*** @ Colorado Pregame Thread ***

We have played at BYU and at Utah over the past two seasons, so hopefully that will prep us for the altitude.
Good call, Boulder is only 700 feet higher in elevation than Provo so it should be pretty negligible to that.
 
I thought the Colorado defense looked fairly stout at times yesterday. They stopped a lot of run plays, which concerns me since our run game has just not clicked yet this year. Need Rocco to be back on target also. He threw some doozies yesterday. A lot of his throws were in the wrong place yesterday, but especially on the 2nd to last play, Brahmer was wide open at about the 50 or so as they were back in prevent. And Rocco tossed it over his head. That is just not Rocco, something was off yesterday. Of course getting smacked in the face by a 220 pound charging helmet that nearly tore his head off I'm sure didn't help.
 
Well, it improved in the 2nd half so as long as that continues we’ll be fine.
Did the tackling actually improve? Maybe I was still in shock but all I remember from the game is ISU hitting the RB and bouncing off him or huge gaps of open field with RB running through the defense. The D line and LBs seemed to be out of position or not wrapping up all day.

I know they didn't move the ball as well in 2nd half obviously as only scored the long pass TD, but seems like they did not run as much as they should for some reason.
 
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I thought the Colorado defense looked fairly stout at times yesterday. They stopped a lot of run plays, which concerns me since our run game has just not clicked yet this year. Need Rocco to be back on target also. He threw some doozies yesterday. A lot of his throws were in the wrong place yesterday, but especially on the 2nd to last play, Brahmer was wide open at about the 50 or so as they were back in prevent. And Rocco tossed it over his head. That is just not Rocco, something was off yesterday. Of course getting smacked in the face by a 220 pound charging helmet that nearly tore his head off I'm sure didn't help.
Agree he threw behind Sowell and got him banged up trying to make a leaping grab early in the game too. ISU had some open targets first half and Rocco missed them on passes he can complete. That hit was crazy, but his accuracy issues seemed to be there all game
 
If the team brings their A game we win easily. If they play like they did at Cincy or Arkansas St we probably lose. If the team is going to compete for a conference championship this is a must win now. Margin for error gone.
 
Im nervous about every game moving forward. I really tempered my expectations after this last Saturday.
 
Well, it improved in the 2nd half so as long as that continues we’ll be fine.
Yeah, I feel like that first half was a function of both the players and the coaching staff trying to figure out how to deal with the loss of our two stud corners. Add in the fact that I think Cincy really surprised us by running so much against our depleted secondary.

Clearly the ceiling for our defense lowered, but I think Heacock will figure it out and have them playing well enough to win as long as the offense steps up a bit too.
 
Agree he threw behind Sowell and got him banged up trying to make a leaping grab early in the game too. ISU had some open targets first half and Rocco missed them on passes he can complete. That hit was crazy, but his accuracy issues seemed to be there all game
I think this board has declared that Rocco was off after the KSU, Iowa, Arkansas State, and now Cincy games. At this point I don't think you can argue that it was an off day, that is just where he is as a player.
 
CW tweeted yesterday that the spread opened at Iowa State -5.5. I now see -3.5. Professional bettors just haven’t liked Iowa State’s underlying numbers all season.

Until now, I hadn’t looked much into why, but—they dropped 11 spots to 37th overall in SP+. Okay, they were bad in all phases Saturday, not too surprising. What I did find surprising is their SP+ offense rating now ranks 48th in the country. For all of our discussions about the defense—and there are some legitimate reasons for concern—its rating ranks 17 spots better, at 31st. Iowa State’s offense ranks 69th (sadly, not nice) in yards per play—one spot behind…Colorado (and two behind Kansas State)—and 60th in total offense.

Given that special teams is going to be what it’s going to be until Konrardy comes back, and the defense is adjusting post-injuries, the offense has to be better. Like, way better, at least if this team is still going to get to Arlington. I don’t have the answers, but luckily Colorado’s defense is average at best