’Bows must contain
Bulldogs’ sack attack

Fresno State's newest scheme
put Utah QBs on their
backs 12 times

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

Wally English took one look at the new 30 defense Fresno State unveiled against the University of Utah last week and wondered if the Bulldogs had a dozen or more men on the field.

What he saw was not only a stunning upset of the Mountain Division powerhouse, but a team-record 12 quarterback sacks against the dazed and confused Utes.

"It was something they hadn't used before and it caught them off guard," English said after practice yesterday. "I don't think they ever really figured it out.

"Fortunately, we got a chance to see it on film, but we'll still have to execute well to keep them coming through every gap up front. It's a defense you see a lot in the pros. They put a lot of pressure on you and try to force you into making a mistake."

In this defense, Fresno State uses three down linemen and four linebackers. On passing downs, the Bulldogs drop into a zone blitz. That means the linebackers rush the quarterback and the two defensive ends drop off into pass protection.

If this happens, Hawaii's running backs must pick up the linebackers who break through the defensive front. The idea of this defense is to force the running backs to stay in for maximum protection, keeping them from being involved in the passing game.

"It's basically a zone defense," English said. "But instead of using linebackers to cover the zone underneath, they'll use linemen. Even their nose guard dropped back into coverage against Utah.

"It's a confusion type of thing. They force you to keep your running backs in for maximum protection of your quarterback, and still cover the four underneath areas with their linemen and the three deep areas with their defensive backs.

"The thing is, you can take advantage of this defense if you give your quarterback time to throw because linemen aren't going to cover people as long and as well as a linebacker. But they're betting you won't find the time."

Hawaii's quarterbacks haven't always had a lot of time to throw the football. Tim Carey was sacked 20 times before injuring his shoulder. Backup Josh Skinner has been sacked six times and Johnny Macon once for a total of 27 sacks this season. That's an average of 5.4 a game.

Before the Utah game, the Bulldogs weren't exactly the sack brigade. They had 11 in their first four games.

"I think having their 'will' linebacker (A.J. Gass) return from a hand injury, coupled with the unveiling of this new defensive look, was just too much for Utah," English said. "They have some really quick guys, and their secondary is really good because you have to be able to man up on the receivers in a defense like this.

"In obvious passing downs, they'll go to nickel-and-dime packages, and rush those guys instead of the linebackers. It's a really good defense that was tough for us to simulate this week in practice."

UH defensive coordinator Don Lindsey was in a similar predicament. The Rainbows don't have a pair of talented running backs like Michael Pittman and Jaime Kimbrough on their scout team.

They also don't have an up-and-coming quarterback like Billy Volek, either. In his last two starts, Volek, a sophomore, has completed 47 of 73 passes for 528 yards and six touchdowns. He hasn't thrown an interception in his last 93 pass attempts.

For the season, Pittman and Kimbrough have combined for 677 rushing yards, 24 receptions and nine touchdowns. If this duo

doesn't beat you on the ground, the pair two whip you through the air as well.

"They use these guys as often as they can," Lindsey said. "If they aren't giving it to them on the ground, they try to find them in pass routes out of the backfield.

"In my mind, Pittman is the best back in the league. He rushed for (108 yards) off us last year. He's big (6-foot, 204 pounds) and very quick. He'll be playing on Sundays next year."

The one area where Fresno State might not be quite as strong is at wide receiver. Anthony Tucker leads the team in receptions with 19 for 198 yards and one touchdown. Pittman and tight end Scott Thompson are tied for second with 13. Pittman is the leading rusher for the Bulldogs with 459 yards on 99 carries.

"This is another in a long line of good teams we'll be facing this month," Lindsey said. "We have to control Pittman and not give their quarterback time to throw. It's a tough task. But that's what you expect in an offensive league like this one."

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