CSU FOOTBALL: It’s Rams defense’s turn to shine in dominating performance at scrimmage.
FORT COLLINS» A week later, a different story.
Colorado State’s defense, with coordinator John Jancek given a bit more latitude with his calls in Saturday’s scrimmage at Canvas Stadium, stymied the first offense all day long, which head coach Mike Bobo loved.
“The one defense didn’t give up a point, which was awesome to see,” he said after the scrimmage fell short of 90 plays, roughly what he considered half of a game. “I thought they made plays even when they were in the red zone and situations where they had to make plays.”
The group opened with a three-and-out, forced a missed field goal on the next drive, forced a punt on a four-play drive then made two game-saving plays by keeping receivers Preston Williams and Warren Jackson from making plays to win the game.
Bobo said he saw energy, and as the session moved on, the defense picked up confidence and momentum. At the end, he said the offense was walking away with their heads down, but he cautioned it wasn’t as bad as they probably thought.
“I thought (quarterback) K.J. (Carta-Samuels) did well. I thought he was going to the right spots, missed a few here and there, but was moving well,” Bobo said. “He had a deep ball that I thought Preston (Williams) maybe could have caught for a touchdown. Like I told the offense after the scrimmage, you think you played bad, you’re going to watch the scrimmage and you’re going to realize you’re kind of close there on a couple of plays.”
Carta-Samuels, entrenched with the first unit, hit on 10 of his 22 throws for 123 yards and an interception, but no scores, with Bobo telling him he had a good day, just a few misses. Justice McCoy continued to build confidence with the coaching staff after hitting 8-of-17 throws for 103 yards and a score. The surprise of the day was Collin Hill, who did get one drive and some red-zone work. Before anybody gets too excited about him hitting 5-of-6 throws for 84 yards and three scores, Bobo added the asterisks. Hill never faced the first unit, and the defense had to play base and couldn’t blitz.
Still, it was encouraging nonetheless for Bobo, who saw a confident quarterback who was throwing well. What it means is there probably isn’t a quarterback question brewing yet.
“I don’t know the answer to Collin yet. That’s something that we’ll sit down with the doctors and make the right decision,” Bobo said. “Again, that’s something we’re not going to rush at all. Then we’ll sit down tonight and tomorrow and probably name a starter at quarterback.”
There are plenty of questions elsewhere, and some youngsters are answering the call. The red-zone pass to Jackson was broken up by Rashad Ajayi, who Bobo continues to praise, adding the true freshmen would most definitely start at a corner in the nickel package, and very well could in base. Tywan Francis and Quinn Brinnon continue to impress, as does defensive lineman Devin Phillips, who is still with the first unit.