Ags looking to force FSU turnovers
The preseason coaches’ poll picked the Fresno State Bulldogs to win the Western Athletic Conference.
Some thought they might be this season’s BCS buster.
However, coming into Saturday’s 1 p.m. Homecoming match-up with the USU football team (1-6 overall, 1-2 in WAC play), the 4-2 Bulldogs aren’t looking so tough.
USU fourth-year head coach Brent Guy said the key for his team to beat them is to look at Fresno State’s 39-32 overtime loss at home to Hawaii, where the Bulldogs turned the ball over six times.
“They had six turnovers against Hawaii and that is what cost them that game,” Guy said. “That is something we have to preach to our team that you can’t let those type of plays happen to us. We also have to try to do that to them and turn the football over.”
Aggie junior safety James Brindley said turnovers, combined with energy from the crowd, could put USU on top.
“I think if we can cause some turnovers it will be a big factor in the game,” Brindley said. “(We need to) come out with a little more energy and get a little energy from the crowd. They are a fun team to play and I am excited.”
Though the Bulldogs beat the Idaho Vandals Oct. 11 at home, they allowed the Vandals to score 32 points and accumulate 452 yards of total offense (nine more yards than the Bulldogs had). The Aggies beat the same Vandal team 42-17 Sept. 20.
“(The Bulldogs) can score points, they can run the ball and they can play the pass,” Guy said. “The difference we see from them is that they are giving up more yardage then the previous Fresno State teams we have faced.”
Even with the Bulldogs’ recent struggles, they still rank 29th in the nation in scoring (33.2 points per game), 12th in rushing (226 yards per game) and 23rd in total offense (432.2).
Guy’s job performance?
Guy, who is 7-35 as the head of the Aggie football program, was praised Monday by Brindley.
“I think Coach Guy is doing a great job keeping us up,” Brindley said. “We are making progress and you might not see it.”
Brindley said Guy and defensive coordinator Mark Johnson do a good job of telling the team to not give up.
“Coach Johnson tells us to just keep chopping, meaning just keep playing as hard as you can,” Brindley said. “Whether we are up by 20 or down by 20 we are taught to play the same, and that is what we are going to keep doing.”
Line trouble
USU’s passing game averages 186.86 yards per game – only good enough for 90th in the nation. A major obstacle to it has been the quarterback’s limited time in the pocket.
The Aggies rank 116th nationally in sacks allowed (3.29 per game). In last week’s loss at Nevada, sophomore quarterback Diondre Borel was sacked five times.
But, Guy said, not all the blame is on the offensive lineman.
“Backs are not blocking on the edge,” Guy said. “It is on the running backs and tight ends too. Sometimes we are just getting knocked back, and sometimes we are just missing.”
Defensively, the Aggies are equally unproductive.
The defense is recording 1.14 sacks per game, tied for 101st in the country.
“We had trouble rushing the passer (against Nevada),” Guy said. “We have to do a better job of rushing the quarterback.”
USU will have its hands full with that assignment. Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater has passed for 1,237 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, and is one of 10 finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award.
–samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu