Fort Collins – Given the choice between a Sunday to rest or a head start on preparing for Thursday’s Mountain West Conference opener with Air Force, there really was no option for Colorado State’s senior leaders.
“Coach (Sonny) Lubick said we could have the day off if we wanted it,” CSU quarterback Justin Holland said. “David (Anderson) and I said there’s no way we’re taking (Sunday) off. We have to get in and watch some film.”
Lubick was adamant during the recent bye week that the Rams not look ahead to Air Force and that they concentrate instead on fixing problems while preparing for Nevada. There were signs of significant improvement Saturday in the Kyle Bell-led running game and the heretofore missing special teams in a 42-21 defeat of the Wolf Pack.
While the team was thrilled to get a win, no one was dwelling on the nonleague victory.
“For a young team that hasn’t won that much in the last two years, we have to show them how to have that turnaround in their minds,” senior center Albert Bimper said. “Don’t dwell on the losses, don’t dwell on the wins.”
Defensive coordinator Steve Stanard planned to be in his office at 8 a.m. Sunday to begin preparation for the Falcons’ option attack. Any other week he might be concerned about pass defense – Nevada’s Jeff Rowe completed 23-of-34 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns Saturday against the Rams.
But the Wolf Pack was playing from behind, trailing 21-0 early, and CSU came up with interceptions by cornerback Robert Herbert and backup middle linebacker Jon Radford.
Preparing for Air Force is all about defending the option, and Holland said there isn’t much CSU’s standard offense can do to help.
Stanard already had his scout-team quarterbacks picked for the biggest scout-team assignment of any year. Freshman quarterback Grant Stucker will have his usual assignment, but Stanard also wants to use redshirt freshman Tramell McGill, one of the quickest running backs on the roster, to give the defense a look at the quarterback option.
Although it’s a short week of practice, the Rams have long memories from last year’s season-ending 47-17 debacle in the snow at the academy.
“We have to do a little work,” safety Miles Kochevar said. “We were embarrassed by them last year.”
Footnotes
Bell, who carried 33 times for 183 yards against Nevada, won a new fan. Since Bell signed with CSU he has drawn comparisons to former Rams running back Kevin McDougal, who was visiting running backs coach Mick Delaney over the weekend. After Saturday’s game McDougal said of Bell: “He moved the pile pretty well.” …
The only injury from Saturday was to starting middle linebacker Courtney Jones, who aggravated a rib injury suffered during the Minnesota game.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
