Fresno State's Got Talent

The strangest thing happened today. During the Pat Hill Show on KMJ 580 (which should be uploaded to podcast by tomorrow), Hill said boise state is more talented than Fresno State. Just about the time I realized what he'd said, and concluded that I must have misheard, he alluded to it again. And from the sound of things, he didn't think it was very close.

In the past, that's never been the case. The Bulldogs have almost assuredly had more talent than the Broncos 8 of the past 10 years. And with what seems like a loaded Bulldogs roster this season, it was someone surprising to hear Hill talk as if the talent difference is an issue.

But let's look deeper. And yes, this blog post required my visiting the official boise state athletics site to make sure I had the most up to date stats. I don't make a habit of visiting such sites, and am all for parents blocking said site from their children by any means necessary. So I quickly looked at the stats, cleared my browser history and ran to the bathroom to wash my hands -- twice.

So, is boise state really THAT much more talented than Fresno State right now...?

Obviously, and this is probably the most painful sports-related thing I've ever written, QB Kellen Moore is the best player in the country. He puts balls in his receivers' hands ever so gently, and right on the mark -- every time. No matter how tight the coverage (ask Isaiah Green) the ball is always catchable. Fresno State QB Ryan Colburn (a sixth-year senior counting the greyshirt year) struggled mightily on Friday night, completing just 6 of 23 passes for 76 yards with 2 interceptions. And, once again, looked miserable in blitz situations and delayed in decision-making. So that's one big edge for boise state.

But Fresno State's Robbie Rouse, 12th in the nation in rushing yards per game, is as good as anyone boise has and the wide receiving corps is ridiculously deep. The Bulldogs don't have anyone as dominant as Titus Young or Austin Pettis right now, but have an NFL-caliber target in Jamel Hamler and are far superior in depth at the position.

That brings us to the offensive line, which might be the answer. Fresno State is traditionally among the nation's leaders in sacks allowed, but this season has given up a whopping 25 sacks in 10 games. For a team that only passes 41% of its plays, and was projected as one of the nation's top lines in the preseason, that's insanely high. In comparison, boise state's line has given up 5 sacks on the season. Now, granted, part of that can be attributed to Moore make better, quicker decisions under pressure than Colburn does -- but part is also due to protection and picking up blitzes. boise state also averages 5.3 yards per carry, while Fresno State is at 4.3. Pat Hill use to preach that games are won and lost in the trenches, and he might still say that. If so, a lot of blame for Friday's 51-0 debacle lies here.

While boise state's defensive line is incredible, and leads the nation with 39 sacks, the Bulldogs also boast a very good defensive front (27 sacks). Chris Carter is perhaps as good any player on either line, and is tied for the WAC lead in sacks with teammate Logan Harrell (9 each). The difference is boise state has four dominant defensive linemen, while Fresno State has two, an above average DT Cornell Banks and an average Chris Lewis at the other DE spot (he was injured vs. boise).

Both teams have comparable linebackers, and Fresno State's Travis Brown is perhaps the best of any of them. Defensive backs are also comparable, with Phillip Thomas perhaps the best safety and Jermaine Thomas the best CB (although he missed the game with injury). That said, Will Venable is a force at whatever they call his hybrid position.

It'd be wonderful to hear Hill break down the talent difference by position (we won't hold our breath), but analyzing the rosters makes one wonder if he's really talking mostly about the QB position, with the offensive line a close second...?

Or is the real difference in how the two teams are coaching their talent...?

Q&A with OBNUG

You might have noticed our exclusive interview with the folks at OBNUG, Boise State's very active, heavily commented blog, yesterday. Check it out for all the Boise State perspective your inquiring mind desires.

But today, we return the favor and get some insight into the heads of the Broncos fans as we head into Week 3 -- which for us means rivalry week!

Bulldog Bounce: Which Fresno State player scares Boise State most?
OBNUG: Speaking for Bronco Nation as a whole, I would have to say nobody, because Boise State fans can tend to be a little full of ourselves. Speaking for myself, I am most afraid of Ryan Colburn. I think that Colburn is the one player who can make the biggest difference in the game on Friday. Boise State's defense can play bend, don't break with the best of them, so a decent rushing day for Fresno might not lead to the impact you'd expect. However, if Colburn is on his game (think early against Wisconsin), we might be in for a different story.

