First, I've only seen SDSU play a road game against SJSU. Don't have much to go on for scouting them so take this with a grain of salt.
I can note that, the broadcasters talked strongly about how big and physical SDSU is. They said they are built more like a Pac 12 team than a MWC team. Their defensive front 7 is very big and they have depth there as is their OL. That is what makes them different than the usual G5 team.
Some interesting connections about this game.
- SDSU's CB coach is none other than Demetrius Sumler - former CU RB
- SDSU RB Keegun Williams graduated from Cedar Hill High with our very own Jalen Jackson. He was a heavy CU target and even visited campus with Jalen, but ultimately chose SDSU.
- There are 10 other players who went to high school together with an SDSU player (shows how much we recruit southern Cal).
Some other notes:
- SDSU is 6-1 against Pac 12 teams the last 7 games played including victories against UCLA and ASU in recent years.
- SDSU is ranked 11th in the nation in rushing yards/game, and 3rd in total defense, 7th in rushing yards allowed/game.
- CU is ranked 17th in total offense, 12th in points scored, and 22nd in rushing per game, while 30th in rushing defense.
SDSU's offense:
- SDSU returns 3 offensive line starters.
- The OL averages 6'4" and 312 pounds. They are bigger than Stanford.
- They line up in the 12 package primarily using 2 huge 255-260# TEs.
- They can also line up in the 22 package with both RBs in the back field with 1 as a blocker or using cross-buck action.
- SDSU changed QBs recently.
* First 4 games they started Carson Baker who is a classic drop back QB.
* Last game they went with Georgia Tech transfer Lucas Johnson who was recruited to GaTech to run their option offense.
- Johnson is probably the QB for this game. He is a 'decent' passer, but not a drop back QB. He is dangerous when he's on the run and can throw using the scramble drill. I 'assume' he's not going to be a threat as a pure pocket passer as that doesn't appear to be his strength.
- SDSU uses all 4 of its running backs and sometimes 2 in the backfield in the 22 package.
* Greg Bell is the 'Bell' cow. The former Nebraska transfer is having a strong year for them with 565 yards and 6 TDs.
* Chancel Bell plays the other RB position and has 245 yards and 3 TDs.
* Backup Jordan Byrd started as a freshman a year ago and is their most explosive back with a 73 yard TD and averages 10 per carry.
* Keegun Williams is a highly rated recruit we tried hard to get and he's their 4th leading rusher and started their 1st game.
* QB Lucas Johnson has rushed for 93 yards on 8 carries so he can scoot (for the record).
- They primarily throw to 2 WRs and rarely run the 13 package so not really a high octane passing attack expected.
* Their primary deep ball threat is sophomore Jesse Matthews.
* Their weak side receiver Kobe Smith is used more in the red zone (2 TDs).
* Their TEs don't normally catch the ball, but when they do, it's Daniel Bellinger. He's the 'bootleg' TE.
- This is primarily a team that runs the ball behind a huge front 6 and will use 1 to 2 RBs in there plus a running type QB now to get yards on the ground.
- They aren't a major threat to pass even when they used their pocket QB in their first 4 games.
SDSU's defense:
- The play a 3-3-5 WAC style "stack" defense with the Rover being kind of a hybrid type player (Star type player)
- It's a perfect defense for the MWC style of offenses (not necessarily a Pac 12 style offense).
- Their defensive stats are impressive as stated above.
- They returned 9 starters on defense so this is their bread and butter and their head coach, Hoke, is a defensive coach (and on the staff as a defensive coach a year ago).
- Their DL is about the same size as USC's. 305# NT, and 2 270+# DEs. Not huge but not small at all. They are mostly there to keep linemen out of the LB depth level but will rush the passer on passing downs.
- Their LBs average 235# and all run very well to the gaps. They will blitz their LBs along with the inside safeties a lot.
- Their inside safeties are expected to help with run which gives them an 8 man look on running plays which is probably why they are so effective there. They let their DL hold the linemen up and send 5 into the gaps to stop the run.
- It seemed to me like they ran a ton of man with their CBs who were left alone to make far too many tackles and pass breakups. SJSU was using their backup QB in this game and SDSU struggled to keep him from completing passes after it looked like SDSU had complete control of the game and was the more talented team.
- Their deep safety whom I guess is Trenton Thompson, struggled to cover deep middle.
- Stack defense works well when you can really stop the run because you can put 7 in the passing game with short and deep zones.
