The Colorado State University Rams (4-7, 3-4/tie for 4th in MWC last year) come to Folsom Field on Saturday afternoon at 1:30PM to take on the mighty Colorado Buffaloes (8-5, 4-4/1st in the Big 12 North last year). The Buffs will be fielding a team stocked with 17 returning players from last year’s Showdown when the Rams mounted a mighty comeback in the second half but came a yard away from winning in the closing seconds of the game. This year the Buffs will obviously be aiming to shut the Rams down early and keep them down for the remainder of the game.
Much of the Buffs success or failure in keeping the Rams under wraps will pivot on stopping the passing game. Last year the Buffs were torched for 403 yards, many of which came on long plays. CSU returns the leader of that receiving pack, senior David Anderson (9 catches for 156 yards in last year’s game). The Rams also return Justin Holland as starting QB who will be looking to gun down the Buff’s traditionally weak secondary. The newly updated (knee surgery kept him out of action last season but he is ready to rumble again this year) JJ Billingsley will be leading an injury plagued secondary against the Rams formidable passing attack. Billingsley and the secondary will be relying heavily on the Buffs defensive front 7 to shut down the running game. CU coach Gary Barnett aims to work hard at shutting the Ram’s running game down without having to involve the secondary too much banking on the idea that without the running game the Ram’s vertical passing game has no room. Based on the play of the Buff’s secondary in the past few seasons I think it’s safe to say every CU fan is hoping the D-line is up to the task.
Bottom line: it only takes half a quarterback to eat up CU’s secondary; for the Buffs to be successful every Saturday we have to shut the run down and allow our secondary to lockup opposing receivers, this weekend is no exception as the CSU passing game can be strong.
On the offensive side of the ball the Buffs are feeling good, although they seem pretty shaky on paper. Joel Klatt returns for his 3rd season as the Buffs starting QB. Klatt had a phenomenal 2003 campaign but faltered in 04 suffering some serious consistency issues. This year Klatt claims to be more relaxed and more focused on running the offense but not running the entire team. Hopefully this will free him up to make good decisions and put up some great passing numbers. He has the arm if he can keep his head on the field. Klatt’s first look on most plays will be to his senior tight ends Klopfenstein and Sypniewsky both equally capable of making big Dan Graham style plays. Klatt will also be looking to connect with a sextuplet of rotating receivers led by Evan Judge. The Buff’s receiving corp has been thinned by injury as well. With Blake McKay out for the season speedy redshirt freshman Patrick Williams and explosive playmaker juco transfer Alvin Barnett will be looking to get into the action as part of the 6 rotating receivers. Behind Klatt the Buffs will feature a duo of Sophomores, Byron Ellis and Hugh Charles, at tailback. Charles, the bigger of the two, is the projected starter. He’s rumored to be one of the strongest and best conditioned players on the team this year. Behind the Sophs will be V-back, senior Lawerence Vickers. Vickers is the biggest of the backs and has the most gameday experience. I would imagine Vickers will end up seeing a fair number of carries, especially in short yardage situations as his size and explosive power make him great at snapping limbs and gaining yards between the tackles. If the Buffs can get the running game going the Rams could find their hands full on defense. Just like the Buffs, the CSU defense will be looking to stop the run in hopes that CU’s inexperience at receiver will keep the passing game under control.
Bottom line: Looks like our backfield might be a possible question mark but they’re at least enough of a threat to give Syps and Klop enough room to work with Klatt. 5 yards a down is a great way to wear a team down and still put points on the board.
All in all these two teams match up on paper amazingly even offensively. Both teams will be capable of making big plays or just grinding it out, whichever is needed. This battle will be about defenses. The defense that comes ready to play and ready to stop the run on Saturday will be the difference maker. If the Buffs can stop the run up front and keep the pressure off the secondary it’s a done deal, our offense can outscore CSU’s offense. But if we let Holland open up a can of whoop ass on Billingsley and his boys it could be a long day. The CSU defense will mostly be hoping inexperience at receiver and tailback will hamper the Buffs enough for them to key on our tight ends and Vickers.
My Prediction: The Buffs win in another shootout, 42-31.
Buff’s Offensive X Factor: Klatt. If his head is in the game he can make his newbie receivers look like gods. Watch for him to run the speed option a few times again this year and break containment from time to time.
Buff’s Defensive X Factor: Jordan Dizon and the rest of the linebackers. Last year’s freshman phenom, Dizon, is even stronger and faster this year. The linebacking corp as a whole has the talent to be amongst the tops in the conference, maybe in the NCAA.
One Thing I Intentionally Didn’t Talk About: CU kicking game. It’s so good it gets more press coverage than the rest of the team combined, look it up if you haven’t already.

Related posts:

  1. Rocky Mountain Showdown Wrap-Up
  2. Cowboys look to run on the Buffs
  3. Rocky Mountain Showdown