to-man this year.”
With Saturday’s game marking the end of the spring practice period, Hill gave some thoughts about his team’s effort.
“I was really happy with the way we scrimmaged tonight,” Hill said. “I thought for the end of spring ball and for a lot of young guys getting reps, I thought the execution was well.
The contact was good and they competed at a very high level. So I was happy with our progress throughout the spring.”