Fresno State Football: Jeff Tedford is the secret to the Bulldogs’ success

Offense

Offensive improvement in 2017 was dramatic, but there was still plenty of room for growth in Fresno. The Bulldogs finished 77th in scoring, racking up 27.1 points per game. UCF they were not. At the same time, though, it was a 48-spot improvement in the national rankings. That’s what happens when a team like Fresno State scores an average of nearly 10 more points per game than they did during a 1-11 season.

The biggest catalyst for the improvement at Fresno State was the offensive line. In 2016, Bulldogs quarterbacks were sacked more than 2.5 times and opponents averaged more than seven tackles for loss per game. The 2017 team ranked third in the country in both categories, conceding 1.8 fewer sacks and nearly four fewer tackles for loss per outing.

Three starters return to the line in 2018, and promising youngsters have a chance to step up big this year in the rotation. Jordan Mims, Josh Hokit, and incoming freshman Ronnie Richards could tear it up in the backfield this season and give Fresno State more of a balanced attack on offense. That would only serve to make them more dangerous all around.

Focusing on Marcus McMaryion

The most important returning player on offense, though, is undoubtedly quarterback Marcus McMaryion. Formerly the starter at Oregon State, McMaryion earned his undergraduate degree in Corvallis and transferred when he lost his starting position with the Beavers. Born in Fresno, the Bulldogs offered a natural fit for the 6-foot-2 junior.

McMaryion proved a great fit in Tedford’s first offense at Fresno State. Though he wasn’t the top quarterback on the depth chart to open the season, McMaryion quickly asserted his quality and rose to the starting role by the start of Mountain West play. He took advantage of the offensive line’s strengths, completing more than 62 percent of his passes for 2700 yards and 14 touchdowns. More importantly, McMaryion only threw five interceptions all season.

With the departure of several strong Mountain West quarterbacks, McMaryion has the opportunity to continue developing into the top passer in the league. He will enjoy the return of most of last year’s targets, and he could even add to the 300 yards and four rushing touchdowns he racked up on the ground last year. As McMaryion goes, so too goes Fresno State’s offense in 2018.