- If you can run on that front though, the scheme falls apart pretty quick. The inside safeties play up in the box where they just get thrown over in play action. 3-3-5 sucks against play action so we'll see how well SDSU can handle this from CU.
- One note, their defensive back field is huge. 5 200+ pounders frequently roam back there.
- SDSU's defense is legit, but I do have questions about how good the offenses were they played. Nevada isn't a good offensive team and SJSU had the backup QB in there. CU will be by far the best offense they've faced IMO. CU will have the best of everything they've seen outside of TE. Best QB. Best WRs although Nevada has a huge stud but not several studs. The best RB they've seen and who knows what Clayton could do if he gets a shot. Probably the best OL they've seen even with Pursell out.
For more information, see the CU T.I.P.S. A great article with a treasure trove of information.
www.cuatthegame.com
OK, now for the 5 keys.
1.) Reduce penalties
SDSU has an offense that will hold the ball. The last time a MWC team came in that ran the ball, AFA, they controlled the clock and won the game in OT. We had too many drives that just didn't get going allowing AFA to hog the ball. Too many penalties at the wrong times. What CU can't do is shoot itself in the foot and stall a good drive with a penalty that puts us in 2nd/3rd and long situations. That plays into their defensive strategy. Keep it 2nd/3rd and short and SDSU is going to struggle. I am not convinced their DBs can stay with CU's WRs and they'll be blitzing all day to keep us from throwing at will. If CU stabs itself in the foot, this is going to be a long game.
2.) Stop the big play
Yes, SDSU is a grind it out kind of offense. I'm fine with that. They can grind to a halt in the 2nd half like they've done too many times (see the Nevada game). This type of offense and team philosophy is a killer when you give up the big play. The big pass plays and the big runs are the killers. You let them have those and you are suddenly playing from behind against a team you don't want to play from behind against. Again, think AFA. We gave up 2 big pass plays over our heads on perfect throws and it changed the dynamics of the entire game. We don't give those up and it's a totally different game. SDSU is going to need the big play to win IMO. They may have some flea flickers and reverses in their arsenal with more time to prep than CU will. It's definitely a concern and eye discipline will be huge for the defense. They are big enough up front to get you to over commit to the run game and then hit you with something you don't expect. Remember their likely starter at QB is another runner kind of like we faced against UCLA but not quite that good (not the arm certainly). He's an OK passer it seems based on the Nevada game but we'll have to watch out for the QB scramble and then the throw to open WRs when we lose QB containment.
3.) Run the damn ball/Be physical
SDSU will commit their linebackers and inside safeties to stopping CU's running game. They will run blitz with that stack defense and try to hit the gaps. Just need to make that 1 key block and Broussard to break that 1 key tackle and the running game will work. That needs to happen on every run. Get a key block and break a tackle. It will be a long day for SDSU if they cannot make tackles on first contact. CU has got to get real physical with these guys and let them know who is boss. We aren't UCLA, Cal, or even ASU that they're used to beating up on. We're CU and if they bring that junk defense to Folsom and think they will pound us, they should have another thing coming. Destroy their stacked front and get those tough chain moving yards.
4.) Catch the ball
This is a continuation of run the damn ball. Once you have them overcommitting to the run, the play action will be there all day. I'm not convinced their safeties will be in any position to play the pass if we run it well. Our receivers just need to squeeze the ball and the points will be on the board. You can pass on them for scores. It just takes play action and some QB scrambling at times. I do not believe they can cover our WRs all day. Yes they are used to playing MWC open offensive teams, but most of those teams can't run it well enough which is why their 3-3-5 stack works so well. If we don't get the dropsies, we're going to put up points. I know few teams put up points on those guys, but CU is a team that can. Few teams put up points on Stanford too and we had no problem until shutting things down in the 4th quarter.
5.) Turnovers
Turnovers are huge in games that have a lot of ball control. Like penalties, they are drive killers and setting up the opponent with good field position is a no no. I don't think SDSU is going to pick up a ton of yards in this game, so we better not help them with good field position on turnovers. We've never faced a 3-3-5 defense with this crew so we better be assignment sound. This is a hard defense to prepare for in 1 day. QB can't lose sight of where their DBs are. Going to be lots of checks made at the line and we'll run it more than we normally do is my guess. With a center on his 2nd start, have to make sure the center snap is good and no bad fumbles due to bad center exchange. We will see defenders shooting gaps so RBs need to be sound with the ball when they do get hit in the backfield. High and tight as they say.
