Leading the way to bringing the 'Dogs home

Pat Hill is a tough guy to read.

He’s already admitted once this season that he’s used a smoke screen to hide what was really behind the curtain. In that instance, it was saying Fresno State quarterback Sean Norton was capable of running only package plays, when in reality, the playbook was wide open when Norton entered the game.

They say a team is a reflection of its coach. A tough, blue-collar coach, maybe say somebody, oh Pat Hill, would lead an aggressive team that plays physical in nature with a never die, underdog attitude. In Hill’s case, that theory would prove to be true.

And just like Hill, the Bulldogs football team is tough to read. It is arguably one of the more talented teams under Hill, and maybe in the program’s history. The teams’ effort in games is unquestioned, as is its desire to win games.

That’s why it’s so hard to find that missing link, or that last piece of the puzzle that would give reason as to why Fresno State is on a six-game slide.

The surface of the situation presents the obvious: a lack of big plays made, trying to recover to a blocked kick, you know, those sorts of things. They’ve come often in a season with only one win and six losses.

Of course there is also the performance of the visiting teams, which as usual, have given the Bulldogs their best shot. That includes Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan and Colorado State.

“Colt Brennan’s had some great performances. Even [Hawaii] said that’s the best he’s ever played.

Sonny Lubick : the best [Colorado State] ever played [this season],” Hill said.

But in attending Hill’s press conferences, listening to player interviews and talking to them in one-on-one scenarios, the idea that there is an underlying theme behind the lack of big plays and execution makes its way into the picture.

This is where the hard part comes in. Is it confidence, problems in the locker room or one of a hundred different other possibilities? That is where the internal tussle comes in. It’s like a debate between the good angel on one shoulder and the naughty devil on the other shoulder.

Listening to Hill speak at Monday’s press conference, it is easy to guess that confidence is the main issue. He recollects to last season’s showdown with USC, comparing the way his Bulldogs played in that game, to this year’s showdown with LSU.

“That night against USC, I can’t tell, it was a whole different type of game for us, we were playing with great confidence that night,” Hill said. “Our two cornerbacks that night, Richard Marshall and Marcus McCauley shut down their receivers, but they were playing with great confidence.”

Does that mean the guys in the secondary are not playing with confidence now? That’s the way it translates, and that’s the way it has looked more often than not on the field this year. But once you settle on confidence being the problem, Hill pulls a fast one on you.

“Confidence was never a factor in that game,” Hill said. “Those kids were ready to play; they played as hard as they could. It wasn’t good enough.”

Now the idea of another smoke screen comes into play. Why not, he’s done it before?

So, if we break this situation down to its skeletal frame, we are left a few things to speculate on.

Consider effort out of the picture, this team plays as hard as ever. Talent can also be thrown out the window — it’s there. And play-making is a problem for every team, it just varies how much between the good and bad teams.

All of this sifting, and still no solution yet. But if I had to guess, the problem lies between the ears, and it lies in the heads of the players and coaches.

The Fresno State football program is on an island of misfortune and somebody needs to believe in them.

I’ve already started paddling my way over.

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