Colorado University Athletics
Buffs' Crawley Prepares For CSU, Higgins
September 15, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Every week, Colorado defensive back Ken Crawley knows what to expect.
He'll see the best. The best receiver the opposing team has to offer and the best effort that receiver can put forth.
It's what goes with the territory of being a team's No. 1 cornerback — and Crawley wouldn't have it any other way.
"It's what every DB wants," the CU senior said earlier this week. "Everyone wants to check the best receiver. You want to be out there and testing yourself. You have to have the confidence that you can get it done."
This week will be no different. Late Saturday afternoon, he'll line up at Sports Authority Field in Denver and expect to see Colorado State standout wide receiver Rashard Higgins across the line of scrimmage.
Higgins' availability is still a question mark because of an ankle injury. He missed the Rams' last game, a 23-20 overtime loss to Minnesota — but no one in or around the CU locker room is expecting Higgins to miss this one. CSU coaches said Monday they are hopeful that Higgins will be ready to play, and the Buffs are counting on seeing Higgins on the field.
Crawley has already seen some quality receivers. Against Hawai'i, he played against 6-4, 200-pound Marcus Kemp. Last week, it was Massachusetts standout Tajae Sharpe.
But Higgins is in another class. A Biletnikoff Award finalist last year and a preseason All-America pick this year, Higgins produced some eye-popping numbers a year ago, catching 96 passes for 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns.
"He's a dynamic receiver," Crawley said. "They've got a great offense over there and a couple of great guys. We're just looking forward to challenging them and doing what we do best."
The Buffs actually had a decent night against Higgins a year ago. In the season-opening 31-17 CSU win, the Buffs limited Higgins to one catch — but that catch was a big one, a 16-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter that gave the Rams their first lead of the night.
"You've got to know where Rashard Higgins is, but they've got a lot of other really good weapons that can make a lot of plays," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said.
In last year's game, the Rams didn't need a big passing game to beat the Buffs. Instead, they used a punishing rushing attack to rally past Colorado, running the ball 45 times for 266 yards.
Against Minnesota, the Rams ran for 172 yards, with Dalyn Dawkins picking up 92 of those. The passing game, however, struggled, and head coach Mike Bobo benched starter Nick Stevens in the third quarter. Backup Coleman Key did provide a temporary spark with a 49-yard touchdown pass to Joe Hansley, but Monday, Bobo said Stevens would start against Colorado.
MacIntyre said the possibiity of seeing two different quarterbacks isn't a big concern.
"They didn't look like they really completely changed the offense when they switched the quarterbacks," MacIntyre said.
But what does concern the Buffs is the possibility of the deep ball. While the Rams had just one long pass against the Gophers, MacIntyre said they just missed completing several others.
"Hansley was open a couple times," MacIntyre said. "They've got some weapons."
Defending the long ball has been a weak point for the Buffs thus far. They've given up a 79-yard touchdown pass already, and UMass' Sharpe had a 41-yard reception in Saturday's game.
"I've given up a couple deep balls I shouldn't have," Crawley said. "We've got to get better playing the post and playing the deep ball — that's our key. We're going to keep working at it as a group. They can throw short but we can drive on them and wrap up. We make sure nobody gets behind us."
Crawley has been in the spotlight because of those deep balls, but he's also had some big plays defensively. He had four third-down stops against Hawai'i; and was credited with eight tackles against UMass to go along with a big fumble recovery that led to a CU touchdown.
"I think my teammates have confidence in me, and I have confidence in myself," Crawley said. "We believe in each other and we're going to get the job done. It's a big game coming up and we're going to be ready."
