DAVID VS. GOLIATH

They "must" be giants.

Let me get one thing out of the way. Take that Idaho. U- da –ho now! #5 TCU is coming to town this weekend and I’m ready. The wife and I are going to grab a couple pumpkin spice lattes and hit the road for what could possibly be the biggest win in CSU history.  Call me a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.

This got me thinking back to CSU’s win over #6 Arizona back in ’94.  Arizona has been a pre-season favorite to win the national championship, thanks to their “Desert Swarm” defense. That is until Sean Moran recovered a fumble and rumbled 78 yards for a dudge. Rams won 21-16. That game was in Tucson. Imagine if we beat the Frogs this weekend in the Fort? I will personally flip a car over. Just not my car.



TCU QB Andy Dalton



When it comes to breaking down TCU’s team, well, there’s really not much to say except that they’re freak’n awesome. Andy Dalton has been pretty unstoppable dating from last year. The guy’s gun slinging arm and instinct running ability make him a huge task for Ricky and the boys. It will definitely be their toughest test all season and it’s basically giving the younger components of our defense some excellent experience for future years. Maybe TCU’s wide outs can teach our young secondary how to cover them. Or, maybe TCU’s entire defense can give us a couple of pointers on how to drive a human being into the turf. If we have any chance of victory this week, our defense will have to step it up. I’m a little optimistic but these arm tackles and unawareness of the ball has got to go. Creating turnovers would be the only thing to offset the lack of crushing people. To do both seems merely impossible.

You can drive this thing through
those holes the O-line were making
last week.

Offensively I think we obviously keep doing what we’ve been doing for the past two and half quarters of game time that we’ve played. We’ve looked stellar! I love the mixing up of play calling. I love that we’re finally taking chances down field. And especially love that we’ve started to create holes that a Ford F-750 can rail through. (If you’ve never look up one of these trucks, I highly suggest googling it. They’re ridiculous. Especially the six door triple cab.) If Pete can keep on top of his game and pick apart defenses like he’s been doing, I think we can hang around long enough to possibly pull off an upset. Pipe dreams?

Finally, let me apologize for being such a negative Nancy the last few weeks. Call it tough love. It’s just that I’ve invested so much love the last 15 years and the Rams were not pulling their own weight in this relationship. They cheated on me. I would cook dinner and wait and watch it go cold, without even a phone call. No text either. And could you put your clothes in the hamper? Is that so hard? Maybe you could tell me I look nice. We’ve had so many good times over the years,  and it got to the point where you had lost 12 in a row and I couldn’t take it anymore. I’m so sorry I said those things about you being lazy and untalented and worthless; I didn’t mean it.  But I’m back, baby. Slow down the bandwagon so I can get back on. There, that’s much better. How about I come up to Fort Collins on Saturday and we hang out for a few hours? Sound good baby? Ok, this is getting off track… Go Rams!

Let’s hear from you, the reader. Comment below. What do you think our chances are this weekend?

ANTHONY CESARIO, 1976-2010

Getty Images photo

Anthony Cesario, a former CSU All-American, passed away on September 25^th. He was 34.

A 6-6 310 pound guard from Pueblo, Cesario helped establish the power running identity the Rams became known for in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Starting all 12 games as a sophomore, Cesario made 2^nd team All-WAC and began his string of 37 consecutive starts. He met high expectations  in his junior season by leading the Rams to an 11-2 record and a win over Missouri in the Holiday bowl. During the ’97 he did not allow a single sack, was 1^st team All-WAC and 2^nd team All-America, nominated for the Outland Trophy and named the top offensive guard in the nation by The Sporting News. By his senior season he made 1^st team All-WAC and 1^st team All-America, allowing no sacks and helping the Rams to an 8-5 record.

He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 3^rd round of the 1998 NFL Draft and finished his career with the Miami Dolphins. After his pro career, he returned to Fort Collins to run his own business and was an integral part of the Ram family. His funeral is scheduled for Friday in his hometown of Pueblo. Ramifications wants to extend our condolences to his friends and family.