I can note that, the broadcasters talked strongly about how big and physical SDSU is. They said they are built more like a Pac 12 team than a MWC team. Their defensive front 7 is very big and they have depth there as is their OL. That is what makes them different than the usual G5 team.
Some interesting connections about this game.
- SDSU's CB coach is none other than Demetrius Sumler - former CU RB
- SDSU RB Keegun Williams graduated from Cedar Hill High with our very own Jalen Jackson. He was a heavy CU target and even visited campus with Jalen, but ultimately chose SDSU.
- There are 10 other players who went to high school together with an SDSU player (shows how much we recruit southern Cal).
Some other notes:
- SDSU is 6-1 against Pac 12 teams the last 7 games played including victories against UCLA and ASU in recent years.
- SDSU is ranked 11th in the nation in rushing yards/game, and 3rd in total defense, 7th in rushing yards allowed/game.
- CU is ranked 17th in total offense, 12th in points scored, and 22nd in rushing per game, while 30th in rushing defense.
SDSU's offense:
- SDSU returns 3 offensive line starters.
- The OL averages 6'4" and 312 pounds. They are bigger than Stanford.
- They line up in the 12 package primarily using 2 huge 255-260# TEs.
- They can also line up in the 22 package with both RBs in the back field with 1 as a blocker or using cross-buck action.
- SDSU changed QBs recently.
* First 4 games they started Carson Baker who is a classic drop back QB.
* Last game they went with Georgia Tech transfer Lucas Johnson who was recruited to GaTech to run their option offense.
- Johnson is probably the QB for this game. He is a 'decent' passer, but not a drop back QB. He is dangerous when he's on the run and can throw using the scramble drill. I 'assume' he's not going to be a threat as a pure pocket passer as that doesn't appear to be his strength.
- SDSU uses all 4 of its running backs and sometimes 2 in the backfield in the 22 package.
* Greg Bell is the 'Bell' cow. The former Nebraska transfer is having a strong year for them with 565 yards and 6 TDs.
* Chancel Bell plays the other RB position and has 245 yards and 3 TDs.
* Backup Jordan Byrd started as a freshman a year ago and is their most explosive back with a 73 yard TD and averages 10 per carry.
* Keegun Williams is a highly rated recruit we tried hard to get and he's their 4th leading rusher and started their 1st game.
* QB Lucas Johnson has rushed for 93 yards on 8 carries so he can scoot (for the record).
- They primarily throw to 2 WRs and rarely run the 13 package so not really a high octane passing attack expected.
* Their primary deep ball threat is sophomore Jesse Matthews.
* Their weak side receiver Kobe Smith is used more in the red zone (2 TDs).
* Their TEs don't normally catch the ball, but when they do, it's Daniel Bellinger. He's the 'bootleg' TE.
- This is primarily a team that runs the ball behind a huge front 6 and will use 1 to 2 RBs in there plus a running type QB now to get yards on the ground.
- They aren't a major threat to pass even when they used their pocket QB in their first 4 games.
SDSU's defense:
- The play a 3-3-5 WAC style "stack" defense with the Rover being kind of a hybrid type player (Star type player)
- It's a perfect defense for the MWC style of offenses (not necessarily a Pac 12 style offense).
- Their defensive stats are impressive as stated above.
- They returned 9 starters on defense so this is their bread and butter and their head coach, Hoke, is a defensive coach (and on the staff as a defensive coach a year ago).
- Their DL is about the same size as USC's. 305# NT, and 2 270+# DEs. Not huge but not small at all. They are mostly there to keep linemen out of the LB depth level but will rush the passer on passing downs.
- Their LBs average 235# and all run very well to the gaps. They will blitz their LBs along with the inside safeties a lot.
- Their inside safeties are expected to help with run which gives them an 8 man look on running plays which is probably why they are so effective there. They let their DL hold the linemen up and send 5 into the gaps to stop the run.
- It seemed to me like they ran a ton of man with their CBs who were left alone to make far too many tackles and pass breakups. SJSU was using their backup QB in this game and SDSU struggled to keep him from completing passes after it looked like SDSU had complete control of the game and was the more talented team.
- Their deep safety whom I guess is Trenton Thompson, struggled to cover deep middle.
- Stack defense works well when you can really stop the run because you can put 7 in the passing game with short and deep zones.
