Tuesday, November 26, 2019

2019 Ram Recap - Week 13 - W(h)y(?)oming

This may be hard to believe, but the weather in Laramie for a battle over the Bronze Boot was really cold and terrible. Never could have predicted that. Also cold? The Rams offense. While seven points does get you taco's, it rarely is enough to win a football game. And that is exactly what happened. Looking back through the drive summaries of the game, the first half was boring as hell - five punts, a touchdown for each team, and a Wyoming kneel down to end the half tied at seven. The second half was just as lame, but more diverse - four punts, one touchdown, one field goal, one interception, one missed field goal, two turnover on downs, and one sad Wyoming drive to run out the clock.

The Positives:

  • John Jancek's defense played well enough to win the game. They legitimately did. They gave up 17 points to a rival, despite the offense giving Wyoming short fields on one of the touchdown drives. After last year's horrendous start to the Jancek era, his defense has been a strength as this season has progressed. 
  • Warren Jackson remains the best player on the field. Six receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown is pretty pedestrian for Jackson, but he did accomplish a major career milestone in the loss. 
  • As this game was on a Friday night in Laramie, I was not able to drive up to watch it in person. That means that I was able to avoid the cold (20-something degrees at kickoff and falling) and watch from the warmth of my living room. And believe me, I tried everything: 
  • The white pants/white jerseys/white helmets with green bones is such a clean look. 
  • [This was from last week. Still applies.] As you can tell, I am stretching a bit to find positives. I am so damn sick of losing rivalry games. 

The Negatives: 

  • The minuscule chance that CSU could stumble into bowl eligibility evaporated into the cold Wyoming wind. While I did not have much confidence in the Rams' ability to beat a top 25 Boise State, we will now all drive to Fort Collins on Black Friday without any false hope of a possible bowl game. 
  • Last week, the Rams averaged 1.3 yards per carry. Thankfully that number was improved against Wyoming where they averaged... [calculating]...[wait for it]... 1.6 yards per carry. Ugh. 
  • The first Ram offensive drive of the second half started with an incomplete pass followed by a 9 yard scramble by Patrick O'Brien. On third and one near midfield, the Rams called a QB sneak that resulted in no gain. Going for it on fourth down, the Rams reached deep into the playbook to call another QB sneak that resulted in no gain. Turnover on downs. Wyoming would then drive down half the field to score the go-ahead touchdown. The game was effectively over. I love when Bobo gets aggressive on offense. I loved that Bobo went for it on fourth down twice in the opening drive against Air Force. Placing your trust in your team to get the yardage needed to move the sticks is a great motivator. But calling a QB draw on second down and then two straight QB sneaks on third and fourth down was horrible. Wyoming had been all over the run game up to this point - pull something out of your giant offensive brain of yours and give your team a chance. That sequence was frustrating. 
  • Two drives later, the Rams had moved into Wyoming territory with a balanced attack - strong runs from Marcus McElroy and receptions by Trey McBride and Dante Wright got the Rams to the Wyoming 31 yard line. Two incomplete passes in the direction of Warren Jackson (neither was particularly close) and the Rams faced 4th down and 2. Down a touchdown on the road against a bitter rival during the fourth quarter of a freezing cold and windy contest and Mike Bobo elected to try a 50 yard field goal. Maybe the previous fourth down attempt scared him, but this was a chicken decision. What did the Rams have to lose in that scenario. You have a wide receiver who cannot be consistently defended by any cornerback in the Mountain West Conference. You do not have a single play in your playbook to get him the ball? 
  • The Rams have lost 12 straight rivalry games. Twelve straight. If you are a fourth year senior on the football teams of the University of Colorado, the United States Air Force Academy, or the University of Wyoming, you have never experienced a defeat at the hands of the football team from Colorado State University. 

Up Next - Week 14 - The Merciful End:

Bowl eligibility: out the window.

Trophy case: empty.

This season has been a frustrating continuation of the last few years of the Mike Bobo led program. Reports surfaced this week that two bottom-feeder Mountain West Conference teams already have plans to replace their coaches - Bob Davie from the University of New Mexico and Tony Sanchez from UNLV. Will Joe Parker make CSU the third MWC school to make a change? I know that the buyout money is in question, but I do not understand how Parker can look at what is transpiring with the football program and think that more time is the solution. The status quo is not working.