Bulldog Bounce:Which Boise State player should Fresno State be most afraid of? OBNUG: It's hard to pick just one, since Boise State has done so well this season playing as a team. QB Kellen Moore can tear a defense apart. WRs Austin Pettis and Titus Young can turn small gainers into long TDs. CB Kyle Wilson can shut down an entire side of the field. But I'm going to go with DT Billy Winn on this one. He has been phenomenal so far this season. Winn helps set the tone for the defense with his penetration and line play, and he causes headaches for opposing offensive lines with his quickness and versatility. In the Broncos' new 3-3-5 look, Winn could line up as a stand-up defensive end, or even as a linebacker. His pass-rushing skill are top notch, but his specialty is run defense. He'll make some noise in the backfield unless Fresno gameplans to stop him.

Bulldog Bounce: Do you miss Tom Brandstater?
OBNUG: Only every day. I would have much more confidence in the outcome of this game if Brandstater were under center. Can't he get a medical redshirt for incompetence or something?

Bulldog Bounce: Are Boise State fans happy with their non-conference scheduling, or is there a buried sense of inner-questioning about how the Broncos would fare with a schedule like Fresno State's?
OBNUG: I think we're kind of over it. Our schedule picks up next season with games against Oregon State and Virginia Tech, so the AD has shown a willingness to start scheduling better teams. In the meantime, I can't complain about the success our team has seen using the scheduling tactics the university employed. Would the Broncos have made a BCS championship game with a tougher schedule? No. Would they have not gotten screwed over so many times by the bowl selections if they hadn't cleaned up on cupcakes? Maybe. Would they have had their incredible winning percentage and national recognition with more BCS teams on the sched? Probably not.
P.S. Don't tell anyone I said this because my official stance as a Bronco fan is supposed to be: "Boise State deserves a BCS game every season, regardless of who is on their schedule. College football is unfair. Mark May is a boob. Potatoes!"

Bulldog Bounce: Where does Kyle Wilson rank among the Broncos all-time greats?
OBNUG: His 2008 season was one of the best of all-time, so if he can replicate his success from last fall, I think you have to consider him to be Boise State's all-time best cornerback. He has had more national recognition than anyone before him, and he'll probably go higher in the draft than any other Bronco defensive player. Boise State has had great cornerbacks before, but none with the NFL talent of Wilson.

Bulldog Bounce: Why is it Fresno State often has the more celebrated players and bigger NFL prospects but can't beat Boise State regularly?
OBNUG: Coaching is a big part of it. Execution, game management, and game planning are huge on the college level, and it can really make a difference in the outcome of a game or a season. I'm not saying that Pat Hill is a bad coach. Actually, yes. That's exactly what I'm saying.
I also think that, for whatever reason, the desire has been greater for the Broncos. I'm not sure if it is a motivation thing or what, but Boise State always seems to give greater effort than Fresno when the two teams take the field. Sources: My biased point of view, and I think Rod Gilmore said this once.

Bulldog Bounce: Why can't Dan Hawkins win at Colorado when he was so good at Boise State?
OBNUG: Karma, most likely.

Bulldog Bounce: Be honest, should the Broncos be forced to wear something other than blue uniforms in their home games?
OBNUG: No more than North Texas should be required to wear something other than green.

Bulldog Bounce: How many yards will the Broncos allow rushing on Friday? How many points will they allow?
OBNUG: Rushing yards allowed: Less than 100. Points allowed: Less than 25.
I think that Fresno will be forced to pass once the Broncos' get their offense rolling. That will cut into the rushing totals, but I don't really see the Bulldogs getting much push in the ground game anyway. The 25 point threshold is generous, in my opinion, judging by how the BSU defense has played so far this year. Throw in factors like special teams, turnovers, and late game defensive strategy changes, and I think 24 or so could be a possibility. In my heart of hearts (where all my homerism is kept), I think it will be in the teens - if that.