MORE PHOTOS OF A VICTORY







Since it has been about a year since we won our last game, I thought I would some more pics of Saturdays victory. Enjoy!





Here they come!

Praying for a dudge.





Final kick



Hole in the D







Coaches stance



Victory!







AGGIES 1-0! RAMS STILL 0-3.

"Pistol" Pete Thomas picking apart Idaho's defense.

Holy crap, we won! I've been so used to writing rants about the team, I forgot how to give them praise. This absolutely one of the most thrilling games that I have seen in Fort Collins is recent years. Even though both teams are not even close to be considered a contender,  I think all 24,000 people actually stayed the entire game.

CSU Orange Out

I was so impressed by all aspects of the game. We never gave up. When I first started to watch this game, about half way through the second quarter I was thinking to myself "Great, here we go again.  I wonder if I should put sunscreen on. It's hot out here. Wait, wha...?  Are we putting together a scoring drive or is Pete Thomas going through a perfect pass in the end zone only to have it bounce off one of our receiver's face mask's which results in a missed field goal like what happened in the first quarter?" Nope. Touchdown Raymond Carter. Then, 30 seconds later after an Idaho fumble, dudge again! This is when the offense started to click. Thomas was stellar all day long. The pass he threw for our second score was so pretty, even Dorky Borky couldn't have messed it up with his sticks of butter for hands. If I could say one criticism about Pete is that he takes a little too long to get rid of the ball sometimes but other than that, he's my hero. Speaking of Borky, he actually made a great cut back after a catch for a touch. Raymond Carter had an excellent game. With is 220 all purpose yards, he definitely stepped it up this week. I guess I don't have to write anything about Steve not starting Tony Drake again this week. Drake still was returning kicks though. He had 3-4 returns that looked like he was going the distance. 

Goal Line Stance

The changes O-line were effective I guess. They still couldn't protect Pete as much as I thought they would. There was one sack on Pete that he got totally blind sided. On the other hand, the line was opening up holes you could drive a truck though. 

Shaq Bell, sad after a touchdown
thrown against him.

Defensively, well, I did see some improvements. They did a have a couple of great stops on the goal line and they played with great intensity. Our defensive backs need some work. They were getting smoke. Idaho's quarterback was just pick'n and choos'n where ever he wanted to throw. Size wise, we're so small compared to some of those receivers. On a couple of those deep passes thrown by Idaho, I was thinking "Turn around jackass! Damn it, touchdown Idaho." But like I said before, we never gave up. All in all, it was a great game with a great atmosphere. I hope that this was a turning point of our season and I wish the Rams good luck this week, as we prepare for the Frogs. As you can tell, I'm a little scared.

Go Rams!

ANOTHER QUICK THOUGHT

Come on Steve. As a die hard Ram fan, all I'm asking is to take some chances and to put some points on the board. The play calling this year has been so conservative, I feel like we're still stuck in the final days of when Sonny was captain. If you know a player is "good" and a play maker, why do you leave him on the sidelines? If we're going to waxed, again, I would rather see our young talent in there playing, gaining experience, and learning from mistakes. I read one of our comments to a post and someone quoted Tony Drake saying something to the affect of if he new he was going to pull his red shirt just to sit the bench this year, he would have gone to Michigan. Ha, I doubt that came out of his trap but I wouldn't blame him for saying something like that. I think the truth is that he either lacks the intelligence to learn the plays, or, Steve is too stubborn to put him in. Stubborn about what? Well.. maybe he thinks he knows what he's doing by swapping some o-linemen. That can be the biggest mistake for this game against Idaho. I guess he figures there's nothing to lose.

Please put up some points this week. I'm so sick of reading how crappy we are. Like I said in previous posts. I know we're young and we're going through some growing pains, but that's really no excuse of why we can only put up a total of 19 points so far this year.

