Fresno State last season gave up 27 sacks, an improvement over the previous year but still a lot for an offense designed to play at a high tempo, for the quarterback to get the ball out expediently and into the hands of its playmakers.
Line play was only a small part of that. One sack came in a loss at San Diego State on what was supposed to be a quick hit to a slot receiver, the line cutting the Aztecs’ front in a well-orchestrated sequence that might net 5 or 10 yards and maybe more.
Every defender that they wanted on the ground ended up there.