This Week = Fresno State

Fresno State should provide a bigger challenge than Arky State did, but this still wont be a big challenge. This is another game we should be able to control from start to finish and on both sides of the ball.   Many of the things I'm looking for this week are similar to last week.

If you didn't see the high points from last week, take 12 minutes and check out the new look.  Courtesy of MadMike over at Oregon Duck Soup.  http://winesfamily.blogspot.com/

#1 - I got to see Mario-TAH run the option a little.  We will get to see more of that but now I'm looking for a couple of good deep balls.   I LOVED what I saw last week out of the quick passing game, crossing routes and swing passes.   We stretch the ball sideline to sideline as good if not better than anyone in the country.   I'd still like to see more stretching of the field. 

#2 - Defensively I want a sack or two.   Arky State has a decent QB and a couple of WR's who are excellent athletes.   Their short passing attack kept us on our toes all day.  It was more so after we were up 50 points but if they can do it USC can do it, and better.   I'd like to see some growth out of the defense this week, specifically the D lines ability to not just pressure the QB, but to get to him, knock him down and sack him.   When we play USC our day will get better as Barkley's jersey gets dirtier.  

#3 - I am a Kenjon Barner fan, no doubt about it.  But I would like to see a nice long run.  But....9 carries for 66 yards...that's pretty solid right?   7.3 yards a carry?   Right?    Yes, that is very good and this may sound snobbish of me but we were playing Arky State.   This season I'm thinking in terms of what we can do against USC.  7.3 yards a carry may only be 3 yards vs USC.   I don't need 80 yards and a TD every time, but I'd like to see some big runs with solid yards after contact.  Three of Barner's carries were 11, 17 and 18.   He had a no gain, a 2 yarder and a couple of 4 yarders.   For comparrison's sake DAT had 3 carries for 64 yards. 

#4 - I want to see more of Byron Marshall.  He got 24 carries in mop up duty and had a couple of plays where I saw glimpses of flash.  He's a true freshman playing on a top 4 team.  Good start with a ton of improvement.  I think this week will provide a good look at his learning curve. 

#5 - Loved what I saw out of the WR's last week.   For this entire off season I've been saying "who will step up"?   Looks like maybe a couple guys did.  DAT is going to be coming out of the backfield in our Tazer position and he's just brilliant.  Lowe and Kelley had a few catches.  Huff, Hawkins and Vaughn, Stanford.  Mario-TAH chucked that ball to everyone on the team, Bennet kept it going.   While this is great, I'd like to see 1 guy become THE guy.  3rd down and we go to ______.   I'm talking about an all Pac-12 guy who gets wiffs of being a top round draft choice.  A go to guy.

#6 - I want to see Colt get the ball more.   I don't have any questions about him, just dayum, did you see him running over people and moving piles????    I want to see more of that because it is fun.

So, there is what I'll be looking for tonight when I watch the game on line because Direct TV and the Pac-12 haven't come to an agreement.   Jerks!