Let's see if this orange out can work this week and stick it to the potato pickers.

IDAHO BREAKDOWN

Remember the other day when I was talking about Fairchild and how he doesn’t know anything? Well I was wrong, Coach. I’m sorry, you were right about one thing. Idaho’s defense is good. I seem to remember their offense destroying us last year at the Kibbie Dome, so this year will be different. Not the outcome of the game, just the manner in which we are beaten.

Who likes stats? I like stats!

IDAHO VANDALS

45– The number of points allowed by  through three games (Ummm… we’ve scored 19)

3– Defensive categories in which the Vandals lead the WAC; including pass defense scoring defense and pass efficiency. Idaho is also 2^nd in the WAC in total defense and tackles for loss.

#1 in red zone defense nationally (Opponents only score 38% once inside the 20)

#1 in fumble recoveries nationally

This reminds me of that movie The Perfect Storm with George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg when he tried to grow a mustache.  The Rams roll into Hughes with an anemic offense facing the best D they’ve seen yet. At least the weather will be nice.

The Rams lose again.
Idaho 38  CSU 10

ORANGE YOU GLAD?

Pretty cool I guess.

I have always said if you look good, you feel good and if you feel good, you’ll play good. Pardon my french.  So without further ado, look at our Ag Day throwback jerseys. Ta-da!

I kind of dig them. Something different, shake it up a little. Excuse me if my socks are not blown off but my excitement is tempered by the Rams awful play and our smug coach.

We’re playing the Idaho Vandals this weekend and if you remember last year, we rolled into the Moscow YMCA where they play and were promptly destroyed. I remember this vividly. I invited a Friend of the Blog, Tim, to our local sports bar so he could see how a real team plays football. (He’s a CU fan). Anyways, we settled into our barstools and we tried to figure out why the game was being played in a middle school gymnasium; Idaho proceeded to vandalize the Rams. It made for an awkward evening. Their QB Nathan Enderle returns again this year and I predict that these Vandals will smash our pumpkin orange jerseys into the ground, drink our beer, kiss our girls and steal our candy. Oh yeah, we are going to lose.

I read another insightful article quoting our head coach, stating that Idaho has the best D of any team we’ve faced so far this year. I stopped and thought. I tried to resume reading the article but it was covered in tears. And vomit.  My only hope here is that Fairchild obviously  doesn’t know what he’s doing, so Idaho’s D must be terrible.  He also said he thought about replacing Pete Thomas with Nico. And you would do that because….?  I bet it’s the same reason that Friend of Blog Tony Drake didn’t get a touch at RB last week. At least Steve's’s shaking up the O-line a bit starting Richburg at center and Caprioglio at guard.

So, hopefully we’ll see everyone at the game on Saturday.

Go Rams?

COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY CLASSIFIED ADS

Hugh Stadium and CSU Athletic Department Accepting Applications

HELP WANTED – Defensive Coordinator – September 18th
Looking for someone who is highly qualified in teaching young talent the following skills:
• Tackling  (we don't know how wrap people and crush them into the ground. VERY important skill.)
• Creating a turnover (we need someone to show our defensive players what a football looks like so they can start taking it from people.)
• Speed (we are sloooooow.)
• Tackling (we really suck at this so I need to say it twice.)
• Attitude and awareness (we need our team to start playing like they're pissed, not like an excited little school boy chest bumping each other when you make a tackle on a botched fake field goal attempt late in the third quarter when you're down 24-3 Ricky Brewer.)
If interested, and you know how light a fire under someones butt, please call the Colorado State Athletic Department. Ask for Larry Kerr.

WILLING TO BARTER A WIDE RECEIVER
We have a 6'4, roughly 208 pound, Junior from Orlando, Florida that we are willing to trade for something better. He has butter for fingers, he can't find the first down marker, and he regularly is scared to get hit. Supposedly he can play quarterback. I wouldn't put him back there though. He likes to be called Dorky Borky. If interested, please call the Colorado State Athletic Department.

