Rams’ D deals with more than tricks

FORT COLLINS» There are the numerous formations. Factor in the various personnel groupings, throw in a ton of motion and add in the trick-play factor and Boise State’s offense has a tendency to make a defense think.

Which is about the last thing Colorado State coach Mike Bobo wants his group doing Saturday.

“That’s what you want to do as an offensive coach. You want guys having to think, having to move,” Bobo said. “If they’re moving or thinking, then they’re not playing as fast as they need to do.”

The Rams (6-4, 4-2 Mountain West) have a troubled history when it comes to facing the Broncos (7-2, 5-0), having lost all six meetings, and all were two-score games until last year when CSU’s furious finish brought it within a touchdown.

The positive from that was the Rams limited BSU to just 28 points, the best outing to date. Over time, the group feels it has learned to see beyond the glitter and get to the heart of the matter.

“They definitely have tricky formations, and they have a lot of stuff up their sleeves, but as long as we lock in on our keys and our jobs, we’ll be fine,” CSU linebacker Tre Thomas said. “I mean, no matter what they motion into, we still have our same job. We’ve just lock in to what we’ve got to do as a defense and individually, then we’ll be great against all their motions.”

As if that wasn’t enough, the Broncos have given defenses more to think about this season by playing two quarterbacks. The one they had was fine. Brett Rypien was the two-time all-league quarterback, then they added graduate transfer Montell Cozart to the mix.

And while the offense seemed to struggle in the early going, it has found a rhythm late. It took awhile for Rypien to even throw his first touchdown pass, but now he’s up to seven, hitting on 65.2 percent of his tosses for 1,360 yards against just three interceptions.

Cozart, considered the runner (he is second on the team with 299 yards and four scores), is also completing a hair better than 65 percent of his passes, good for 684 yards and nine touchdowns against just one pick.

While conventional thinking says a two-quarterback system isn’t good, give credit where it is due, and BSU coach Bryan Harsin places it on his quarterbacks.

“I think both of those guys, they’ve done what we’ve asked them to do. I think it really comes down to the players,” Harsin said. “I think it’s really just that. I don’t know if we’ve done much differently offensively, those guys have just been able to handle it.”

There are tendencies for when each is in the game, but their usage can change. It’s not simply they alternate series. There have been times when they alternate plays.

“It’s working real good,” CSU safety Jake Schlager said. “Early in the year you watched them on TV and stuff, and you realize they’re playing two quarterbacks and you’re like, ‘Why are they doing this?’ Rypien had such a great year last year and has been a tremendous leader on their offense since he’s been there. Then they get this transfer, Cozart, from Kansas, who has come in and performed very well.”

What it will demand of the Colorado State defense is extra time watching film.

Although Boise State’s scheme isn’t foreign to Colorado State, the Rams just haven’t beaten it yet.

“It’s nothing we haven’t seen before,” Schlager said. “They’re a good team, very well coached. They have good athletes on their offense and defense. It’s just going to come down to who is going to be more disciplined, play harder and play tougher longer.”