DENVER — Coming off a beatdown of New Mexico and a short week of practice, the Rams traveled to Logan to face the Utah State Aggies in hopes of earning a winning record for the first time this season. They came close to doing so, but unfortunately disaster struck in the final seconds as CSU’s determined comeback effort ultimately fell short.
While the last few seconds of Friday’s game will be something Rams fans will be trying to forget about for years to come, everything up until those final seconds was a very encouraging sight for a team that still has a chance of making a run to win the Mountain West. Let’s dive into the film and see how the Rams nearly knocked off their Mountain Division rival.
Going back to the season’s first edition of the Rams Film Room, we focused on how David Bailey’s arrival was a good sign for a team that was looking to play a punishing yet opportunistic brand of football. Last Friday against the Aggies, we finally saw the vision starting to come together.
The game plan was simple for the Rams, run the ball and build off a successful rushing attack with play-action and timely shots while relying on a defense that has proven to cause problems for every offense they’ve faced so far.
First Half Success
The coaching staff noticed a distinct weakness of the Aggies; get into big sets with multiple tight ends and run outside and to the left. This strategy was planned and executed beautifully.
The Rams’ first big run of the game came early in their first drive. It’s a zone run, off-tackle to the left with an insert block from wide receiver Ty McCullouch who comes across the formation like a pulling lineman. Trey McBride and left tackle, Barry Wesley, completely cave in the right side of Utah State’s front and open up a massive hole for Bailey to gain 10.
On the Rams’ next possession they would go right back to their game plan.
This time the Rams send a convoy on this sweet into the boundary with Wesley leading the way. No one in the Aggie secondary is feeling up to tackling David Bailey, the Rams’ freight train of a running back as, he steams through the Aggie defense for 18 yards.
Again with the sweep, the Rams opt to open up this drive later on in the first quarter with another sweep going left into the boundary. However, this drive would result in a Rams fumble leaving CSU with zero points to show for their punishing game plan.
It was time to open up the offense or risk falling behind multiple possessions.
When in doubt, get your best player in a position to make a play and that’s exactly what the Rams did for Trey McBride. The Rams split out McBride into the boundary as they put trips to the field side. The Aggies responded by playing a single high coverage and lining a corner across from McBride, advantage Colorado State. McBride’s combination of size and speed allow him to break open as he cuts out of his route. Centeio squeezes the football through a tight window and the Rams kept moving.
Later on in the drive, Centeio would respond with a gorgeous throw to Dante Wright on another third down conversion. The Rams are attempting to high-low the coverage into the boundary with a speed out from tight end Gary Williams and the deep out from Wright. The Aggies cover this pretty well but Centeio is able to layer a beautiful throw that is dropped into the bucket resulting in another huge first down for CSU.
Those two throws would prove to be huge as the Rams mounted a 14 play, 78-yard drive that would result in a touchdown and keep the Rams gameplan on schedule.
Centeio wasn’t done either as he completed another really nice throw on the ensuing drive.
After running left very successfully for a quarter and a half, the Rams began to build off of those heavy run sets with run action to the left by using play-action in those sets. Look at how the defense responds to the run action from the offensive line and the play fake from Centeio and Bailey. With some side-arm swag, Centeio flips the ball to Williams who is able to tightrope the sideline and pick up 24-yards.
Later in the drive, the Rams went back to the run game and it results in their biggest run of the day. The Rams call that same sweep that has proved to be so beneficial to this point. Trey McBride is initially beat on this play but recovers well to make sure the edge defender can not make this play.
This drive would end in a second consecutive touchdown for the Rams offense, their game plan was working but it would become a different story in the second half. The Rams won the time possession battle in the first half controlling the ball for 15 minutes and 47 seconds to barely beat the Aggies in that department.
The Rams offense was unable to keep up the level of efficiency they were able to find in the second quarter and as a result, had to become more aggressive to have a chance of winning the game.
The Rams dialed up this shot play mid-way through the third quarter as they fell behind by two scores. It was a beautifully designed and timed shot play as the Rams opened up their second drive of the half. E.J. Scott uses his speed to get behind the Aggie secondary and Centeio is able to deliver on target and on time. However, Scott drops the ball and the chance for a big play is squandered.
If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fit It
The urgency to create offense carried over into the fourth quarter. The defense was playing well and creating stops and opportunities for the Rams offense. As desperation began to set in, the Rams went to one passing concept multiple times in the fourth quarter and it very nearly won them the game.
Jordan Kress is motioned across the formation giving the Rams a 3-by-1 formation going to the field side. The Rams then flood the Aggies deep to the field side, McBride crosses the faces of the safeties and runs across the field and Kress continues to roll down the sideline opening up the seams for Gary Williams who scampers down the field for a 43-yard gain. The Rams capped off the drive with a field goal to bring the game back within one score.
The very next drive the Rams went right back to the well.
The Rams simply flipped the formation but the play is exactly the same but with a little wrinkle. This time Wright motions across the formation and stays in the flat while David Bailey takes off up the seam once the ball is snapped.
The very next play the Rams do it again, flip the formation and run the same play.
Another wrinkle is added as the Rams eliminate the motion across the formation and line up in a 3-by-1 formation. Once again, Williams is the target on the play but this time it’s for six.
Conclusion
I’ll spare you the final drive and the ensuing theatrics. The Rams came to play and were more than prepared enough to win this game on the offensive and defensive side of the ball, it was the special teams and game management that obviously let them down. Penalties didn’t help their cause either.
Offensively, it’s a good sign that the Rams coaching staff has settled into a grove with their offensive personnel and they are showing signs of being able to put their weapons in a position to succeed. With Wright now back from injury, the Rams are at full strength offensively.
They may have dropped a game to the Mountain Divison leading Utah State Aggies, but another opportunity comes quickly as the Rams have the Boise State Broncos coming into town this weekend. If the Rams’ coaching staff are able to continue complimenting their spectacular defense with a complimentary and opportunistic offense, we could see the Rams take another talented conference rival to the final seconds.