LOOKING FOR WORK AS A RUNNING BACK

To whom it may concern. My name is Tony Drake and I am really interested in a job as running back. I feel I have an exceptional skill set to be very effective in game time situations. I'm from Dallas, Texas, I'm 5'8, 178 pounds, put I'm extremely fast and I know how to juke someone out of the jock strap. I've had numerous endorsements from fans such as the Letter to Steve post, and I was highly recruited by Michigan. I included a picture. I don't know if you can tell but I have wings. Makes me fast.

"Ta-da! I'm right here."

If interested, call me. I'll be hanging out in my dorm room in Westfall Hall, alone... waiting.

CONGRATULATIONS!!

If you haven't heard, WE SCORED A TOUCHDOWN! with 1:14 left in the game. Overall, Pete Thomas had a great game. He would have thrown more than that if the play calling on the first drive wasn't so Sonny like (run, run,run, kick field goal) and if the O-line would have let him have a little bit more time.


After thought. I went and watched the game at Buffalo Wild Wings in Fort Collins because the game was on the ONN network, whatever that is, and I still find the some CSU fans funny. I don't get the singing of our fight song in celebration at the end of the game. Were you celebrating a loss?

Attention any Ram Club Member that attended that showing at BWW. I still have my raffle tickets and I'm still waiting for the drawing. Let me know if I won. My numbers are: 810030, 810031, 810019, 810018, 810029, and 910028. You seemed to have left early and accidentally forgot to call some numbers. Sad.

A LETTER TO STEVE

Freshman Running Back Tony Drake

What up Steve?! It’s Brian. From college. I write a dinky little blog and here’s my two cents on you starting Tony Drake at RB this weekend against Miami . Hear me out. Umm, so Raymond Carter looks like Ray Charles out there. He couldn’t find a first down with GPS and a cane. John Mosure’s fine but we need a spark. Leonard Mason is still hurt. Chris Nwoke hasn’t shown me that much, but then again Stevey, you haven’t let him. I like Nwoke’s style.  Give the ball to Drake and let’s make some magic happen!

I watched the Nevada “game” at Sports Column downtown (great place to watch by the way... send me free stuff!) on a tiny TV in the corner until the Tennessee-Oregon game ended. At first I wondered why a Denver bar wasn’t showing any love for the Rams and then I watched about 3 plays.  We got crushed. Tony Drake averaged 16 YPC against CU and he gets zero snaps. Not even when we are down 51-6. I don’t get it. Everyone can see the speed, the playmaking ability and you don’t even throw him a bone. The O-line isn’t opening that many holes, so we can’t blame this all on the RBs. But we can blame it on the coaching staff. Yeah, you Steve.

"That's more on Tony Drake than our coaching staff," CSU coach Steve Fairchild said this week. "We'll certainly try to develop things for Tony Drake just like we did for Lou Greenwood (a running back turned receiver) last year. But as a true freshman, it's your responsibility to handle it and practice it well or we're not going to call it in a game." I haven’t been to a practice in awhile I’d actually like to see what plays are going well in practice.

In years past we were a power running team with guys like McDougal, Sapp and Gartrell. Why are we sticking with this plan and not playing to our strengths. So, my thinking here is that we need a squirrelly, lightning fast scat back that can either hit the holes or make something out of nothing. Let’s get some screens going and my God, let Pete chuck the ball downfield. Later Steve!

MIAMI (OH) BREAKDOWN

Ok. So, obviously CSU has some major issues on both sides of the ball. I one positive is the Rams quarterback situation. I think Pete Thomas is looking very promising for the future, I don't think he takes as many chances down the field as he should. I get that he's a freshman and they want to ease him into the leadership role but come on. Let's see what he's got! I know he's gonna make mistakes but who cares. We can't look any sorrier as a so called D-1 football team (who's last in scoring out of 120 teams) than we already are. Let's break this game down.

