How much talent is on this year's Bulldog defense?

An interesting question popped in my head after enduring three hours of personal attacks and razzing in the stands by Reno's finest fans. Is this Fresno State defense just flatout lacking talent? If not, it must be a scheme problem. But either way, here's a question we'd like you to weigh in on:

How many of the 2009 Fresno State starters on defense could have started for the Bulldogs in 2005?

2005
DE Garrett McIntyre
DT Jason Shirley
DT Louis Leonard
DE Tyler Clutts
LB Marcus Riley
LB Dwayne Andrews
LB Alan Goodwin
CB Richard Marshall
CB Marcus McCauley
SS Josh Sherley
FS Tyrone Culver

2009
DE Chris Carter
DT Cornell Banks
DT Logan Harrell
DE Kenny Borg
LB Nico Herron
LB Ben Jacobs
LB Kyle Knox
CB Desia Dunn
CB A.J. Jefferson
SS Moses Harris
FS Lorne Bell

Combining those two seasons' starting defenses, who would be in your starting 11?

Bouncing around the headlines

In a new feature I'd like to start -- and in playing along with the Bulldog Bounce theme -- let's bounce around some of the biggest Fresno State headlines this week:

Huge news on the diamond is 2nd-round pick Tanner Scheppers, Fresno State's best pitcher (who didn't even get to play in the postseason because of a shoulder injury), didn't sign with the Pirates before yesterday's deadline and now could start talk of a repeat College World Series run for the Diamond 'Dogs if he returns next season.

Scheppers' teammate Justin Wilson (5th rounder), who pitched the Diamond 'Dogs to the national title, did sign with the Pirates. So the 'Dogs plucked Clovis East product Cody Kendall from Fresno Pacific as his replacement for '09.

Seriously though, what's the deal with the overkill of stories mentioning Beau Sweeney, who smeared the infamous Fresno State family's name by signing with Cal? The Bee just can't stop brining him up.

A new San Luis Obispo Tribune blog noticed Pat Hill's comments about Cal Poly possibly one day joining the WAC. Makes for cheaper travel than La Tech, but c'mon Coach Hill, then we wouldn't be the only D1 football program in the Valley!

For the first time all year, there was a non-boring play in an NFL preseason game. And it was Fresno State's Richard Marshall picking off a fake field goal trickery pass and burning 78 yards for a TD. Brings back this memory of last season -- one of the most bittersweet NFL moments I've ever witnessed (from one 'Dog to another). P.S. Marshall is the best corner in school history.

And just as one additional reminder why I no longer subscribe to Sports Illustrated, the mag released its college football preview, listed the top 20 (no Fresno State) and then broke it down conference by conference. One problem - after listing the six BCS conferences, it lists the coalition conferences as, "The Rest" and jumbles everything into a few sentences. That's weak SI, and so was not putting the 2008 College World Series champs on your cover.

What did I miss? Just leave a comment with your own recent Fresno State links...

All-time Fresno State Dream Team results

The results are in. Thanks to everyone who voted and made this a great way to pass time in the offseason. While we obviously can't all agree on who the best 'Dogs are at each position, this helped us remember just how many great ones there have been.

The readers say:
QB: David Carr (255 votes), Trent Dilfer (99)
TB: Dwayne Wright (109), Michael Pittman (86)
FB: Lorenzo Neal (293), Roshon Vercher (15)
WR: Bernard Berrian (251), Stephone Paige (84)
WR: Henry Ellard (235), Rodney Wright (75)
WR: Stephen Baker (93), Paul Williams (41)
TE: Bear Pascoe (171), Scott Scambray (47)
OL: Logan Mankins (208), Joe Schey (62)
OL: Kyle Young (140), Jesse Hardwick (53)
OL: Ryan Wendell (125), Rodney Michael (47)
OL: Chris Denman (103), Tom Neville (45)
OL: Chris Conrad (77), Mike Withycombe (40)

DL: Garrett McIntyre (145), Nick Burley (72)
DL: Alan Harper (131), Bryan Robinson (60)
DL: Jethro Franklin (85), Jason Stewart (48)
DL: Tyler Clutts (75), Zack Rix (38)
LB: Ron Cox (122), Sam Williams (49)
LB: Marcus Riley (103), Tim Skipper (43)
LB: Orlando Huff (77), Tracy Rogers (36)
CB: Richard Marshall (100), Marcus McCauley (43)
CB: J.D. Williams (71), Carl Ray Harris (10)
S: Marquez Pope (64), Omar Stoutmire (38)
S: James Sanders (58), Tyrone Culver (13)

K: Brett Visintainer (36), Asen Asparuhov (29)
P: Mike Lingua (36), Jeff Roberts (17)

Coach: Pat Hill (65), Jim Sweeney (15)

Fresno State Dream Team: Cornerbacks

Who's the best cornerback in school history? Let's find out. Each Bulldog Bounce blogger has turned in his own votes for each position already, but we want to hear what you -- the readers -- think. Then, at the end of all the voting we'll compare our results to yours.

We're going position-by-position with the idea of starting healthy debate about why so-and-so is better than such-and-such? YOU decide the criteria! What's more important? College stats or pro? Four-year starters or JC transfers? Single-season greatness or consistency?

Next up is cornerback, and the nominees are:
--Devon Banks
--James Burton
--Jack Erdman
--Therrian Fontenot
--Carl Ray Harris
--Richard Marshall
--Marcus McCauley
--Steve Muhammed
--J.D. Williams
--Payton Williams

Our Bulldog Bounce blog team voting results are coming soon...

Have fun, voice your opinion and let the voting begin! The nominees will remain posted in the right-hand column for you to choose from, but please add comments to this blog entry as well.