Our realtor always talks about the street optics of a property. If you are driving by a house that is on the market and you do not like what you see from the street, your chances of looking inside the house lessen considerably. College athletics are the street optics of university systems. CSU is a fantastic research university with a top 5 veterinary program and general academic excellence across the varying colleges. But the outward-facing, prominent public view of the university comes through the athletic department and specifically the big sports - football and basketball. When Bobo arrived on campus, CSU was positioning for something bigger - an invitation to a Power 5 conference. With the new on-campus stadium in the works, a run of success under Jim McElwain, and improved recruiting across the board, CSU football was on its way to being a top selection for any conference realignment or expansion.

In the last five years, CSU has improved our national academic rankings in most categories, has continued to expand our research capabilities, has made incredible strides to modernize and further beautify the campus, and has continued to be a leading high education system in the western United States. The athletic department has made strides as well - I can honestly say that at least 11 of the 13 varsity sports that are not football are trending upwards:

  • Women's volleyball continues their dominance of the MWC, currently ranked #11 in the country after going undefeated in conference play this season,
  • Men's cross country entered the NCAA regional meet with a national ranking of #25
  • Women's cross country has gone from a non-contender to finishing 4th at the MWC championship race,
  • Men's and women's track and field are both the defending indoor and outdoor MWC champions, 
  • Women's soccer is coming off their best season in program history (12-5-3) earning their first invite to the MWC tournament,
  • Women's softball spent portions of last season ranked in the top 25 last season and participated in the NCAA tournament, 
  • Men's golf is ranked in the top 25 and won their last three tournaments of 2019,
  • Women's golf produced record scoring during this past fall season,
  • Women's basketball had one down year last season among a run of solid MWC representation (and my favorite coach at the university),
  • Men's basketball is trending up with the return of Niko Medved and the talented young players that have followed him to Fort Collins. 
  • The remaining two programs (women's swimming and diving and women's tennis) may be trending upwards, I am not well informed team.  

And then there is the football program. The most prominent and visible and recognizable program in the department is in shambles with no signs of recovery. Three of the five power conferences will be renegotiating their media rights between 2022 and 2024, potentially shifting the college landscape similar to what we saw in 2011. That time frame worries me. Will the successes of the CSU athletic department and the academic achievements be enough to offset the doormat that is the football program? Or, can the football team do in the next two years what the other CSU programs have done to put the university in a position to be considered for any and all realignment options? At the current trajectory, I do not see that happening.

WeekOpponentPredictionResultFlick's Picks
1Colorado (Denver)LCU 52 - CSU 311 - 0
2Western IllinoisWCSU 38 - WIU 132 - 0
3at ArkansasLUA 55 - CSU 343 - 0
4ToledoWUT 41 - CSU 353 - 1
5at Utah StateLUSU 34 - CSU 244 - 1
6San Diego StateLSDSU 24 - CSU 105 - 1
7at New MexicoWCSU 35 - UNM 216 - 1
8BYE------
9at Fresno StateLCSU 41 - FSU 316 - 2
10UNLVWCSU 37 - UNLV 177 - 2
11BYE--

12Air ForceWAFA 38 - CSU 217 - 3
13at WyomingWWYO 17 - CSU 77 - 4
14Boise StateL


Thursday, November 21, 2019

2019 Ram Recap - Week 12 - Chair Farce

The weather should have been the first indicator of things to come. What was expected to be a gorgeous, cool, fall day in Fort Collins ended up being cold and blustery. The wind during our tailgate attempted to rip away our canopy and forced sweatshirts and jackets to emerge earlier than anticipated. We figured the stadium would provide a respite from the wind, as our seats force our backs to the west and the bleachers and press box provide a tall shelter. Somehow, physics declined cooperation and the wind swirled around our seats throughout the game. Moments of calmness were fleeting and welcomed, however brief they were. Our hats and gloves and jackets and hoods and blankets battled the entire game, but were overcome at the end of the third quarter and we headed home. The cold weather and bad football team gave us a great opportunity to explore the stadium - going to the top corner of our section and giving us some cool shots.



