Working to stop 2nd guessing of 1st line of defense
fort collins» Consider it a rush project. On two fronts — to stop and to produce.
Last year, Colorado State surrendered 213.3 yards per game on the ground (106th nationally) while producing 24 sacks in 13 games (1.85 per) to rank 80th.
The Rams’ first line of defense in both cases is under reconstruction and not exactly stout by college football standards. So what’s a team to do?
“Coach (Ricky) Logo has talked about it: ‘We’re not the biggest, we’re not the strongest, we’re not the fastest, but the thing we have to rely on is technique, and you guys have got to be able to move your feet,’ ” junior Jakob Buys said. “With that, it really helps. If you’re profound on your technique, you’ll be able to make plays and do the right things. That really helps us.”
As does the switch to the 3-4 defense. Instead of replacing four starters, the Rams are looking for three. There is precious little experience among those vying for time, and the brunt of it lies with Josh Lovingood, a nose guard who has been slowed by injuries. He started six games last year, but had just 17 stops, down from 26 a season prior.
His being healthy will help. As will the additions of O’Shea Jackson and true freshman Christian Colon, both of whom started camp with injuries and are starting to work their way back. They do fit the bill — 300 pounds plus — required to plug up the middle.
But on either side, it’s not exactly beefy. Darnell Thompson and Buys range around 270, but there is a dropoff after them. They’ll have to be able to move their feet and create havoc, and while it didn’t show up during scrimmages, the plans have been effective in practice.
“I know they’re not the biggest group of guys we’ll ever see, but their athleticism definitely puts them in spots that bigger guys couldn’t get into,” center Jake Bennett said. “Jakob, Lovingood and Darnell and Richard King has come along. Bryan (Ohene-Gyeni) and Evan (Colorito) at buck, all those guys are athletic dudes who play (hard). Toby McBride is going to come along. Have you ever shook his hand? Once he gets a year lifting, he’s going to be scary.”
But the Rams don’t have an extra year in the weight room. Instead, they have a game Sept. 2 against a Colorado team that will try to test the Rams front.
By no means can the runstopping problems be pinned entirely on the line. CSU had a penchant for giving up long scoring runs in 2015, and the linebackers and secondary played a key role in allowing backs to find room and run free.
They’ll require help in providing a pass rush too. The Rams’ sack leaders from last year — Joe Kawulok and Martavius Foster at 5.5 each — graduated.
Bobo is concerned, but he also knows the group hasn’t schemed up an offense yet or drawn up a game plan to set them on a path. That could be part of the issue, but he said so is the fact they aren’t hitting the edges or using their hands correctly.
He’s not necessarily looking for sacks alone, but making a quarterback move his feet, throw off his timing and make it hard to work through progressions.
“I don’t care who you’ve got back there in the secondary, if you can’t put any pressure and make the quarterback uncomfortable, it’s going to be a long day,” he said.
Or a long season.