Fresno State Bulldogs: Keys To The Season, Top Game, Top Transfer, Fun Stats
Fresno State Bulldogs: Key To The 2022 Offense
Enough with the turnover issues.
This wasn’t a problem in the first two years of the first go-round under Jeff Tedford, abut they were a killer in the 4-8 2019 season. Fix the mistakes from the 2021 team, and look out.
It wasn’t just the massive number of giveaways – 22 in all – it was the timing. Fresno State should’ve rim-rocked Hawaii, but it lost 27-24 because it gave the ball up six times.
It gave Oregon a game, but it lost 31-24 partly because of the three picks, and the three given away to Boise State turned it into a rout.
In all, 12 of the 22 turnovers came in the three losses. The 40-37 win over UCLA was the only victory when the Bulldogs had multiple giveaways.
Fresno State Bulldogs: Key To The 2022 Defense
Hold down everyone’s running game.
Start with this – the run defense was far, far better than the 2020 version that got steamrolled over by a soft breeze. Last year’s run defense allowed just 3.6 yards per carry and held five teams to under 100 yards.
However …
When teams ran on this group, bad things happened.
Hawaii was hardly Wisconsin when it came to grinding it out, but a strange combination of Fresno State turnovers and 232 Rainbow Warrior rushing yards led to a shocking loss.
Fresno State allowed more than 180 rushing yards three times. It last all three games and was 10-0 when it allowed fewer.
Fresno State Bulldogs: Key Player To The 2022 Season
DT Evan Bennett, Jr.
Kevin Atkins was terrific. He was a big, quick all-around interior presence who made his fifth-year on the line his best. Now he’s trying to be a San Francisco 49er.
Leonard Payne is a is a big body to anchor the interior, but the Bulldogs need Bennett to rise into the starting role after making 15 tackles in the rotation. He might not be Atkins, but anything he can do behind the line would be huge help.
Fresno State Bulldogs: Key Transfer
CB Cameron Lockridge, Jr.
As is the Fresno State corner situation is okay. There’s experience and enough options to play around with the rotation. The 6-0, 183-pound Lockridge comes in from Hawaii with a veteran presence with time at the JUCO level and with 17 games with the Rainbow Warriors.
He made 73 stops with three picks and a touchdown during his time in paradise, and now he should take over one of the starting gigs.
Fresno State Key Game To The 2022 Season
at Boise State, Oct. 8
Back in the day this would’ve been the home game against San Diego State on October 29th, but now that the Mountain West has ditched divisions, every game is a big deal. That means the road trip to Boise State takes on an added importance.
It was Fresno State’s one blowout loss last year, but win this time around in the Mountain West opener and everything opens up.
It’s by far the toughest conference road game, so win, and that date with the Aztecs will probably be for a spot in the conference championship.
Fresno State Bulldogs: 2021 Fun Stats
– 2nd Quarter Scoring: Fresno State 168 – Opponents 56
– Fumbles: Fresno State 18 (lost 12) – Opponents 17 (lost 13)
– Red Zone TDs: Fresno State 35-of-51 (69%) – Opponents 24-of-46 (52%)
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