If you are a regular reader of this website, you may remember the first bullet in The Positives section of the UNLV recap was all about the success of the Rams being tied to their early offensive outbursts. This weekend followed that script exactly - finishing the first quarter up 14 - 0 over the Falcons. Great! Then the Rams decided to do nothing else offensively for the remainder of the game, let Air Force rattle off 24 unanswered points, score a late touchdown to make it interesting, then end the game dramatically by giving up a 99 yard interception return for a touchdown as the clock showed less than 2:00 remaining in the contest. Not great. Another trophy going back to a rival for anther year...

The Positives:

  • The first drive was magical and exactly what we expect from a Bobo offense. A solid mix of run and pass, aggressive fourth down play calls, and the Rams ending it in the end zone. After this drive, I was convinced that a good defensive effort combined with this offense would be enough to head home with a victory. 
  • The defense played well for most of the contest. The Air Force offense was completely stifled to start the game - starting the game with a fumble that was returned for a CSU touchdown and then two straight punts. The Rams defense added an interception in the third quarter and played far better than the final score indicated. This loss was not on the defense. 
  • This tweet came out prior to the Air Force game, but was a great indicator of the strides that have been made this year on the defensive front. There are some high quality programs on this list. And also CSU. 

  • Our tailgate game remains strong. Despite the wind, we successfully pre-gamed without incident. At one point, our tailgate television blew off the table and (no joke) landed upright on the ground next to the table. No damage from what we could tell. The TV took the rest of the night off after that miraculous save. 
  • As you can tell, I am stretching a bit to find positives. I am so damn sick of losing rivalry games. 

The Negatives: 

  • The wind. It really was not that cold in Fort Collins on Saturday evening, but the wind made watching an outdoor sporting event unbearable. 
  • During our time at the top of the section, we were vertically lined up with the northernmost suite. The kids tried their hardest to get the suite life folks to acknowledge their waving and dancing, to no avail. As I watched the kids go ham for the preoccupied audience, I was amazed by how many people in the suite were not watching the field out the window or on the television screens. Maybe I am a nut, but you came to a football game - watch the football game. 
  • While my prediction record for the season is guaranteed to be above .500, this incorrect pick hurt a lot. The loss essentially eliminates the possibility of stumbling into a bowl game. Of our last three games, this game had the best odds for a CSU victory. The start was exactly what CSU needed - a strong offensive first drive to open the scoring and a defensive score to go up by 14 in the first quarter. Then the offensive wheels just fell off. Offensive production outside of a two-play, 75 yard touchdown drive in the second half was non-existent. The offensive game plan was garbage. The offensive execution was garbage. The offensive adjustments were garbage (if they adjusted at all). 
  • I spent some time after the game texting with a buddy who was a former offensive lineman in high school and long-snapper at CSU (Hi John). Obviously, his understanding of football far exceeds any knowledge I have of the sport. His complaint was that despite the offensive line getting dominated by the smaller Air Force defensive line, CSU continued to call plays with 7 step drops. These deep drops in the pocket gave Air Force the time and space to put pressure on O'Brien before he had a chance to offload the ball. 
  • Another nugget from John: CSU is 8-31 against FBS teams with 4 or more wins. CSU is 18-1 against FCS teams and FBS teams with 3 or fewer wins. That is garbage. 
  • I can imagine being an Air Force fan is quite fun. You are the smaller team in every contest (with the service academy games as a possible exception). Yet your team plays harder than the opposition in EVERY. DAMN. GAME. There is never a question of effort or toughness or grit with that team. As one of those opposing teams, watching a smaller, less athletic team completely dominate the trenches is frustrating. The week prior to the game, CSU Creative pumped out a video where CSU talked about the tougher team winning. Well guess what, Rams. That statement remains true. 
  • The Rams rushed for 39 yards on 31 attempts. That equates to an average yards per rush of 1.3. LESS THAN A YARD AND A HALF PER RUSH. 
  • The Rams were 4-16 on 3rd down. 

Up Next - Week 13:

The good news is that the Rams still have a mathematical chance to work their way into a bowl game. The bad news is that the probability and likelihood of that happening is damn near zero. Wyoming played Boise State on the Smurf Turf earlier this month and ended up losing to the Broncos in overtime. I watched a chunk of that game and commented during the broadcast that I could not see how CSU beats either of those teams. After watching CSU against Air Force, I stand by that statement. Sorry Mikey from before the season started, your predictions are going 1-1 the remainder of the games.

