Idaho ML???
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Overview: This isn?t a late-season conference clash or rivalry game, but the matchup still feels weighty. At least from Idaho?s perspective. A capacity Dad?s Weekend crowd is expected at the Kibbie Dome, and a win for the Vandals would be a fitting end to what?s been a banner non-conference slate. ?I would love to see this place just throbbing and pulsing,? UI tailback DeMaundray Woolridge said. ?It will be a great atmosphere for us.? Some extra commotion can only help Idaho as it faces what, by coach Robb Akey?s estimation, is its most complete opponent. CSU has an adept passer in Grant Stucker (948 yards, six TDs), a big-play receiver in Rashaun Greer (23.2 yards per catch) and a capable, balanced running attack. ?These guys have all the respect in the world from us,? Akey said.
Rams need to jump out early against Vandals
CSU's football team used fast starts to get off to its first 3-0 start since 1994.
The Rams outscored their first three opponents 38-0 in the opening quarter, quickly seizing control of each game.
So, nobody, coach Steve Fairchild included, can explain why the Rams (3-1) were so unprepared for the start of last week's game at then-No. 19 Brigham Young. But they clearly were, and the Cougars used two early interceptions and a blocked punt to take a 21-0 first-quarter lead en route to a 42-23 victory over the visiting Rams.
Colorado State University can't afford a similar lapse tonight at the 16,000-seat Kibbie Dome against Idaho (3-1), which, ironically, is off to its best start since 1994. The Vandals have beaten New Mexico State, San Diego State and Northern Illinois, with their only loss coming three weeks ago at Washington by the same 42-23 as the Rams' loss at BYU.
"We've definitely got to start fast," CSU senior receiver Dion Morton said. "I think that's kind of why we won our first three games, starting fast."
If not, the Rams could be in trouble.
Idaho, which hasn't had a winning season in 10 years, has a third-year starter at quarterback in junior Nathan Enderle, a top NFL Draft prospect on its offensive line in 6-foot-6, 330-pound senior Mike Iupati and a powerful downhill running back in 5-9, 241-pound senior De'Maundray Woolridge. Idaho is averaging 404.5 yards of offense a game with a relatively balanced attack, similar to CSU's. The Vandals have tried to throw 123 times this season, including eight plays that ended in quarterback sacks, and called running plays 132 times.
"Everybody wants to be balanced, but I think you just take what the defense gives you," said Enderle, who has thrown for 960 yards and five touchdowns this season.
The Idaho defense, which plays out of the same base 4-3 alignment as CSU, is a bend-but-don't-break bunch that has limited opponents to seven touchdowns on 14 possessions in the red zone.
"They have draft picks on that team, they have size and speed on that defense, they've got skill, and they've got an offensive line that rivals any we'll see," Fairchild said earlier this week. "... These guys, in some ways, might be the best team we're going to look at so far, so this will be a very tough challenge for us."
It's a challenge, though, that the Rams welcome. A chance to prove they're the team that started 3-0 and not the one that fell apart in all phases of the game at BYU until it was too late to recover.
Third-year Idaho coach Robb Akey, whose teams went 3-21 in his first two seasons in Moscow, expects the former.
"A three-score hole, that's hard for anybody to get out of," Akey said. "But I see a quarterback (senior Grant Stucker) that's got a strong arm, they've got a wideout with good size and speed (senior Rashaun Greer), they're moving the ball well, and they do a lot of good things on offense.
"And then, defensively, with Larry Kerr as their coordinator, they're going to do a tremendous job. ... He always has his defenses playing aggressive and physical, so I think it's going to be a good ballgame."
Idaho, already 1-0 in the Western Athletic Conference, returns to league play for the remainder of the season, as does CSU, off to an 0-1 start in the Mountain West Conference. The Rams face Utah (3-1) next week at Hughes Stadium, then travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to face No. 11 TCU (3-0) the following week.
"It's very important for us to get to 4-1," said Michael Kawulok, a sophomore linebacker for CSU. "It's really our second road test, and this is a very good football team; they're 3-1 right now and riding on some momentum. It's going to be a big game for us."
CSU's football team used fast starts to get off to its first 3-0 start since 1994.
The Rams outscored their first three opponents 38-0 in the opening quarter, quickly seizing control of each game.
So, nobody, coach Steve Fairchild included, can explain why the Rams (3-1) were so unprepared for the start of last week's game at then-No. 19 Brigham Young. But they clearly were, and the Cougars used two early interceptions and a blocked punt to take a 21-0 first-quarter lead en route to a 42-23 victory over the visiting Rams.
Colorado State University can't afford a similar lapse tonight at the 16,000-seat Kibbie Dome against Idaho (3-1), which, ironically, is off to its best start since 1994. The Vandals have beaten New Mexico State, San Diego State and Northern Illinois, with their only loss coming three weeks ago at Washington by the same 42-23 as the Rams' loss at BYU.
"We've definitely got to start fast," CSU senior receiver Dion Morton said. "I think that's kind of why we won our first three games, starting fast."
If not, the Rams could be in trouble.
Idaho, which hasn't had a winning season in 10 years, has a third-year starter at quarterback in junior Nathan Enderle, a top NFL Draft prospect on its offensive line in 6-foot-6, 330-pound senior Mike Iupati and a powerful downhill running back in 5-9, 241-pound senior De'Maundray Woolridge. Idaho is averaging 404.5 yards of offense a game with a relatively balanced attack, similar to CSU's. The Vandals have tried to throw 123 times this season, including eight plays that ended in quarterback sacks, and called running plays 132 times.
