Defense, or a lack thereof, has haunted Colorado State Rams football this season.
Tyson Summers, the Rams Defensive Coordinator, has had his hands full with the last few opponents CSU has played; the trickery and explosiveness of Boise State, the relentless triple-option of Air Force, the speed of San Diego State. This week, his defense faces Brian Hill and a Wyoming Cowboys team hungry for a win.
“The downfall of us all year,” Summers said of explosive plays after Wednesday’s practice.
“Like I told them the other day, we would be in a situation where we might have lost one game this year if we could take away five plays every week,” Summers explained. “Five plays. And we’re giving up these explosive plays and when you’re a 4-3 quarters defense, you got to have guys that can erase plays. That ball that went for 30, 40, or 50, got to get that tackled for 15 or 20.”
Again, CSU will face a dominant rushing attack this Saturday in Laramie against Wyoming. Sophomore running back Brian Hill has carried the ball for 1,296 yards (6.2 YPC) and four touchdowns through nine games. Eliminating his big-play ability will be key for the Rams D.
This game means more to people than a “W” or an “L” on the schedule, it’s bragging rights with the next door state for the upcoming year. Plus, being a rivalry game, there’s a shiny prize on the line in the coveted Bronze Boot.
“Obviously a big game,” said Summers about the upcoming Boarder War. “Being my first year here and all the things you hear about rivalries and being at other schools where you feel and hear all these things about natural rivalries. Felt like certainly one with Air Force and CU. This has been a totally different feel and even more anxious going into it.”
Summers was the defensive coordinator at the University of Central Florida in 2014, leading the Knights as one of the best defenses in the nation. He was originally hired by UCF in 2012 and was named their linebackers coach one month later. With the Rams, his unit has given up far too many explosive touchdown plays, but they have done well on third downs, limiting opponents to a 31.8 percent conversion rate, which is 21st in the nation.
CSU has a lot on the line; this game represents the last chance for seniors to win against Wyoming and hold the Boot, and to keep alive to possibility of making a bowl game. Colorado State holds their own fate now, it’s time to see which green and gold team will show up in Laramie on Saturday.
The game kicks off at 1 p.m. MT at War Memorial Stadium.
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