Fort Collins – Alexys Hill, age 10 months, is blessed with a healthy set of pipes. It didn’t matter to her when her dad, Colorado State wide receiver George Hill, came home from practice this week with a concussion. She wailed anyway.
Hill wasn’t finding any sympathy from his head coach, either.
“George, what happened? Someone sneezed on you and got a concussion?” CSU coach Sonny Lubick asked.
Sympathy is in short supply at CSU these days. An 0-2 start will do that, along with shortcomings in the rush defense, rush offense and overall special-teams play.
The Rams have a shot to turn their season in a positive direction against Nevada (1-1) in their home opener Saturday. It’s the Rams’ first meeting with the Western Athletic Conference member since 2002.
Nevada was viewed by CSU fans as the breather on that year’s schedule, too, but the Rams escaped with a 32-28 win in Reno that had Wolf Pack fans chanting “Overrated!” as CSU left the field.
Other than Nevada coach Chris Ault claiming CSU compares favorably to Washington State and the oddsmakers installing the Rams as 18-point favorites, few associated with CSU see any easy victories in the near future.
Hill was working in special-teams drills Tuesday when he was knocked to the ground. He sat out Wednesday as a precaution.
Life is all football and family for Hill. No video games with teammates after practice. Hill heads straight home, where he has a built-in support system with his wife, Jessica, and baby daughter. Hill’s mother and stepfather moved from California to Fort Collins to help care for the baby. He said his parents welcome the lower cost of living and reduced traffic.
Lubick has mentioned Hill as one of the Rams who will have an expanded role on special teams, including punt coverage. He already has demonstrated his value this season by averaging 21.2 yards on 12 kickoff returns. In the opener against Colorado, he had CSU’s longest pass reception at 33 yards before he was knocked out of bounds near the end zone.
“That should have been a touchdown,” Hill said.
The 5-foot-11, 177-pound sophomore from Corona, Calif., is using special teams to separate himself from the crowd of receivers at CSU’s deepest position. Star senior David Anderson, with 2,590 career yards, typically attracts double teams. Dustin Osborn (102) and Johnny Walker (116) had 100-yard games at Minnesota.
“We all try to have the same type of competition with each other,” Hill said. “We try to help each other out and make big plays for each other.”
CSU coaches are looking for a way to get Hill more touches. The big play at Colorado was his only reception.
“We have to find chances to get him the ball,” CSU wide receivers coach Marc Lubick said. “He’s a pretty explosive player.”
Rams offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt said Hill reminds him of former CSU standouts Darran Hall and Frank Rice but with less grasp of the offense at this point.
“If we could get him five or six balls a game, I bet he could score on one of them,” Hammerschmidt said. “Right now he needs consistency so we can get him the ball. You can’t just say line up on the left. You have to move him around, you have to hide him a little.”
NEVADA AT COLORADO STATE
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Nevada (1-1): Wide receivers Nichiren Flowers and Caleb Spencer are big threats, with Flowers in line to join some of the Nevada greats – including Nate Burleson, now with the Minnesota Vikings. Defensive end Craig Bailey, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior, is the reigning WAC player of the week. Wolf Pack junior quarterback Jeff Rowe (6-5, 220) is the best run-pass combo the Rams will have seen to date.
Colorado State (0-2): Wide receiver David Anderson can’t continue to draw so many double teams when Dustin Osborn, Johnny Walker, George Hill and H-back Kory Sperry have shown they can take advantage. Running back Kyle Bell will draw his first start. Senior safety Miles Kochevar, CSU’s biggest playmaker on defense, will be tested by Nevada’s diverse offense.
KEY STAT
The Rams rank 108th nationally against the run, yielding 234 yards a game on the ground. Nevada’s running game isn’t to be confused with Minnesota’s, but the Wolf Pack averages 128 yards. CSU needs to start stuffing the running game.
KEY FOR COLORADO STATE
Getting the Rams’ dormant running game going. Bell may get 20-plus carries in an effort to build some consistency.
KEY FOR NEVADA
Avoiding a letdown after defeating in-state rival UNLV 22-14 for the first time in the past six meetings.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
