Rams get passing grade from coach during first scrimmage
FORT COLLINS» Colorado State lost its leading passer, rusher and receiver from a season ago — departures that would normally put an offense into full rebuilding mode. And yet, with the start of the 2018 season three weeks away, it seems the Rams are pretty much set at those skill positions.
Following Saturday’s scrimmage at Canvas Stadium, CSU football coach Mike Bobo said he’d by lying if he didn’t have some restless nights thinking about replacing Nick Stevens, Michael Gallup and Dalyn Dawkins, along with center Jake Bennett. But those penciled in as their replacements, guys like presumed starting quarterback K.J. Cartasamuels, tailback Izzy Matthews and wideout Bisi Johnson, give Bobo confidence the Rams’ offense can again be one of the best in the Mountain West.
“I feel good about this young talent. I feel good about this quarterback. I feel good about the chances of us meshing and becoming a good offensive line,” Bobo said. “We’re going to make some mistakes, yes, but hopefully we won’t make so many that it costs us football games. Hopefully we grow as an offense and find ways to win ball games.”
A graduate transfer from Washington, Carta-samuels is likely the biggest question mark for the Rams on the offensive side of the ball simply because of the uncertainty that comes with a guy who only has 47 career pass attempts. Not only does Matthews have nearly 2,000 career rushing yards to his credit, but fellow backs Marvin Kinsey Jr. and Rashaad Boddie also give the unit plenty of experience. The Rams’ receiving core isn’t loaded with veterans like the backfield is, but along with Johnson, there is plenty of talent at the position with the likes of Tennessee transfer Preston Williams (who was held out of Saturday’s workout with a groin injury) and promising sophomore Warren Jackson.
That leaves Carta-samuels, who made his unofficial CSU debut Saturday by completing 14-of21 passes for 161 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Jackson was on the receiving end of two of the scores (from 10 and 4 yards out) and Johnson the other, a perfectly placed 26-yard corner route.
Players weren’t available for interviews after the scrimmage, but Carta-samuels said Thursday that he was looking forward to being put in a more competitive situation than a normal practice.
Aside from the one pick, a crossing pattern snagged by linebacker Josh Watson, Bobo was impressed by his new leading signal caller.
“I thought K.J. did a nice job. I feel like he’s got good command of the huddle, or the no-huddle, so to speak. I think he’s getting better every day of understanding the offense and understanding where to go,” Bobo said. “He threw a nice deep ball to Bisi, had a couple nice checkdowns.”
Bobo said Friday he wasn’t planning on running the ball much Saturday, but the team still ended up with 32 carries for 167 yards. Back from a brief suspension to start training camp, Boddie gained 68 yards on nine attempts with a pair of scores. Kinsey added 74 yards on six carries.
Defensively, Watson totaled a team-high six tackles to go with the interception and a pass breakup. Dajon Owens, Anthony Giusti, Max Mcdonald, Adonis Rufran and Tre Thomas each had five stops while Damion Daley was credited with a pair of sacks. Trey Sutton also had an interception, a ball thrown right to him by Justice Mccoy, while Caleb Smith tallied three quarterback hurries.
Bobo said new defensive coordinator John Jancek expressed to him frustration after the scrimmage over what Jancek thought was a lack of production from the defensive line. But with several skill position players in non-contact orange jerseys, and no substituting, Bobo calmed Jancek’s concerns.
“I think our strength will be our depth and ability to rotate. And in a day like a scrimmage, you’re not rotating, because the 1s are going with the 1s, the 2s are going with the 2s, the 3s are going with the 3s,” Bobo said. “So your ability to rotate and keep those guys fresh is diminished in a scrimmage. I think when we get in a game setting, you’re going to have anywhere between 10-13 defensive linemen available we’ll be able to rotate.”
Perhaps most importantly, Bobo said the team didn’t suffer any major injuries. However, the day wasn’t perfect.
“You could tell we’re not in game shape,” he said. “That’ll be a good thing we can point out . ... Hopefully we’ll be in better condition when we scrimmage next Saturday.”