What We Saw: A Healthy Collin Hill is Productive

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The Rams are coming off a 52-31 loss to Colorado in the final Rocky Mountain Showdown played in Denver, and the first game of the 2019 season provided a glimpse at some questions which loomed during the buildup to the season.

Kicking Off

A healthy Collin Hill is a productive quarterback. After improving over the course of the final four games of 2018, all of which the redshirt junior started, Hill came out poised and confident against Colorado, leading the Rams on four first-half drives, three of them resulting in touchdowns.

"I thought Collin looked great," CSU head coach Mike Bobo said. "I felt Collin was under control. You know, it's unfortunate on the first pick, the safety made a great play. I thought he threw a good ball, and it was just six inches off of Warren Jackson, and the safety made a great play. The second interception was just a tipped ball, one of those things that happen. The fumble down there for six points, we missed the protection. The back didn't block the backer, we had what we wanted with the slant, but I thought Collin looked great. He was going to second and third receivers, dumping the ball off to backs."

In the end, Hill threw for a career-best 374 yards in the game, hitting on 31 of 47 passes for three touchdowns and the two interceptions. His touchdown throws went to three different receivers, Dante Wright, Jackson and Cameron Butler.

Halftime

Mistakes hurt the Rams on both sides of the ball. The two interceptions and the strip-sack fumble for a touchdown, as well as the fumble to open the second half which set up Colorado for a touchdown drive. The Buffs turned those four mistakes into 17 points.

Even beyond that, penalties took their toll on the Rams. Pass interference calls set up Colorado to score its first 10 points of the game. Flags in the kicking game cost the Rams yards, and more importantly, great field position at the end of the first half, erasing a scoring chance going into the locker room at half.

Four turnovers and six penalties for 64 yards are hard to overcome in any game, and Hill said afterward the Rams have to avoid shooting themselves in the foot.

"Penalties killed us in the first half, pass interference calls." Bobo said. "Just killed us."

Fight Song

The first game in the second year of John Jancek's defensive system did not go as planned. The Rams missed tackles and assignments, both in run and pass defense. The Rams did notch a trio of three-and-outs, but allowed six touchdowns drives and didn't take advantage of the chance to make plays, most notably two seemingly sure interceptions, one of which could have been a pick-six.

Bobo liked the heart and energy, but he wants to see more resolve.

"Defense is hard nowadays, with what offenses do," he said. "You've got to bow your neck, you've got to keep playing, you have to find a way to make that play within that drive and make a stop. Unfortunately, we didn't do that (Friday).

Overtime

Colorado State hosts Western Illinois for the home opener Saturday (2 p.m.; AT&T SportsNet). The Fighting Leathernecks dropped a 26-17 to North Alabama in their season opener.

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