Aggies play host to Rams eyeing third straight win
In their last game, head coach Gary Andersen and the Aggies had to bunker down for a grind-it-out victory over San Diego State. This Saturday’s matchup against Colorado State will be absolutely nothing like Utah State’s trip to California.
While the Aztecs style favored the low-scoring, defense-heavy style, the Rams have spent the first month of the season taking part in shootout after shootout. With the exception of CSU’s 38-13 win over FCS side Western Illinois, each time out the Rams have scored at least 30 points and given up at least 40.
The offense’s efficiency hasn’t slowed even with the substitution of quarterback Patrick O’Brien for the Week 1 starter, Colin Hill, the latter having torn his ACL in Week 3 after a red-hot start. Through two games, Hill ranked sixth in the nation in total passing yards with 741 to go with seven passing touchdowns.
The loss of such a dynamic passer early in the season would rock the stability of most offenses and even teams. However, O’Brien stepped in against Arkansas and completed 7-of-10 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown in just over a quarter and a half. Then he surpassed Hill in a way by throwing for 405 yards (a higher single-game total than either of Hill’s first two outings) in the Rams’ 41-35 loss last week.
“(Patrick O’Brien) has a big arm and loves to throw the ball across the field. He’s a good quarterback,” Andersen said.
Hill and O’Brien’s supporting cast on offense have had a lot to do with the copious amount of yards and scoring. Colorado State are one of seven teams in the nation to have multiple receivers with 300-plus yards on the season. Dante Wright (347) and Warren Jackson (327) lead the Rams in receiving yards and both have three touchdowns on the year. They also boast a former four-star recruit and No. 2 WR in the 2016 ESPN 300 in Nate Craig-Myers. The transfer from Auburn made his season debut in CSU’s latest game, catching five passes for 88 yards.
“Colorado State has a lot of offensive weapons,” Andersen said in his weekly press conference. “You could look at what they’ve done this year and where they’ve gone. They’re big, tall, athletic and a fast receiving-core.”
DJ Williams and Tipa Galeai tackle a CSU player during the first quarter of the Utah State’s 29-24 win Nov 17, 2018.
Passing hasn’t been the only way CSU moved the ball down the field. Their leading rusher, Marvin Kinsey Jr. is second in the nation in rushing yards with 556. He’s done this while only running the ball 68 times this year, a total that ranks 18th nation-wide.
All of these weapons allow the Rams to tally up yards like a kid playing Madden, but several weaknesses hold the team back; primarily turnovers and penalties. CSU is 108th in the NCAA in penalties per game — giving up 73.5 yard per game by their own hands — and 118th in turnovers lost (nine).
Further hurting the Rams is the fact that they will likely be without some of its best offensive weapons. Jackson, the second-leader receiver on the team in yards and leader in receptions with 31, is unlikely to play due to concussion-like symptoms. Additionally, Kinsey is not expected to play due to a separated shoulder.
The Aggies aren’t without their own injuries. Starting offensive tackle, Andy Koch, left the game against San Diego State and is unlikely to play. Andersen did not give any timetable on Koch’s return or discuss the severity of the injury.
Defensively, Colorado State isn’t doing much better. Much worse, actually. In the first four games the team’s defense is as weak as the offense is strong. The Rams rank 105th (of 130) in total defense, including 123rd in rushing defense. Teams have walked up and down the field at will when facing CSU.
Even with these weaknesses, Utah State coaches and players aren’t taking the Rams lightly. Graduate transfer without Siaosi Mariner said he is “definitely excited for this matchup” with Colorado State.
“They’re a real good team,” Mariner said. “They’re very athletic, they’ve had a few games get away from them early on in the season. Their defensive backs fly around, they play a decent amount of man, so we’re going to see some man coverage on the outside.”
Mariner will likely be a key factor in Utah State’s offense. The transfer from the University of Utah is the Aggies’ leading receiver this season with 20 catches for 265 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Three other USU receivers have at least 10 catches on the season: Caleb Repp (13), Jordan Nathan (13) and Savon Scarver (10).
Junior quarterback Jordan Love is unlikely to focus on those top four targets. Love has spread the ball around to numerous receivers in each of his games. Against Wake Forest and San Diego State, nine receivers caught at least one pass with eight receivers reeling in a pass from Love in the Stony Brook game before the junior was taken out of the game.
Given the Rams’ weakness stopping the run game, Jaylen Warren could maintain or even improve on his great early start to the season. Through three games, Warren is averaging 129.3 yards from scrimmage (106.7 rushing) and has scored at least one touchdown in each outing (four total). Gerold Bright may very well also finish with a high rushing total.
Twitter: @thejwalk67