QB

Zac Dysert for Miami has not really shown his potential so far this year. As a dual threat quarterback, he does have some ground speed and size to match. His arm is less impressive. Only throwing for 164 yards and an interception against a crappy Eastern Michigan team, I dont' we should have anything worry about. Even though Pete is a freshman...

Advantage Pete Thomas CSU 

Defense

This one is hard. Both teams give a lot of yards defensively. Both teams give up a lot of points defensively. And both teams have very few take-aways defensively.

Advantage PUSH

Which brings me to...

Thomas Merriweather

Running Backs

I've got a feeling that Thomas Merriweather is going to be running all over Ricky's face on Saturday. Call me out if I'm wrong but this guy is very good. A great combination of speed and smarts. Merriweather might have a carrier day against CSU if the Ram defense doesn't get their act together.

As far as the CSU corps is, I have no idea. It's driving me and the entire CSU fan base nuts how these guys switch in and out. None of these guys can run down the field. I really thought this would have been one of our strong points this year but it has been such a disappointment.

Advantage Miami

Overall, I keep hearing Fairchild say "this is going to be a special group" and so far I have been disappointed. The Rams still have time to turn this around though, but not this week. The combination of being on the road and still having some inexperience on both sides of the ball, I feel it will be another loss.

Miami-32   |    CSU- 17

I'm banking on them to score their first touchdown this week!

Go Rams!

11 IN A ROW? SERIOUS?

The Rams have dropped 11 in a row. Third longest streak in the NCAA. So far we’ve been outscored 75 – 9. No touchdowns. So gross.

It took about two minutes against Nevada, before Kaepernick ripped off a 60 yard run and you knew it was going to be a long night. Nevada didn’t punt once on Saturday. That is ridiculous. This defense is terrible. Classic Larry Kerr. Lots of good players but they can’t play as a team. Steve Fairchild a bit more optimistic than I am. "I told them this, and I believe this to be true. I think we're going to be a very good football team. We've obviously got to make up some ground and grow up in some areas. We've got to get going, but right now it's just about staying positive, getting back to work. We've got a game Saturday (at Miami of Ohio), and it's winnable. “ Umm, pass the doche, bro. Miami (OH) gave Florida a run for their money 2 weeks ago. We’re going to get smoked.
Pete Thomas is not the problem. I think he’s going to be one of the better QB’s in the country in the next few years. Hey Steve, why don’t you him throw it further than 20 yards?! Raymond Carter is overrated. Give it to Nwoke and Drake. Our WRs suck. Borcky couldn’t catch a cold. Where’s Tyson Liggett? Byron Steele is looking good but doesn’t get enough looks.

The play of the team and Fairchild’s response to it really say a lot about the state of football at CSU. There’s no heat on this guy. No talk that we may have made a mistake in getting rid of our beloved Sonny Lubick, for the homegrown NFL coach. Oh yeah, he coached the Buffalo Bill and the St. Louis Rams. Those teams suck. Now our team sucks. Coincidence? I’m a fan of positivity but let’s keep it real. He need to tell these guys they suck and it they don’t pick it up they’ll be replaced, otherwise maybe we should replace him. In his 3rd season, he has won 38% of his games and a New Mexico milk jug to show for it. What a joke.

Go Rams!

NEVADA BREAKDOWN

There really is no other way to go but up coming into this Nevada game. Considering it's CSU's first road game of the year, I really think they might turn it around this week after being embarrassed by CU in week one. Let's try to break this down.

QB

QB Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick of Nevada had a great showing in week one passing for 306 yards and 2 touchdowns and rushing for 60 yards and a 2 touchdown, but, it was against Eastern Washington. Kind of a weak test for him. Where as Pete Thomas had a pretty good game, minus the interceptions, and definitely will have a break out game sometime this season. I don't think it will be this week.
Slight edge to Nevada.


