Fort Collins – Big plays by receivers Damon Morton, George Hill and Dustin Osborn highlighted a one-hour situational scrimmage for Colorado State on Thursday as the Rams wrapped up the third week of spring football.
All three went deep and scored. Morton scored once in the open and another time weaving through traffic.
Working with the second unit, reserve running back Tramell McGill sprinted clear for a score.
No statistics were kept.
“Twice the defense had them stopped,” CSU coach Sonny Lubick said. “Penalties kept the drives alive, and both times they scored a touchdown. We could have been off the field where the offense wouldn’t have had the opportunity for another play.
“They convert on third-and-20, and that should never happen. Otherwise we go home and everyone says the defense is great, the offense is terrible.”
Unlike the past few years, when David Anderson dominated the receptions column, CSU’s deep corps of receivers looks to share the load.
“It’s going to be all ‘committee,”‘ Morton said. “We have a lot of receivers. … When they get the ball, they can do a lot with it. We don’t really have a go-to guy right now and I don’t think we need one, so the defenses don’t have to guard just one guy.”
Morton is scrambling to fill the leadership void left by Anderson’s departure, saying, “It’s my junior year, and it’s about time I step up and be a more vocal leader.”
It starts with mentoring his twin brother, Dion, who converted this spring from defensive back.
Starting quarterback Caleb Hanie continues to improve with every practice.
“I like the way the offense is working,” Lubick said. “I like the way Caleb is working himself into being a real quarterback.”
Footnotes
Unlike last spring, when running back Kyle Bell and H-back Kory Sperry demanded notice after their freshman seasons, Lubick said there haven’t been any major spring revelations. He did say defensive backs Chase Weber and Mike Pagnotta have helped themselves tremendously. … The Rams are off until Monday.