First up are the Cowboys in Laramie for a Friday night tilt under the lights of War Memorial Stadium (this is assuming the state of Wyoming has discovered electricity in the last year). The Pokes are heading home after an 0-2 road trip through Boise, Idaho and Logan, Utah. Wyoming always plays hard in the Border War. The natural and longstanding rivalry between the schools is bolstered by the giant chips on the shoulders of the many Wyoming players from Colorado high schools who were overlooked by CSU during their recruiting process. Some Colorado prep star on the Cowboy roster will have a career game on Friday. It happens every year.

With a four-win season getting closer and closer, it becomes harder to envision the 2020 football season with Mike Bobo at the helm. The question has been and will continue to be the timing of the whole deal. Bobo's buyout drops precipitously after the first of the year ($5.5 million to $3 million) so it makes sense to either negotiate a reduced early buyout with Bobo or wait until January 1st to part ways. Waiting puts the Rams in a bind from a recruiting standpoint, but this program is in need of an overhaul regardless of the timing. Bobo inherited a team that in 2014 went 10-3 and was ranked in the top 25 for a short time. All the program has done since 2014 is go the wrong direction. As someone who truly respects and likes Mike Bobo the person, I have finally reached the point where I think it is time for Mike Bobo the coach to be relieved of his duties. This garbage is not acceptable.

#GoRams

WeekOpponentPredictionResultFlick's Picks
1Colorado (Denver)LCU 52 - CSU 311 - 0
2Western IllinoisWCSU 38 - WIU 132 - 0
3at ArkansasLUA 55 - CSU 343 - 0
4ToledoWUT 41 - CSU 353 - 1
5at Utah StateLUSU 34 - CSU 244 - 1
6San Diego StateLSDSU 24 - CSU 105 - 1
7at New MexicoWCSU 35 - UNM 216 - 1
8BYE------
9at Fresno StateLCSU 41 - FSU 316 - 2
10UNLVWCSU 37 - UNLV 177 - 2
11BYE--

12Air ForceWAFA 38 - CSU 217 - 3
13at WyomingW
14Boise StateL


Friday, November 08, 2019

2019 Ram Recap - Week 10 - Rebel Scum

I knew that cutting DirecTV out of my life would cause some frustrations in my sports fan life. I knew that the streaming options did not include Altitude Sports or AT&T Sports Net Rocky Mountain. I knew that the desire to watch the Rockies/Nuggets/Avalanche would loom in the back of my mind. But I had prepared myself for that and I knew that the amount of money saved and the freedom that came from a contract-free life would offset those woes. But I had not planned on missing a CSU home game that was being broadcast by ATTSNRM. Fortunately, I had the sultry sounds of Brian Roth to give me the necessary play-by-play calls of my favorite team.

Roth's pregame banter during the coin flip included a conversation about UNLV's decision to defer. In previous weeks, CSU has shot out of the gate and produced early points that dictated the pace of the game. Roth and crew commented that they were surprised that UNLV, having won the toss, had not elected to take the ball to change that trend. Only a few short moments later, Anthony Hawkins was cruising into the endzone at the tail end of a 99 yard kickoff return for a touchdown putting the Rams up 7-0. The lead was never relinquished and the Rams dominated the game.

The Positives:

