This was a weird game.
The Broncos forced a quick three-and-out for CSU on their first drive. The drive consisted of a short Van Schield run, a short pass for six yards, and a Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi 11-yard sack. Once the Broncos got ahold of the ball, it was the Ashton Jeanty show from the get-go. The Broncos marched down the field for 8 plays, 68 yards and an Jeanty TD.
And here is where the Broncos started shooting themselves in the foot.
The defense had forced another Colorado State three-and-out. And the first play of the series ended with a Riley Smith fumble for a turnover.
Defense forced another three-and-out. Maddux Madsen throws an interception.
Another three and out. Broncos touchdown thanks to Jeanty being an All-American. He had 128 yards rushing barely into the second quarter.
Broncos defense forced another punt. For some reason CSU was trying to establish the run? Kind of weird considering all they are supposedly an Air Raid team. The passes behind the line of scrimmage don’t really count.
Course, Broncos turn the ball over again, but this time with Taylen Green throwing a 50-50 ball that caromed into the hands of CSU. The extra possessions were almost irrelevant given the outcome.
The Broncos did manage to get Jonah Dalmas on the board with a 49-yard field goal which were the final points of the half. Colorado State did attempt a field goal, but the Broncos blocked it.
The second half was a mess.
A Rams player was hit with a blind-side block and had to leave the game on a stretch, though he did give a thumbs up on the way out. Per the broadcast he did have feeling in his extremities and was showing good signs.
After a bunch of penalties and unsportsmanlike penalties the game got chippy.
The Broncos lead 30-10 with six minutes left on the clock. After the Broncos fail to recover two onside kicks, and Rams scoring drives to come within 30-24. The Broncos did manage to recover the third onside kick but had to punt the ball away on the ensuing possession. With roughly 45 seconds on the clock, Colorado State made several deep receptions to scored on a late hail Mary attempt. The PAT sealed the game 31-30 Rams.
The Broncos will be lucky to be bowl ellible this year..You lose to Colorado State you should be ashamed. Avalos, the O and D coordinators have got to go! I know that sounds harsh but it’s the reality.
100% – Avalos and Co. should be given walking papers on Monday.
It’s pointless to fire them in the middle of the season but they do have to go after this season. I never thought I’d hear myself say this but 6-6 would be a blessing this year. Id be elated at 7-5!
But now that I’ve cooled off a little I realize that there are teams out there that would kill just to be bowl eligible much less have a winning season. I’m.guilty like a lot of people in having too high of an expectation for the Broncos.
So what say you peeps? Would you be happy with 6-6 or 7-5?
No chance for 6-6 sorry
It is not harsh it is their job
Weird game? No, it’s what I have come to expect with our not ready for prime time coaches. BSU needs a coach from outside of the program. A coach who can breath some life into the players for a full 60 minutes of football each week.
Andy Avalos needs to go. We have had season tickets for 17 years. No more. It’s pitiful to watch.
Are you like me? Bowl eligible would be a blessing?
We will be lucky to be 6-6 this year. I used to think Harsin was a bad coach living off of Coach Pete’s recruits. Avalos make Harsin look like Woody Hayes!
Yeah, but Woody won or tied 13 Big Ten Championships.
I think the sentiments here about the coaching staff are 100% spot on. So I’ll leave that and the rest of my rage for another day. But I will say this: #2 is an absolute stud. He is an OKG legend. Truly a rare talent. When he recovered that onside kick I’m sure he was thinking “do I have to do everything for this damned team?!?!”. Well the answer so far is a resounding yes. Can he play quarterback? Could he pass the ball to himself? He (and the offensive line) seem to be the only ones on this team… Read more »
Like I said before, enjoy #2 while you can…he’s too good for THIS version of Broncos. He’ll be in the portal. How is it that CSU has recruited better wr, te and QB than us??? Another thing on coaching decisions, we all saw last year what Jeanty had, and yet to start the season Holani was still ahead of him on the depth chart. I get he’s been a warrior, but he’s was clearly miles behind Jeanty in every way when it comes to toting the rock(except maybe ball security). And how did this storied program get to a place… Read more »
Agree. The thing with the QB spot though is that we don’t need a Kellen Moore type talent every year. We need someone that can get the ball to playmakers. That can read a defense and make a good decision. Most teams have this! San Jose did. Colorado State too. I’m sure Utah State and Fresno State do. None of them are world beaters, but they could throw the ball and make a read. Our pass game has been a LIABILITY since Plough started and it hasn’t improved. In my mind that is really what is killing our team. Whatever… Read more »
I’m not even sad, just distant and numb. Far cry from years ago. Colorado State deserves to celebrate for being so hungry those last 5 minutes. Those boys didn’t give up.
