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Hate to say this, but we got lucky

sackman

Hates the Counting Crows.
Club Member
The defense gave up over 60% of third down conversions. Some were 3rd and 12 or 3rd and 15. That's pathetic and it has to stop or else we're in for another long season.
 
The defense gave up over 60% of third down conversions. Some were 3rd and 12 or 3rd and 15. That's pathetic and it has to stop or else we're in for another long season.

100% on point, there is no reason for this. You don't win ball games this way and it will take its toll on the team and the fans.
 
The rammies got pretty lucky on that kick off Brown's shoulder too. But, to your point. I just re-watched the game. The D finally stepped it up in the 4th quarter. They shut the rammies out. I thougth they played much better. Remember last year? The 4th quarter was our downfall. The hope this year was that better conditioning would help us sustain in the 4th. It looks like, yesterday, that came to fruition.
 
They shut the rammies out. I thougth they played much better. Remember last year? The 4th quarter was our downfall. The hope this year was that better conditioning would help us sustain in the 4th. It looks like, yesterday, that came to fruition.

I hope you are right. We'll need four good quarters next week from the look of it
 
It was obvious to me that CU was the better conditioned team out there yesterday. That aside, when you have a team on their own 30 with 3rd and 12, you absolutely, positively, have GOT to stop them. Allowing a conversion in that situation is a recipe for disaster. It happened all the time last year and it happened again yesterday. It's a big deal. If CU had cut CSU's conversion rate down to 40%, the score would have been about 35-14. The fact that CSU was able to convert those opportunities meant they controlled the clock more, and were able to overcome the conditioning disparity.

Why this isn't more of a hot point with Hawk still remains a mystery to me. I know he's more into having the right mindset and preparation and all that jazz, but at some point I think it's legitimate to address this specific problem.
 
Pray that the Sipili case gets resolved sooner. Also, Kaynor will be back next week and Perri after FSU game.

Good point. I think having those guys will help, particularly in the pass rush. We were depleted on the defensive side of the ball yesterday.
 
You guys are right on about these 3rd-down conversions, that's a key stat that I've always felt was tough to put your finger on. I guess you could point to it being strategy, by maybe not playing a nickel or dime on 3rd downs so much or by only rushing 3 linemen. I've noticed alot of teams like to do that, back off on the pass rush on 3rd downs and drop more guys into coverage. As sacky said, you simply can't up 3rd-and longs, particularly when you have a team backed up in their own end of the field and you're about to come out of it with good field position. How about that aggressive defense that Ga Tech plays. I didn't watch that game but from what I saw of the highlights and stats, ND couldn't do **** and I think their QB's were sacked something like 9 times. That's something I'd love to see but CU probably needs to get some more depth on D before they could do something like that.
 
The defense gave up over 60% of third down conversions. Some were 3rd and 12 or 3rd and 15. That's pathetic and it has to stop or else we're in for another long season.

100% on point, there is no reason for this. You don't win ball games this way and it will take its toll on the team and the fans.

We have serious concerns on defense. I thought this half would have retained some of the strength it had last year. CSU pretty much ran and passed at will against us.

You guys are right on about these 3rd-down conversions, that's a key stat that I've always felt was tough to put your finger on. I guess you could point to it being strategy, by maybe not playing a nickel or dime on 3rd downs so much or by only rushing 3 linemen. I've noticed alot of teams like to do that, back off on the pass rush on 3rd downs and drop more guys into coverage. As sacky said, you simply can't up 3rd-and longs, particularly when you have a team backed up in their own end of the field and you're about to come out of it with good field position. How about that aggressive defense that Ga Tech plays. I didn't watch that game but from what I saw of the highlights and stats, ND couldn't do **** and I think their QB's were sacked something like 9 times. That's something I'd love to see but CU probably needs to get some more depth on D before they could do something like that.

Notice that we got that critical INT in OT by taking advantage of the shorter field; applying pressure on the QB; forcing him to make a bad pass.

I really don't think this is a scheme issue as much as it appears to be an experience or skill issue. Seems to me we were in a 4-3 most of the time and a 3-4 every now and again.
 
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New guy, here...Is Sackman always this unthinkingly critical?

Lucky? MooU was real lucky, that KO was a total fluke and was happened afterward was their last hurrah!

Defense stepped up and played lights out from then on. Once the "great" Corey Sperry got a taste of Walters' shoulder pads on that sideline incompletion, he was nowhere to be found!
 
Huh? Ran at will? I don't think so.

157 yards is "running at will"? it took some time for our defense to turn on, but mostly what happened is correctable mistakes. i think they will improve. keep in mind they have had to adjust to the loss of a very integral part of the defense, who may have an opportunity to return, depending on how things shake out.
 
Huh? Ran at will? I don't think so.

Exactly. Less than 160 yards on 55+ carries. They averaged less than 3 yards per carry, for ****s sake! Even the "unstoppable" Kyle Bell averaged 3.4. If CU's running game put up stats like that, some ass clown would be on here talking about how our rbs were the cause of every loss. :huh:

Yes, we missed some tackles, and there is room to improve. But we also made a lot of good penetration plays, and that is encouraging...
 
