GoldandGreenNews.com - Rams Roundtable: UNLV

November 6, 2009

Tom Lacock
GoldandGreenNews.com Publisher

With the bottom spot in the Mountain West Conference standings on the line, the Colorado State football team seeks to get some relief from its brutal schedule with a trip to Las Vegas to take on the struggling UNLV Rebels. This week we are joined by Joel Cantalamessa of Ramnation.com, Kelly Lyell of the Fort Collins Coloradoan and our own Matt Stephens to talk about the Rams' chances this weekend as well as what needs to be done for them to break their current losing skid.

Goldandgreennews.com: Colorado State has now dropped six-in-a-row with Saturday's loss to Air Force. Did we see an attitude of "here-we-go-again," once the Rams got down? CSU has been playing a tough string of football teams of late, but should be evenly matched against UNLV this weekend. How important is this weekend's game for the Rams' moral?

Lyell:I do think, defensively at least, there was a bit of that "here-we-go-again" attitude near the end of the Air Force game. But overall, the Rams have remained surprisingly upbeat through the six-game skid and seem to understand that they were dealt a difficult schedule. Facing UNLV, a team going through a season much like their own, had the Rams bouncing around more in practice this week more than ever. A win is critical, though. With it, they keep their bowl hopes alive, while without it, there's no chance for postseason play or even a winning record this season.

Cantalamessa:"Losing is a disease," as the psychologist in the movie "The Natural" once said. "It is as contagious as polio", or H1N1 these days. Certainly, the losing bug has hit the Rams. When times get tough, they do seem to have a "here we go again" mentality, and nobody steps up to make a play when the game starts to snowball. Those are times when the quarterback and receiver need to convert on key third downs with a big completion. Or a defensive back needs to break up a pass attempt or - better yet - create a turnover to get the ball back when the opposing offense is driving. There hasn't been any leadership on the field stepping to the forefront in these hard times. The Rams are more evenly matched this weekend. UNLV's defense is Swiss cheese, but the Rebels' offense will also pose problems for the CSU defense. So, it should be an interesting game.

Stephens: I think this is a huge game for the Rams both for the obvious postseason hopes and getting the program back on track. CSU has never lost in the city of Las Vegas and a loss here would really put the season in the toilet. The Rams will have to be ready, because with Mike Sanford most likely on his way out, the Rebels will be playing for him.

Goldandgreennews.com:Grant Stucker has struggled in his past three games, throwing six interceptions and completing just two touchdown passes over his last four games. He has also reached the 50 percent completion percentage threshold just twice over that same period of time. Is now the time to begin getting Jon Eastman has looked equally unimpressive during his stints under center. If you are Rams Coach Steve Fairchild, who do you start at quarterback this weekend and why?

Cantalamessa:You know things are going bad for Grant Stucker when he's out-performed passing-wise by an Air Force quarterback. Ouch. That being said, I think he will start again Saturday at UNLV. And that's exactly who should start - if it's who Fairchild believes is the best man for the job. It is not time to prepare for next season - not yet. The Rams still have a chance for a bowl game if they win out. You play the best players at each position to try to accomplish that. Also, Eastman hasn't exactly shined during his limited opportunities. Play the best available quarterback. If it's Stucker, then play Stucker. If it's Eastman, play Eastman. Neither seem to be a great option at this point, but I'd keep playing the guy who has started nine games this season.

Stephens:I start Stucker, because he just looks so much better in both practices and games in comparison to Jon Eastman. Eastman has also struggled when he has seen playing time and that PT came against second and third string defenses. It's amazing how fast Stucker has declined after starting the season relatively well. Like my old baseball coach used to when referencing how to get out of a slump, "it just takes one."

Lyell:Grant Stucker has been in a serious funk lately but still is a better option than Jon Eastman, and there's really nobody else available. T.J. Borcky has been getting some practice reps as the emergency third-string QB but until two weeks ago had played nothing but wide receiver since the start of fall camp in 2008.

Goldandgreennews.com:Colorado State has been able to get its running game on track recently behind Leonard Mason and John Mosure. Talk about the work of the offensive line this season and tell me if you expect the Rams to attack UNLV next weekend doing anything other than riding the running game against the conference's worst rushing defense in UNLV (212 yards per game).

Stephens:While the ground game has been nice lately seeing the Rams get things going in the tradition they're used to, I don't understand why the team isn't going down field more with the football. It's like the trickery and deep passes just mysteriously disappeared from the playbook. When the Rams have tried deep passes, they keep making the mistake of throwing to Rashaun Greer, who usually gives up on the football. Let Ryan Gardner or Dion Morton go long, put Tyson Liggett in the slot and let Greer watch from the sidelines-I really feel that would help the passing attack.