Borkingham’s comment below is the reason why it isn’t pointless to fire Avalos and Co. in season. Our brand, our passion as a fanbase, and (I would guess) the belief that we can win are all teetering or dead. Andy Avalos is a good man, and a really good coordinator. Still, while Harsin didn’t end on a great note, Avalos is taking a Corvette (among Group of 5) and retrofitting it into a Gremlin. Belief is gone. The season is already lost (even if we do eke out a bowl game). In-season firings are bad, but not as bad as… Read more »
I’m convinced now. I retract my statement of not firing them in mid season. They’ve got to go . If anything for the survival of the program..Avalos, the O and D coordinator should be unemployed Monday morning.
Just. Wow. I’ve been watching BSU football for over 15 years now and, I can say I have never seen play like I did in the second half, specifically the last six minutes. There is no doubt the vast majority of what we saw comes down to coaching. Sure, there were some bonehead plays but, those happen on every level. There is no way, no how, this team should have been put in the position they were at the end of the game, but for lousy coaching. I have nothing else. It’s time….
I am not sure I would get rid of Danielson just yet. I think he’s capable but he’s dealing with very young DB’s. However, Bush is suffering from ploughitis and princeitis. He is trying to force players into his offensive scheme rather than adapt his offensive scheme to the players he has. We took out the best player on the team for most of the second half. As we saw last year with Dirk, this team is capable of being a very good offense. But Bush decided he needed to change the entire scheme and this is the result. And… Read more »
I’d be calling Kirby Moore right now.
It’s time to hire someone from outside. Drawing repeatedly on our own coaching tree, we’ve gotten increasingly bad results. We need a fresh approach. (Given that Kellen Moore is not going to take the job)
That was an epic collapse.
And the two QB approach is a failure. Design an offense to work around Taylen Green’s athleticism and go with him, as Dirk Koetter did last year.
Also: I hate bowl games for 6-6 teams. They are pathetic.
The bowl games aren’t for the fans it’s for the players especially the seniors.
Harsin doin’ anything?
I have thought the same thing! The end of his previous tenure wasn’t great, but his failure at Auburn has probably humbled him some. While there were several disappointing losses when he was our coach, there were also several positives: 1 NY6 win, ranked nearly every year, several victories over P5 programs, etc. Second-time-around coaches seem to be doing ok in recent years. I don’t know … just terrible to have to feel this way. I’m sure the players are discouraged too.
Wouldn’t mind Harsin at all. He’s an offensive minded coach that puts his mark on the offense while allowing the OC to do his job. I can tell you for sure that Harsin wouldn’t have allowed the “Ploughfense” to go on more than 1 game. You do need to pair Harsin with a good DC, but that’s fine. What I always remember about Harsin was how angry he got when we had a bad special teams play or when one of the coordinators did something stupid. He was angry because they weren’t doing their job. They were making his beloved… Read more »
Harsin, in my view, is an average coach. The time off may make him a better one. I could live with him but not with an eye on the next level up. Harsin was consistent. I think he was tough on his coaches. I don’t think you’re tough on coaches; you just fire them. Many of his assistants were glad to leave. His record with Boise, though not stellar, was good. If Harsin or someone like him comes along, I think we could put up with a season like this one. The problem with Avalos is that the trend is… Read more »
I think Harsin is average if you compare him to Peterson. Everyone is average if you compare them to Peterson. Harsin boasted a 69-19 record at Boise state. Of the 7 seasons, 5 of them were 10 win seasons. Two of them were 12 win seasons. One of the 12 win seasons came well after the Peterson recruits were gone. We won 3 conference titles and competed in 6 conference championships. That percentage could be better I guess. Really I think it depends on what you are after. To me the Harsin era was indicative of a great program. I’m… Read more »
PetersEn
PetersOn.
He was spelling it wrong. This whole time.
I would be curious to find out who decides which QB comes in.
We are talking about QBs coming in and not being in the game’s flow, but I wonder how difficult it is for the coach calling plays. It may not be as difficult as I may think.
The Broncos must go to the portal for a QB in the off-season.
I don’t know who makes that call, but whomever it is should have their head examined. I’ve seen QB’s split series. But sending a new QB out in the middle of an offensive series and even on specific downs is asinine. If you don’t trust Green to pass on 3rd down, THEN WHY IS HE STARTING AT ALL?!?! In case they haven’t noticed, we don’t need his help in the run game. If anything, Green should be occasionally subbing in when you want to do some run option plays. Again, assuming that you don’t trust him to pass the ball.… Read more »
This may have been mentioned before. Last week, in an interview, Shane Williams-Rhodes said something interesting about TG. He said shaking his head, “he can’t ever throw a slant.”
Hamden knows that. The opposition knows that. Hamden was given a Tim Tebow who can’t throw a slant.