- If you can run on that front though, the scheme falls apart pretty quick. The inside safeties play up in the box where they just get thrown over in play action. 3-3-5 sucks against play action so we'll see how well SDSU can handle this from CU.
- One note, their defensive back field is huge. 5 200+ pounders frequently roam back there.
- SDSU's defense is legit, but I do have questions about how good the offenses were they played. Nevada isn't a good offensive team and SJSU had the backup QB in there. CU will be by far the best offense they've faced IMO. CU will have the best of everything they've seen outside of TE. Best QB. Best WRs although Nevada has a huge stud but not several studs. The best RB they've seen and who knows what Clayton could do if he gets a shot. Probably the best OL they've seen even with Pursell out.
For more information, see the CU T.I.P.S. A great article with a treasure trove of information.
“T.I.P.S.” for CU v. San Diego State – CU At the Game
OK, now for the 5 keys.
1.) Reduce penalties
SDSU has an offense that will hold the ball. The last time a MWC team came in that ran the ball, AFA, they controlled the clock and won the game in OT. We had too many drives that just didn't get going allowing AFA to hog the ball. Too many penalties at the wrong times. What CU can't do is shoot itself in the foot and stall a good drive with a penalty that puts us in 2nd/3rd and long situations. That plays into their defensive strategy. Keep it 2nd/3rd and short and SDSU is going to struggle. I am not convinced their DBs can stay with CU's WRs and they'll be blitzing all day to keep us from throwing at will. If CU stabs itself in the foot, this is going to be a long game.
2.) Stop the big play
Yes, SDSU is a grind it out kind of offense. I'm fine with that. They can grind to a halt in the 2nd half like they've done too many times (see the Nevada game). This type of offense and team philosophy is a killer when you give up the big play. The big pass plays and the big runs are the killers. You let them have those and you are suddenly playing from behind against a team you don't want to play from behind against. Again, think AFA. We gave up 2 big pass plays over our heads on perfect throws and it changed the dynamics of the entire game. We don't give those up and it's a totally different game. SDSU is going to need the big play to win IMO. They may have some flea flickers and reverses in their arsenal with more time to prep than CU will. It's definitely a concern and eye discipline will be huge for the defense. They are big enough up front to get you to over commit to the run game and then hit you with something you don't expect. Remember their likely starter at QB is another runner kind of like we faced against UCLA but not quite that good (not the arm certainly). He's an OK passer it seems based on the Nevada game but we'll have to watch out for the QB scramble and then the throw to open WRs when we lose QB containment.
3.) Run the damn ball/Be physical
SDSU will commit their linebackers and inside safeties to stopping CU's running game. They will run blitz with that stack defense and try to hit the gaps. Just need to make that 1 key block and Broussard to break that 1 key tackle and the running game will work. That needs to happen on every run. Get a key block and break a tackle. It will be a long day for SDSU if they cannot make tackles on first contact. CU has got to get real physical with these guys and let them know who is boss. We aren't UCLA, Cal, or even ASU that they're used to beating up on. We're CU and if they bring that junk defense to Folsom and think they will pound us, they should have another thing coming. Destroy their stacked front and get those tough chain moving yards.
4.) Catch the ball
This is a continuation of run the damn ball. Once you have them overcommitting to the run, the play action will be there all day. I'm not convinced their safeties will be in any position to play the pass if we run it well. Our receivers just need to squeeze the ball and the points will be on the board. You can pass on them for scores. It just takes play action and some QB scrambling at times. I do not believe they can cover our WRs all day. Yes they are used to playing MWC open offensive teams, but most of those teams can't run it well enough which is why their 3-3-5 stack works so well. If we don't get the dropsies, we're going to put up points. I know few teams put up points on those guys, but CU is a team that can. Few teams put up points on Stanford too and we had no problem until shutting things down in the 4th quarter.
5.) Turnovers
Turnovers are huge in games that have a lot of ball control. Like penalties, they are drive killers and setting up the opponent with good field position is a no no. I don't think SDSU is going to pick up a ton of yards in this game, so we better not help them with good field position on turnovers. We've never faced a 3-3-5 defense with this crew so we better be assignment sound. This is a hard defense to prepare for in 1 day. QB can't lose sight of where their DBs are. Going to be lots of checks made at the line and we'll run it more than we normally do is my guess. With a center on his 2nd start, have to make sure the center snap is good and no bad fumbles due to bad center exchange. We will see defenders shooting gaps so RBs need to be sound with the ball when they do get hit in the backfield. High and tight as they say.
