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closeSaturday, Sep. 20, 2008
Missing: Fresno State offense, points
By DANIEL LYGHT
The Fresno Bee
GETTY IMAGE BY JIM McISAAC
With a fifth-year quarterback like Turlock's Tom Brandstater (center) and a star-in-the-making running back like Ryan Mathews (right), the Bulldogs offense was supposed to set up a permanent camp in the end zone this season. The operative phrase being “supposed to.” So far, it’s been a complete bust. Fresno State has mustered just 34 points entering tonight’s game at Toledo.
FRESNO -- If it wasn't a missed blocking assignment here it was an overthrown pass there. And if it wasn't one of those it was an incorrect alignment or poor timing.
It was the "small details" that need to be corrected before tonight as they led to Fresno State's second-straight sluggish performance on offense last weekend.
The Bulldogs are 1-1 heading into tonight's game at Toledo and so far this unit that was expected to be powerful heading into 2008 has underachieved. In two games, they've managed 34 points.
"If we take care of the small details, we can be special like we're supposed to be," quarterback Tom Brandstater said.
The expectations for this offense stem from the final nine games of last season. During that span, the Bulldogs averaged 443.7 yards and
35.5 points per game and went 7-2, losing to WAC foes
Boise State and Hawaii.
But with a new season, new offensive coordinator, no Clifton Smith and some changes on the offensive line have come struggles.
"At times, we've just lacked execution," said offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier, who's in his first season of holding sole responsibility for play calling.
"When we've executed properly, we've done good things. It's early in the season and we are getting better. I thought we played better this week than we did last week. We've played two really good defenses."
