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Last season's injury setbacks could turn out to be blessings. Bernard Berrian's return from a partially torn knee ligament gives Fresno State one of the nation's best corps of wide receivers. Tailback Rodney Davis ranks as a legitimate All-America candidate. And emerging quarterback Paul Pinegar should continue to blossom. Obstacles include a talented but inexperienced defense, rebuilt special teams and another stacked non-conference slate. "Finishing with a bowl win, winning eight of our last 10 and finishing around 30th in the polls has given us a lot of momentum," coach Pat Hill said. "We have a chance to be very, very good." OFFENSIVE KEYS: So much for a clean line of succession. Jeff Grady entered last season as the heir apparent to NFL No. 1 pick David Carr only to be felled by hip injuries. By the time Grady regained his health, the job belonged to Pinegar.The 2002 WAC Freshman of the Year, Pinegar has ideal size, a strong arm and is a cool customer in the pocket. He certainly didn't play like a freshman, throwing twice as many touchdowns (20) as interceptions (10). With Pinegar established, Grady considered transferring, but chose to return this fall and finish his eligibility. "I'd take our two quarterbacks over anybody's in the country," Hill said. The news is good at tailback and wide receiver, where proven standouts return. After setting a school record last season with 1,643 yards, Davis spent the offseason improving his breakaway speed. He'll average 20-25 carries. In the spring, Berrian showed no sign of the knee injury that dogged him last season. He remains the primary option at wide receiver thanks to big-play ability that has produced a career 16.0-yard average and 21 TD catches. Marque Davis, Rodney's older brother, emerged as Pinegar's go-to guy in 2002. If not for Berrian, the silky smooth Davis might rank as the WAC's best returning receiver. The new-look offensive line should be more athletic than its predecessor. Left tackle Logan Mankins, a three-year starter, and right guard Dartagnon Shack are the standouts. DEFENSIVE KEYS: Replacing two All-WAC defensive linemen is the primary concern heading into fall camp. Fresno State desperately needs junior college All-American Donyell Booker to develop at nose tackle and Claude Sanders to emerge as a pass rusher.Even though the Bulldogs return all three starting linebackers in Marc Dailey, Bryce McGill and David Adamo, the key word here is depth. Up to nine could see action, depending on the situation. Cornerback was the most competitive (and improved) position in the spring. And that's with one returning starter, Dee Meza, moving to safety, and the other, Kendall Edwards, recovering from knee surgery. Raymond Washington and Awan Diles enter fall camp as the starters. James Sanders continues Fresno State's strong tradition at strong safety. SPECIAL TEAMS: The Bulldogs are pretty much starting over here. Punter Mike Lingua did more to ease concerns in the spring than did kicker Brett Visintainer. No such worries exist in the return game, where Berrian ranks among the nation's most dangerous playmakers.FINAL ANALYSIS: Fresno State enters the season seeking to wear its first WAC crown since 1999 while also making an impact on the national stage. As usual, Hill's schedule doesn't lack ambition. And his team doesn't lack firepower. Few teams in the country can match the combination of Berrian, the Davis brothers and Pinegar at the skill positions. But for any of this to operate, a revamped offensive line must jell quickly. Defensively, the Bulldogs must find replacements for three all-conference standouts. Porous pass coverage, particularly at cornerback, also must be tightened up. Lastly, new faces have to emerge at kicker and punter. Provided these things happen, and the injury bug doesn't bite for a second straight year, Fresno State will be sitting pretty come December.• Click here for complete index of 2003 team previews
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