Defense
Matt Weir/The Collegian
During Saturday’s final spring scrimmage, the Fresno State defense surrendered multiple touchdowns through the air and gave up a few big runs; however, when the situation was elevated and when it mattered most, the defense rose the occasion.
Toward the end of Saturday night’s spring game at Valley Growers Field, head coach Pat Hill intensified the situation giving the offense 60 seconds to work with from midfield with no timeouts.
The Bulldogs defense twice flustered the first and second-team offense, and both times the offense failed to even reach field-goal range.
“We played fast ”” we played really well,” outside linebacker Kyle Knox said. “We played a lot better than we did last spring. The intensity in our minds was a lot better. The coaches came and had a little talk with us and said, ‘All we need is three and outs.’”
But what impressed most was the defense’s ability to create turnovers in a highly controlled scrimmage session. Redshirt freshman Davon Dunn, who converted from receiver to cornerback this spring, picked off a deep pass intended for Victor Dean down the left sideline. Twice, the Bulldogs defense forced receivers to fumble the football, and there was a quick scramble by the defenders to recover the loose ball.
“We were really emphasizing fumbling over the spring,” Knox said. “I mean at the beginning of spring, the coaches told us that no matter what that if the ball was on the ground, even if it was an incomplete pass we had to run to pick it up. We had to strive for the ball every single time.”
The extra time put in the spring to create turnovers is something that players and coaches hope will pay off come fall. Last season, the Bulldogs defense was next to last in the Western Athletic Conference in fumbles recovered with just five, only two more than Utah State.
As an entire unit, the defense finished the 2010 season forcing only 13 total turnovers in 13 games. In comparison, Hawaii led the conference with 38 combined fumbles recovered and interceptions. The statistical differences prove why coaches have stressed to players this spring about how important it is to force turnovers.
“We got turnovers, so that’s a really big improvement from last spring because they have been really emphasizing turnovers,” Knox said. “I was happy with the way we played. We played like one ‘D.’”
The defense also struggled last season defending in the red zone, and that again is something that players hope they can improve on from a year ago. In 2010, opposing teams scored on 85.7 percent of red-zone opportunities against the Bulldogs, which finished eight in the conference in red-zone defense.
But on Saturday, the defense stood tall in one red-zone possession, holding the offense short of reaching the end zone for a touchdown.
“That’s our field ”” wide field, short end zone ”” so that’s where we’re supposed to prosper,” Knox said. “That’s were we need to win.”
Offense
Matt Weir/The Collegian
At 160 pounds, Jalen Saunders is the lightest player on the Fresno State roster, but what the 5-foot-9 receiver lacks in mass, he more than makes up for it with speed on the gridiron.
On Saturday, during the team’s final scrimmage that concluded spring camp, Saunders displayed the lightning-quick acceleration, speed and agility that earned him playing time as a true freshman in 2010.
With a full year under his belt, Saunders has emerged this spring as a potential go-to receiver to first-year starter quarterback Derek Carr. Carr targeted Saunders numerous times throughout the scrimmage’s two-hour session and looked Saunders’ way more often on passing downs.
“Me and Jalen [Saunders] ”” we’ve been on the same page for a long time, and hopefully we can continue that,” Carr said.
Although light on the weight scale, Saunders made defenders look silly on the Fresno State practice facility with the ball in his hands. He caught a short pass from Carr, spun away from a tackle, juked a defender and was finally brought down after a huge 36-yard gain during the team’s 11-on-11 live contact scrimmage.
“I think I did pretty good overall,” Saunders said. “From a grading scale, I think I did about a B-minus. I could have done better, and I did some things that were good too also.”
Saunders finished with a team-high four catches for 52 yards, but was targeted by Carr much more than that. On the first play of 7-on-7 drills, Carr heaved a deep pass to begin the scrimmage that failed to connect with Saunders. That play was just one of many deep passes that Carr threw to Saunders.
“I think we have a good connection … mainly because of my speed and all,” Saunders said.
Saunders has the talent to stretch defenses, and with a strong-armed quarterback in Carr, many fans are hoping that the Bulldogs will go to a more air-oriented attack on offense.
“I’m pretty sure we are going to be throwing it around a little bit more,” Carr said. “We got the wide receivers and the offensive line to do it, and the running backs are good with that spread offense looking at those running lanes. They’re really good at that. We’re going to be excited about this one.”
Saunders was just one of the handful of young receivers that caught the attention of fans. Redshirt freshman Josh Harper caught the first touchdown pass of the night, catching a rifled pass in the end zone from Carr and the 6-foot-6 Victor Dean caught several jump balls in the end zone.
Senior receiver Devon Wylie also found the end zone on a short crossing pattern as well as J.J. Stallworth, who beat his defender in the seams for six. Isaiah Burse and walk-on Gerome Surrell also got into the mix, hauling in a touchdown pass from backup quarterback Greg Watson during the 7-on-7 sessions.
“We got fast ones, we got tall ones,” Carr said of the receivers. “They can do it all. It’s so fun just to throw it up to them.”