Jim Mora isn’t sugarcoating the task ahead for Colorado State.
With No. 20 Boise State coming to Fort Collins on Saturday for a 4 p.m. Mountain time kickoff, the Rams’ veteran coach spent Monday talking about a Broncos team that has been rolling behind one of the country’s most productive runners and, if needed, a backup quarterback who just helped finish off a wild win.
“Huge challenge this week playing against Boise State,” Mora said during his press conference. “They do things well.
They run the ball well, they stop the ball well. Their quarterback got hurt, but the guy that came in threw for three touchdowns.
It’ll be a great opportunity for us to bounce back.”
Colorado State enters at 3-5 overall and 1-3 in Pac-12 play, coming off a 31-14 loss at Utah State that extended a rough stretch to one win in its last six games. The Rams are sitting alone in seventh place, while Boise State at 7-1 and 4-0 leads the Pac-12 by a game over Oregon State.
The biggest problem for Colorado State has been on defense, where the numbers are brutal. The Rams rank last among FBS teams in total defense at 526.4 yards allowed per game, scoring defense at 42.4 points allowed, and rushing defense at 261.1 yards.
That’s a dangerous place to be with Boise State bringing Dylan Riley to town. The Broncos’ star tailback leads FBS with 165 carries for 1,049 yards and 10 total touchdowns, and Mora didn’t hesitate to put him in elite company.
“He’s one of the best players in the country, one of the best running backs in the country,” Mora said of Riley. “Stopping the run is the cultural background of any good defense.
It’s a non-negotiable. Everybody has to show up in the fit, and show up in the fit consistently.
When you look at the way we’re playing defense right now, when everybody does their job and shows up in the fit and stays connected, we’re good. But when we don’t, we have issues.
… We just have to keep becoming more consistent with that.
“But if you don’t stop the run, it’s tough to play good defense … especially with a team like (Boise State).”
Mora also came away impressed by what Boise State showed after Maddux Madsen went down in last week’s 46-45 win over Texas State. Backup Max Cutforth stepped in and guided the Broncos through the finish, and Madsen is officially day-to-day heading into this week.
If Madsen can’t go, Cutforth would get the nod against Colorado State.
“They don’t really change the structure of their offense,” Mora said. “They were down in that game, so they had to throw the ball a little bit more than they would typically probably have liked to with their backup quarterback.
But Texas State knew that also, and he was very effective. Two of his touchdown passes were just outstanding throws.
“The very first play they play-action passed … so they obviously have a lot of confidence in him, and he went down and won the game for them throwing the ball against a team that knew they had to throw it. You combined that with their running back, and there was zero drop-off in the productivity of their offense.”
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Boise State Has One Clear Edge In A Crucial Pac-12 Test
Boise State heads into its Pac-12 matchup with Colorado State carrying a clear defensive advantage, even though both teams have been productive enough on offense to sit in the top half of the league in several categories. The Broncos have been especially stout against the run, and that strength stands out against a Colorado State offense that has kept pace in some areas but will be tested in ways it has not been all season.
The bigger question for Boise State is under center, where Maddux Madsen may be unavailable for the game. If that happens, Max Cutforth would be the next man up after a strong showing in the previous game, giving the Broncos a backup plan as they try to lean on their defense and keep control of a crucial conference test. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Gets Encouraging Maddux Madsen Update Before Colorado State
Boise State got a little breathing room this week with its quarterback situation after Maddux Madsen went down with a left knee injury. The Broncos still have to wait and see how he responds, but the early signs have been encouraging enough to keep hope alive heading into the matchup with Colorado State.
Coach Spencer Danielson has sounded optimistic about Madsens recovery, and the team is treating the injury as a day-to-day situation rather than something that could linger. If Madsen is unable to go, Boise State has a ready option behind him, with Max Cutforth prepared to step in and handle the offense. [Read more 🡒]
Ashton Jeantys Raiders Role Just Raised A Bigger Question
Ashton Jeantys usage in Las Vegas turned heads in Sundays 38-33 win over the Jets, but the box score only told part of the story. The former Boise State standout finished with just two carries for nine yards, a career low on the ground, yet still made an impact as a receiver with three catches for 64 yards, showing how the Raiders found ways to keep him involved even in a lighter rushing role.
What makes the split worth watching is what it could mean going forward for a player who has been one of the more closely tracked former Broncos in the NFL. Week 8 also brought a broader snapshot of Boise State alumni around the league, but Jeantys role stands out because it leaves open a bigger question about how Las Vegas plans to deploy him as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]