I know it's going to be awhile before August rolls around, but what are your thoughts concerning next year? Here's the non-conference schedule:
at UCLA
at Kansas State
Wisconsin
at Toledo
They also have their usual 8 game WAC schedule. Key games are:
at Boise State
Hawaii
Nevada
The bottom line is that Fresno State played 5 of their 12 games against teams with winning records. We only won 1 of those 5 games. You can make arguements all you'd like abou tthe A&M game, but the simple fact is that good teams find a way to win those games. Here are the 5 teams they played, their records, and the result.
Texas A&M (7-6) LOST
Oregon (9-4) LOST
Boise State (10-3) LOST
Hawaii (12-1) LOST
Georgia Tech (7-6) WON
I bring all of this up for one reason...in those 5 games, Fresno allowed a total of 198 points. That's an average of 39.6 points per game. The only way Fresno will win their early non-conference games next year will be for them to replace Tyler Clutts and Marcus Riley on defense...and actually get BETTER.
I hope they do, but I see us taking second in the WAC next year. I actually see Fresno sweeping through their non-conference schedule. Even though those teams are high profile names, Wisconsin is the only one that will field a strong team. I see Fresno winning that game because it's IN Fresno. I also see Fresno beating Hawaii and not choking against the bottom chunk of the conference. However, Boise gets most of their team back again next year, and I see them beating Fresno in Boise. That makes for an 11-1 record in my mind and another bowl against a second tier team from a BCS conference.
The team looks good for next year with all the returning starters and our QB not the weakness I thought he was at the beginning of the year. I can't wait to go to the UCLA game here in LA and hope to get back to town for the Wisconsin game. As for how we'll the team does I see us losing to Boise St since we never beat them and ending our season with 1 loss and getting second in the WAC to an undefeated Boise St. But if we somehow get past boise I can see us getting a BCS bowl game. Go FSU.
i went to h bowl to cheer on fresno and was very impressed with your little back he is good with hawaii losing there wide out and boise having a complete o-line change you guys should be the favorites by the way congrates on not letting wac get shut out
I agree the defense will need to improve next year for the Dogs to be ranked in the top 25. If that happens and the offense continues its improvement, I see Boise and Wisconsin as the two biggest challenges of 2008. With UCLA getting used to Neuhisel and K-State not as strong as in the past, those two games are definitely winnable. Hopefully Pat Hill will have the Dogs fully focused on Toledo, they aren't a team to be taken lightly at home.
If they do achieve that 11-1 record, a better bowl along with a top 15-20 ranking should be the result next season.
This team needs to create more turnovers on defense, period. I don't know off-hand how many they had last season, but it seems like you could count them on one hand. Their corners play too soft and the line needs to put more pressure on the opposing QB. The most surprising thing from the 2007 season was the special teams play. If they weren't scoring, they were putting the offense in great field position. I see the Dogs getting one game better this year with a 9-3 record. I will figure the loses coming at the hands of UCLA, Wisconsin and Boise State. They could certainly win all three of these games, but that just seems too much to ask for. Honestly, I'd like to see them win an out-right WAC title before anything. If they do that, a BCS bowl could be calling. One thing they really need to do is not look ahead. Play them one game at a time.
IMO as long as Fresno State Keeps giving the rock to there running backs and force turnovers then the sky is the limit for next years squad, seriosly the top two teams in the wac are losing some of the stars the have had in the past. I only hope Pat Hill tries to get more top talent.
I think FS will win at UCLA, Hawaii and K-State, but lose to Wisconsin and Boise. The should end up 9-2 and just miss out on that ever elusive WAC Championship, which I think they will sweep in 2k9. If recruiting is a good indication, the 2008 FS team looks to improve slightly on offense with some seasoned veterans and better leadership, but might slip a bit on defense. Still FS has always excelled on D so perhaps the coaching staff will mold them properly and maybe get a few more I-N-Ts this year. I hope Ryan Matthews continues to develop into a serious 1500 yard rusher and I hope the Dogs go more towards the West Coast Offense and include Pascoe more often in their assaults downfield.
I have high hopes for next year, with Brandstater starting to show what Pat Hill has seen in him the last two years, Ryan Mathews geting the bulk of the carries, and chastin west returnig to the line up I think we are going to have a chance at a BCS game. I know its a bit much to hope for but I think it is a realistic possibillity. We need to find a way to replace Clutt's and Riley's leadership on defence and a way to replace Smith's entusiasm and energy on offence and special teams. It's also going to suck losing both our P and K. I say we go 12-1 we ethier lose in the BCS game after a 12-0 regular season, or we win our bowl game after going 11-1. Lets just hope for a healthy offseason and training camps so we can see what this team is capable of. See you guys at the Rose Bowl.
