Fort Collins – For the past year, Colorado State’s defensive front recited the number as if forced to give a prisoner-of-war confession: 115.
That national ranking in rushing defense, among 117 Division I-A schools, is history now. The Rams’ eagerness to get back on the field this season was exceeded only by an intensity to get off the field last Saturday, when they held Weber State to a string of three-and-outs and minus-38 rushing yards.
The swagger is back, just in time for Saturday’s game against rival Colorado.
While keeping in perspective that was a Division I-AA team it manhandled, CSU’s defensive line believes it has come a long way from last year’s embarrassment.
“We’re up to the challenge,” said Blake Smith, a third-year starter at tackle along with end Jesse Nading. “CU is another offensive line that is better than the line we played last week. But none of the defensive linemen are intimidated.”
Nading said: “I think attitude and swagger are something we tried to get back as a defense. As a whole I thought the spring and fall we were able to get an attitude and player with a chip on our shoulders. We did that Saturday.”
Defensive coordinator Steve Stanard and line coaches Karl Ballard and Jesse Williams aren’t letting the Rams think for a second they are a finished product based on whipping a I-AA team.
“Coach Ballard doesn’t want us to jump to the conclusion we’re the best defense in the world,” Smith said. “He showed what we did wrong and we still made plenty of mistakes.”
Stanard believes his defense gained confidence in the opener.
“I thought we played a consistent game,” he said. “We only had seven mental mistakes the whole game. We have to keep executing. There’s no reason to confuse them with more stuff.”
Stanard and offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt studied Boise State tape during the summer to get a grasp of what to expect from new CU coach Dan Hawkins. Very little of the Boise State elements appeared on either offense or defense in CU’s stunning 19-10 loss to I-AA Montana State.
“He’s putting in a new system. You can’t throw the whole kitchen sink at them,” Stanard said. “I’m sure they are going to come out and say, ‘We are going to establish a running game.’
“His style is a lot of shifts and motions. They didn’t do that in the first game, although I’m sure they had it all in. I’m sure each week they are going to continue to add.”
The Rams won’t let CU’s loss take any of the edge off the rivalry, though it puts them in the favorites’ role Saturday.
Whether players went to high school in-state, like Nading at ThunderRidge, or out of state, like Smith in Tulsa, Okla., the rivalry is the same.
“This is my favorite game of the year, and it’s probably true for most of the guys,” Smith said.
Nading said he probably knows more history of the series than his teammates, having grown up in the Denver area, but added, “It’s exciting for everyone.”
The real confidence will come if the Rams can turn back CU after three narrow, heart- wrenching losses.
“If we play like we did last week, we’ll all feel a lot better,” Smith said.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
Colorado vs. Colorado St.
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday at Invesco Field at Mile High
TV: CSTV, OLN
Radio: KOA 850 AM, ESPN 560 AM
Matchup
Quarterbacks
With his seventh career start, CSU’s Caleb Hanie is a poised veteran who also can pick up yards on the run. Colorado senior James Cox has caught the coaches’ eye in practice, but hasn’t translated that into a game. He has struggled in his past two starts for CU. Edge: CSU
Running backs
If Kyle Bell hadn’t torn his ACL, this would go in CSU’s favor. Both teams are operating by committee, and neither has an imposing ground game. Hugh Charles, who’s nursing an elbow injury, had a big second half against CSU last year. He averaged 7.0 yards per carry last week against Montana State. Edge: Even
Receivers/tight ends
CSU’s David Anderson has graduated, and senior Dustin Osborn is out with an ankle sprain, but the Rams have four quality wideouts led by big-play threat Damon Morton. H-back Kory Sperry is an additional weapon. Colorado has an up-and-coming star in sophomore Patrick Williams, a steady hand in Dusty Sprague and big-play potential in Alvin Barnett. Edge: CSU
Offensive line
Buffs have two postseason award candidates in guard Brian Daniels and center Mark Fenton. The tackles are solid with Edwin Harrison and Tyler Polumbus, but injuries have right guard a bit unsettled. Rams have standout in left tackle Clint Oldenburg, but the line will be reshuffled from last week with right guard Adrian Martinez’s first career start. Edge: CU
Defensive line
Both sides have standouts at the ends with CU seniors Abraham Wright and Walter Boye-Doe and CSU’s Jesse Nading. But the Buffs lack experience inside, where the Rams have a three-man active rotation of Blake Smith, Matt Rupp and Erik Sandie. Edge: CSU
Linebackers
Arguably, the strength of CU’s defense is here with honors candidates Thaddaeus Washington and Jordon Dizon. CSU’s contingent, led by Jeff Horinek, is much improved. Edge: CU
Secondary
Colorado has a ton of experience and depth, led by safety J.J. Billingsley. Terrence Wheatley is the team’s speediest, most instinctive corner, and Ryan Walters is a head-knocker. Darryl Williams and Klint Kubiak lead a solid, if not spectacular, CSU secondary. Edge: CU
Special teams
Two words: Mason Crosby. He has owned CSU the past two years. Rams’ only special-teams advantage is with punter Jimmie Kaylor. Edge: CU
Coaches
CSU’s Sonny Lubick joked this week how his tenure has outlasted the past three CU coaches. The Rams were outcoached in crunch time the past three years, but this is now the Hawk era. Lubick can’t touch Dan Hawkins in the skydiving department, but the CSU staff does know how to put away a Division I-AA team. Edge: CSU
Intangibles
CSU’s week was marred Wednesday when three players, including ace cornerback Robert Herbert, were charged with bank fraud. To minimize the effect on the team, the remaining players initially were barred from talking to the media until after the game. But it has been a huge distraction. How that plays out Saturday remains to be seen. All CU has had to do is fend off questions about how the team plans to fix its season-opening loss. Edge: CU
– Chris Dempsey and Natalie Meisler
