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?

Grading the 'Dogs - Fresno State 40 - Georgia Tech 28

Quarterbacks: A+
Brandstater wins the Humanitarian Bowl MVP Award, passing for 285 yards, 23/30 on pass attempts, 1 touchdown, 40 rushing yards, and 1 rushing touchdown. Tommy B never look intimidated by the Yellow Jackets defense and was confident the entire game. Brandstater roasts another BCS team.

Running Backs: A+
Clifton Smith ends his college football career with a "Batman" BANG!-POW!-ZIP!-ZAMM!- EEE!-YOW!-KAPOW! type of game rushing for 2 touchdowns on 18 carries, for 152 yards. Smith also grabbed 4 catches for 57 yards. Anthony Harding had 46 yards on 11 carries, and Lonyae Miller added 38 yards on 7 carries. Fullback Nate Adams made key blocks all day long, opening the running lanes. The 'Dogs gashed Georgia Tech for 286 yards rushing, the most the Jackets had given up all year.

Receivers: B+
Marlon Moore led the team with 7 catches for 80 yards, had 11 yards rushing, and a rushing touchdown. However, he fumbled twice in the game, once inside the 2 yard line which Georgia Tech recovered, and once on a rick return that went out of bounds. Bear Pascoe had 6 catches for 72 yards, and Sejy Ajirotutu continued his high yards per catch average with 2 catches for 39 yards. Senior tight end Drew Lubinsky catches the first pass of his career for a 3 yard touchdown, in his final game as a Bulldog.

Offensive Line: A+
Didn't allow a single sack on Brandstater, against a Tech defense who had the most sacks in the country with 47. Brilliant! Out-toughed the Jackets' defensive line, and won the battle in the trenches, paving the way for 286 rushing yards.

Defensive Line: A-
Put pressure on Georgia Tech's quarterbacks for the better part of the game. Tyler Clutts had 7 tackles and 2 sacks, as Jon Monga added 5 tackles and 1 sack. The Jackets averaged a modest 4 yards per rush, but didn't give up too many long runs. The 'Dogs won the battle in the trenches on the defensive side of the ball as well.

Linebackers: B+
Riley and Jacobs each had 9 tackles, with Riley having 2.5 of those tackles for loss. Helped the defense maintain Tech's rushing attack to average 4 yards per carry, and total 161 yards rushing between 3 running backs and a rushing quarterback.

Defensive Backs: B
Marvin Haynes had 8 tackles, and Moses Harris added 5. Jake Jorde made the only interception of the game, and had 4 tackles. Allowed 218 yards passing to a semi-weak passing team. Settled down after the first drive where Georgia Tech's quarterback Taylor Bennett threw a 35 yard touchdown pass. Embarrassing play when a "hail mary" type of throw was caught between 2 Bulldog defenders for a touchdown by Tech, on 3rd and 17. It also brought the Yellow Jackets within 6 points.

Special Teams: B+
Clint Stitser makes both field goal attempts, one from 21 yards and the other from 39. Zimmerman only had to punt twice, but totaled just 24 yards punting. One punt just wasn't very good, and the other was blocked in a crucial point of the game in the 3rd quarter. Marlon Moore had 4 kick returns for 113 yards (28.25 yard average) and one fumble that went out of bounds. Clifton Smith added 12 yards on one return. Not too shabby on kick returns. No punt returns.

Wendell, Riley, Clutts and Bear, oh my!

You've gotta appreciate that the WAC got this one right -- Marcus Riley, WAC defensive player of the year. I was relieved to hear there was no truth to the rumor Matt Costelo of SJSU was gonna get it.

Hawaii's Colt Brennan got offensive player of the year. Anyone else want a bumper sticker that says, "Our WAC player of the year knocked your WAC player of the year out cold" ...? I do.

Congrats also to Ryan Wendell, Tyler Clutts and Bear Pascoe for their first-team All-WAC honors. But you've gotta wonder how the heck A.J. Jefferson (the nation's LEADING kick returner) gets left off!?

And Bobby Lepori nowhere on first- or second-team? No Ryan Mathews!? Not even for newcomer of the year. The guy leads the nation in TDs among freshmen despite missing two games with injuries and can't get any mention on the All-WAC list? Nevada's Colin Kaepernick is good, but not Mathews good.

And I see the WAC used this as a perfect opportunity to leave off Ben Jacobs -- good thing, 'cause it'll be their only chance not to choose him for the next three years.

Grading the 'Dogs (7-4, 5-2): vs. Kansas State (5-7, 3-5)

Quarterbacks: A+
How 'bout that Brandstater!? A career-high 313 yards. Two TDs. And Kansas State never even came close to picking off a pass.

Running Backs: B-
Gotta love fourth-string tailback Harding's 115 yards and a TD coupled with Miller's 91 yards and a TD against one of the nation's best statistical run defenses. But Miller's two fumbles lost inside the 5-yard line would have been critical mistakes in a close game.

Receivers: A+
Hands down the best collective game this corps has had in the past two years. Moore has scratched his prime as the first receiver to top 100 yards all season (134) to go with two TDs.

Offensive Line: A
Possibly this unit's best game ever. Dominant pass blocking and oft-dominant run blocking equals a blowout.

Defensive Line: A
The pivotal play of the game came just after Fresno State took a 17-14 lead, when Tolbert forced Freeman to fumble and Clutts recovered, leading to another TD.

Linebackers: A-
After giving up 67- and 45-yard TD runs in the first quarter, allowed just 14 yards rushing the rest of the game.

Defensive Backs: B+
Although Nelson gathered 15 catches for 165 yards, Jenkins, Owens and Harris all made clutch stops and deflections. Jorde filled in nicely for the injured Bell.

Special Teams: B-
Special teams didn't play much of a factor as the 'Dogs had their worst return game of the season with Jefferson and Smith injured. Stitser hit a 46-yarder.

In case you STILL need an incentive...

In case you STILL need an incentive to get your butt in Bulldog Stadium on Saturday for Fresno State's home finale against Kansas State, here are three more.

1. Clifton Smith
2. Tyler Clutts
3. Marcus Riley

Actually, there are 16 seniors we'll have to say goodbye to. And as you ponder the best way to bid them farewell (which will have something to do with severely damaging your vocal chords yelling for them as they head through the inflatable doghouse), remember these tidbits:

KSEE24 had a great idea on "Bulldog Insider" tonight, where Alexan Balekian sat down with Clif, Clutts and Riley to talk about their fondest 'Dogs memories. All three of 'em said there truly is nothing in college football quite like the walk down the Bulldog Stadium ramp, getting in that doghouse and running through the smoke and fireworks in front of 42,000 pumped-up Red Wavers. (NOTE TO FANS: that means we need 42,000 Red Wavers Saturday to give 'em that one last dream come true).

Then, if you need further evidence these guys are perfect examples of Bulldog Football, Balekian asked what one thing they will take away from Pat Hill?

Clutts said it's that hard work pays off.

Riley said it's that football teaches lifelong lessons, and the way you act when no one is watching is what's most important.

And Clifton summed up the Bulldog Spirit better than anyone. He said the day he stepped on campus as a freshman he learned from Hill that we're Bulldog born, Bulldog bred, we'll be Bulldogs 'til the day we're dead.

Well Clif, Marcus and Tyler, I'm here to say we'll be right there with you. Look for us in the stands. We're the ones wearing Bulldog Red.