Fort Collins – For the Colorado State coaching staff, settling the team’s running back issue was easy. Kyle Bell did that Saturday when the sophomore rushed for 183 yards and one touchdown against Nevada in the first start of his career.
The Rams’ next big issue – finding a balance between the fullback attack and the H-back attack – is something they will have to figure out for themselves, starting Thursday night against visiting Air Force.
Tristan Walker or Kory Sperry. The 6-foot, 245-pound blocking back or the 6-6, 233-pound pass-catching threat.
“The coaches feel that with Tristan in there, everybody thinks that he’s just a blocking back getting to run on a couple of occasions,” CSU coach Sonny Lubick said Monday. “Then when you have the other formation with Kory Sperry, I would guess the defenses are a little bit more worried about him getting out in the pass routes and doing some things, and they’re probably not as worried about Tristan.”
With Sperry, the Rams’ play-action passing is more effective.
“When Kory gets out there, it’s tough for the linebackers to run with him,” Lubick said. “Tristan right now seems to be our best blocker and Kory, of course, is our best all-around threat with everything.”
The Rams (1-2) have to sustain their newfound running game with Bell as the bell cow.
“Kyle Bell looked like he could run the football,” Lubick said. “He was running it up in there and doing pretty darn well, and the second thing was Tristan Walker was making things happen as a blocking back. You got a young guy 240 pounds that runs up in there and puts a shoulder on somebody; that’s very encouraging.”
Against Nevada, the CSU offensive line turned in its best performance of the season.
“We knew who we were blocking. It wasn’t Minnesota, but we did rush the football,” Lubick said. “We did what we had to do, and I guess as time goes on and as the season goes, we’ll see how good we are. So I think somewhere between CU and Minnesota and Nevada, there is the truth of where our running game could and should look like.”
Injury report
Rams running back Nnamdi Ohaeri (ankle), who opened the season as a starter, was back at practice Monday but will remain No. 2 behind Bell, Lubick said. Safety Miles Kochevar (shoulder) is expected to play against the Falcons. “He’ll be in a harness, but from what I understand, he can’t hurt it any more,” Lubick said. Offensive lineman Brandon Alconcel (elbow) practiced but remains questionable.
Joseph Sanchez can be reached at 303-820-5458 or jsanchez@denverpost.com.