Cantalamessa:It's always about balance, and last week, the Rams didn't really seem to find that successful mix of run and pass. CSU will always be a run-first team, and now that Leonard Mason is proving to be a workhorse running back, that philosophy will continue. But, they Rams need to be able to pass the ball too. I think with Rashaun Greer returning to his hometown, he will be eager to shine in front of family and friends. I expect a big game out of him. But, absolutely, CSU will try to establish the run, and they will have success behind a fantastic offensive line pushing around a poor defensive front.

Lyell:CSU's offensive line has opened nice holes for the running backs all season, but the Rams have been unable to keep themselves out of predictable situations as games wear on. They're usually running on first and second down and trying to pass on third and long, and defenses have been able to adjust. They need to start hitting some of the big plays the've been getting early in games during the third and fourth quarters to get both the passing and running game where they should be.

Goldandgreennews.com:Offensively, the UNLV Rebels are first in the conference in first downs as well as third-down conversion percentage (49 percent). Quarterback Omar Clayton (212 yards per game) and Ryan Wolfe (66 rec.) lead a very strong passing game for UNLV. How bad of news is this for the Rams who are last in the conference in third down percentage against (56 percent) and are having a terrible time slowing down opponents passing game with a defense (260 yards per game allowed)that has been hit hard by injuries? What is left for Larry Kerr to do as a defensive coordinator?

Lyell:That's the biggest issue the Rams face this week. UNLV's strengths match up against CSU's most-glaring weaknesses, and it probably will make this game much closer than it ought to be. Kerr really doesn't have many options at several positions. He's down to six linebackers, and three of them are playing through nagging injuries, and with DeAngelo Wilkinson out this week, the secondary also has become paper thin.

Stephens:This defense has to get something turned around. Week after week we haven't seen adjustments be made successfully in secondary and opposing offenses have just ripped the Rams apart. With Peterson no longer being the team's offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach, you have to wonder if Larry Kerr's job is on the line for next year? The secondary has also missed quite a few opportunities, dropping several interceptions over the past three games. It's do-or-die time for this CSU defense.

Cantalamessa:Like last week, I fear the CSU defense will struggle. The AFA option posed problems for the CSU defense, and this UNLV offense will do the same, although in a different manner. UNLV, in my opinion, may have the best receiving corps in the league. Ryan Wolfe is a big target who always seems to get open and make tough catches, while sophomore Phillip Payne is a phenom speed burner who will make spectacular catches. Plus, Omar Clayton is a good, mobile quarterback who also happens to be third in the league in average passing yards. The Rebels also occasionally bring in Mike Clausen who has a similar style. The Rams will need to contain either quarterback, because as much as the Rams struggle getting off the field on third down, it will be doubly tough Saturday facing a duo of quarterbacks who can beat you with their arm and feet.

The Rams better be prepared to spy the quarterback to keep him from breaking long runs. They'll also have to stop the Rebels' running game. They use a committee approach, so there isn't a superstar running back in the backfield, but it will be key to not let UNLV break off 5- to 6-yard runs on first down, otherwise, the Rebels will feast on short third-down conversions all day.

Goldandgreennews.com:Finally, your keys to the game and a prediction on the final score.

Lyell: This game is critical for both teams, since the loser will be knocked out of bowl contention. CSU, though, has shown more signs of being a good team this season than the Rebels have, as evidenced by the Rams' blowout win over a Nevada team that crushed the Rebels. Coach Steve Fairchild insists his team is practicing well and improving but simply hasn't had that translate into the kind of breakout win the Rams so desperately need. They'll get it in Las Vegas, where they've never lost. Barely. CSU 31, UNLV 27.

Stephens:To me, the main key to the game is forcing UNLV to punt the ball. Sounds simple enough, but the Rams have not been able to do that lately. IF CSU can do that, I think they'll win, but because they haven't been able to do so lately-and the fact this team has not won outside the Centennial State all season-I have to pick UNLV to win this one 31-21.

Cantalamessa:I have been surprised to not see the Rams get back on track the past couple of weeks. I've lost faith in this team, and probably shouldn't hold out hope that they'll come out and perform well Saturday. However, the Rams have never lost at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Rebels do not have a tremendous home-field advantage, and each of the last four games I've attended there, the CSU section was by far the loudest section of the stadium. I think the Rebels will put up a lot of points on the Ram defense, but I think the Rams will match them on offense, and come up with one more play defensively to pull this win out. CSU 34 UNLV 31

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