Colorado State University Athletics
A Stern Test Out of the Chutes
8/28/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
Ewers leads potent Longhorns offense
When the season-opening scenario is scripted as such, being a bit longer in the tooth doesn't hurt.
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Colorado State's first game of the 2024 campaign comes on the road in one of the more notable college venues in the country, housing a program with a national brand and a No. 4 ranking. Texas has experience in all the right places – quarterback and offensive line – and is coming off a season where it ranked ninth in total offense at 477.5 yards per game.
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The Rams counter with 108 games of starting experience on defense. It's go time for a unit desiring to make a statement from the jump.
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"It's really fun going into any game with this group of guys. This is a great team we're playing, and it happens to be a week one opponent," linebacker Chase Wilson said. "Every game is a pleasure.
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"For our defense, it's just our effort, our strains and our physicality. That's what all good defenses are made from, and I think that's something we're going to pride ourselves on this season."
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The Longhorns are coming off a season where equal parts offense and defense led them to the College Football Playoff. They averaged 35.8 points per game by taking a varied approach. They ranked ninth in total offense at 477.5 yards per game, 188.4 on the ground.
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The rest was covered by quarterback Quinn Ewers, who starts the season on most experts' Heisman Watch lists. For good reason. A three-year starter, he's coming off year where he threw for 3,479 yards, with 22 touchdowns against just six interceptions. In front of him is an intact offensive front.
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"He's just a really experienced quarterback. He's played in a lot of big games there," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "Just a quality guy. He's seen a lot of tough defenses in the schedule they play, and he has a lot of weapons. When you play the University of Texas, you're going to see a lot of speed."
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Ewers will be working with some new faces as the skill position. What Texas lost at receiver it bolstered through the portal, but the running back room took hits in camp with leading rusher CJ Baxter going down, as well as his backup, Christian Clark.
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None of which changes the Rams' defensive approach. They still expect to see highly skilled players on field.
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"We respect all opponents, but we know they're a veteran group. We know they were in the playoffs, and they have a lot of veteran starters," interior defensive lineman Cam Bariteau said. "They come back with a lot of starters, and they know what they have to do. They're going to come ready, and we're going to go in ready.
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"Especially with how college football is today, everybody is going to have talent. If somebody goes down, they're going to find somebody else to do the job. That's what these coaches are paid to do, find players who can do it. We're ready for anybody who's back there."
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To the Rams, the opponent doesn't matter when it comes to the overriding goal. They expect to be a certain type of defense, no matter the resume of the opponent. If the Rams can be that defense on Saturday against a top-flight team, all the better.
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Each week, the preparation is the same. So is the goal.
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"It's going to be a fun game. They've got some good players over there," safety Henry Blackburn said. "They've got a good program. It's like any game, you prepare the same way whether you're playing Northern Colorado or Texas. You go in with the same level of preparation, working on your keys, just understanding the flow of the game. It's good to play the best players; that's what we want as a program. We want to go up against the best and that's how we're going to get better as a team."
Â
It's only the first week, but not every week will come with a national audience against a ranked team. It's the script as it's written now. The edits are up to Colorado State.
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Colorado State's first game of the 2024 campaign comes on the road in one of the more notable college venues in the country, housing a program with a national brand and a No. 4 ranking. Texas has experience in all the right places – quarterback and offensive line – and is coming off a season where it ranked ninth in total offense at 477.5 yards per game.
Â
The Rams counter with 108 games of starting experience on defense. It's go time for a unit desiring to make a statement from the jump.
Â
"It's really fun going into any game with this group of guys. This is a great team we're playing, and it happens to be a week one opponent," linebacker Chase Wilson said. "Every game is a pleasure.
Â
"For our defense, it's just our effort, our strains and our physicality. That's what all good defenses are made from, and I think that's something we're going to pride ourselves on this season."
Â
The Longhorns are coming off a season where equal parts offense and defense led them to the College Football Playoff. They averaged 35.8 points per game by taking a varied approach. They ranked ninth in total offense at 477.5 yards per game, 188.4 on the ground.
Â
The rest was covered by quarterback Quinn Ewers, who starts the season on most experts' Heisman Watch lists. For good reason. A three-year starter, he's coming off year where he threw for 3,479 yards, with 22 touchdowns against just six interceptions. In front of him is an intact offensive front.
Â
"He's just a really experienced quarterback. He's played in a lot of big games there," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "Just a quality guy. He's seen a lot of tough defenses in the schedule they play, and he has a lot of weapons. When you play the University of Texas, you're going to see a lot of speed."
Â
Ewers will be working with some new faces as the skill position. What Texas lost at receiver it bolstered through the portal, but the running back room took hits in camp with leading rusher CJ Baxter going down, as well as his backup, Christian Clark.
Â
None of which changes the Rams' defensive approach. They still expect to see highly skilled players on field.
Â
"We respect all opponents, but we know they're a veteran group. We know they were in the playoffs, and they have a lot of veteran starters," interior defensive lineman Cam Bariteau said. "They come back with a lot of starters, and they know what they have to do. They're going to come ready, and we're going to go in ready.
Â
"Especially with how college football is today, everybody is going to have talent. If somebody goes down, they're going to find somebody else to do the job. That's what these coaches are paid to do, find players who can do it. We're ready for anybody who's back there."
Â
To the Rams, the opponent doesn't matter when it comes to the overriding goal. They expect to be a certain type of defense, no matter the resume of the opponent. If the Rams can be that defense on Saturday against a top-flight team, all the better.
Â
Each week, the preparation is the same. So is the goal.
Â
"It's going to be a fun game. They've got some good players over there," safety Henry Blackburn said. "They've got a good program. It's like any game, you prepare the same way whether you're playing Northern Colorado or Texas. You go in with the same level of preparation, working on your keys, just understanding the flow of the game. It's good to play the best players; that's what we want as a program. We want to go up against the best and that's how we're going to get better as a team."
Â
It's only the first week, but not every week will come with a national audience against a ranked team. It's the script as it's written now. The edits are up to Colorado State.
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Players Mentioned
Inside the Wide Receiver Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Sunday, April 19
Colorado State Football: Jim Mora Final Spring Practice Presser
Friday, April 17
Inside the Linebacker Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Tuesday, April 14
Inside the Running Back Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Monday, April 06