Fresno State of Confusion: Why the Bulldogs Need a QB Change to Salvage Season

For the third straight week, an ill-timed interception by quarterback Ryan Colburn cost Fresno State a victory. It's time for Pat Hill to consider making a change at quarterback or risk more games ending up like the last three.

Fresno State opened their season at home against the UC Davis Aggies and got an impressive performance from first year quarterback Ryan Colburn in a 51-0 blowout of UC Davis. He finished the game with five completions on nine attempts for 161 yards and one touchdown, that coming on a 92 yard strike to wide receiver Marlon Moore, and one interception.

In the last three games, coming against Wisconsin, Boise State and Cincinnati, Colburn has thrown six interceptions and half of those came in Fresno State's 34-31 double overtime loss to Wisconsin.

The problem isn't the interceptions he's throwing, it's the timing of where they're coming in the game.

Against Wisconsin, after not throwing a single interception in the first half of the game, Colburn would throw two interceptions in the second half, none bigger than the one that came mid-way through the third quarter.

On a second down play from the Bulldogs own 15-yard line, Ryan Mathews would pick up 55 yards to the Wisconsin 30-yard line. It looked like the Bulldogs had the momentum to pick up another score.

But on the very next play, Colburn tried to force a pass between three Wisconsin defenders and was intercepted by Wisconsin defensive back Niles Brinkley. Ending a very promising drive that started on the Bulldog three yard line.

Though neither of the two second half interceptions ended in Wisconsin scores, the Bulldogs could have at least picked up a field goal. Had they done that, it would have made Kevin Goessling's 41-yard field goal with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter the game winner. Instead, the two teams would go into overtime.

After trading touchdowns in the first overtime, Fresno State would get the ball to start the second overtime.

The very first play for the Bulldogs, Ryan Colburn threw up a pass that wide receiver Chastin West had no chance in catching and it was intercepted in the end zone by Chris Maragos.

That turned out to be the nail in the Bulldogs' coffin as it gave Wisconsin the ball and eventually the game winning field goal.

Against Boise State, just a week later, Colburn was intercepted on just the fourth play of the game by Boise State's Wilton Venable for a touchdown. However, It wasn't the interceptions that were the problem for Colburn in this game, but the underthrown passes that plagued the Bulldog quarterback all night long.

He was forcing his receivers to come back to the ball and trying to either break up an interception or trying to out jump the Boise State cornerbacks. for the ball.

Then, this past Saturday against Cincinnati, Colburn again threw an interception on what turned out to be the most pivotal drive of the game.

With Fresno State trailing Cincinnati 21-17, the Bulldogs drove all the way down inside the Bearcat 10-yard line.

Cincinnati stuffed Bulldog running back Ryan Mathews on a third-and-one which would end up being the final play of the third quarter. It allowed Bulldog head coach Pat Hill to discuss fourth down options with his quarterback. The decision between kicking a field goal and pulling to within one point, or going for the touchdown and taking the lead?

The decision to go for it would backfire as Colburn telegraphed his pass and he was intercepted by Cincinnati linebacker Craig Carey.

It went from being a possible game winning drive to being a drive that Cincinnati used for their own gain as quarterback Tony Pike led his team down the field for a touchdown, putting the game out of reach for good.

Although Hill told the Fresno media prior to the season opener against UC Davis that Colburn won the quarterback job outright, the decision has looked like a bad one through four games this season.

The Bulldogs should be 4-0 or at worst 3-1 right now, but instead they're quite possibly known as one of the best 1-3 teams in the country.

It's not that the offense as a whole is lacking, the Bulldogs are outgaining their opponents week in and week out.

Over their last three games, they're averaging 472 yards per game while their opponents are averaging 416 yards per game. They're also winning the time of possession battle, holding an almost 34-to-22 minute advantage over those last three games.

If Fresno State is going to salvage their season a change needs to be made. Make no mistake about it the Bulldogs still have a chance for the Western Athletic Conference title if they don't lose another conference game from here on out.

There are two very talented freshmen quarterbacks waiting in the wings in Derek Carr, younger brother of former number one pick David Carr, as well as Ebahn Feathers. Two quarterbacks who can lead this team out of the slump they're currently in. The question becomes, will Pat Hill make that change.

Unfortunately, if past history is any indication, Hill would undoubtedly stick with Colburn. But if Ryan continues to make the same mistakes, don't be surprised if Hill makes the tough decision to try and salvage a season that may already be slipping away.