Bulldog Bounce: What's Boise State's best tradition?
OBNUG: You mean, besides the age-old sledgehammer thing? I can tell you what the most grating tradition is: the "Boise! ... State!" cheer. It used to be that Bronco fans would break out the cheer to inspire the team, shouting back and forth across the stadium and creating a really cool echo effect. Now, we do it in a Carl's Jr. if we some guy wearing a BSU shirt. It's bad.

Bulldog Bounce: If the Mountain West wanted to expand, would Boise State want to go with or without Fresno State?
OBNUG: As a fan, I would like to see Boise State and Fresno continue to play at least once every other year. I don't think that BSU necessarily wants the Bulldogs in the MWC with them, if only because Fresno hasn't exactly provided ideal competition the past eight years. I think the university would be quite ambivalent. However, as fans, I would probably grow tired of the annual Boise State - UNLV game and long for the days of Pat Hill's fu manchu and Fresno quarterbacks choking away big games. If I already miss Tom Brandstater this much, then I don't know what I would do without my annual dose of Fresno fan shtick.

Bulldog Bounce: First word that comes to mind with the following:Red Mile - Tom Hanks movie sequel.
Bulldog Stadium - Upsets.
Ryan Dinwiddie -Demigod.BCS - Playoff.
the color orange - Homeland Security threat level.
White Out - Snow.
Chris Petersen - President of the United States of America.
Derek Carr - Metrosexual.

Preview: No. 10 Boise State (2-0) @ Fresno State (1-1)

Quarterbacks
Edge: Broncos
Junior Ryan Colburn (6-3, 220) answered a lot of questions about Fresno State’s offense with his performance at Wisconsin Saturday – 22 of 36 for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns – but also left a few unanswered with three interceptions that likely kept the Bulldogs from winning. That said, the game plan made it obvious that coaches are more confident in the passing game than they have been the past three years, as the offense opened up and the deep ball was thrown regularly. Execution will be the biggest key to beating Boise State on Friday, but Colburn seems like the type of kid who will build upon his first-career road start, and he might very well finish the year as one of the WAC’s top quarterbacks. It’s doubtful true freshman Derek Carr (6-3, 190) will enter the game as long as Colburn’s healthy, but look for an increased presence from redshirt freshman Ebahn Feathers (6-0, 210), who’s change-of-pace ability was used for just two plays last week.

Though sophomore Kellen Moore (6-0, 187) is younger than Colburn, he’s more experienced after leading the Broncos to a 12-1 season in 2008 and setting a new NCAA record for completion percentage by a freshman (69.4%). Moore, who like Colburn is a lefty, was a Freshman All-American and second-team All-WAC selection after throwing for 3,486 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Moore defined efficiency in last season’s 61-10 debacle over the Bulldogs, completing 17 of 23 passes (74%). This is a week where Fresno State probably won’t get away with not forcing at least one turnover – otherwise Boise State will peck away all night.

Running Backs
Edge: Even
A healthy Ryan Mathews (5-11, 220) has proved to be as close to unstoppable as college running backs get. Even when he was being contained at Wisconsin, it was just a matter of time before he broke a big play – and it came with a 55-yard run in the third quarter. The junior has rushed for more than 100 yards each game this season, but hasn’t yet had success against Boise State. Mathews had 15 carries for 49 yards as a true freshman, and didn’t play last season due to injury. If the line blocks well, he could be the X-factor. True freshman Robbie Rouse (5-7, 185) is quickly becoming a major concern for opponents. In his first two career games he’s got 121 yards and a score on 7.6 per carry. The Bulldogs haven’t seen near what’s expected of seniors Lonyae Miller (5-11, 220) and Anthony Harding (6-0, 220) yet, though Hardings has just one carry so far.

Boise State has small, quick running backs – the polar opposite of what Fresno State faced at Wisconsin last week – and it’s exactly what gives the Bulldogs trouble. For all the hype that surrounded now-departed Ian Johnson, juniors Jeremy Avery (5-9, 173) and D.J. Harper (5-9, 198) present far more danger to Fresno State’s defense. Avery had seven carries for 62 yards (8.9 average) against the Bulldogs last season and 124 yards and three scores on 18 carries in 2007 at Bulldog Stadium. In that same game, Harper led the Broncos with 153 yards. The good news for the Bulldogs is they have a much more aggressive defense than a year ago, but this will be the ultimate test. Senior fullback Richie Brockel (6-2, 240) is the type of road-paver typically found in the Bulldogs’ backfield, and a guy who could be playing on Sundays next year.

