Anyone associated with Colorado State’s football program knew it wasn’t good news Aug. 30 when running back Kyle Bell was diagnosed with a torn ACL.
No one could have imagined it would be this bad.
Three games into the season, CSU ranks 105th nationally in Division I-A rushing offense at 76 yards a game and 2.4 yards a crack. By halftime of the 28-10 loss at Nevada, the Rams had rushed 10 times for 10 yards.
The mostly short passing game isn’t making up for the lack of a ground attack. The Rams are 101st in total offense at 262 yards.
It’s not just the lack of production on the ground. After three games, it’s apparent to opponents CSU has no rushing game and the passing game is now well covered. Quarterback Caleb Hanie is under attack with every snap. The line, which isn’t blocking for the running game, isn’t protecting Hanie, either, as the Rams have given up 13 sacks in three weeks.
The offense has gone six quarters without a touchdown. The Rams have missed two field goals in that span, and made one – after the offense failed to advance following safety Mike Pagnotta’s interception return to the Nevada 21.
It’s not for a lack of trying to jump-start the rushing game. Nnamdi Ohaeri replaced Gartrell Johnson in the starting lineup Saturday. When neither was effective, Michael Myers opened the third quarter for the Rams.
“We tried to come out and get Michael Myers going, and we couldn’t get that going either,” said CSU offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt. “So we tried using the wide receivers again, which we’re doing too much of.”
The Rams attempted reverses to Damon Morton and a Morton pass off the reverse, to no avail.
In a reverse of the usual order, Hammerschmidt said the Rams even tried to establish the deep passing game to open up the ground attack, but that didn’t help, either. The screen pass, so effective the previous week vs. CU, also failed to generate much as CSU suffered through a night with only 177 yards of total offense.
“We have got to find a run game,” Hammerschmidt said.
That will be the top priority for the bye week. CSU doesn’t play again until Sept. 30 at Fresno State (1-2), which also is off this week.
The Rams hope to get some players back, including redshirt freshman Tim Walter, who won the starting center job before a late August knee sprain. Part-time starting center Nick Allotta, and two newcomers at guard, junior-college transfer Marvin Arnold and redshirt freshman Adrian Martinez, haven’t been opening up many seams inside.
CSU coach Sonny Lubick expects to hold practice Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before beginning Fresno State preparations Sept. 25.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