YOU ARE INCORRECT....THE ROTATION IS NOW. FRESNO STATE WILL HAVE ONLY A RUNNING GAME IN 2009...........ESPECIALLY IF THEY PIN THIER STARTING QB AS E. FEATHERS....A MICHEAL VICK TYPE QB. THERE GOES BDF.....BECAUSE RB'S PLAYING QB POSITION ARE GOOD TO WIN GAMES......BUT NOT SUPERBOWLS...................NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.....YEAH.......YES VINCE YOUNG DID.........MMMMMMMMMMMMMM........AND THAT CONCLUDES THE LIST.
@ UCLA - this team will be rebuilding from a senior laden team. Rick N may bring this team up but I would not guess next year. Definately winnable for 08
@ K-State you beat them at home knocking them out of a bowl. They will be tougher in Manhattan but this should be certainly winnable.
Wisconsin - interesting game. This team was wierd last year playing good against Michigan but UNLV took to the wire. They have started slow in the past. Overall they have the better team but I would think this is also winnable.
@Toledo This team looked like they would have been better than what they actaully were. Unless they have dramatic improvement Fresno Should win this game.
I would think Frenso takes at least 2 of these teams and could win all 4.
As far as the WAC I think Fresno is the team to beat. Hawaii will be rebuilding and Nevada is not the same as the 2006 team. I would think unless Fresno beats themselves along the way the conference championship will be decided in Boise with this game.
I like your analysis.....shivers ran down my spine. As a fan I want the DAWGS to go undefeated and win a national championship, but damn, three of the non-conf. games are on the road.....and the one at home is against the most skilled team. Reality says 3-1 or even 2-2 in the first four games. But like everyone else in the nation, I've been known to overlook one of my own PAT HILL. I sometimes think back to the USC game.....in the fourth quarter leading the 2 time national champions, and winners of 30+ games in a row. THATS COMPETITION for even the best of the best...with handicaping factors like being on the road, less recruitment power, that is pretty impresive. Of course that team ended up losing all remaining games of the season. OF COURSE....I WAS EVEN DEPRESSED FOR WEEKS AFTER THAT GAME.
But, something tells me this is Pat Hills diamond in the RRRUUUUFFF. I watched Brandstater his first season.....he spent almost everygame with pressure....getting knocked down....drilled into the turf. This kid never failed to get up and keep coming back for more. Character has already been built.
Have you ever seen a freshman running back at FS like R. Mathews? This kid will be in the NFL.....MARK THIS MESSAGE. He should put up some of the best numbers in the nation this season. What this all boils down to is the DAWGS will either be a "two loss good bowl team" or "an undefeated heavy weight contender in a BCS Bowl"
Dennis.......If we think it......it will happen. I like your post, sadly I agree with you, but I have noticed that the WAC is in rotation. We have the Senior quarterback this year. A quarterback that started his career (2006) on a team that was in transformation. As a fan...I always try to remove that blindfold...."we are the best"....it saves heart aches. But, in 2005 we smoked Boise State, a team that the following year went undefeated, even winning a BCS bowl game. We are in our mature offensive rotation. The defense....well that is the question I sense you presented. We don't know yet.
For good hopes....Boise State did not slaughter us last year. In fact, I think Pat Hill stuck to the game plan...and we just came up short. Pat got creative with those formations...like putting Clifton Smith in as quarterback.....which I did'nt like because Tom Branstater is the man for the spot.....even if you scramble him....or bootleg him for creation of a play. I would have rather seen a screen pass to Smith in the open field. Why we lost that game in my opinion...is lack of trust in Tom Brandstater. Which is hype. He never sucked.....I never miss a Bulldog game. He was pressured early in his career....with freshman wideouts.....mmmm....that is just the rotation of experience in NCAAF which I love. Every year new stars come, and new stars go.
Now put the pressure on Tommy...........you will get whipped when you realize the play was a hand-off to Ryan Mathews....SMOKED. If teams try to bring pressure on Tommy in 4-3 or 5-2 defenses.......this year he will light 'em up with the arm.....most importantly.......experienced WR's, one of the best TE's in the nation, and athletic backs capable of screening or running downfield as recievers.........OOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEE. If we go undefeated till the Boise game.....I will guarantee you a victory. Any losses between now and then.....mmmmmmmm? My call is Fresno State, again sharing at least a WAC title. If from this defense a new Marcus Riley emerges then it will be ANYONE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE.......NO COMP.
