INSIDE SLANT

To say the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs were outmanned in their near upset bid of LSU last week would be an understatement.

With injuries on an already thin roster taking their toll on the team, head coach Derek Dooley has been trying to point out there are great signs of future growth for the program in the midst of this losing season.

And while it’s easy to claim youth and inexperience when your team is losing, Louisiana Tech has the numbers to back up the claim.

“You look at our starting lineup against LSU,” Dooley says, “And we had six freshmen on offense—three on the offensive line, two wide receivers starting and our second running back is a true freshman.”

The Monroe News Star took it a step further and broke down who exactly was on the field during the Bulldogs’ unlikely go-ahead touchdown at the end of the second quarter, giving Louisiana Tech a 13-10 lead over a stunned LSU squad at the break:

“The Bulldogs’ lone wide receiver is Cornelious Nickelson, a walk-on freshman from the practice squad. … Redshirt freshman Chandler Spence is playing tight end on the left side of the formation. Next to him at left tackle is true freshman Jordan Mills. At left guard it’s a redshirt freshman in Kevin Saia. At right guard there’s redshirt freshman Stephen Warner, who walked-on from Ruston High School last season.”

So while the Bulldogs have long since kissed their hopes of a second-consecutive bowl appearance good bye, Dooley prefers looking on the bright side and thinking about the experience his young players will have under their belt come 2010.

NOTES, QUOTES

• After starting the season off as one of the nation’s worst teams stopping the run, Louisiana Tech has been solid in that department as of late.

Since allowing Nevada, the nation’s No. 1 rushing offense, 345 yards on the ground on Oct. 9, Louisiana Tech is allowing just 131.8 rushing yards per game to its last five opponents—LSU, Boise State, Idaho, Utah State and New Mexico State.

The 141 yards gained by LSU Saturday was the only time in that stretch Louisiana Tech allowed a team to rush for more than their season per-game average (LSU averages 136.8 rushing yards per game).

• Back-to-back near upsets of top-10 ranked teams (Boise State and LSU) seems to have changed the mood of Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley. He says he and his program are appreciating the fun of the game now instead of allowing the results to dictate their approach.

“If someone called us up in March and said, ‘Hey you want to play a game?’ We wouldn’t say no,” Dooley said. “So what’s the difference? Whether you’re 0-8 or 8-0, it’s fun to play and it’s fun to compete. You can’t just get focused on if you win or lose, why are we playing? We’re playing ‘cause it’s fun.”

Series History:   Fresno State leads series 7-3 (last meeting, 2008, 38-35 Louisiana Tech)

Scouting The Offense:   The offense, thanks to an energized and youthful offensive line, is running the ball with purpose again. Senior RB Daniel Porter and true freshman RB Tyrone Duplessis combined for 129 rushing yards at LSU last week and Porter became just the third back in La. Tech history to surpass the 3,000 career rushing mark. QB Ross Jenkins continues to manage the game well and protect the football, giving the Bulldogs a shot.

Scouting The Defense:   The rejuvenated rush defense has Louisiana Tech looking like the team of 2008 when it was second best in the Western Athletic Conference at stopping the run. The Bulldogs have allowed just 131.8 rushing yards per game to its last five opponents, a far cry from the first five games when it was one of the nation’s worst at stopping the run.

Quote To Note:   “One thing I’m proud of is I feel like we’re going out there and laying it on the line.”—Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: Louisiana Tech at Fresno State, Nov. 21—Louisiana Tech’s run defense has been night and day better the last five games as opposed to the first five. It will need to be good Saturday as the team faces a Fresno State team that boasts the nation’s leading rusher RB Ryan Matthews, who says he’s good to go after leaving last week’s game against Nevada with a concussion.

Keys To The Game:   Regardless of whether RB Ryan Matthews plays or not for Fresno State, the Bulldogs are the nation’s No. 6 rushing team for a reason and Louisiana Tech will have to stop the run to win.

Players To Watch:  

K Matt Nelson again proved last week the pressure doesn’t get to him, even in hostile road environments like at LSU. Nelson, who hit two field goals at Auburn to start the season, hit three more Saturday at LSU and leads the Bulldogs in scoring with 61 points on the season.

RB Tyrone Duplessis proved Saturday to be more than just a nice compliment to senior starting RB Daniel Porter in the La. Tech backfield. Duplessis carried the ball 17 times for 65 yards, both team highs, and could be a big factor at Fresno State, as well.

LB Adrien Cole, La. Tech’s leading tackler, will have to bring his A-game if national-rushing leader Ryan Matthews plays for Fresno State. Cole did just that at LSU last week, posting a team-high 11 tackles.

Roster Report:  

• Louisiana Tech started three freshmen on the offensive line last week against LSU—a true freshman (LT Jordan Mills) and a pair of redshirt freshmen (LG Kevin Saia and RG Stephen Warner).

• Asked about the health and playing status of the team’s top two scoring threats, RB Daniel Porter and WR/return specialist Phillip Livas, Dooley simply said they, like a slew of other players, are simply “questionable.”

“We have a lot of guys questionable,” Dooley said.

• Continuing the theme of the Bulldogs’ youth movement, freshman WR Cornelius Nickelson made his first career start at LSU, sophomore TE Eric Harper made the first two catches of his career and redshirt freshman TE Chandler Spence also saw significant playing time.