  • When the Rams score early, good things happen. The quick points from the Hawkins kickoff return was followed by a touchdown on the subsequent drive to put the Rams up two scores. The early success resulted in confidence on both sides of the ball and truly the best overall game of the year for the team. 
  • Patrick O'Brien continues to improve with extended time behind center. O'Brien has shown some flashes of why Nebraska recruited him in the first place - he is calm and composed in the pocket, uses his feet enough to stay out of trouble, makes smart decisions, and throws a nice ball. His numbers were not gaudy (17/27, 234 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs), but he limited mistakes and distributed the ball well. 
  • The receiving corps again looks like a strength. Warren Jackson (another ho-hum 6 reception, 133 yard day for him) clearly is the alpha in this unit, but six other players caught balls on the day. 
  • Speaking of Warren Jackson - his 133 yards put him at 657 yards over a consecutive four game span. That broke the previous CSU record of 644 yards, set by Michael Gallup in 2017. Warren Jackson is good at football. My co-worker (and PA announcer for the CSU women's basketball team) asked me if Jackson would declare for the draft after this season. I
  • Freshman Christian Hunter got the bulk of the carries at tailback and scored his first career touchdown. Hunter, Thomas, and McElroy have given CSU quality production from the backfield after Marvin Kinsey's suspension. All three running backs showed up in the scoring summary this week, as well. 
  • Last year's safety tandem of Jamal Hicks and Jordan Fogel had a ton of potential, but mostly made me want to pull my hair out. They consistently were out of position, missed tackles, and allowed receivers to get behind them. This season, Hicks has become one of the best players on the field. He is rarely out of place in the secondary, he has been great both in run support and in pass coverage, he wraps up and finishes tackles. It has been fun to watch his transformation into an impact player in his senior season.  
  • Justice McCoy got an appearance late in the game with the Rams comfortably ahead. He completed a couple passes and was at the helm of a fourth quarter touchdown drive to extend the Ram lead to 27 points. For a guy in his third year with the program and who had a disastrous inaugural appearance a few weeks ago, it was nice to see him back on the field and having a positive experience. 
  • The State Pride jerseys. Good lord, these are some of the cleanest and nicest alternate jerseys in college football. So nice. 
  • Yeah, those jerseys... 

The Negatives: 

  • The Rams were favored against UNLV. They dominated end to end. They won by 20 points. All 17 UNLV points came in the second half of the game after CSU had already built a commanding lead. It was the third Ram win in a row. I do not feel like I need to put anything in this section. Except... 
  • I was not there. C'est la vie avec les enfants. 

Up Next - Weeks 11 and 12:

For the second time during this three game win streak, the Rams have a weekend off. Normally I would complain about a bye during a winning streak, but the Rams are going to need to be rested as they face their final three opponents. If the Rams wish to play a 13th game this season, they still need two more victories. They have three more games. But those three games come against teams with a history of success against Bobo's boys - the first of those against the cadets of the United States Chair Force. The last CSU victory over Air Force came in 2015 in Fort Collins; Bobo's first year as the head ball coach. The three subsequent battles for the Ram-Falcon trophy have been horrible to watch, mostly because of the defense's inability to stop the triple option. The good news going into this contest is that the game is in Fort Collins and the CSU defense is playing its best football of the year. The major problems with defending a triple-option offense (over pursuit, lack of discipline, poor tackling, etc) have been cleaned up in the latter half of the season. Hopefully, this means that the Rams can somewhat stifle a Falcon offense that has averaged 35 points per game. They have also beat all the common opponents (beating CU in overtime and creaming both Utah State and Fresno State).

If the Ram's fall to the Falcons next weekend, bowl eligibility is basically gone. The Rams would have to win a rivalry game on the road and beat a top 25 team at home (one in which they have NEVER beaten). As a result, the Air Force game is a must-win for the Rams. Here's hoping my predictions hold true the next two weeks, then fall flat on their face in the finale.

#GoRams

WeekOpponentPredictionResultFlick's Picks
1Colorado (Denver)LCU 52 - CSU 311 - 0
2Western IllinoisWCSU 38 - WIU 132 - 0
3at ArkansasLUA 55 - CSU 343 - 0
4ToledoWUT 41 - CSU 353 - 1
5at Utah StateLUSU 34 - CSU 244 - 1
6San Diego StateLSDSU 24 - CSU 105 - 1
7at New MexicoWCSU 35 - UNM 216 - 1
8BYE------
9at Fresno StateLCSU 41 - FSU 316 - 2
10UNLVWCSU 37 - UNLV 177 - 2
11BYE--

12Air ForceW
13at WyomingW
14Boise StateL


2019 Ram Recap - Week 9 - Road Under(bull)dogs


That's two in a row!! One more - that's called a winning streak. It has happened before. I've got a feeling things are about to turn around for us...

