CSU v WYO POKES

Break out the Pokey helmet!

Bronze Boot time!

These two teams seem to be mirroring each other this season and this contest looks to be a tight match up. Here are some things I want to be carried over from our Aggie win against the Warriors.

Create turnovers: One stat that jumps out and worries me about the Cowboys is their passing yards. They average 236 yards per game (which isn't much but...)  judging how horrific our dbs have played this season, Brett Smith can easily reach the 300 yard mark. We need to contain Chris McNeill. The dude has over 500 yards receiving so far this season and needs to be doubled up. We also need create some turnovers like we did against Hawaii to tally a win. Those pick 6's are fun to watch.

ALL WE SAW WAS ORANGE, AND A WIN

My first impression while watching the CSU- Hawaii game, was the renewed spark on both sides of the football for the Rams. Also, the orange horned helmets weren't bad either.

With this season essentially in the toilet, Coach Mac has turned to younger players such as freshmen Joe Hansley, Conner Smith, Tommey Morris and DeAndre Elliot to make big plays and gain experience for the future. Of course, proven stalwarts like Shaq Bell and Chris Nwoke showed they still gas in the tank and enough Ram pride to put the hurt on the Warriors.

I love me some Conner Smith. The freshman looked composed as he showed off his rocket launcher of an arm. I think the coaches have a serious QB battle going into next season against Garrett Grayson. Nwoke showed his versatility by running and catching a TD. The Rams still have no WR’s with the exception of Charles Lovett, who doesn’t start but leads the team in receiving.

We need some improvement on ball handling. Too many turnovers. Good thing our defense showed up to shut down any opportunity Hawaii was given.

Let’s hope the Rams can keep their momentum next week against Wyoming. The Rams are going to have to do despite injuries to Kevin Davis and Ty Sambrailo.

RAMS v RAINBOWS

“Warriors...Come out and plaaaayyy!!!

CSU faces off against the Hawaii Warriors this Saturday at “The Ashtray,” my new favorite name for Hughes Stadium. I am excited for a couple reasons: 

1. The Rams have had 2 weeks to prepare. 
2. Hawaii is pretty bad. 
3. I have a 3 day weekend. 

It seems like just yesterday that Hawaii, led by former head coach June Jones (now with SMU), featured a deadly passing attack with QBs like Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan lighting up the college ranks and completely sucking in the NFL. Those days appear gone however, because in six games the former Rainbow Warriors have averaged only 21 points per game. That is including a 54-2 shellacking of Lamar, who apparently have a very crappy football team. Subtract that game and they average a measly 14 points per contest.

THE RISE OF CONNOR SMITH

The game started as we all expected with San Diego scoring and moving the ball at will on the Ram defense. The Rams could do very little to get any sort of pressure from the guys up front and could do equally as little to prevent the Aztec RBs from gutting us for long runs. SD Aztecs put up 218 yards of rushing but it's the 5.7 average per that's the shocker. The constant runs straight up the gut became frustrating to watch. I know ideally we want to load up the box but of course we know how bad our db's have been getting scorched this year. I will say in regard to Elliot, who I deservedly slammed last week, he got a tough pass interference call on him. Looked like great coverage. I hate the whole hand on the back automatic pass interference call.

SACRIFICIAL LAMBS

Quick history lesson for ya. The ancient Aztecs used to play a sport called “the game” that required to players to get a rubber ball through a hoop without using their hands. The winners were treated like heroes and would celebrate by getting with a huge feast. The losers would have their hearts ripped out of their bodies while they were still alive, and their heads chopped off for religious sacrifice. This is no longer the case, and the Rams can rest comfortably on their flight back from San Diego knowing that, had they lost 2,000 years prior things could be worse. San Diego State looked solid last week against Hawaii, but haven't beaten anyone they weren't supposed to yet. So this week the Aztecs lose to someone they're supposed to beat.

