PUBLICATION ORDER:
Sections of the Pre-Season Report Card are published in the following order: (1) Schedule; (2) Coaching; (3) Momentum (4) Discipline
On The Field (i.e. penalties); (5) Turnovers; (6) Special Teams; (7)
Defense; (8) Offense; and (9) Summary.
TURNOVERS
Rationale: The past does not always predict the future,
but the past often predicts the future
Team Recovered Turnovers
(i.e. Gained Turnovers)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Recovered Fumbles]
13 total recovered fumbles (1.0 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Caught Interceptions]
22 total caught interceptions (1.7 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Combined Recovered Turnovers (fumbles plus interceptions)] 35 total combined recovered
turnovers (2.7 pgp)
Team Lost Turnovers
[2012 Team Statistic:
Lost Fumbles]
12 total lost fumbles (0.9 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Thrown Interceptions]
8 total thrown interceptions (0.6 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic:
Combined Lost Turnovers (fumbles plus interceptions)] 20 total combined lost
turnovers (1.5 pgp)
NOTE: Derek Carr (Sr.) is
a returning starter at quarterback [2012 Individual Statistics: 7 interceptions
in 511 passing attempts (1.4%)]. Throughout Carr’s college career, he has consistently
been among the best quarterbacks in the nation at avoiding interceptions
[Career Individual Statistics: 16 interceptions in 971 passing attempts (1.6%)]. Carr is a top candidate for the 2013 Heisman
Trophy.
Team Combined Net
Turnovers [(Recovered Turnovers) minus (Lost Turnovers)]
[2012 Team Statistic:
Combined Net Turnovers] positive 15 combined net turnovers (positive 1.2 pgp)
GRADE (Turnovers): A (grade raised from A
minus to A based on Carr’s career INT statistics)
DISCIPLINE ON THE FIELD
Rationale: The past does not always predict the future,
but the past often predicts the future
Team Penalties
[2012 Team Statistic] 88 total penalties (6.8
pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic] 799 total penalty
yards (61.5 pgp)
GRADE (Discipline on
the field): C plus
MOMENTUM
Last
season, Fresno State won 5 of their final 6 games. The single loss in those final 6 games was an
embarrassing 10-43 loss against SMU in the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl in which
Fresno State deserves an emphatic “F minus” for effort and focus. (Fresno
State coaches and players should have been forced to swim home and think about
their disgraceful lack of effort and focus). However, last season, Fresno State had an
overall record of 9-4, including a conference record of 7-1 and home record of
6-0, and was Mountain West Conference Co-Champions with Boise State and San
Diego State.
GRADE (Momentum): B
COACHING
Head Coach
Current Tenure as
Head Coach at Fresno State: Tim DeRuyter is in his second season as the Head Coach at
Fresno State. In DeRuyter’s first season
as the Head Coach at Fresno State, he had an overall record of 9-4 (69.2%
wins), including a record of 7-1 for MWC conference games and a record of 6-0
for all home games, and led the Bulldogs to become Co-Champions of the Mountain
West Conference (along with Boise State and San Diego State).
Last Coaching
Position:
Defensive Coordinator at Texas A&M (2010 to 2011)
Prior Experience as
Head Coach:
In December 2011, after Texas A&M fired Head Coach Mike Sherman, DeRuyter
was appointed as Interim Head Coach. DeRuyter has no other prior experience as a
Head Coach.
Other Notable Facts: DeRuyter has 23
years of coaching experience, including 16 years of experience as a Defensive
Coordinator. DeRuyter has developed many
successful defenses and defensive players.
Offensive Coordinator
Current Tenure as
Offensive Coordinator at Fresno State: Dave Schramm is in his second season as the
Offensive Coordinator at Fresno State.
Schramm is also the Quarterbacks Coach at Fresno State. Last season, the Fresno State offense was
ranked #16 in the nation for total offense.
Last Coaching
Position:
Various roles as an offensive coach at Utah (2005 to 2011)
Prior Experience as
Offensive Coordinator: Utah (Co-Offensive Coordinator)(2010) and Utah
(Offensive Coordinator)(2009).
Other Notable Facts: Schramm has extensive
experience coaching in bowl games and has coached in an FCS National Championship
Game (2004 Montana)
Defensive Coordinator
Current Tenure as Defensive
Coordinator at Fresno State: Nick Toth is in his second season as the
Defensive Coordinator at Fresno State.
Toth is also the Linebackers Coach at Fresno State. Last season, the Fresno State defense was
ranked #22 in the nation for total defense.
Last Coaching
Position:
Outside Linebackers Coach and Special Teams Coordinator at Texas A&M (2010
to 2011)
Prior Experience as
Defensive Coordinator: Ashland University (Ohio)(D-2)(2007 to 2008) and Mercyhurst
College (Pennsylvania)(D-2)(2006).
Other Notable Facts: In 2010, Toth coached
Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller who won the Butkus Award and was selected
as an All-American
Special Teams
Coordinator
Current Tenure as Special
Teams Coordinator at Fresno State: Pete Germano is in his second season as the
Special Teams Coordinator at Fresno State.
Germano is also the Defensive Line Coach at Fresno State.
