Trio of Fresno State receivers a major test for CSU defense

FORT COLLINS – Sometimes, a team’s record fails to paint the entire picture. Ram fans may be licking their chops when Colorado State hosts 1-8 Fresno State this weekend, but the Bulldogs pose one of the more electric receiving trios in the Mountain West.

Consider that Fresno State has three guys with at least 500 receiving yards, led by KeeSean Johnson who has 659 yards and six touchdowns. The sophomore totaled 142 yards last week as the Bulldogs fell to Air Force.

The number two receiver, Jamire Jordan, currently has 39 catches for 636 yards and two touchdowns while reliable senior Aaron Peck enters the week with 35 catches for 527 yards and three touchdowns.

An aerial attack like this one definitely has the attention of coach Mike Bobo.

“I think the ability to push the ball down the field,” said Bobo, explaining how the Bulldog’s passing attack is what scares him most with their offense. “They’ve got number seven (Peck), number three (Johnson) has come alive. They’ve got a lot of these single-digit receivers out there that can make plays in space. They run good intermediate routes. They’re tall, they’re big, they’re able to get down the field and catch the ball vertically. So it’s scary every time they drop back to pass.”

Bobo mentioned that Bulldogs’ quarterback Chason Virgil “has been streaky at times, but when he’s been on, they’ve been able to move the ball against everybody.”

Granted, Fresno State’s ground game has been nonexistent, as they rank last in the conference in rushing offense, averaging a measly 112 yards per game. But with such a dynamic passing game, it’s head-scratching how the Rams’ next opponent has yet to win a game since week two.

“I know what their record is, but they’ve been in every game,” said CSU defensive coordinator Marty English. “They’re more than capable. They might just be snakebit a little bit.”

In an effort to stop the bleeding, Fresno State turned to offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau to take over the head coaching duties. English said he didn’t see a whole lot of difference as he watched their game against Air Force, but got the feeling that they looked more relaxed.

The Bulldogs have nothing to lose at this point of the season and would love nothing more than to play spoiler, starting with CSU.

“I hope it doesn’t all of a sudden click,” English said, referring to how many close games Fresno State has been in this season. “It does worry me because they have some very good skill kids. When he (Virgil) is rolling, the team’s really going. They’re good on the perimeter, they really are.”

Look for CSU to try to to take away the pass as much as possible, particularly early on. Whether that’s dropping more guys into coverage, using creative blitzes or something else, the Rams figure to dare Fresno State to beat them on the ground.

“You’ve got to stop the run and make them throw,” said safety Jake Schlager. “And you make them throw and then they can’t throw, so that’s going to help a lot. You try to make the offense one-dimensional and frustrate the quarterback from the beginning.”