BATTLE OF THE BLOGS 2: RAMS v AZTECS

It's that time again where we go head-to-head, or blog-to-blog with Aztec Killing Him. In case you missed it last year, this is where we exchange 8 random questions to answer on each other's blog. This maybe the last time we ever do this with San Diego State site since they're ditching us for the Big East. Here is our 8 questions, and this is how they answered them.

FRESNO STATE ROLLS

Fresno State had a terrible game. The Bulldogs should have put up 40 on us quite easily and little bro Derek Carr definitely knows they missed some golden opportunities. Fresno had numerous penalties 10 for 112 which really helped out CSU.

The Rams meanwhile got jobbed by the refs on a completely bullshit call on Gillmore of a "crack back" block. That, my referee friend, was not a crack back but a perfectly legal block and a TD which changed the complexion of the entire first half. The score would have made it 14-7 and put the Rams in the game for the first time in 4 weeks. Once again the Rams couldn't move the ball. Nwoke is obviously nowhere near 100%. He appeared to be playing with a soft walking boot on and at one point I thought he should be running with crutches. McPeek had a terrible game missing some open receivers, failing to pick up on the corner blitzer who nearly murdered him causing a fumble and McPeek just wasn't able to pick up third downs. Maybe I'm being overly critical of McPeek as it's still early college football career, although he is in the his 5th year.... 

SO THAT STADIUM THING

It’s kind of the thing to say you're from the "neighborhood" and oppose the stadium project. The simple fact is that nobody is really from the “neighborhood,” unless the 'neighborhood' is across Prospect down to Harmony. Because if you live near the proposed site; on Lake Street or in the environmental areas, parking lots or just live on the road, you're either a student, quasi-homeless or the “Lawnmower Man” on Whitcomb. Either way, you won't be there for very long.

FEELING THE FRESNO HATE

The Rams return home in need of a major. After facing Cody Getz and the Falcons option running attack, the Rams now face another formidable running back in Fresno State’s Robbie Rouse; possibly the Mountain West's most complete back. He already has 587 yards rushing and an extra 158 receiving, and is practically giddy at the sight of CSU on the schedule. The Rams will stay true to form and won't be able to stack the box because of the Bulldog’s plethora of receiver. WR Davante Adams is only a freshman but is a boss on this Bulldog team. Isaiah Burse and Josh Harper also touch the rock with great confidence and productivity. Putting it simply: The Bulldogs can put up points in bunches. They put up 25 on Oregon's great defense, and scored 69 points on CU. Led by Derek Carr, (David’s little brother) has been playing a lot like David this year, Fresno State David, NOT Houston Texan David. Considering our suspect coverage, the Bulldogs will be able to attack the Rams however they see fit. I could see the Bulldogs having to play blindfolded after the half just to keep things fair.

CHALK UP ANOTHER ONE IN THE L'S

Have we become one of those fan groups that everyone
wants to be our friend because they feel sorry for us?
Come on Cam.

Another game, same result. When will the streak end? As usual, our defense started slow against the Flacons but finished adequate. Our offense started slow and finished with a new quarterback. I am so confused to where this team should be because in my mind and just looking at the schedule, we should be 3-2 at this point. But I'm delusional though. I think this team is thinking they are still in spring practice.

A couple of good things did come out of this contest. McPeek looked fairly solid for not having any play time for the past couple of years. He did throw a couple of interceptions but that's to be expected when you're down 21 points and you're forced to the throw the ball.

Pete Kontodiakos is a punting machine, crushing three 50+ yard punts. On the other hand, we are punting all the time so I hope he can boot it that far to give our defense a chance to stop something.

Speaking of defense, the Ram eleven gave up 460 yards rushing. 460 YARDS RUSHING. Air Force's Cody Getz averaged 8.9 yards a carry. Words can't even explain my disgust of this stat. You might as well put some inexperienced fans on the field to try and make a tackle. 3-4 defense? More like 0-0 defense. Terrible.

Where do we go from here? Do we win another game this season? I guess we've got New Mexico and UNLV towards the end of the year but even then, the Rebels don't look as bad as past years. Another other thought is what's this going to do for the stadium issue? Will this 1-4 start detour any chance of putting a stadium on campus?