Receivers
Edge: Bulldogs
Can you say breakout? Fresno State’s wideouts put on a show for a national TV audience last week, and were led by junior speedster Devon Wylie (5-9, 170), who had a career-high 114 yards on five catches, including a 70-yard strike where he shifted to an extra gear and burned Wisconsin’s corner. Senior Chastin West (6-1, 215) had perhaps the best game of his career last week with five catches for 49 yards and a touchdown. But it was the situation he made the catches in that made them so impressive, third downs and great plays. West would have had the potential game-winner in double overtime when he beat the corner by six yards in the end zone, but was underthrown. Senior Seyi Ajirotutu (6-4, 210) had six receptions for 82 yards and two touchdowns. The wideout weapons are many, but the Bulldogs might need more involvement from their tight ends this week if Colburn faces more pressure, which is likely.

Boise State sophomore tight end Kyle Efaw (6-4, 229) will be a weapon for the Broncos. He’s got the hands and ability to squat in pockets of zone coverage that can hurt the Bulldogs. Efaw led Boise State with 60 yards on two catches in last year’s win over Fresno State. The Broncos, however, aren’t as deep at wideout as they have been in recent years. But the two go-to receivers are two of the best they’ve had in juniors Titus Young (5-11, 170) and Austin Pettis (6-3, 201). In two games this year, Pettis has 10 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns, while Young has 11 grabs for 160 yards and two scores. Pettis hauled in a career-high 65-yarder last week in a win over Miami (Ohio).

Offensive Line
Edge: Bulldogs
Fresno State’s big men on the gridiron have been a pleasant surprise. Some doubt remained after they dominated UC Davis in the opener with two new starters, but little doubt is there after their performance at Wisconsin. While the unit allowed two sacks, the pass blocking was obscenely strong on numerous plays. Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema reportedly called junior center Joe Bernardi (6-2, 280) and junior right guard Andrew Jackson (6-5, 295) two of the best linemen he’s seen on film. Both have been doing a stellar job of getting to the second level on blocks. But Boise State presents a tougher challenge – can the unit hold strong against a smaller, quicker Broncos front? The Bulldogs, who are perennially among the nation’s leaders for fewest sacks allowed, have given up five sacks to the Broncos in the past two meetings.

Boise State’s line is lean and quick, another polar opposite compared to the behemouths up front for Wisconsin. The Broncos don’t have a single lineman weighing more than 300 pounds – with junior left guard Will Lawrence (6-2, 293) the biggest. The Broncos gave up a WAC-low 13 sacks last season, but has a relatively inexperienced unit with just two full-time starters returning in sophomore center Thomas Byrd (5-11, 284) and junior right guard Kevin Sapien (6-4, 286) – and even they have just one year of starting under their belts. Keep an eye on Byrd’s exchange with the quarterback, which the Broncos have had some trouble with this year – but they always seem to clean up the mistakes against Fresno State.

Defensive Line
Edge: Broncos
Junior end Chris Carter (6-2, 230) has taken his game up another notch and emerged as a serious threat to Fresno State opponents. Carter’s speed presented a huge mismatch against Wisconsin’s bigger, slower linemen, and allowed him to get around the edge twice for hard-hitting sacks. On a near-sack in the first quarter last week, Carter reportedly broke his middle finger, but is expected to play on Friday. Redshirt sophomore Kenny Borg (6-3, 245) also caused problems with his speed at end last week, but didn’t have the same impact. Look for the Bulldogs to use junior Chris Lewis (6-3, 260) for more reps at tackle this week, as his size is more appropriate against Boise State’s smaller, quicker guys. The same holds true for sophomore tackle Logan Harrell (6-2, 275), who showed flashes of agility against Wisconsin. Defensively, this is likely where the game will be won or lost for Fresno State – the only way to force Boise State out of its usual near-perfect execution is to apply constant pressure in the backfield.

