Fort Collins – It’s written in every coaching textbook, or at least in the list of axioms carried by every coach: Defense wins championships.
Colorado State won or shared six conference championships over two leagues from 1994-2002, thanks largely to outstanding defense. Now, mention of CSU’s defense draws laughs around the Mountain West Conference.
Weary of the nonstop reminders – the Rams finished 115th nationally in rushing defense (222.8 yards a game) a year ago – CSU coach Sonny Lubick is no longer, er, defensive.
“We have to be better,” has been Lubick’s mantra in fall ball, though he’s not above some self-effacing humor. “They changed the NCAA rules to shorten the game so that gives us less plays on defense,” he joked.
During a recent luncheon for the MWC’s Front Range schools, Wyoming coach Joe Glenn followed Lubick to the podium and proceeded with a mock interview following CSU’s 51-30 loss to Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl. Spinning a joke about how Lubick told a reporter his defense was called the “Sieve,” when asked to spell it Glenn said Lubick’s response was: “Spell it? We can’t even run it.”
Glenn wasn’t any more nasty – or correct – than a running gag on Ramnation.com, a CSU fan message board. A regular subject line since the December bowl has been: “Navy just scored again!”
Lubick, his coaches and the players don’t need prompting to recognize how bad the Rams’ run defense has been in recent years. And yet the head coach seems optimistic things can be turned around. Talk of improvement has centered around having experience at nearly every defensive position and good competition for nearly every starting spot on the defense.
“I think it started a little bit in spring practice that there’s a little bit of swagger and a little bit of an expectation among the people on defense that we’re not going to let the run defense be the downfall of the team,” said junior defense end Jesse Nading, a preseason all-MWC pick.
After recent scrimmages, Lubick said the run defense was “a lot better.” He saw the biggest improvement on the interior line.
“The discipline of the defense is much better,” Lubick said. “But we have to figure out how to stop runs on the perimeter and quick passes.”
Another coaching axiom states: You achieve what you emphasize. Last year CSU emphasized improving a horrid turnover ratio (minus-12) from the 2004 season. CSU did, going to plus-5 and tying Texas Christian for the conference fumble recovery lead with 14.
The drills this past month have been more physical with more full-contact drills than in years past.
Some of the statistical embarrassment from last year stems from the damage Navy (467 rushing yards) and Minnesota (355 rushing yards) did to CSU. Navy was first nationally in rushing offense and Minnesota was third.
But there were two games when the defense rose up much like Lubick’s early teams and deserved credit for the wins: a goal-line stand against Utah and the second half of the New Mexico game, when it held all-time MWC rushing leader DonTrell Moore to less than 10 yards.
“It’s not like we weren’t able to stop the run. We had glimpses,” Nading said. “It’s not like we weren’t capable, we (just) didn’t do it. The biggest thing between being able to do and doing it is that attitude. You’re going to do your job and you’re not going to let down the other 10 guys on the field.
“When things weren’t going well, people were taking turns having bad plays. That will kill you.”
CSU did not reach the bottom of the NCAA stats overnight. In 2004, the Rams allowed a staggering 221.7 yards per game on the ground, last in the MWC, and were next to last in overall defense, allowing 415 yards per game.
In 2000 when the Rams went 10-2 with a Liberty Bowl victory against Louisville, CSU’s scoring defense was second in the MWC (19th nationally) at 18.9 points a game, before plunging backward. By 2003, CSU was down to 80th nationally, yielding 29.5 points per game. Last season the Rams were 91st, allowing 30.8 points.
Some say the decline was precipitated in the 2002 finale, a week after the Rams had clinched the conference crown, when UNLV scored late to spoil an unbeaten conference record. Then-defensive coordinator Larry Kerr left in the offseason for UCLA.
Another defensive downfall came in the middle of the 2003 loss to Utah when linebacker Eric Pauly was hurt. CSU has not had a dominating linebacker since Pauly left that game with a career-ending knee injury.
CSU defensive tackles coach Karl Ballard was an overachieving tough guy walk-on linebacker for the 1994-95 teams that set the school’s standard for defense. It’s no coincidence Lubick brought back Ballard to instill that attitude.
“If we can develop a consistency, a demeanor, an attitude, lining up with that confidence and swagger, we do have a chance to be pretty good,” Ballard said. “We have to play one play at a time and not get down on ourselves. If we lose that confidence I think we’ll be average. If we play focused every snap we have a chance to be good.”
There’s no question CSU’s defense has dropped off from Ballard’s glory days. He’s just one piece of the puzzle determined to get back to that era.
Eye on the Rams
Coach: Sonny Lubick, 14th year, 101-57
2005 record: 6-6 (5-3 Mountain West Conference)
What’s new: A deep, balanced receiving corps, return of the running quarterback and focus on a defensive revival.
What to look for: When defenses stack the box on running back Kyle Bell, vastly improved quarterback Caleb Hanie will let it fly.
Natalie Meisler predicts: 8-4. Rams will beat at least one of the MWC Big Three Utah, Brigham Young or Texas Christian but will slip elsewhere.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Caleb Hanie: Gets rid of the ball faster and is comfortable running the offense.
TE Kory Sperry: Has improved his blocking enough to earn more time on the field.
WR Luke Roberts: Hands down, best set of hands in receiving corps.
DE Jesse Nading: Most dominant Rams defensive end in years.
LB Jeff Horinek: Look for big improvement over freshman season.
2006 SCHEDULE
Sept. 2 Weber State 3 p.m.
Sept. 9 *Colorado 3 p.m
Sept. 16 at Nevada 7 p.m.
Sept. 30 at Fresno State 8 p.m.
Oct. 7 UNLV 3:30 p.m.
Oct. 12 at Air Force 6 p.m.
Oct. 21 at Wyoming 2 p.m.
Oct. 28 New Mexico 3:30 p.m.
Nov. 4 Brigham Young 4:30 p.m.
Nov. 11 at Utah noon
Nov. 25 Texas Christian 5 p.m.
Dec. 2 at San Diego State 6 p.m.
* at Invesco Field at Mile High
KEY GAME | SEPT. 9 VS. COLORADO
Can the Rams find a way to win in the last minute in the return to Invesco Field? If so, that’s a great way to keep the nonconference momentum going.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
