Keys to victory: CSU must stop Minnesota RB Rodney Smith

Saturday isn’t just another game for CSU at Hughes Stadium.

Colorado State University football coach Mike Bobo has done a good job at least acknowledging the matchup against Minnesota at least has a different vibe. The Rams are playing on national television for the first time during his reign as head coach. More notably, it’s his first shot to knock off an opponent from a Power 5 conference and CSU’s last to ever do so on the turf three miles west of campus.

Will the Rams win?

Flip a coin.

Can they? If they follow these three steps, absolutely.

Silence Rodney Smith

If a freshman can rush for 88 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries against No. 2 TCU in his collegiate debut, he’s more than earned the right to be considered a threat the rest of the season.

Minnesota running back Rodney Smith did just that last week and was clearly the most dangerous weapon the Gophers had on offense. After senior Roderick Williams Jr. fumbled away a touchdown in the first half, Minnesota started to feed Smith, and he did an excellent job reading small holes in the line to break through, proving himself as an every-down back.

“He’s the only back I’ve had in a long time that played 46 plays, and he graded out perfect, never made a mistake,” Minnesota coach Jerry Kill told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

It’s imperative the Rams limit Smith’s ability, as Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner was average at best, completing 19 of 35 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown. “Spiral” isn’t in his vocabulary, and at high altitude with a breeze there should be ample opportunities for CSU defensive backs to take advantage of hanging ducks.

Fix the kicking game

No place kicker is going to make 100 percent of his attempts. No kickoff specialist is going to put 100 percent of his kicks through the back of the end zone. That being said, CSU needs better than what it got from Braxton Davis and Wyatt Bryan last week against Savannah State.

Three kickoffs went out of bounds, allowing the Tigers to start at the 35-yard line. Bryan went 1 of 2 on field-goal attempts and missed an extra point.

Those types of mistakes didn’t hurt against Savannah State. Facing Minnesota, they’ll be devastating.

Bobo said Monday that the kicking battle will continue through practice this week. It’s time to see that extra week of competition pay off.

Don’t force Higgins

If All-American wide receiver Rashard Higgins can’t shake his sprain and play Saturday for the Rams, the spread will extend from six points in Minnesota’s favor. If he does play, quarterback Nick Stevens shouldn’t go out of his way to get the 2014 Biletnikoff Award finalist the football.

The most impressive characteristic Stevens showed last week against Savannah State in his first career start was how well he saw the field and balanced his distribution. It would have been easy for him to try to feed Higgins; he didn’t (Higgins caught seven passes and was targeted eight times). Eleven receivers caught passes last week, and Stevens’ five touchdown passes were all to different targets.

Higgins did lead the team in receptions and yards, but rarely was he an obvious safety blanket for Stevens. Higgins is going to be the focus of Minnesota’s strong pass defense and should see double coverage.

Stevens did an excellent job progressing through his reads and checking down last week. Do it again Saturday, and everything will be just fine.

For insight and analysis on athletics around Northern Colorado and the Mountain West, follow sports columnist Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.