Last Coaching
Position: Special
Teams Coordinator at Ohio (2011) and Defensive Line Coach at Ohio (2009 to
2011)
Prior Experience as Special
Teams Coordinator:
Ohio (2011)
Other Notable Facts: Germano has extensive
experience coaching in bowl games
GRADE (Coaching): A
minus
SCHEDULE
Total Home Games: 6
Consecutive Home
Games:
§ Week 1 (Rutgers) and Week
2 (Cal Poly (FCS))
Total Away Games: 6
Consecutive Away
Games:
§ Week 5 (at Hawai’i)
and Week 6 (at Idaho)
Bye Weeks:
§ Week 7 (October 8,
2013 through October 14, 2013)
§ Week 12 (November 12,
2013 through November 18, 2013)
MWC Non-Division
Games (i.e. games against MWC Mountain Division Teams):
§ Week 4 (Home vs.
Boise State)
§ Week 11 (Away at Wyoming)
§ Week 13 (Home vs. New
Mexico)
Week 1: Rutgers at
Fresno State
Game #: 1
Game Date: Thursday, August 29, 2013
Kickoff Time: 7:00pm PT (10:00pm
ET)
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium (Fresno,
CA)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for Rutgers: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Rutgers: 2,436 miles (flight
time is approximately 5 hours)
Time Change for Rutgers: decrease by 3 hours
(ET to PT)
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: Temperature could be
around 100 degrees at time of kickoff, but will quickly cool throughout the
game. Sometimes, humidity can exacerbate
heat in Fresno.
Stadium Noise: high
Commentary: The late kickoff
time will ameliorate the jet lag of most of the Rutgers players. Rutgers has lost 3 straight games (2012
season) heading into this game.
Week 2: Cal Poly
(FCS) at Fresno State
Game #: 2
Game Date: Saturday, September
7, 2013
Kickoff Time: 7:00pm PT
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium (Fresno,
CA)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for Cal
Poly:
insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for
Cal Poly:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Cal
Poly:
none
Field Surface: artificial (Field
Turf)
Weather: Temperature could be
around 100 degrees at time of kickoff, but will quickly cool throughout the
game. Sometimes, humidity can exacerbate
heat in Fresno.
Stadium Noise: moderate
Week 3: Fresno State
at Colorado
Game #: 3
Game Date: Saturday, September
14, 2013
Kickoff Time: Noon MT (11:00am PT)
Stadium: Folsom Field (Boulder,
CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,360 feet
Elevation Change for Fresno
State:
increase by 5,025 feet
Travel Distance for Fresno
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Fresno
State:
increase by 1 hour (PT to MT)
Field Surface: grass
Weather: temperature could
reach the 90’s during the game
Stadium Noise: high
Commentary: Last season, Fresno
State embarrassed Colorado in Fresno. Fresno
State was leading 35-0 at the end of the first quarter and 55-7 at
halftime. Fresno State called off the
dogs and won by a final score of 69-14.
Fresno State could have scored 100 points, seriously. This season, Fresno State will likely embarrass
Colorado in Boulder.
Week 4: Boise State
at Fresno State
Game #: 4
Game Date: Friday, September 20,
2013
Kickoff Time: 6:00pm PT (7:00pm
MT)
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium
(Fresno, CA)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for Boise
State:
decrease by 2,360 feet
Travel Distance for Boise
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Boise
State:
decrease by 1 hour (MT to PT)
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: likely in the 90’s
at time of kickoff (6:00pm PT), but will cool down during the game
Stadium Noise: high
Commentary: Boise State, Fresno
State (and San Diego State) were 2012 MWC Co-Champions. Last season, Boise State defeated Fresno
State by a score of 20-10 in Boise.
Fresno State has an away game at Colorado in the prior week (Week 3),
which will likely be a blowout victory for Fresno State that produces momentum
heading into this game.
Week 5: Fresno State
at Hawai’i (MWC West Division Game)
Game #: 5
Game Date: Saturday, September
28, 2013
Kickoff Time: 7:00pm HT (9:00pm
PT)
Stadium: Aloha Stadium (Honolulu,
HI)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for Fresno
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Fresno
State:
2,516 miles (flight time is approximately 5 hours)
Time Change for Fresno
State:
decrease by 2 hours (PT to HT)
Field Surface: artificial (UBU
Sports Speed S5-M)
Weather: rain is always possible
in Honolulu
Stadium Noise: moderate to high
Commentary: This game is an opportunity
for Hawai’i to prove that last season was a fluke. Or, was last season not a fluke? Is Hawai’i now a lower tier program? Fresno State has one extra day for travel
and/or preparation for this game because Fresno State has a Friday home game in
the prior week (Week 4).