RB
I'll say it again, capitalized and bolded, USE ALL OUR RUNNING BACKS FOR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL, and we'll be just fine. If Raymond Carter learns to run the ball towards the end zone instead of the sideline, we'll be just fine. If Fairchild decides to replace a running back with another at any given time, we'll be fine. In fact, if this happens I will have to give the edge to CSU in this one. Nevada's Lampford Mark was out rushed by his quarterback, again, against Eastern Washington.
Edge to CSU.


WR

TE Virgil Green

Nevada's receiving corps is very impressive. Tide end Virgil Green brings his 245 pound frame along with speed to the tilt, making him an easy target for Kaepernick and an impossible weapon to cover.


Byron Steele for CSU has the makings of an elite wide receiver. He had pretty outing against CU and looked very quick at making the first move after the catch.
No edge to either team. Push

Defense
In this category, I really think we have two weak defenses going up against each other. I also really think CSU has the parts and pieces needed to have a stellar defense. If they can get the running game in check and more pressure on the quarterback, this defense WILL come around.
Edge to CSU.


Prediction
Even though I give CSU the edge in some of these categories, I think turnovers and having to play on Nevada's turf will give Nevada the win this week. As much as I hate to predict it, I just don't think CSU has got it together yet and still needs some time to make the turn. Trust me, I'll still be watching and cheering my guts out.
Nevada 28 - CSU 17

ANY NEW CHANT IDEAS?

CSU crowd September 4th, 2010

I’d like to hear some feedback on the “I said I’m proud to be… a CSU Ram” chant we hear all the time. Obviously I’m proud to be a CSU Ram, I started a blog about it. When I’m at the game I’m rocking the Green and Gold, cheering for the Stalwarts and dissing the other team at the same time. My pride is obvious and doesn’t need a 3rd grade chant to prove it. Let’s try and come up with something a little more intimidating and not so sing-songy. USC has “Fight On” and even CU has the “Shoulder to Shoulder” thing. I’m kicking around some ideas, but we need some help from our loyal readers to get this going.

Go! Fight! Rams!

ABSOLUTELY PATHETIC!

The CSU 'Lambs' take the field!

Disregard every previous post we've done about the CSU defense because that was THE most lack luster performance I have ever seen.  These guys couldn't stop the run all day, in fact, I think Rodney's still steppin' on Ricky's face. So disappointed in these guys.  There was absolutely no hustle, no excitement, no pressure, and no team effort out of these guys. Their pitiful secondary couldn't cover anyone. Not to mention their crappy offense. Reminds me of Sonny's last days of coaching; run, run, pass. Pass, run pass. So predictable and there was no chances down field. Air it out! Oh yeah, hey Steve, put in someone different then Raymond Carter because he doesn't know how to run up the field. Third and one and Ray Ray it trying to run to the sidelines because he's too scared to take it up the middle. Awful. We had 4 other running backs to choose from. The entire team looked flat right when they came out of the tunnel. Maybe it was too hot for them. Maybe it was the youth of the team. Or maybe, they just suck... maybe I haven't given them a chance yet. One of the only bright spots was Pete Thomas. I loved how he stood in the pocket and showed a sense of calmness as he completed passes to the other team. No... really, Pete did look pretty good for being a freshman even though he threw three picks. You should expect that. Makes me excited for the future with this guy. Another bright spot was this CU fan puking outside the stadium before the game. 11:28am to be exact.

"Hold my hair Stacy. I feel sick."

After this performance, I give you permission to call them 'RAMMIES' because CU totally ripped the man off of every single one of them. And you want to keep chanting "I'm proud, to be, a CSU Ram" now? I'm not and neither should you. We deserve better than that crap. CU wipe the floor with us and I tip my hat to them. Let's hope the rest of the season we get it together and gain some respect back.
Go Rams!

