Defense Out to Prove it is Up to the Challenge

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FORT COLLINS – There is certainly enough on film to grab their attention.

It's not just the two games Colorado has played, but the one Colorado State's defense has of itself, which was the place the Rams absolutely had to start.

The unit didn't play up to expected standards, not when allowing more than 500 yard of total offense to Washington State, with quarterback Cam Ward throwing for more than 400. Those numbers gave the Rams plenty to think about during the bye week.

"I think it drove us a huge amount. We dealt with it, kind of took it on the chin with how we played against Washington State, and obviously we weren't pleased with that," linebacker Chase Wilson said. "It was execution errors, having bad eyes and not seeing our keys. I think it was really the greatest opportunity in the world to have this bye week early to clean those things up and recenter ourselves for the rest of the season."

Before the Rams could worry about the Buffaloes, they had to fix themselves. They had to in order to execute a plan against Shedeur Sanders, who is completing nearly 78 percent of his passes through two games and averaging 451.5 yards passing per game.

CSU coach Jay Norvell said there is no secret to why the next opponent is averaging better than 40 points per game. It's Sanders making plays, by delivering the ball quickly and decisively.

"I think the big thing is that you've got to make a rhythm passer get out of rhythm. There's a couple of different ways you do that – you play tight coverage, and you pressure the passer," Norvell said. "I know we're in Colorado … Al Davis used to say he's got to get hit and he's got to get hit early. He's a very good athlete and they spread out the field and he's done a good job, so we have to get him off schedule and we have to get off the field on third down. That's important. He's been in a real rhythm the first two weeks, and we have to do something to disrupt that defensively. Our pass rush has got to get involved. We feel like we have guys that can cover. We're going to have to get in their hip pocket more and take away some of the air in those receivers' passing game and challenge and disrupt them as well."

Disruption is necessary because of Sanders' distribution. He has three targets who have at least 14 receptions on the year, and each member of the trio is averaging better than 90 yards per game. Jimmy Horn Jr. has the most receptions (19), but Xavier Weaver has covered the most ground, 288.

The theory of getting players with speed out in space and allowing them to create more has been their blueprint for success. The player who leads CU in receiving touchdowns is running back Dylan Edwards with three.

The approach has to be two-fold, and every level of the Colorado State defense has to be involved.

"Probably more than ever this week. Tight coverage will allow them to sack the quarterback, and them getting pressure will force quicker throws, the ball will be out and allow them to make mistakes," CSU corner Chigozie Anusiem said. "I think it's a good challenge when you play a good team like this. It really tests your abilities against them. The pressure is just tackling them in space. A lot of their routes are really, catch the ball, good athletes, get in space and make people miss, so just hit them right when the ball gets there; tight coverage."

There are other areas the Rams knew they had to be cleaner. Washington State's tempo caught the Rams out of alignment on a few occasions, a fact Wilson and Anusiem believe the group has addressed. It had to be, because the next couple of games on the schedule will feature offenses with similar tactics.

But most of all, the defense set out to address the challenge. Not just the one the next opponent will bring to the table, the one they have for themselves. To perform like the defense they expect to be, a unit which creates turnovers, negative-yardage plays and gets off the field on third down.

That particular challenge is more personal, thus more effective.

"This game has been circled for me. There's a lot of hype around their team and the individual players they have, like Travis Hunter; Xavier Weaver is really good, and Jimmy Horn is really good," Anusiem said. "To me, they won't throw away from me, so I'm excited about it."

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