Boise State’s defense boasts one of the most ridiculous stats ever – in the past 12 games, the defense has allowed just 8.25 offensive points per game. It starts with the front four and is the biggest reason for the Broncos’ increased success of late against strong competition (see Oregon). Somewhere along the line, the Broncos developed not only skill in the front four, but also size, with starting ends junior Ryan Winterswyk (6-4, 263) and sophomore Jarrell Root (6-3, 259). Winterswyk, a first-team All-WAC honoree who’s up for the Lott Trophy and Lombardi Award, had 11.5 tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks last season. But more impressively, he had six pass deflections, something that has caused Fresno State fits in recent years with passes being batted down by linemen. Sophomore tackles Billy Winn (6-4, 288) and Chase Baker (6-1, 296) each have 0.5 sacks on the young season, but overall the Broncos’ starting for is lacking in the experience department.

Linebackers
Edge: Bulldogs
The play of middle backer Ben Jacobs (6-3, 225) is getting to be ridiculous. With his speed improved a tad, and a more physical mentality, Jacobs has already racked up 21 tackles this season, after leading Fresno State with 113 last year. First-team All-WAC here he comes. Still, the biggest plus so far this year might be junior strong side Nico Herron (6-3, 240), who had a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown in the opener and is third on the team with 11 tackles after showing much improvement in sticking to his assignments. If sophomore Kyle Knox (6-1, 215) steps up his play this will be the WAC’s best linebacker trio.

Look for the Broncos to go with a 4-2-5 defense often, consisting of just two linebackers instead of the normal three. The best of those two is junior Derrell Acrey (6-1, 235), who was fifth on the team with 59 tackles last season. Sophomore Aaron Tevis (6-3, 228) enters his first season as the full-time starter on the weak side. Both linebackers have a knack for getting to the ball and not missing, part of what makes Boise State so tough to drive the ball on. Redshirt freshman J.C. Percy (6-0, 214) is pushing hard for playing time, as he’s tied with Acrey and one other for third on the team with eight tackles this season. Tevis has two picks already on the season.

Defensive Backs
Edge: Broncos
Fresno State received sad news Wednesday that starting free safety Lorne Bell (5-10, 200) is out the next two weeks with a knee injury. The junior is a physical specimen and the biggest reason the Bulldogs seem to have rediscovered that “Shutup & Hit Somebody” mentality. He delivered at least three bell-ringing blows in the first two games and was scary on the blitz – while posting 13 tackles. Instead Boise State will face either senior Marvin Haynes (6-1, 205), who has two-plus years of starting experience, or sophomore Zak Hill (6-2, 200), Pat Hill’s youngest son. It’s a head-scratcher, though, why Hill wouldn’t start redshirt freshman Phillip Thomas (6-1, 205), who opened fall camp first-string and might be the defense’s next big thing. Expect senior corner A.J. Jefferson (6-0, 190) to draw Pettis, while junior Desia Dunn (5-9, 190) tries to stick with Young. Senior All-WAC strong safety Moses Harris (5-11, 205) will also be used on the blitz under Randy Stewart’s more aggressive defensive playcalling, but must be sure to shed blocks if he’s going to be effective – an area he’s struggled with in the past.

There’s not a better secondary in the WAC, and its best corner is Boise State senior and All-America candidate Kyle Wilson (5-10, 186), but he’ll be outsized by most Fresno State receivers, especially the team’s best deep threat, Ajirotutu at 6-foot-4. Junior corner Brandyn Thompson (5-10, 180) faces the same battle, as does junior nickel back Winston Venable (5-11, 233). Wilson tied for the WAC lead with five interceptions last season and has eight for his career. He also leads the Broncos with 10 tackles this year. At the starting safety spots, Boise State boasts junior Jeron Johnson (5-11, 194) and sophomore George Iloka (6-3, 207). Johnson led the squad with 98 tackles and had three picks in 2008. Both he and Iloka have a pick already this year. Iloka had four interceptions in 2008.

