FORT COLLINS — Area residents switched their attentions to revel in the Rockies’ playoff run this week.
Colorado State was no exception. But now it’s back to the reality of snapping an 11-game losing streak and making a dark horse statement in the Mountain West Conference when San Diego State comes in Saturday.
For all of CSU’s disappointment with an 0-4 start, no area has underachieved as much as the defense, which has nine returning starters.
The only time this season CSU played in Hughes Stadium, the Rams’ defense played over their heads for three quarters against now third-ranked Cal. Last week in Fort Worth, Texas, CSU gave life to previously dormant Texas Christian.
San Diego State’s offense, led by senior quarterback Kevin O’Connell, is somewhere in between.
But O’Connell will have the luxury of going up against some new faces in the Rams’ lineup.
Jermaine Walters, who had eight tackles last week, gets his second start at free safety for ailing Klint Kubiak. Zac Bryson will start at strong safety for injured Mike Pagnotta (ankle). Redshirt freshman Ricky Brewer likely will draw his first career start at strongside linebacker.
What might help the changes in the secondary is the fact that Walters and Bryson are seniors.
“We have a ton of experience at safety,” Bryson said. “It’s not like two redshirt freshmen coming in.”
After two years in anonymity learning left cornerback, free safety, nickel back and several special-teams units, Walters is ready to step in. He doesn’t mind what position he plays “as long as I’m on the field.”
There are some hints he could help out more at cornerback when Kubiak gets medical clearance after a bleeding ulcer.
“I holler at the coaches and wonder about myself, why we didn’t have (Walters) in there longer or sooner,” said coach Sonny Lubick, who admitted it was hard to go to Wednesday’s practice while the Rockies were playing Philadelphia in the National League division series. “This guy is pretty good. He shows up all the time and he’s got a great attitude.”
Lubick desperately wants to fuel competition at cornerback, while secondary coach James Ward is just relieved after he entered the season about six deep in safeties.
The most common way for defensive backs to break out in the lineup is special-teams work. It has helped several of the walk-on safeties – Pagnotta, backups Steve Juedes and Jake Galusha.
“That’s how you get noticed, good and bad,” Walters said of his big plays and inopportune penalties.
San Diego State presents some matchup problems for any secondary with 6-foot-6 receiver Darren Mougey, who is a former quarterback.
“He’s like Kory Sperry minus the weight,” Ward said the 225-pound Mougey to CSU’s injured tight end.
Nearing the midway point of the season, Bryson knows what’s wrong and intends to fix it.
“Little mistakes,” he said. “Then they turn into huge mistakes on a couple of plays.”
Footnotes
According to an NCAA report released this week, CSU ranked fourth in the Mountain West in football graduation rate. CSU reported a 66 percent six-year graduation rate, behind Air Force (92), San Diego State (70) and TCU (69). … All student tickets for homecoming have been claimed and 4,000 general admission remain.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
