DENVER — We’ve covered Colorado State’s defense multiple times this season in previous editions of the Rams Film Room. After Saturday’s 36-7 pounding of New Mexico, we will once again take a deep dive into the Rams defense and break down what went right as the Rams embarrassed the Lobos in their home stadium.
Before we break down the film let’s talk about this defense in a more broad sense because man, they are really good.
Of the 130 schools that play in the FBS, Colorado State’s defense ranks second in the country in yards per play (3.8), third in first downs per game (13.6), 28th in points per game (19.5), ninth in total yards per game (285.5) and is tied with eight other teams to place 10th in sacks (21).
Forget Colorado, the Mountain West and the other Group of 5 schools.
Colorado State has one of the best defenses in all of college football this year. New Mexico learned the hard way just how good these Rams are.
The Lobos started a true-freshman quarterback against the Rams last week. A decision that the Rams’ veteran front seven and defensive coordinator Chuck Heater would make UNM regret. The first impact play of the game came at the hands of Scott Patchan (DE).
The Lobos are trying to run a tunnel screen to the boundary but every level of the CSU defense is able to sniff this one out. Patchan does well to recover from the right tackle’s attempt at a chop block and gets his hands on the pass. Marshaun Cameron is in the right position at the right time as the ball falls into his hands. However, this play would get called back due to a holding call against the Rams.
Cameron still made sure he got his interception though. One play later he took it right back.
While he is unable to directly affect the throw on this play, Patchan shows good hands and a nice swim move to get by the right tackle. The ball is under thrown and Cameron comes up with an interception that was arguably easier to achieve than on the previous play but this is the one that counted.
In terms of timing and scheme, defensive coordinator, Chuck Heater’s blitzes have been on point this season and have been in large part why the Rams’ front seven has been so successful.
The Rams get home again on this play but it is credited as a 0-yard rush and not a sack, unfortunately. Look at all the bodies in the box at the snap here and imagine being a true freshman quarterback asked to decipher who is blitzing and who is dropping. The confusion overwhelms UNM quarterback Montes and the pocket collapses as he attempts to escape.
The Lobos found out almost immediately that they were not going to be able to pass on this Colorado State defense. But as they opened up the run game the Lobos soon saw themselves in a place of despair.
This is actually a well-designed play and Montes makes the right decision on the read-option but the Rams defense is just too fast and too well-coached. Patchan is the read on this play and does a nice job of gaining ground on Montes as he tries to get to the edge. Cam’Ron Carter (LB) is the star on this play however as he scrapes over to cover the C-gap, barrels through the UNM tight end and completely stuffs this run for a loss.
Despite his impactful play to this point, Patchan would have to wait until the third quarter to get his first sack of the evening.
After mauling and wrecking the Lobos’ right tackle in the first half, Patchan got a chance to go at the left tackle and would win again. Patchan’s length, hand use and burst upfield are on display on this play.
Two drives later, the Lobos would again attempt to read Patchan on the edge with an option play.
I don’t think there’s an individually great play here but as a defense this play was impressive. The discipline to maintain gap integrity until the quarterback bounces the ball outside the tackle box and the collective speed of how fast CSU gets to the ball is part of what has made this defense such a pain for opposing offenses.
Patchan gets his second sack of the game here with the help of some questionable blocking from UNM. Patchan moves back to the left side of the defense and the Lobos respond by lining up a tight end and a back to his side. Pre-snap it looks like Patchan might be facing a 3v1 but the Lobos actually slide their line away from Patchan allowing the long-time Ram to break through the Lobos defenses like a bull in a china shop.
The Rams would end up pulling their starters midway through the fourth quarter but Logan Stewart (safety) wasn’t done pouring it on the Lobos.
To say it was a dominating performance from the Rams would be an understatement. Colorado State obliterated New Mexico in every facet of the game and left no doubt that they are the better team.
After pulling off the upset against San Jose State two weeks ago and the dominating performance against New Mexico last week, CSU has put the rest of the Mountain West on notice.
