SAN JOSE, Calif. — Senior quarterback Garrett Grayson takes the snap, quickly turns and fires a virtually sideways pass to Rashard Higgins. Even if Higgins is behind the line of scrimmage, the sophomore with the Hollywood nickname and flair turns the play into a big gainer … or a touchdown.
That has happened repeatedly for the 7-1 Colorado State Rams this season, and they’ll be hoping for a recurrence (or two) Saturday against San Jose State at Spartan Stadium.
The man charged with devising strategies to prevent that is a familiar face for football fans in Colorado. San Jose State defensive coordinator Greg Robinson was the Broncos’ defensive coordinator under Mike Shanahan during the back-to-back Super Bowl championship seasons in the late 1990s. Since, he was with the Kansas City Chiefs, twice served under Mack Brown at Texas, was the head coach at Syracuse and was on the Michigan staff for two seasons.
The most obvious way to combat the quick throws is to play “press” coverage with a cornerback just off the line of scrimmage, most likely with safety help behind him. Aggressive play can lead to getting to Higgins before he gets up a head of steam, or even making it tougher for him to get the ball in those throws or other short routes.
That can be risky if it opens room for Higgins on intermediate routes or provides opportunities for other CSU receivers, including Charles Lovett and Joe Hansley or H-back Steven Walker. But if the alternative is to allow Higgins to get the ball with room to make moves, it’s probably worth taking chances.
“I go up against Bernard (Blake) and ‘Dre (DeAndre Elliott) in practice all the time,” Higgins said of CSU’s starting cornerbacks this week. “They press me. It’s just me going against the defense. They make me better. Even if somebody does come up to press me, it wouldn’t be nothing that I haven’t seen because we do it in practice all the time.”
Higgins’ 12 touchdown catches this season lead the nation, and he’s one ahead of the Colorado Buffaloes’ Nelson Spruce.
“Utah State was really the first team that seemed to be adjusting to him,” Grayson said. “He still put up some unreal numbers, but they were the first team to really kind of roll to him and double him.”
Grayson noted that when Wyoming’s cornerback played well off the line of scrimmage, “I just turned and threw the ball out there. … I really don’t know what to say, what defenses are doing with him. He’s just an unreal player and obviously I’m beyond happy to have him on our side.”
San Jose State (3-4) has allowed only 89 yards passing per game, but that’s a bit misleading because of the style the Spartans’ opponents have played. Last weekend, for example, Navy’s option-oriented attack rushed for 423 yards against the Spartans in the Midshipmen’s 41-31 victory. Navy threw for only 56 yards, but that was gravy.
Still, Robinson remains a respected strategist, and the even more significant risk- taking approach would be to use all-out blitzes and go with man-to-man coverage.
“I’ve seen that they play man a lot,” Higgins said. “They have a defensive coordinator that came from the NFL and he likes to run blitzes all the time with cover one (man coverage) behind that. We’re scheming against that, learning a lot of man routes, me versus the cornerback, just me getting open and doing what I do.”
Terry Frei: tfrei@denverpost.com or
When the Rams run
The Spartans’ national-best statistical success at combating the pass is a bit illusionary, given their struggles against the run and the styles of their opposition. Heck, Navy’s option attack looked like Oklahoma in the 1970s against the Spartans last weekend. This could be the game Dee Hart and/or Treyous Jarrells, workmanlike up to now, pile up yards as the Rams attempt to end their three-game losing streak against the Spartans. Edge: Colorado State
When the Spartans run
Tyler Ervin, right, is San Jose State’s leading rusher, with 389 yards through seven games, and the Spartans are averaging 140 yards on the ground. The Rams have done a decent job against the run most of the season, and this probably will be no different. Edge: Colorado State
When the Rams pass
Although the Spartans have allowed only 89 yards passing per game, CSU has its passing game cranked up with senior QB Garrett Grayson throwing to Rashard Higgins and a capable corps of receivers. The key here is whether the Spartans put together blitz packages that overwhelm the Rams’ patchwork offensive line and pressure Grayson. Edge: Colorado State
When the Spartans pass
Joe Gray took over the starting QB job from Blake Jurich after two games and has passed for 1,252 yards and six touchdowns. Four of his receivers have more than 20 catches. The Rams have incentive to prove that giving up two late touchdown passes to Wyoming last weekend was irrelevant. Edge: San Jose State
Special teams
Spartans kicker Austin Lopez has been spotty, making 10 of his 18 field-goal attempts. CSU’s Jared Roberts is 8-of-13. San Jose State’s punter, Mich Carrizosa, is averaging only 36 yards per attempt. CSU’s Hayden Hunt has a 45.5 average. The Spartans’ Tyler Ervin has one punt return for a touchdown, while CSU’s longest punt return is 24 yards. Edge: Colorado State
Terry Frei, The Denver Post
