Defense? What defense?
The Colorado State Rams have lacked a presence, energy and discipline on the defensive side of the ball in their first two games of the season, losing both contests. And CSU was worked by the rival Colorado Buffaloes 45-13 on Friday night in Denver.
Through the air, on the ground, the Buffaloes trampled the Rams relentlessly. Colorado put up 596 total yards, 338 through the air and 258 on the ground; CSU had no answer as the Buffs did anything they wanted all night long.
From the beginning of the game, the Buffs seemed unstoppable when they had the ball, quickly running up a 14-0 lead. First, Steven Montez ran wildly, virtually untouched 38 yards to the house. Then, on their second drive, it was K.D. Nixon who went 47 yards to the end zone, running through gaping holes on the defensive line.
Finally, the Rams got it going, answering with a touchdown drive of their own. They moved 75 yards, capped with a throw from K.J. Carta-Samuels to Bisi Johnson, who climbed the ladder and brought it down for the score. 14-7 was as close as CSU would get though, as the Buffs offense was relentless and unstoppable by the Rams lack of defense.
The Buffs pushed their score to 28-7; one, on a roll-out throw to the tight end and another on a fade to the end zone to a wideout. Colorado State answered late by forcing a fumble and conservatively kicking a 51-yard field goal to end the first half down 28-10.
In the second half, it got even more ugly for the Rams; CSU had to punt and K.J. Carta-Samuels was pulled, and then CU scored two more touchdowns with a quickness. First, it was Laviska Shenault who went 89 yards to the house and then Travon Macmillian went 49 yards to pay dirt to push the lead to 42-10.
CU was held to a mere field goal later in the third quarter, one of the few bright spots for the Rams defense. CSU added another field goal mid-way through the fourth to bring it to 45-13, the final score.
Colorado State looks completely lost, not only on defense — where they were indefensible — but on offense, too. Next up, the Rams host Arkansas next Saturday.
(Quotes to follow.)
Notes:
- Collin Hill saw his first action of the year in the second half.
- Steven Montez played very well, going 22-25 for 338 yards, with 4 TD and one INT.
- Colorado State put only 284 yards of total offense together.