FORT COLLINS — Colorado State’s defense is staring at the biggest challenge it will face this season when it attempts to slow down the Boise State offense, led by Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Kellen Moore.
But the Rams have an order of business to take care of before sinking their teeth into the boys in blue.
Themselves.
CSU’s defense, a strength for most of the season, suffered its first huge stumble in its last outing — a 38-31 loss to San Jose State. The Spartans had little trouble moving the ball from the opening snap to the game-clinching 38-yard touchdown pass with 54 seconds left.
In all, the carnage totaled 137 yards rushing, 313 passing, 38 points and too many missed tackles to count.
“We didn’t come out with the typical energy that we had, and that showed up in the first series,” CSU defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. “We missed five tackles. We let them go down the field giving them 5, 10 yards a play because of tackles that should have been made at 2 yards and should have been off the field.”
Linebacker James Skelton agreed.
“We just didn’t come out hard enough,” Skelton said. “Honestly, that’s about it. We were just out there kind of looking at each other like, ‘What’s going on?’ The second half we picked it up, but you can’t, especially with a Boise State, you can’t come out flat or they are just going to crush you.”
Boise State’s offense puts up 450 yards and 40 points per game, the latter ranking 13th in the nation. The fifth-ranked Broncos (5-0) have outscored opponents 56-13 in the first quarter and 118-16 in the first half.
Moore is not only a highly effective passer, he’s also an upright one. Boise State’s offensive line has allowed just two sacks.
CSU’s defense knows the challenge ahead.
“It’s a big game, a big opportunity to show the nation what we can do,” safety Ivory Herd said.
Clearly, the message this week for CSU’s defense has been for every player to worry about what he is supposed to do and let the pieces make up a solid whole.
“We’ve just got to play assignment-sound; just do your job and trust that everyone on the field around you is going to be doing their job,” Skelton said. “Basically, it’s just execution. Whatever (the coaches) call we’ve got to run it as hard as we can.”
Said Herd: “We can’t make mistakes. No mistakes, and we have to play four quarters of football. Everyone needs to do their assignment and only their assignment, and we’ll have a chance.”
Kerr’s defense is ranked a respectable 33rd in the nation and is 12th in the country against the pass, allowing just 176 yards per game.
“I think you have to be sound and simple on defense,” Kerr said. “You can’t overstretch your guys with a lot of different things because they will take advantage of any mistakes you do make. But they do a lot of camouflaging with shiftings and motions and a lot of different personnel guys coming into the game. If you let that kind of stuff affect you, then you’re in trouble.”
One thing that’s not happening — CSU defenders shrinking away from the task.
“They practice just like we do,” Skelton said. “You’ve got to respect a team like that, but they practice just like we do. If we do what we’re supposed to do and we play hard, a victory is not out of the question.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