Special Teams
Edge: Bulldogs
This game pits easily the two best special teams units in the WAC, and both have been among the nation’s best this decade. Fresno State has blocked 80 kicks and punts during Pat Hill’s tenure, which began in 1997. The emphasis the Bulldogs put on special teams is unparalleled, and it pays off as four current players have returned kicks or punts for touchdowns – Jefferson, West, Moore and Rashad Evans (who’s redshirting). Senior punter Robert Malone (6-2, 225) averages 46.4 yards and has placed 3 of 5 punts inside the 20-yard line. Sophomore Kevin Goessling (6-0, 190), who’s on the Lou Groza watch list, hit a 41-yarder to send last week’s game into overtime, but also missed a 45-yard attempt earlier in the game.

Boise State has a heck of a return man itself in Wilson, who returned a punt 90 yards for a Boise State record-long touchdown against the Bulldogs last year. He averaged 14.2 yards per return with three touchdowns last season. The Broncos also blocked a punt last week in a win over Miami (Ohio). Junior Kyle Brotzman (5-10, 201) handles kicking and punting duties. He was 17 of 26 on field goals last season, but 2 of 2 from 50-plus yards, but is just 1 of 3 this season including a miss from 29 yards. Brotzman averages 45.3 yards per punt, and has pinned 3 of 6 inside the 20.

Coaching
Edge: Broncos
How can the edge not go to Chris Petersen here? No matter how lovable Pat Hill’s vision and passion for Bulldog football and the Valley is, he just can’t seem to out-scheme Petersen on the field often enough, despite having more talent on paper pretty much every year the two teams have played. Petersen has discovered the secret to getting kids to execute to near-perfection throughout a season, and does it consistently. It’s a phenomenon no other coach or program in the nation experiences. At USC, Oklahoma and Florida, they win perennially based on exorbitant amounts of talent. With Boise State, no one can really explain why the Broncos win so often in such convincing fashion? Boise State is 7-4 all-time against the Bulldogs, and its only loss in the rivalry since joining the WAC in 2001 was 27-7 at Bulldog Stadium in 2005.

Intangibles
Edge: Broncos
There’s a ton of hype coming in with Boise State ranked No. 10, the second straight year a 10th-ranked team has visited Bulldog Stadium (Wisconsin last year). The Red Wave is being asked to “white out” the stadium, and the game is a near sellout – making for by far the most hostile environment Boise State will face on the road this season. But this Broncos team won at Oregon last year – its first-ever road win over a BCS-conference opponent – and always gets up to play Fresno State. Still, the mental hurdle of losing to Boise State so often in recent years will be tough to overcome. And until Fresno State pulls it off, it’s tough to pick the ‘Dogs to win it.


***Photos courtesy of Juan Villa

boise state copies Fresno State

In talking to people, many haven't yet noticed the offensive copy-catting of Boise State, which now adopted a longtime Fresno State tradition of awarding a sledgehammer to the special teams player who makes the biggest play in the previous game.

It's been done at Fresno State as long as I can remember under Pat Hill and special teams coach John Baxter. And now (GASP!howdarethey) it's being done at Boise State too. And when the 'Dogs visited Oregon in 2007 and noticed the Ducks were doing it also.

Now, I do realize Fresno State getting upset about others stealing its traditions is kind of like a turtle calling a snail slow (since Fresno State ripped "The Bulldog Bounce" from Wisconsin's "Jump Around") but you do not, under any circumstances, steal an archrival's tradition. What if Michigan started dotting the 'i,' or UCLA started holding up the 'v' for victory, or Texas started yelling 'Boomer Longhorn'? Not cool, right?

I mean, how would Boise State feel if Fresno State painted its field blue and wore all blue uniforms and helmets to camaflouge themselves? Or if Fresno State played mostly easy non-conference games and ran up the score on lesser opponents to build a questionable sense of entitlement on the national scene? Or if a Fresno State player taunted his opponent after a win and got a haymaker to the chin?

Game Preview: Fresno State (5-2, 4-0) vs. Boise State (6-1, 3-0)

Quarterbacks
Tom Brandstater’s efficiency is not a question right now, but Fresno State hasn’t needed him to take the team on his shoulders in weeks. While Brandstater hasn’t thrown an interception in the past three games (he’s tied for fewest in the nation with three), he also hasn’t thrown a touchdown in the same time span. This is the type of win Brandstater needs to prove he’s stepped his game up another level. He’s completed 60% of his passes for 1,248 yards and six touchdowns.