"Everybody wants to be balanced, but I think you just take what the defense gives you," said Enderle, who has thrown for 960 yards and five touchdowns this season.
The Idaho defense, which plays out of the same base 4-3 alignment as CSU, is a bend-but-don't-break bunch that has limited opponents to seven touchdowns on 14 possessions in the red zone.
"They have draft picks on that team, they have size and speed on that defense, they've got skill, and they've got an offensive line that rivals any we'll see," Fairchild said earlier this week. "... These guys, in some ways, might be the best team we're going to look at so far, so this will be a very tough challenge for us."
It's a challenge, though, that the Rams welcome. A chance to prove they're the team that started 3-0 and not the one that fell apart in all phases of the game at BYU until it was too late to recover.
Third-year Idaho coach Robb Akey, whose teams went 3-21 in his first two seasons in Moscow, expects the former.
"A three-score hole, that's hard for anybody to get out of," Akey said. "But I see a quarterback (senior Grant Stucker) that's got a strong arm, they've got a wideout with good size and speed (senior Rashaun Greer), they're moving the ball well, and they do a lot of good things on offense.
"And then, defensively, with Larry Kerr as their coordinator, they're going to do a tremendous job. ... He always has his defenses playing aggressive and physical, so I think it's going to be a good ballgame."
Idaho, already 1-0 in the Western Athletic Conference, returns to league play for the remainder of the season, as does CSU, off to an 0-1 start in the Mountain West Conference. The Rams face Utah (3-1) next week at Hughes Stadium, then travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to face No. 11 TCU (3-0) the following week.
"It's very important for us to get to 4-1," said Michael Kawulok, a sophomore linebacker for CSU. "It's really our second road test, and this is a very good football team; they're 3-1 right now and riding on some momentum. It's going to be a big game for us."
Fairchild staying quiet on status of players injuries
Steve Fairchild isn't taking any chances this week.
CSU's second-year football coach declined to reveal which of his injured players practiced and which didn't following a closed practice Thursday, much of it conducted inside the Rams' indoor practice facility.
School spokesman Zak Gilbert, who previously has provided reporters who cover the Rams with information on which players practiced and which didn't during the closed Thursday sessions, said Fairchild didn't want Idaho's coaches to find out before kickoff who would and wouldn't play tonight, when the Rams (3-1) and Vandals (3-1) square off inside the 16,000-seat Kibbie Dome.
Four of CSU's defensive starters and two key reserves are nursing injuries that could affect their status. Defensive end Ty Whittier, a senior, and middle linebacker, Alex Williams, a junior, didn't suit up for practices Tuesday and Wednesday and were said to be "questionable" at that point. Whittier is recovering from a neck stinger suffered in the Weber State game and aggravated in last Saturday's loss at BYU, while Williams sustained what he said was a minor knee injury and a concussion on the opening kickoff of that game and did not return.
Cornerbacks Gerard Thomas (ankle) and DeAngelo Wilkinson (calf) also missed plays at BYU because of injuries, but both were full-go during the Rams' last open practice Wednesday.
Redshirt freshman Chris Gipson, who had two sacks and broke up a pass while filling in for Williams at middle linebacker at BYU, wore a red jersey in practice indicating he was injured but was not held out of any drills. Sophomore Eugene Daniels, a sophomore and the top backup at defensive end, sat out with a knee injury, while redshirt freshman Zach Tiedgen filled in for Whittier with the first-team defense and true freshman C.J. James moved into Daniels' spot as the top backup on both sides.
Steve Fairchild isn't taking any chances this week.
CSU's second-year football coach declined to reveal which of his injured players practiced and which didn't following a closed practice Thursday, much of it conducted inside the Rams' indoor practice facility.
School spokesman Zak Gilbert, who previously has provided reporters who cover the Rams with information on which players practiced and which didn't during the closed Thursday sessions, said Fairchild didn't want Idaho's coaches to find out before kickoff who would and wouldn't play tonight, when the Rams (3-1) and Vandals (3-1) square off inside the 16,000-seat Kibbie Dome.
Four of CSU's defensive starters and two key reserves are nursing injuries that could affect their status. Defensive end Ty Whittier, a senior, and middle linebacker, Alex Williams, a junior, didn't suit up for practices Tuesday and Wednesday and were said to be "questionable" at that point. Whittier is recovering from a neck stinger suffered in the Weber State game and aggravated in last Saturday's loss at BYU, while Williams sustained what he said was a minor knee injury and a concussion on the opening kickoff of that game and did not return.
Cornerbacks Gerard Thomas (ankle) and DeAngelo Wilkinson (calf) also missed plays at BYU because of injuries, but both were full-go during the Rams' last open practice Wednesday.
Redshirt freshman Chris Gipson, who had two sacks and broke up a pass while filling in for Williams at middle linebacker at BYU, wore a red jersey in practice indicating he was injured but was not held out of any drills. Sophomore Eugene Daniels, a sophomore and the top backup at defensive end, sat out with a knee injury, while redshirt freshman Zach Tiedgen filled in for Whittier with the first-team defense and true freshman C.J. James moved into Daniels' spot as the top backup on both sides.
after more thought on this game...
after more thought on this game...
agree with you,
Vandals +4.5 -110 for me.
after more thought on this game...
agree with you,
Vandals +4.5 -110 for me.