CSU loses 24-3

SHOWDOWN BREAKDOWN

Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images North America

QB
Pete Thomas starts as a true freshman for the Rams, while Tyler Hansen gets the nod for the Buffs. Experience wins here, and while I hope Thomas shows us something special, we know that Hansen has shown athleticism and an ability to play.
Advantage: CU

RB
CSU has multiple options here. Raymond Carter gets the start with John Mosure, Chris Nwoke, Tony Drake and Leonard Mason behind him. Each brings a little something different to the table. Even behind an inexperienced O line, I expect them to move the chains and make some big plays.

Rodney Stewart is CU’s workhorse and I really like his speed and physiciality. Once “Speedy” is out of the game, the Buffs rely on Brian Lockridge and little else. Depth wins here.
Advantage: CSU

WR
One proven WR returns for each team. Scotty McKnight for the Buffs and Tyson Liggett for the Rams. CU welcomes transfers Travon Patterson and Toney Clemons who are unproven. CSU starts Byron Steele, Lou Greenwood, T.J. Borcky and Matt Yemm among others.
Advantage: PUSH

O-Line
CSU had the most experienced line in the country last year, which means a lot of turnover for 2010. Tyler McDermott starts at center and the Rams will cycle in Mark Starr, Weston Richburg, Connor Smith, Jake Gdowski and others to help keep QB Thomas upright.

CU returns NFL prospects Nate Solder and Ryan Miller and others. Most of the line returns from last year and they should improve greatly.
Advantage: CU

D-Line
CSU has converted former TE’s Broderick Sargent and Crockett Gillmore along with LB Davis Burl to defensive end this year. They rely on athleticism and speed rather than technique to pressure Hansen in the pocket. On the inside Guy Miller will continue to bring the heat.


CU premier lineman is Marquez Herrod who brings senior leadership to a you defensive front. Nick Kasa and the others are unknown. Against, CSU’s young line, the Buffs could win in the trenches.
Advantage: CU

LB
CSU’s hit squad has Mychal Sisson, Ricky Brewer and Alex Williams bringing the wood, with man-child Charles Favors rotating in. CU’s has some good players in B.J. Beatty, Jon Major and Tyler Ahles. No contest here.
Advantage: CSU
 
DB
CU has two NFL quality corners and athletic, physical safeties in Anthony Perkins and Ray Polk. CSU secondary should a strong point. Momo Thomas, EBS-22, DeAngelo Wilkinson and Ivory Herd have all played and know the system. Tough call.
Advantage: PUSH
 
Special Teams:
Anyone could break a punt return or choke on a last second kick.
Advantage: PUSH
 
Overall:
If Thomas can make more plays than mistakes I think CSU has a good chance to win this game. On the other hand, Hansen should have benefitted from spring and summer practices as the #1 QB. I think CSU has the edge defensively. Call me a sunshine pumping optimist, but I have to give to our Rams.
 
Final Score: CSU:17 CU: 10
 
Go Rams!

OPPONENT DEFENSE PREVIEW

Invesco Field courtesy David Shankbone

Defensively, CU was 11th in the Big 12 in 2009 allowing over 29 points per game. There is no significant change in defensive scheme or coaching even though Dan Hawkins’ teams have consistently underachieved. Basically CU is hoping added experience and another year in the system will bear fruit.

D Line

CU Buffs DE Marquez Herrod

The anchor of the defensive front is senior Marquez Herrod. He’s a complete DE able to rush the passer and defend the run. He’ll start on the strong side with super recruit Nick Kasa opposite him. Kasa was a star at Legacy in Broomfield and spurned USC and Florida to help the hometown team. Last year was a wash, as he went down with a significant knee injury and he is untested.

On the interior, junior Curtis Cunningham was solid last year and looks to only get better with more experience. The line is fairly young but very athletic and should be able to generate a pass rush against CSU’s O-Line. Whether or not they can stop the run will fall upon their linebacking corps.