Boise State hasn’t seen much of a fall-off since Jared Zabransky’s departure – senior Taylor Tharp (6-2, 206) actually might be an improvement. The numbers would suggest as much, as Tharp leads the WAC with a 157.25 rating. He’s completed 65.3% of his throws for 1,857 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Boise State could present the biggest passing threat Fresno State has faced so far this season.
Edge: Broncos

Running Backs
True freshman Ryan Mathews is looking more special by the week. After racking up 144 yards and two touchdowns on 9 yards per carry last week against San Jose State, Mathews leads the Bulldogs with 596 yards and nine scores. His 58-yard touchdown run last week was his third run for more than 54 yards on the year. Sophomore Lonyae Miller, who’s missed some practice this week but is expected to play Friday, is second on the team with 402 yards and six touchdowns (4.3 yards per carry). Throw in senior Clifton Smith (176 yards and three touchdowns on 5.9 per carry) and sophomore Anthony Harding (131 yards and two scores) and the Bulldogs have the deepest and most talented backfield in the conference.

But, with all the Bulldogs’ youth, Boise State has the WAC’s best tailback in senior Ian Johnson, an All-American candidate who coach Chris Petersen said won’t play for the second straight week because of a kidney injury. Taking his place as starter is redshirt freshman Jeremy Avery (5-9, 173), who has 383 yards and four touchdowns with a 6.4-yard average. Johnson leads the Broncos with 693 yards and nine touchdowns. True freshman D.J. Harper (5-10, 185) has 162 yards and three scores.
Edge: Bulldogs

Receivers
The Bulldogs’ passing game counts on tight end Bear Pascoe and running back Clifton Smith a great deal. Pascoe is the go-to guy with 28 receptions for 370 yards and four touchdowns. Smith is second with 19 catches for 215 yards. Sophomore wideout Marlon Moore, who returned from injury last week, should give the offense a big boost. Even after missing 2 ½ games, he has 17 catches for 214 yards. The team needs to use sophomore Seyi Ajirotutu to stretch Boise State’s defense and keep it honest.

Sophomore Jeremy Childs (6-0, 196) is in the midst of a breakout year for the Broncos with 47 catches for 679 yards and eight touchdowns (97 yards per game). On his own, Childs has two more touchdown catches than all of Fresno State’s receivers combined. True freshman Titus Young is second with 19 receptions for 372 yards and three scores (19.6 yards per catch). Ian Johnson’s 247 receiving yards will be missed if he doesn’t dress, and the Broncos are also without Vinny Perretta and his 120 yards.
Edge: Broncos

Offensive Line
Bad news for Boise State. Just when Fresno State’s line had solidified with the redshirt freshmen center Joe Bernardi and right guard Andrew Jackson filling in for injured starters – one of them is returning. All-WAC junior guard Cole Popovich is expected back for the fist time since the Texas A&M game on Sept. 8. The question is, if he plays, who does he replace? Fresno State is averaging 4.8 yards per carry, and has given up just nine sacks on the year.

Boise State is the team that came into the season with the highly-touted line led by junior left tackle Ryan Clady (6-6, 317), a preseason first-team All-America selection. Seniors Jeff Cavender (6-2, 287) and Tad Miller (6-4, 296) and junior Andrew Woodruff (6-3, 328) add a ton of experience. Like Fresno State, Boise State has allowed just nine sacks this season, and the team averages 4.7 yards per carry (0.1 yards less than the Bulldogs).
Edge: Even

Defensive Line
No Jason Shirley (suspended indefinitely), no Jason Roberts (broken leg), no Chris Lewis (suspended for season), no Ikenna Ike (wrist injury), no Taylor Smith (shoulder injury). Yet – still – Fresno State’s line is thriving. Much credit goes to senior Tyler Clutts and junior Jon Monga, who are tied with a WAC-best six sacks apiece and each have 8 tackles for losses. Monga has developed into one of the best pass-rushing tackles in recent school history and Clutts is playing with a mean streak. Sophomore end Wilson Ramos has stepped up big at the other end spot.

