Setting the Stage: Fresno State

Colorado State (2-5, 1-2 MW) at Fresno State (3-3, 1-1)
Bulldog Stadium, Fresno, Calif.
Saturday, Oct. 25, 5:30 p.m.

GAME LINKS

Watch | Listen | Tickets | CSU Stats | Fresno State Stats

Colorado State starts two-week run vs. West Division

Running Up Against It

Defensively, Colorado State head football coach Mike Bobo wants his team prepared for anything it might see Saturday night, and in the case of Fresno State's offense, he knows there is much to decipher.

"It's different week to week with what teams do, and Fresno is a balanced attack," Bobo said. "They will stretch you in the passing game and do a lot of stuff that's good, and then they have the speed sweep package with Jalen Cropper that is hard to stop. We have to do a good job of recognizing formations and getting our eyes in the right place. I think that's No. 1 to stopping the run. The second thing is getting off blocks and effort.

"It's eyes in the right place, hitting your gaps, doing your responsibility and everybody doing their job."

Balance is not just a term with the Bulldogs. They have thrown 197 passes this season. They have rushed the ball 195 times.

If there is a highlight to the Fresno State run game, it is Cropper. He isn't used much, just 12 carries. Ronnie Rivers is the workhorse with 76 carries (4.0 per pop), with quarterback Jorge Reyna next in carries with 52. But it's Cropper who shows up on tape with his ability to break big gainers on the jet sweep.

He is averaging 21 yards per carry, pumped up with an 82-yard scoring run. He did major damage against New Mexico State (five carries, 118 yards) and UNLV last week (two carries, 91 yards).

"It's just being disciplined and making sure we do our assignments, stay in our gaps and make sure they don't go outside because we didn't do our responsibilities," CSU defensive lineman Ellison Hubbard said. "I know they're really going to try to use that jet sweep. They'll try to hit us up the middle in the run, and if we stop that, they'll keep trying for that jet sweep. That's really what we've got to key for this week."

The Rams have had their moments this season in stopping the run, topped by limiting San Diego State to 91 rushing yards on 43 carries. But the downturns have hurt, resulting in explosive gains for the opposition. The difference, Bobo said, is when the Rams stay true to the task at hand.

"Sometimes you get whipped, but the thing that's disheartening for you as a defense is when explosive runs happen when you're not doing your job, that you're coached to do and we did all week," he said. "I think we've gotten better at that and doing our job, but we've still given up some runs, and that's going to happen. But the explosive runs, we have to cut down on those, and that's doing their job."

Pleasant Surprise

True freshman receiver Dante Wright earned midseason accolades this week, landing on the FWAA Freshman All-American watch list. The nod came with good reason, as he is among the nation's most productive first-year players, ranking in the top three for all-purpose yards, explosive plays from scrimmage, catches and receiving yards.

No big deal. Just not expected.

"No. We had a senior in front of me, and it's kind of hard to come in as a freshman and be able to impact things a lot," Wright said. "It's not really normal, I guess. They said I was going to play, but I just took it as a chance to get better. You can always get better."

When Bobo recruited him, he admitted he saw the size – Wright is just 5-foot-8, 168 pounds – and wondered. He also saw the tape, which is what he's seeing playing out collegiately.

"I worried about his size a little bit, but what you're seeing him do here now at Colorado State, he did on his high school film," Bobo said. "Sometimes you get caught up in the numbers and size, how big they are and wingspan and all that, and that's important, because you want big people with size that can run. But a football player's a football player, and at the end of the day that's what we made the decision on. This guy's a really good football player who we think can help our football team.

"Did we think it would be immediate like he has? No. I thought it might be a role in the slot to help us, but he's really surprised us in a lot of ways. He's helped out run game tremendously with the jet sweeps that he does, and his ability to run routes down the field that's' effective too."

Quiet and reserved as always, Wright's first response is he still needs to get better, he can still do more than simply ranking first on the team in receiving yards (595), second in receptions (38) and create more than the 13 combined explosive plays he has, including a 75-yard touchdown catch and a 64-yard run.

Still, even though he may not have thought it was possible, he can't avoid the obvious. Yes, it's a pretty darn impressive debut.

"I mean, it is impressive. Not a lot of people do it, but at the same time, you can't get complacent," he said. "You've got to be consistent in what you're doing, just always be hungry. The minute you think you're at the top, there's going to be people coming behind you. You just have to keep working."

Of Note

The Rams have been looking for consistent placekicking all season, just inching above break-even with eight positive results in 15 attempts while trotting out three different players. They even gave defensive end Jan-Phillip Bombek a go over the bye week. Bobo said Wednesday he knew who would kick this week, but had yet to tell the players. … The offensive line will have a new look, as Bobo said guard Nouredin Nouili had a scope on his knee Tuesday and will be out for a spell. They hope he will be back for the final three games. Tight end Cameron Butler is doubtful but Nate Craig-Myers will be full go. Defensively, the Rams should get back Toby McBride, as well as Manny Jones. … The last time CSU shut out an opponent it was Fresno State, back in 2016.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jan-Phillip Bombek

Cam Butler

Nate Craig-Myers

Ellison Hubbard

Manny Jones

Toby McBride

Nouredin Nouili

Dante Wright

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Colorado State University Athletics