So, match ups for Sat...

[Highflyer]

With out throwing any players under the bus and having this turn into a **** talking thread, where do you all see the match up advantages for Sat?

Noticeable Advantages for CU
CU DL vs. CSU OL
Two potential all big 12 DTs in Hypolite and Nichlas, and plenty of experience at DE, I think the DL will give the CSU OL fits on Sat. CSU lines was a seive last year against the pash rush and they were awful running the ball as well. (Partly due to losing Bell, but also because they just were not good running the ball)

CU TE's vs CSU LBS/S
The CU TE are too big for the CSU Safeties, especially is Kubiak is still gimpy. 3 of the 4 CU TEs are also bigger than the CSU LBs, with Joe Sanders (6'3" 235) being basically the same size as the largest CSU LB. The CSU LBs are also pretty banged up coming into this game. Cody Hawkins has shown an affinity for his TEs in both the spring game and fall scrimmages.

Noticeable CSU Advantages
Special teams. Mostly this is because CUs were so awful last year, even with Mason Crosby. CSU Jason Smith has been anything but reliable in kicking FGs, but he's got more experience than CUs Kevin Eberhart. CSU's Johnny Walker and Damon Morton are real threats in the return game, where CU is still hoping that they've found someone reliable to return kicks in Hugh Charles, Terrance Wheatley or Stephone Robinson.

The rest of the match ups are pretty much a toss up, with none of the units for either team appearing to have much of an advantage.

 

[Scotch]

CSU passing game vs. CU secondary will loom large. In this game CSU has traditionally had to pass first to setup the run. CU's secondary has struggled to contain, and CSU's receivers always seem to come up with some great catches every year(Thank God David Anderson graduated). Last year Hanie completed like 14 bubble screens, and completed 23 passes total for the day. If CU wants to win this can't happen again. CSU didn't have a running game to speak of last year, but Kyle Bell is back. If the passing game is successful, look for things to open up for Bell to run wild. If that happens CSU will win imo. Unless of course CU's offense is running wild as well, in which case we'll see another game similar to the 2003 game.

 

[Liver]

i think our big question marks are:

1. can our lbs control the inside running/pass game? sperry is a very good h-back/te and bell is a very good power runner. our lbs are a tad undersized. can they hold up?

2. is our secondary improved from last year? we got torn up on crossing patterns and screens.

3. as you note above, do our special teams still suck? god, i hope not.

i believe our Buffs will pass much more effectively than last year. and, i believe, like you do, that the Buffs possess a real advantage on the ol and dl... so, if we can just get the questions above answered in a positive way, CU should win handily.

GO BUFFS!

 

[Pezman]

i think our big question marks are:

1. can our lbs control the inside running/pass game? sperry is a very good h-back/te and bell is a very good power runner. our lbs are a tad undersized. can they hold up?

2. is our secondary improved from last year? we got torn up on crossing patterns and screens.

3. as you note above, do our special teams still suck? god, i hope not.

i believe our Buffs will pass much more effectively than last year. and, i believe, like you do, that the Buffs possess a real advantage on the ol and dl... so, if we can just get the questions above answered in a positive way, CU should win handily.

GO BUFFS!

I do believe that the secondary will be improved facing the second year of the newly implimented playbook, however, with the Buffs facing so many Pro-style offenses this year, can they adjust to the Rams style of offense? I'd like to see if we can make a better effort to shut down those 3rd and long situations unlike last year where we were plagued in giving up 1st downs on what should have been hard to convert plays.

 

[Unleash Hell]

CSU passing game vs. CU secondary will loom large. In this game CSU has traditionally had to pass first to setup the run. CU's secondary has struggled to contain, and CSU's receivers always seem to come up with some great catches every year(Thank God David Anderson graduated). Last year Hanie completed like 14 bubble screens, and completed 23 passes total for the day. If CU wants to win this can't happen again. CSU didn't have a running game to speak of last year, but Kyle Bell is back. If the passing game is successful, look for things to open up for Bell to run wild. If that happens CSU will win imo. Unless of course CU's offense is running wild as well, in which case we'll see another game similar to the 2003 game.

This is exactly right!
Last year the csu WR's could catch a ball lathered in oil. We need to be better at defending the pass this year.

 

[BuffGuy91]

The two key players for both sides is Bell/Hawk. Can Bell return to the form he once had? Is Cody ready for his first college game in front of 70k? I think that which ever of these two players has the better game, the more likely their team will win.

 

[ChicagoRamFn]

The two key players for both sides is Bell/Hawk. Can Bell return to the form he once had? Is Cody ready for his first college game in front of 70k? I think that which ever of these two players has the better game, the more likely their team will win.

I see it this way as well. Either Cody will be shaken up and ineffective or it will be another coming-out performance for a CU QB a la Klatt's first Rocky Mountain Showdown. That will drive CSU into a passing offense to try to keep up with the scoring, minimizing Bell's contribution. If Bell has a big day and keeps the CU defense on the field a lot, it will limit Cody's contributions even if he's on.

 

[buff82]

don't do more than 1 Lb blitz, we need the rest to clog the feild. And we'll be fine. If we just keep CSU one dimensional, we win.