Never too early to look ahead

With the college football slowly winding down and college basketball just getting underway this past week, I thought we might have a little fun at looking ahead at the 2009 Fresno State football team and who you could look forward to seeing next season.

Quarterback:

Current - Tom Brandstater Status - departing Senior

Candidates:

Ryan Colburn - Colburn is 6'3" 220 lbs Sophomore from Visalia, CA (Central Valley Christian). 2008 marked the 2nd straight season that he has been the backup to Brandstater. He also saw game action in 2007 against Oregon, so he does have some playing time under his belt.



Matt Faulkner - The 6'2" 195 lbs Redshirt Freshman is getting a lot of talk as far as what his capability is as a passer. He has the strong arm of past Bulldog quarterbacks and could fit that mold in the future. Whether or not he'll win the job as a Sophomore will have to be determined during sprill drills when they begin next year.



Ebahn Feathers - The 6'1" 210 lbs Freshman from Washington Union High School is getting more talk than the previous two candidates, and for good reason. He led Washington Union to the North Sequoia League Championship, he was league MVP, 1st team All League (twice), offensive player of the year, Fresno Bee player of the year, and has over 7,800 total yards and 98 touchdowns in his high school career. This may be one of the most exciting quarterbacks Fresno State will ever see. He's got a lot to learn, but if he's a quick learner, we may see him on the field in no time.



My prediction: With Ryan Colburn already having experience in game situations, I think he is the odds on favorite to open the 2009 season as the Bulldogs' starting quarterback. If he struggles right out of the gate, I think it's going to be a close battle between Faulkner and Feathers as who takes the reigns.

Running Backs:

Current - Ryan Mathews, Lonyae Miller, Anthony Harding

Since all three of the aformentioned running backs should be back in Bulldog uniforms, they should hold their starting roles. I don't think we'll see a changing of the guard until probably 2010.

Tight End:

Current - Bear Pascoe Status - Departing Senior

Candidates:

David Gory - A 6'4" 235 lbs Freshmen from San Ramon, CA that lettered in football in both 2006 and 2007 at California High School. He'll have a lot of learning to do in his Sophomore year, but getting to see how departing Senior Bear Pascoe goes about his day-to-day routine might help any young player.



Ryan Skimore - Skidmore will not only enter the 2009 season as a Redshirt Sophomore but also 2nd on the depth chart behind starter Bear Pascoe. He impressed in spring scrimmages prior to the 2008 season and showed a knack for getting open. The 6'5" 240 lbs tight end was listed as the 9th best tight end according to one recruiting service during his senior year of high school, which would explain being recruited by Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State along with Fresno State.



Tapa Taumoepeau - Taumeopeau, the 6'3" 220 lbs Freshman out of Euless, TX chose to play for Fresno State because they were the only Division 1 school that recruited him. He lettered in his senior year of high school, was the offensive MVP as well as the 3rd team Writer's Association All State for the 15-1 State Champions. This guy definitely has talent, don't rule him out in his Junior year, but I think he spends next season learning from guys like Skidmore.



My prediction - With Skidmore already being 2nd on the depth chart, I don't see Gory or Taumoepeau making enough of an impact on the coaching staff to change that, so look for Ryan Skidmore to be the starting tight end for Fresno State in 2009.



In the sections to come, we'll talk about the wide receivers and talk a little bit about the departing seniors on the offensive line as well as what changes we can expect to see on the defensive side.

Atrocious defense leads to second straight loss

Well, how do you talk about a game like this without wanting to get extremely angry? How do you rationalize being on national television and have another team almost collect 500 rushing yards against you, at your own place?

That's exactly what happened tonight as Nevada ran up 472 yards of rushing offense, handing Fresno State their 2nd straight loss 41-28 on Friday night. It marks the sixth time in the last seven games that Fresno State has allowed 30 or more points and the second time this season they've given up 40 or more (Sept. 20th @ Toledo).

The Bulldogs would again be haunted by turnovers and it would eventually cost them the game. With the Bulldogs trailing 17-14 and looking poised and ready to take the lead back from Nevada, quarterback Tom Brandstater (14-of-23, 260 yds, 2 TD's) would find tight end Bear Pascoe over the middle, but as Pascoe tried to stretch for more yards, he would fumble the ball and Nevada would recover. The Wolf Pack would drive quickly down the field for a touchdown and stretch the lead to 24-14. Fresno State had two more drives in the final minutes, both ended with turnovers, an interception from Brandstater and a fumble, by receiver Seyi Ajirotutu at the Nevada 10 yard line with 1:57 left to play in the game, that was the nail in the coffin.

Nevada was led by running back Vai Taua who ran for a career best 263 yards and a touchdown as well as quarterback Colin Kaepernick who added 118 yards and 2 TD's on the ground. They barely needed Kaepernick's arm tonight, the same arm that baseball scouts were drooling over before he decided to give up the sport for football, going 7-for-17 for just 128 yards.

Bulldogs' head coach Pat Hill, "First off, I have to give credit to Nevada. We got beat by a good football team tonight. The time of possession was critical tonight. They had the ball nearly 38 minutes tonight and we had it 22."
"We're not the same team we were in September. We need to find a way to make this team win in November."

I know Bulldog fans are going to be all over Pat Hill after this loss, though how is that different from any other loss. I can't imagine the outcry if this team can't win at least one of their final three games (New Mexico State, San Jose State, Boise State).

Next up for the Wolf Pack of University of Nevada-Reno (5-4, 3-2), they'll return home for a very big showdown with San Jose State (6-3, 4-1) next Saturday, then play their home finale on Nov. 22nd against 9th ranked Boise State before finishing their 2008 schedule, Nov. 29th, against the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech.

As for Fresno State (5-4, 2-3), they need at least one win in their next three games in order be bowl eligible. That starts next Saturday, at Bulldog Stadium, as they'll welcome in the Aggies of New Mexico State (3-5, 1-3) for Fresno State's home finale. Their final two games, of the 2008 football season, will be at San Jose State and at 9th ranked Boise State, two games that I can't see this team winning, especially not after how they played tonight against Nevada, but stranger things have happened.

Bulldogs lose Ramos for the year

The Fresno State defense could ill afford to lose another player to an already decimated defensive line, but they'll have to do without defensive tackle Wilson Ramos, possibly for the remainder of the 2008 season, joining offensive lineman Cole Popovich.

Ramos, a 6'4" 270 lbs Jr from Woodlands, CA who replaced defensive tackle Jon Monga (knee), suffered a high-ankle sprain and a slight stress fracture of his left leg Saturday in the Bulldogs' 45-32 win over Idaho at Bulldog Stadium.

With the injury to Ramos, it will force head coach Pat Hill to rely on younger players like true freshmen Chase McEntee and Logan Harrell, sophomore defensive tackle Mark Robert and sophomore defensive end Chris Lewis. Not to mention that the Bulldogs hope to have Jon Monga, who suffered a knee injury 3 weeks ago, back for the Utah State game a week from Saturday, which should definitely give this team a boost.

Other key injuries to this Bulldog squad that should be returning for the Utah State game are receivers Marlon Moore (ankle) and Jason Crawley (hamstring) as well as tight end Bear Pascoe (ankle). Starting safety Marvin Haynes should also be ready to go next weekend after sitting out the 2nd half of the Idaho game with back spasms.