Boise State has a couple talented ends of its own, led by junior Mike T. Williams (6-4, 245) and senior Nick Schlekeway (6-4, 262).Williams leads the team with four sacks and has five tackles for losses. Reserve redshirt freshman end Ryan Winterswyk (6-4, 264) has a team-high 5.5 tackles for losses. They better be on the ball, as the ‘Dogs will try to run right at and through Boise State.
Edge: Bulldogs

Linebackers
Speaking of players with mean streaks, watch out for senior Marcus Riley, who is hitting with more aggression than ever before. Riley leads the team with 68 tackles (7 for losses) and is tied for a team-high two forced fumbles with sophomore Quaadir Brown, the team’s fastest linebacker. Brown didn’t start last week with the emergence of freshman walk-on Nick Bates, who has 13 tackles, 2 for losses. Redshirt freshman Ben Jacobs is second on the team with 52 tackles (4 for losses) and, like Riley, is all over the field.

Boise State is led by junior Kyle Gingg (5-11, 220) and his 52 tackles (4 for losses) and six pass break-ups. Junior Tim Brady (6-1, 207) is third on the team with 33 tackles. Junior David Shields (6-1, 220) was expected to have a breakout year, but has been average so far.
Edge: Bulldogs

Defensive Backs
Hooray – the Bulldogs finally got an interception when sophomore Damion Owens picked off San Jose State’s first attempt last week and returned it 17 yards. When sophomore A.J. Jefferson was beaten for a deep pass in that game, junior Sharrod Davis (a former Oregon corner) saw his first significant playing time, making a key fourth-down stop. Safeties Marvin Haynes, Lorne Bell and Moses Harris have 36, 35 and 35 tackles, respectively. The ‘Dogs defense allows an average of 194.7 yards per game.

Senior free safety Marty Tadman (5-11, 185), a preseason All-America candidate, is second on the team with 50 tackles and tied for the lead with two interceptions. Junior corner Orlando Scandrick (5-11, 198) is fourth on the team with 32 tackles and also has two picks, as does sophomore corner Kyle Wilson (5-10, 190). The Broncos’ 187.9 passing yards per game against average leads the WAC. Fresno State averages 186.6 yards in the air.
Edge: Broncos

Special Teams
A.J. Jefferson built on his nation-best 36.1-yard kick return average with a 61-yarder in his only attempt last week. He and punt returner Clifton Smith will need to put the Bulldogs in good field position to win the game. Kicker Clint Stitser has quietly put together a streak, making 6 of his past 7 field goals, including 3 of 3 last week in strong winds. Punter Kyle Zimmerman is the reigning WAC special teams player of the week after averaging 49.8 yards on four punts last week. Zimmerman leads the WAC with a 42.6-yard average on the season. One of the Bulldogs’ trademark blocked kicks could be pivotal in this type of game.

Senior corner Rashaun Scott (5-10, 197) averages 23.9 yards per kick return, while Marty Tadman averages 11.4 per punt return. Redshirt freshman Kyle Brotzman (5-10, 170) has hit 7 of 9 field goals this year, with a long of 40 yards. True freshman punter Brad Elkin (6-3, 188) averages 38.3 yards and has landed 6 of 18 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Edge: Bulldogs

Coaching
Pat Hill has his Bulldogs back in position to contend for a WAC title with a win over Boise State. A year after finishing a stunning 4-8, Fresno State is 5-2, 4-0 in the WAC and with a renewed confidence that will skyrocket if Fresno State wins this one.

Boise State’s Chris Petersen is the only coach since 1900 to win 13 games in his first season with a Division I team. He’s now 19-1 all-time since moving from offensive coordinator to head coach. Petersen led the Broncos to a 45-21 win in last season’s meeting. Boise State is 5-1 against Fresno State since joining the WAC, with the all-time series at 5-4.
Edge: Broncos

Intangibles
If you can’t get up for this game, you might not have a heartbeat. Bulldog Stadium will be rocking Friday evening with a Red Wave that might show up in black to "turn the lights out on Boise State." The crowd was loud and fired up for San Jose State, but the dislike for Boise State is exponentially higher. Boise State has won 42 of its past 43 WAC games – the lone loss in that span coming in its last visit to Fresno, when the Bulldogs laid a 27-7 spanking on the Broncos.
Edge: Bulldogs