Fresno State Bulldogs Football Preview 2013 [AUDIO]

The Fresno State Bulldogs enter the 2013 season as one of the big favorites in the Mountain West. Led by standout QB Derek Carr, the Bulldogs feature a very potent attack and team that with a play-making defense.

Offensively, Fresno State uses a spread offense which helped them lead the conference in scoring last season. The Bulldogs return senior QB Derek Carr who finished 2012 with 4,104 yards passing, threw 322 of 511, and managed 37 TD tosses with only 7 INT’s.  With stats like these, it is obvious why Carr won Offensive Player of the Year in MWC last season.

However, one of Carr’s favorite targets in RB Robbie Rouse will not be present in the backfield this season.  Rouse led last year’s squad in rushing with 1490 yards on 282 carries and 12 TD’s.  He ranked 3^rd in the MWC in rushing and 16^th in the country.  Rouse also served as a passing target, catching 63 passes for 435 yards and 2 TD’s (16^th in MWC).  Sophomore RB Marteze Waller, who carried the ball 41 times and gained 174 yards and a TD, will need to fill in Rouse’s shoes in 2013.

The teams leading receivers Davante Adams and Isaiah Burse return in 2013.  Adams won the Freshman of the Year Award in the MWC last season and looks to add the same kind of productivity in 2013.  Adams reeled in 102 passes for 1312 yards and 14 TD’s as a freshman, which earned him 1^st in the conference in receiving and 10^th nationally.  Burse caught 57 passes for 851 yards and 6 TD’s (4^th in MWC).  The unit will lose Rashad Evans (34-314 yds, 5 TD’s).

TE Marcel Jensen (20-339, 4 TD’s) returns in 2013 as another option in the passing attack.  The O-line returns First Team All-MW lineman Austin Wentworth along with Wichmann and Bramer, which leaves two spots to fill at that position for 2013.

Defensively, Fresno is coming off an outstanding season.  The Bulldogs ranked 12^th in the nation in total defense and has plenty to be excited about as they return 8 of their starting 11.

The Bulldogs will have their whole D-line back this season with Andy Jennings leading the way in sacks (5.5) and TFL’s (11) at that position.  Fresno loses Tristan Okpalaugo who had 52 total tackles and 11.5 TFL’s last season.  DE Tyeler Davison also returns after piling up 43 total tackles and a fumble return for a TD.

At linebacker, the Bulldogs lose second team All-MWC selection Travis Brown, who had 71 total tackles and a fumble return for a TD.  However, Patrick Su’a (37 total tackles, INT return for TD) and Donovan Lewis (36 total tackles, 10 TFL’s, 4 sacks) return in 2013 at LB.

In the secondary, the Bulldogs return 3 of 4 starters.  They lose the MWC Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-MWC selection Phillip Thomas.  The SS led the team in total tackles with 83 (18^th in MWC), TFL’s with 12 (T-4^th in MWC), and INT’s with 8 and 3 “pick sixes.”  It might not be too difficult to find someone to step-up at DB.  FS Derron Smith followed closely behind Thomas with 79 total tackles (21^st in MWC) and 6 INT’s with one “pick six.”  CB Sean Alston returns and finished with 5 INT’s himself.  There’s a lot to look forward to in this secondary.

Easy Pickings: Phillip Thomas, Derron Smith, and Sean Alston made up an all-star lineup in the Bulldog secondary last season.  Thomas intercepted 8 passes (1^st in the nation, 1^st in MWC) and return 3 for TD’s, Smith picked off 6 passes (T-6^th in the nation, 2^nd in MWC) and one “pick six,” and Alston racked up 5 picks (T-17 in nation, 3^rd in MWC).

Instant Success: Sophomore WR Davante Adams led the conference in receptions per game with 7.85 (9^th in nation) and receiving yards per game with 100.92 (10^th in nation), which earned him freshman of the year status.  However, Adams isn’t the only newcomer having instant success.  Second year coach Tim DeRuyter proved to be the right man for the job after a 9-4 season in his first year.

2013 Schedule:

8/29 Rutgers
9/7 Cal Poly
9/14 at Colorado
9/20 Boise State*
9/28 at Hawaii*
10/5 at Idaho
10/19 UNLV*
10/26 at San Diego State*
11/2 Nevada*
11/9 at Wyoming*
11/23 New Mexico*
11/29 at San Jose State*

*-Conference Games

Critical Games:

1. Boise State: After a ten point loss to the Broncos last season, the Bulldogs have the stage set for this crucial Mountain West match-up.  This game is in Fresno on ESPN.
2. @San Diego State: Last season, both these teams combined for 92 points.  Now that San Diego State will host the Bulldogs, look for the competitiveness to be even greater than last season’s game.

Fresno State Bulldogs

Returning Starters: 15 (7 Offensive, 8 Defensive)

*-First Team All-Mountain West

^-Second Team All-Mountain West

This article was complied with the use of NCAA Football Statistics, Mountain West Conference Football, and Fresno State Football.

Audio:

Tim DeRuyter (head coach) talks about: Offseason training, and Not listening to the "noise" (Courtesy of Fresno State All-Access):

Paul Loeffler (Voice of The Bulldogs) talks about: Derek Carr, Phillip Thomas and the Defense, and DeRuyter's success: