Fort Collins – As if Colorado State coaches didn’t have enough worries during two weeks of preparation for Houston’s wide-open offense, the identity of the Cougars quarterback won’t be known until Saturday.
Sophomore Blake Joseph and redshirt freshman Case Keenum are listed as “or.” Each has started a game. Each has thrown two TD passes. Joseph completed all of his 12 passes Saturday coming off the bench against Tulane, although two of them went to the wrong-colored jerseys.
“Both guys are good. They can play,” Houston coach Art Briles said in his weekly news conference.
No argument from CSU coach Sonny Lubick, who noticed both quarterbacks can pass – and run.
Briles went four seasons without a quarterback controversy with Kevin Kolb, who is third on the NCAA total offense all-time list.
Briles is in his fifth season, coming off Conference USA coach of the year honors, and three bowls in four seasons. He replaced former Wyoming coach Dana Dimel. Although Houston’s offense is described as a spread, a no-huddle or a Texas Tech clone (Briles’ prior stop), it’s a blend of everything he developed as a Texas high school coach.
The Cougars have gained at least 400 yards in total offense 38 times since 2003.
Brewer injured
CSU fans have been wondering what became of redshirt freshman linebacker Ricky Brewer, the Mountain West preseason newcomer of the year. After bidding for the starting job in camp, he has disappeared.
He suffered a compound finger fracture before the Cal game in warm-ups, had it repaired at halftime and remains in considerable pain.
Footnotes
CSU’s Jimmie Kaylor was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list for the nation’s top punter. Kaylor’s average is only 39.0 yards after two games. He came into the season with a 44.4 yard average. “Sometimes that goes back on the coaches telling a guy to punt it here, or punt it there,” Lubick said this week. “I think that takes away a little of his certainty and aggressiveness.” … Saturday’s game is on CSTV and is available online for $14.95 at .
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