The rammies got pretty lucky on that kick off Brown's shoulder too. But, to your point. I just re-watched the game. The D finally stepped it up in the 4th quarter. They shut the rammies out. I thougth they played much better. Remember last year? The 4th quarter was our downfall. The hope this year was that better conditioning would help us sustain in the 4th. It looks like, yesterday, that came to fruition.

Conditioning was big this game, not to mention wearing all blacks! That must of drained on top. The D is lacking something..Greg Brown needs to get that 1/3 going!! Third and 12, and 15 there is no excuse! The first 1/2 was sick to my stomach! No way should we've been 6 yrds off their WR's, man up all the way here!
 
We may have squeaked by with luck on our side on Sat, but sometimes you also make your own luck. Last year this team had a hard time creating anything positive, so I will take a OT win with a little bit of luck to start the year.
 
I really don't think this is a scheme issue as much as it appears to be an experience or skill issue. Seems to me we were in a 4-3 most of the time and a 3-4 every now and again.

Probably so, but I've still never like rushing less guys in obvious passing situations. Of course that doesn't mean you won't be blitzing just because you only come out with 3 down linemen.
 
anyone who did not see the defensive improvements by the 4th quarter was drunker than i was.

I am not willing to buy into that yet. Was the 4th quarter better yes. But I don't know if it was us or lack of play calling by CSU. CSU went away from what was successful in the 4th quarter. They were trying to milk their lead and it cost them.
 
Probably so, but I've still never like rushing less guys in obvious passing situations. Of course that doesn't mean you won't be blitzing just because you only come out with 3 down linemen.

You won't be blitzing when every other person on the field is lined up 10 yards deep.
 
I am not willing to buy into that yet. Was the 4th quarter better yes. But I don't know if it was us or lack of play calling by CSU. CSU went away from what was successful in the 4th quarter. They were trying to milk their lead and it cost them.

that flies in the face of the fact that sonny does EVERYTHING to win this superbowl of a game for the rams. also, when we start getting penetration, i think that it is indicative of our defense rather than what is called (conservatively or otherwise).

make no mistake, they were playing to win.
 
that flies in the face of the fact that sonny does EVERYTHING to win this superbowl of a game for the rams. also, when we start getting penetration, i think that it is indicative of our defense rather than what is called (conservatively or otherwise).

make no mistake, they were playing to win.

They were playing to win when they were throwing the ball and kicking onside kicks. In the 4th they stopped doing what they had success at. The relied on the running game to much and our D was able to T off on it. Don't get me wrong, it was nice to see the D step up in the 4th and make some stops, and the INT in OT was terrific. I am just waiting to pass judgement. What I saw for the first 3 quarters concerns me.

Bottom line. When a team has a lead late in the 4th they will normally get conservative and try to control the clock by running out the ball. I don't blame CSU for going this route. I am not saying CSU played to lose, I am just saying they were playing ball control at that point in the game in an attempt to run out the clock. Most teams would do this, and it is something I would expect CU to do in a similar situation. It is great that our D stepped up shut down the run when they had to. I am just wondering if it is because they started coming together, or is it because they knew what was coming. It is much easier to T up on D if you know what the other team is going to attempt to do.

I just want to see a few more games. It was 1 quarter out of 3. D has to play all 4 quarters not just 1. And regardless of their play I still HATE how they play 3rd and long. I will never like it, until I see it succeed more times than not, and even then I probably still won't like seeing our LB play 10 yards off the line. It's nothing against the kids, I just prefer to see aggressive D on 3rd and long.
 
anyone who did not see the defensive improvements by the 4th quarter was drunker than i was.

agreed. the D looked VERY suspect for much of 3 qtrs. but stepped it up big time in the 4th when they absolutely needed it.

there are concerns that certainly need to be addressed, but after last year, i will take any positive away that i can...and the D stepping up in the 4th for an OT win against a "hated rival" is a BIG STEP in the right direction!
 
I'm willing to concede that CSU didn't do anything in the 4th quarter. Whether that was due to their own conditioning issues, conservative play calling or CU's improved defense is the question. I suspect it's about 1/2 conditioning, 30% conservative play, and 20% CU's defense finally getting it's feet. In any event, the 60%+ 3rd down conversion rate is an absolute killer. The only way any team can overcome that is to have a great offense and great punt returns. CU has a better than average offense (at least from what I saw on Saturday) and a pretty good punt return team. Those two factors kept CU out of the shadow of their own goal line most of the game.

And yes, I'm always totally negative. :lol:
 
I seem to remember a lot of 2nd and 9's, followed by a bunch of 3rd and 2's.

I can deal with giving up 3rd and 2. That means the other team did something right the first two downs. Giving up 3rd and 12 makes me go apoplectic.
 
157 yards is "running at will"? it took some time for our defense to turn on, but mostly what happened is correctable mistakes. i think they will improve. keep in mind they have had to adjust to the loss of a very integral part of the defense, who may have an opportunity to return, depending on how things shake out.

Huh? Ran at will? I don't think so.

If 2.8 yds per carry is running at will, I will take it all season. That was the stat at the end of the game. Hold all of our opponents to 2.8 ypc and we will have a pretty good season.
 
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