The Rams entered this road contest as a 14 point underdog. I get it - the hapless Rams who have spent a majority of the season stumbling over themselves were on the road against the defending Mountain West Conference champions. Apparently, the Rams did not know that they were supposed to roll over and take the L on the way out (thanks for that saying, Coach Malone). The Rams played hard. They played together. They limited mistakes. And they left the Golden State with a much needed win.

The Positives:

  • The Rams started the game with a tenacity that we have not seen this season. The first drive was quick and beautiful - including a play action pass to a wide open Trey McBride. After making a defender look foolish, McBride rumbled 69 yards for the opening score. 
  • Patrick O'Brien played one of his better collegiate games. Despite having a bad interception (more on that later), O'Brien looked the most comfortable he has ever looked behind center. He threw for over 300 yards and tossed a couple touchdowns, including the late six-pointer to Warren Jackson that put the Rams ahead for good. 
  • The offensive line play was much improved against the Fresno front. The Bulldogs generated one sack and one QB hurry. For the whole game. That's it. The Rams can win games with that offensive protection up front.
  • THE RAMS FINISHED AN ENTIRE FOOTBALL GAME IN 2019 WITHOUT COMMITTING A SINGLE FUMBLE!
  • The running game could have been a disaster with the announcement during the week that the Rams were losing their leading rusher for an indefinite amount of time to a suspension. Instead, Marcus McElroy (Mullen, Mullen!) decided to announce his arrival with a bang. McElroy recorded his first career 100+ yard rushing game, his first career touchdown, and showed the strength and explosion that we were promised as an underclassman. 
  • Logan Stewart singlehandedly won the turnover battle for the Rams. His two fourth quarter interceptions sealed the game for the Rams and earned him MWC Defensive Player of the Week honors. 
  • Warren Effing Jackson. Once again, Jackson was a man playing among boys. His stat line is ridiculous (9 receptions for 178 yards and a touchdown), but it is not the most impressive thing about Jackson. Jackson makes this offense a completely different animal. Since his return from injury, Jackson has 392 yards receiving on 18 catches with three touchdowns. His physical stature and athletic ability make him a coverage nightmare and he has become the most dependable receiver on this Ram squad. Good luck, defensive backs. 
  • Mike Bobo has never lost a game to Fresno State. 

The Negatives: 

  • About O'Brien's interception: his lone giveaway came at a terrible time (4th quarter) in a terrible situation (a tie ball game) in a terrible location (on the Fresno 14 yard line). 
  • The start to the second half. As I have mentioned before, this coaching staff struggles to make adjustments at halftime to combat whatever the opposing team comes up with in their locker room. This game was no exception. Fresno's opening drive was too easy and resulted in 7 points. The quarter score was 14-3 in favor of the Bulldogs. If CSU wishes to turn the corner with this program, figuring out how to stop other teams from fighting back into games will be pivotal. 
  • While the offense did gain abundant yards and score abundant points, their struggles on third down cannot be ignored. They finished 6-16, failing to deal the crushing blow until late in the contest. 
  • No more negativity. A win over the defending MWC champions is worth celebrating. 

Up Next - Week 10:

The Rams have one game remaining on the schedule where they will be favored. This weekend, the Rebels of UNLV roll into Fort Collins and they are baaaaaad. With a victory against UNLV, the Rams will ride a three game winning streak into the heart of their schedule - closing out the season with games against two bitter rivals in Air Force and Wyoming and a team they have yet to beat in Boise State. A victory on Saturday gives them the slightest hope that a bowl game is possible, but it will take winning two of the following three. But the Rams have won two in a row. Win again Saturday, that's called a winning streak. It HAS happened before. I've got a feeling things are about to turn around for us...


WeekOpponentPredictionResultFlick's Picks
1Colorado (Denver)LCU 52 - CSU 311 - 0
2Western IllinoisWCSU 38 - WIU 132 - 0
3at ArkansasLUA 55 - CSU 343 - 0
4ToledoWUT 41 - CSU 353 - 1
5at Utah StateLUSU 34 - CSU 244 - 1
6San Diego StateLSDSU 24 - CSU 105 - 1
7at New MexicoWCSU 35 - UNM 216 - 1
8BYE------
9at Fresno StateLCSU 41 - FSU 316 - 2
10UNLVW
11BYE--
12Air ForceW
13at WyomingW
14Boise StateL