Understood, but remember, as bad as Tebow was as a legitimate passing threat, he was one of the most successful college football QB’s of all time. His coaches schemed up an offense that worked with him. Koetter did the same last year. As mentioned by another commenter here though, this coaching staff is trying to make the players fit the scheme not visa versa. I don’t really care who the QB is. As long as there is a plan that they can actually execute!!!!
I didn’t mean that Tim Tebow couldn’t throw a pass but that TG10 is Tebow-like QB who can’t throw. Does that make sense? TG10 can throw but his skills are limited in that skill set. A scheme or passing game was built around him. Jeanty has benefitted from defenses adjusting to TG10. The edges play wider allowing the O-line to open holes for Jeanty. What is needed are receivers who can catch not-so-perfect throws. I don’t think anyone predicted TG10’s passes would be as bad as it has been this season. Or that his receivers would be so inept.
What a great win for the CSU program. It may have been ugly but you take what you get.
If nothing is heard on Monday, Bronco Nation will be stuck with Avalos until the end of the season. It would be nice if Koetter could fill in again (this time as HC) but likely it’s not for him. I would like to see the Broncos talk with Kirby Moore. He’s had success at Fresno and now Mizzou. If not him, go outside the Bronco family. I don’t think anyone on the current Bronco coaching staff will do. I don’t think Hamden is a bad OC; he was handed a near-impossible job. TG10 is not a QB. Athleticism can take… Read more »
When the game ended FS1 cut to Andy walking out to find Colorado’s coach, Andy had the look of a lost boy not knowing where to go…… He looked mentally defeated.
I saw it too.
That was tough. Unfortunately, that’s the face of the program.
Put TG at wide receiver he would be great with 50/50 balls
They always say if you have two qbs you have no qbs….
Exactly, if he wants to go to the next level, it will never be as a QB. There are some really great receivers in the NFL who started out as QBs in their early college years.
Here it is, Monday morning at 8:27. I’m waiting for the ax to drop.
Maybe it wasn’t Plough after all.
No. It was definitely Plough. As bad as we are underperforming now, we at least look like a division 1 football team. Let’s not try to revise that history. Lol
I jest.
Sorry man. I’m still sensitive to the subject. I can point to where he hurt me.
Whats plough doing these days anyways?
Line coach (tight ends?), Cal.
Maybe he’s the tight end coach for the cheer squad. That might suit his talent level.
A coworker brought something to my attention.. Colorado state if not for some bonehead penalties could have and should have beaten Colorado. Is it possible the Rams are actually a good team?
Well it turns out that Colorado isn’t a particularly good team, so no it doesn’t make me feel better that we lost to a team that barely lost to a not so good team.
I appreciate the effort to lift spirits though because I’m pretty bummed out over the whole affair.
Coach Prime is a product, not a coach. He’s image and profile. Can it pull him over the line to be a good coach? Don’t know. I think he’s smart enough to surround himself with good coaches. A head coach is like an executive. He motivates the folks that motivate the actual workers. He’s more of a manager than a coach yet he has proven coaching skills.
I’m a huge coach prime fan. Not necessarily because of his abilities as a coach which I agree are still TBD. I think he’s a great leader for those young men, most of whom have a false sense of reality about entitlement. He makes them work and earn their positions in the program. Hate the NIL stuff but he’s certainly riding that wave. Also he’s a strong Christian so I’m biased there. But his kid is a pretty darn good quarterback. I do hope they are successful there.
Watched the Avalos presser yesterday. I want to believe but… He ripped a page out of the losing coach’s Press Conference Cliche book and quoted it over and over and over again. Yeah< I get it, Boise is the fourth youngest team in D1; what are the other three doing?
It was sad.
Do young players not catch balls?!?! Lol.
I think you can tell FKWG level of frustration by how long after a loss until a new post. Lol!
Yeah, I thought they might have a snappy little article about the presser.
It’s understandable. A lot of fans are probably doing some teeth grinding this week. It will be kind of nice to have the week off and listen to some other college football. I’m flying in to watch the Wyoming game. So anyone that thinks we don’t have a chance can feel comfort that I’ll be there. Boise state has never lost a game when I’m in attendance with my lucky hat. I take partial responsibility for that cold night in Reno. Swapped it for a Bronco beanie. Never again!
Can you give me the spread?
Asking for a friend.
Broncos. I’ll give them 2 1/2. Gonna be a close one.
Just watched the BNN podcast with Bryan Harsin. It sounded almost like a job interview.
It amazes me how many people want him back; likely the same folks who were glad to see him go.
Would you like him here or there?
I would not like him here or there.
I would not like Harsin and his scam.
I do not like him, Sam-I-Am.
Honestly I was surprised he was hired away.