Week 6: Fresno State
at Idaho
Game #: 6
Game Date: Saturday, October 5,
2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Kibbie Dome (Moscow,
ID)
Elevation of Stadium: 2,610 feet (indoor
stadium)
Elevation Change for Fresno
State:
increase by 2,275 feet
Travel Distance for
Fresno State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Fresno
State:
none
Field Surface: artificial
(RealGrass Pro)
Weather: indoor stadium
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: favorable scheduling
for Fresno State after a long trip to and from Hawai’i
Week 7: October 8,
2013 through October 14, 2013
BYE WEEK
Week 8: UNLV at
Fresno State (MWC West Division Game)
Game #: 7
Game Date: Saturday, October 19,
2013
Kickoff Time: 7:00pm PT
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium (Fresno,
CA)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for UNLV: decrease by 1,265
feet
Travel Distance for UNLV: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for UNLV: none
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: insignificant (night
game in mid-October)
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: Fresno State has an
extra week to prepare for this game because Fresno State has a bye in the prior
week (Week 7)
Week 9: Fresno State
at San Diego State (MWC West Division
Game)
Game #: 8
Game Date: Saturday, October 26,
2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium
(San Diego, CA)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for Fresno
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Fresno
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Fresno
State:
none
Field Surface: grass
Weather: It’s San Diego! It will be like playing indoors (except for the
seagulls), but cooler if kickoff time is at night. [BIG TIP: Bring an umbrella for protection
from seagulls!]
Stadium Noise: moderate to high
(Qualcomm Stadium is a large professional stadium that has an open bowl design
that dissipates noise)
Commentary: Fresno State, SDSU
(and Boise State) were 2012 MWC Co-Champions.
Last season, Fresno State won by a score of 52-40 and Fresno State QB
Derek Carr threw for 536 yards, but SDSU grabbed 2 interceptions against Carr,
including a 96-yard “pick-6” by SDSU CB Leon McFadden (68th overall NFL pick by
Browns), which is more impressive given that Carr is among the nation’s best quarterbacks
at avoiding interceptions. SDSU will
have an extra week to prepare for this game because SDSU has a bye in the prior
week (Week 8).
Week 10: Nevada at
Fresno State (MWC West Division Game)
Game #: 9
Game Date: Saturday, November 2,
2013
Kickoff Time: 4:00pm PT
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium (Fresno,
CA)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for Nevada: decrease by 4,275
feet
Travel Distance for Nevada: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Nevada: none
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: insignificant (late
afternoon game in early November)
Stadium Noise: moderate to high
Commentary: Nevada plays rival
UNLV in the prior week (Week 9)
Week 11: Fresno State
at Wyoming
Game #: 10
Game Date: Saturday, November 9,
2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Jonah Field at War
Memorial Stadium (Laramie, WY)
Elevation of Stadium: 7,220 feet
Elevation Change for Fresno
State:
increase by 6,885 feet
Travel Distance for Fresno
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Fresno
State:
increase by 1 hour (PT to MT)
Field Surface: artificial (Desso
Challenge Pro 60)
Weather: (kickoff time is
TBA) temperature could be in the 30’s by the evening
Stadium Noise: moderate to high
Commentary: This is a possible
trap game for Fresno State. Last season,
Fresno State underperformed in their first game of that season in cold weather
at a high elevation (at Colorado State).
This game is an opportunity for Wyoming QB Brett Smith to establish
himself as a 2014 Heisman Trophy contender by outperforming Fresno State QB
Derek Carr who is a 2013 Heisman Trophy contender. Wyoming will have an extra week to prepare
for this game because Wyoming has a bye in the prior week (Week 10). Fresno State has a significant elevation
increase of 6,885 feet that will likely have an adverse effect in the 4th
quarter, especially on Fresno State linemen.
Week 12: November 12,
2013 through November 18, 2013
BYE WEEK
Week 13: New Mexico
at Fresno State
Game #: 11
Game Date: Saturday, November
23, 2013
Kickoff Time: 4:00pm PT (5:00pm
MT)
Stadium: Bulldog Stadium (Fresno,
CA)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for New
Mexico:
decrease by 4,765 feet
Travel Distance for
New Mexico:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for New
Mexico:
decrease by 1 hour (MT to PT)
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: insignificant (late
afternoon game in late November)
Stadium Noise: moderate
Week 14: Fresno State
at San Jose State (MWC West Division Game)
Game #: 12
Game Date: Friday, November 29, 2013
Kickoff Time: 12:30pm PT (IDIOTIC KICKOFF TIME! Should be a
5pm kickoff!)
Stadium: Spartan Stadium (San
Jose, CA)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea
level
Elevation Change for Fresno
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Fresno
State:
insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Fresno
State:
none
Field Surface: artificial
(FieldTurf)
Weather: insignificant
(afternoon game in late November)
Stadium Noise: high
Commentary: My choice for #1
conference game of the 2013 season. This
old rivalry is finally competitive again.
2013 Heisman Trophy showdown between Fresno State QB Derek Carr and SJSU
QB David Fales. Fresno State will have
one less day to prepare for this game because Fresno State has a Saturday home
game in the prior week (Week 13). SJSU
will have a full week to prepare for this game because SJSU plays a Friday home
game in the prior week (Week 13).
GRADE (higher grade indicates favorable schedule):
B
NOTE: Grading
Standards: Grades
are based on a national scale. Unlike
modern academia, my grades are not inflated.
A grade of “C” is average. A
grade of “C” is neither good nor bad; it is simply average. A grade of “A” or “F” is rare.
No comments:
Post a Comment