Rams adds beef to its defensive line
FORT COLLINS» The gains are obvious, visually.
Look at the Colorado State roster at the end of the 2016 and check out the weights listed for the defensive linemen. Now look at them heading into this season, and one will quickly pick up there is about 20 additional pounds across the board.
Some of them are a lie, too. Jakob Buys knows he’s larger than the 280 that is listed, and the same is true for a few others in his position room. Richard King is bigger. Toby McBride is bigger. Colton Foster is bigger.
As they have found, bigger is better.
“It really has helped hold the point when you get doubleteamed,” Buys said. “We’re all getting double-teamed at some point; Darnell (Thompson’s) getting it worse, he’s at nose, but you can tell a difference. When you’re 260 and you’re going against two 300-pounders and they’re both hitting you, and it takes a lot out of you.
“The weight helps, but a lot of things factor in to it.”
Colorado State coach Mike Bobo knows his defense allowed 214 rushing yards per game a season ago, a number that has to come way down. Judging from the beginning of spring camp to where the Rams are now, he’s been impressed with the progress the group has made and the work they’ve put into getting better.
As happy as he is to see defensive linemen who weight what a defensive lineman should, it means just as much they have remained athletic and active. The group’s offseason workouts were structured to allow for weight gain (shorter, bursting runs as opposed to longer ones) with extra punch added into their recovery shakes.
For the most part, the current structure is allowing them to maintain the weight through camp.
“They’ve played pretty well up front,” Bobo said. “There’s some quickness with the nose guard position, and it’s been tough for our center to handle it, which is a good thing. Guys that are quick, guys that can move, they’ve been disruptive.”
Game day will be the real test, and Oregon State will come in with every intention on running the ball. The Beavers averaged just better than 190 yards per game, led by Ryan Nall’s 951 yards and 13 touchdowns, accomplished with a 6.5-yards-per-carry average.
“We’re stopping the run. There’s nothing else to say. We’re stopping the run,” Thompson said. “That’s my word. We’re stopping the run. I think a lot of people are going to be shocked.”