Greetings Buffalunitics. Hope you all had a nice weekend. This piece right here is meant to shed some light on the CSU Rams in anticipation for the upcoming Rocky Mountain Showdown on Sept. 2. I talked with Chad Deutschman, the sports editor of the Rocky Mountain Collegiate (CSU's student newspaper) and asked him some questions about the team and the matchup. Later this week I'll post the full transcript of questions and answers but for now, here are some impressions I got from Chad's answers.
And actually...let me start with this statement: From what I have observed at CU practices this year and the way Chad described the Rams, if the Buffs can go through this game without committing their usual sins (offensive inefficiency and ineptitude in the red zone namely) I think they're going to steamroll this Rams team.
Long story short, the Rams seem to be on the come-down and the Buffs appear to be on the come-up. Here's why I think that:
1. Experience. Chad told me that CSU head coach Mike Bobo hasn't named a starting quarterback yet (that was on the 24th). Also, the Rams defense is surprisingly new. They lost a lot of kids. Out of their entire secondary, there's only one returning starter. In regards to the Rams' front seven on D, Chad told me that he doesn't expect them to put the same amount of pressure on Sefo Liufau this year. I hate to be cocky, but it seems to me that the 2016 CSU Rams are still juggling with quite a few unanswered questions regarding starters and what to expect from new players heading into September. CU is quite the opposite of that. The team has looked good in practice and I think both the offense and defense are clicking well as a unit.
With all x-factors and intangibles that a rivalry game has set aside, I don't think there's a question about it: the Buffs are the better team here.
2. The Buffs' D: I think the Colorado defense is going to shut down CSU's offense. And in terms of the secondary, if the Rams have to mix match the QB position in-game as they did last year, Chidobe Awuzie, Tedric Thompson, Ryan Moeller and CO. are going to make medium to long passes very hard to pull off. Chad did note that the Rams' O line looked good. The Buffs D line vs. the Rams O line...that matchup I am eager to see.
Chad also mentioned that running back Dalyn Dawkins (who ran for 118 yards on 20 carries against the Buffs last year) will be returning. That'll be interesting. Run D was a big problem last year. The Buffs gave up 5+ yards a carry on average. We'll see if that changes. Also, last year the Rams outgained the Buffs in yards by a 500-345 mark. I don't expect to see a particularly potent Rams offense next Friday.
3. The Buffs' offensive skill players are simply going to be too much for the Rams to handle. And going back to CSU's inexperienced secondary...I think that is going to be one of the overall keys to CU's success. And it's probably going to be determined early. I asked Chad how the loss of Nelson Spruce factors into this matchup. He commented that the Rams secondary this season would likely not been able to contain Spruce. Well, what does that say about them when they've got to cover Shay Fields and Devin Ross? Spruce is Spruce, but those two aren't guys that the Rams can afford to ignore.
Score prediction: 31-14 Buffs
Since I got to this university in 2013 I have not ever felt more sure of a CU victory in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. If the Buffs can manager jitters and execute properly, I think they've got this one in the bag.
And actually...let me start with this statement: From what I have observed at CU practices this year and the way Chad described the Rams, if the Buffs can go through this game without committing their usual sins (offensive inefficiency and ineptitude in the red zone namely) I think they're going to steamroll this Rams team.
Long story short, the Rams seem to be on the come-down and the Buffs appear to be on the come-up. Here's why I think that:
1. Experience. Chad told me that CSU head coach Mike Bobo hasn't named a starting quarterback yet (that was on the 24th). Also, the Rams defense is surprisingly new. They lost a lot of kids. Out of their entire secondary, there's only one returning starter. In regards to the Rams' front seven on D, Chad told me that he doesn't expect them to put the same amount of pressure on Sefo Liufau this year. I hate to be cocky, but it seems to me that the 2016 CSU Rams are still juggling with quite a few unanswered questions regarding starters and what to expect from new players heading into September. CU is quite the opposite of that. The team has looked good in practice and I think both the offense and defense are clicking well as a unit.
With all x-factors and intangibles that a rivalry game has set aside, I don't think there's a question about it: the Buffs are the better team here.
2. The Buffs' D: I think the Colorado defense is going to shut down CSU's offense. And in terms of the secondary, if the Rams have to mix match the QB position in-game as they did last year, Chidobe Awuzie, Tedric Thompson, Ryan Moeller and CO. are going to make medium to long passes very hard to pull off. Chad did note that the Rams' O line looked good. The Buffs D line vs. the Rams O line...that matchup I am eager to see.
Chad also mentioned that running back Dalyn Dawkins (who ran for 118 yards on 20 carries against the Buffs last year) will be returning. That'll be interesting. Run D was a big problem last year. The Buffs gave up 5+ yards a carry on average. We'll see if that changes. Also, last year the Rams outgained the Buffs in yards by a 500-345 mark. I don't expect to see a particularly potent Rams offense next Friday.
3. The Buffs' offensive skill players are simply going to be too much for the Rams to handle. And going back to CSU's inexperienced secondary...I think that is going to be one of the overall keys to CU's success. And it's probably going to be determined early. I asked Chad how the loss of Nelson Spruce factors into this matchup. He commented that the Rams secondary this season would likely not been able to contain Spruce. Well, what does that say about them when they've got to cover Shay Fields and Devin Ross? Spruce is Spruce, but those two aren't guys that the Rams can afford to ignore.
Score prediction: 31-14 Buffs
Since I got to this university in 2013 I have not ever felt more sure of a CU victory in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. If the Buffs can manager jitters and execute properly, I think they've got this one in the bag.
