All eyes on defense as CSU hopes to rebound against option

FORT COLLINS – Just when this young Colorado State defense started to string together some quality performances, they got knocked down. And the task doesn’t get any easier this week with a New Mexico offense that can put points on the board in the blink of an eye.

The Lobos boast a dual quarterback system that features Lamar Jordan and Longmont’s own Austin Apodaca. Mike Bobo praised both of them this week.

“He (coach Bob Davie) has two quarterbacks that run that offense extremely effectively,” said Bobo. “Both can run the option, both have excellent vision and handle the ball extremely well.”

Jordan has nearly triple the carries (80) compared to Apodaca (29), while Apodaca has the edge in pass attempts (85 to 61). In terms of running backs, New Mexico primarily features Tyrone Owens and Teriyon Gipson. Both backs are game-changers, as each owns a touchdown of at least 83 yards.

It’s a dynamic rushing attack out of the option that has plenty of differences from the one Kevin Davis and company dealt with at Air Force.

“Air Force is more of a wishbone or wing-t,” said linebacker Kevin Davis. “This New Mexico team will play more out of the gun. I don’t think they have a true fullback really, but three or four athletes at a time back there. So I think it’s a lot more speed compared to the Air Force offense.”

So why exactly did the Rams have so much trouble with the Falcons last week? Bobo mentioned that the newness of a triple-option definitely played a role.

“I didn’t think we played fast defensively Saturday,” Bobo said. “Give Air Force credit for what they did, a couple wrinkles, we were a little bit unsure. And that happens when you play something you haven’t seen all year.”

Defensive coordinator Marty English expanded on what the Rams’ head coach said.

“I think we were tentative, always thinking somebody else was going to make the play for us or our offense was going to carry us through the game,” English said. “I just don’t know that we challenged the way we needed to challenge. We were soft on the perimeter. I really thought we’d be more physical on the perimeter, and strike and get off some blocks and things like that and we just weren’t.”

If the Rams can limit the production of the Lobos’ offense, they have an excellent chance to come away with the win. Consider that in New Mexico’s seven wins, they’ve averaged a whopping 41 points per game. However, in their three losses, they’ve scored just 27 points per game.

CSU is very capable of keeping up with the Lobos, as the green and gold have put up nearly 42 points over the last three games. But after what happened in Colorado Springs last Saturday, this defense would rather not have to depend so much on the offense to hold serve in back-to-back weeks.

“Obviously it’s very important,” said Davis. “I think we were disappointed in the way we played last week. So we’ve got to go out and prove that we are the defense that shuts out teams. That’s our goal.”