CU Buffs LB Tyler Ahles

LB

The best linebacker on CU’s team last year was senior B.J. Beatty whose been unseated by Tyler Ahles. Beatty will continue to rotate in but Ahles must be impressive in order to have gained the starting spot. Super recruit sophomore Jon Major, has battled back from a torn ACL and will see the field for the first time. He has no game experience and I’m not convinced they can stop the run until I see them do it.

DB

The secondary is the strength of this defense. Senior cornerbacks Jalil Brown and Jimmy Smith are both NFL prospects and the team’s leading tacklers. They could potentially lock down either side of the field creating more opportunities for safeties Anthony Perkins and Ray Polk. Both are athletic and physical and will be able to concentrate on the middle of the field.

Go Rams!

SAME OLD CU SMACK

 

Did you ever notice you hear the same crap from CU fans every year? They're always saying something about State being a little brother; some kind of comment about how much better their education is;  or it's easier to graduate from CSU; and oh yeah, BIG 12 blah, we have to play Texas blah blah. I actually ran into one guy who tried to justify that not one good football player came out of any of the Mountain West schools. Give me a break a-wipe. Who's the uneducated one now? To tell you the truth, I really think it's kind of fun to argue points with CU fans. I always find it interesting how aggressive they are at first but them they shut their traps when CSU fan comes back with multiple valid points. I was reading an article the other day and I came across something that solidifies why CSU fans hate CU so much and it stems back to 1958, when Colorado State beat CU 15-14 in Boulder. The babies that made up CU's institution at the time refused to play CSU after that loss until 1983 when the state legislature threatened to step in. The article said quote: "It was a "can't-win" game for them, CU administrators argued at the time. A win was expected, and a loss would be devastating for the Buffs."

Laughable. I think those views are still carried today and that's why this rivalry has exploded into an all out hatred for each other. It makes for an exciting game.

Go Rams!

OPPONENT OFFENSE PREVIEW

Over the next few days we are going to take a look at our first opponent of the 2010 season. Lets break down the Buffs by position and take a realistic look at what we know.

CU Quarterback Tyler Hansen

QB

The Buffs have a revolving door at QB. Junior Tyler Hansen gets the nod to start against the Rams over senior Cody Hawkins. Hansen has taken over at different points the past two seasons while neither QB has shown the consistency that CU's coaches are seeking. And while he's been told he has a long leash, Coach Hawk does not. I wouldn't be surprised to see the door keep spinning and have Cody make an appearance.

RB

Junior Rodney Stewart is definitely the bright spot for the CU offense. He is a squirelly and physical runner with some above average speed. He's short but I wouldn't consider him small and has a history of injuries. The Buffs need him to stay healthy and productive because after Stewart goes down, they'll experience a big drop off with the unimpressive Brian Lockridge backing him up.

WR

CU WR Toney Clemons

Remember last year when the Buffs talked about being a "smash mouth" football team? Well this year I heard quite a bit about a deep receiving corps. The ever dependable Scotty McKnight returns and while he's not a burner, he's does catch everything thrown his way (except for the one where EBS-22 annihilated him).

Let's look at the others. Travon Patterson couldn't get on the field at USC but is supposed to be sooo sick. Sounds like Andre Simmons from last year. Oh yeah, Simmons is still on the team, and a non factor. I've heard mention of Simmons needing a redshirt year. He's a senior by the way.

Toney Clemons transferred from Michigan and is supposed to be sooo sweet. He's big, fast and I heard this all before. He didn't like the spread offense Coach Rodriguez ran and thinks CU's system will be a better fit.
All of this success depends on Hansen getting the ball to these guys, and I'll believe it when I see it.

O-Line
These guys got worked by CSU's D-Line last year and their best player is OT Nate Solder. He is gigantic (6-8 320) and athletic but let's remember this is his 3rd year ever playing OL. Ryan Miller was a big recruit for Coach Hawkins and has battled injuries throughout his career. The rest of the line is young and will get better over time, but will have to contend with the speed CSU is bringing from the DE end positon.

Tomorrow we look at the CU defense.

Go Rams!