Frogs should blow past Rams despite good start

TCU’s final test in conference, this side of BYU, comes to Fort Worth this weekend in a trail of green and gold. A traditionally bad Colorado State team has put together a fairly good season this year with three non-conference wins, including an upset over in-state rival, the University of Colorado.

In a terrible weather game last year, the Frogs narrowly beat the Rams 13-7.

The Rams even gave Utah a run for their money last week, leading the entire game until Utah was able to come back and take the game in the fourth quarter.

None of this, however, should phase the Frogs this Saturday.

The Frogs come into the game with the 7th best defense in the nation, and should have no trouble stopping the Ram offensive attack. This year, Colorado State has leaned more toward the pass, throwing for an average of 249 yards per game. Despite the Frogs’ apparent weakness in the defensive secondary, they come into the match 22nd in the nation in pass defense allowing 101.19 yards per game, which is well under the Rams’ 249 yards per game passing average.

Beyond the numbers, the Frogs are finally clicking. Somehow, through snow and freezing temperatures, the Frogs finally came together and played well on both sides of the ball last Saturday. Take away a couple of ill-timed turnovers and the close match in Colorado Springs becomes a rout for the Frogs.

The Frogs finally won’t have any weather issues to deal with, and they will also have the home crowd behind them to build momentum in a blowout game that will propel the Frogs into Provo for the biggest challenge in their BCS buster saga.

Travis L. Brown is a senior news-editorial major from Dallas

Passing attack is the Rams’ only chance

The Colorado State football team will be playing with a lot of emotion Saturday at TCU for no other reason than the desire to not lose four consecutive games.

While their first 3-0 start since 1994 – the season in which the Rams went to the Holiday Bowl – felt like an epic beginning to what seemed to be a blockbuster season, three consecutive losses have resulted in a lackluster downturn in Fort Collins. And things won’t get any easier for CSU in Fort Worth this weekend when facing the Horned Frogs, who tout one of college football’s best defenses.

For the Rams to have a shot in this one, they’re going to need senior quarterback Grant Stucker to have a consistent passing game. Stucker, who’s ranked second in the Mountain West for passing yards, was appearing to finally hit his stride in the Rams’ losses against BYU and Idaho, throwing for nearly 700 yards, six touchdowns against three picks. But he took an unfortunate step backward against Utah last week when his touchdown to interception ratio was 1 to 3 – all of which were to the Utes’ Robert Johnson.

Stucker has to be consistent on Saturday, not great, but consistent for the Rams to have a chance. CSU found some success against the Horned Frogs on the ground last season, but the Rams are no longer blessed with the presence of Gartrell Johnson III. It has to be about the air attack on Saturday.

And while Stucker needs to be consistent, so does senior wide receiver Rashaun Greer, who has been anything but Biletnikoff-worthy in 2009. While he may lead the Rams in receiving yards, he also seems to have a bit of Terrell Owens syndrome, leading them in dropped passes – at least four of which were guaranteed touchdowns.

Greer’s dropped touchdowns against TCU one season ago has to be on the back of not only his, but the entire team’s, mind. The Rams have proved that they can play with the MWC’s elite, but whether or not they can win is another question – one that CSU will have its chance to answer on Saturday.

Matt L. Stephens is the sports editor for the Rocky Mountain Collegian.