Fort Collins — Running back Kyle Bell delivered a few hits in pass-blocking drills Saturday, so he thought it was only fair to take his first hits today when Colorado State had its first practice in full uniform.
Bell found himself at the bottom of a pile and said, “You expect guys on you and you realize you’re OK. It’s no different feeling. I’ve been waiting to hit.”
Bell suffered a torn ACL in practice the week of last year’s opener and sat out all season.
‘I don’t want people cringing when I get hit,” he said.
Bell had one short run today to set up a Caleb Hanie-to-Damon Morton 31-yard touchdown pass in some brief scrimmaging.
As for defensive players on the sidelines urging their teammates not to blast Bell, CSU coach Sonny Lubick said, “I hope they feel that way about everyone. You’re not going to dive and kill one guy and let another guy go. I think they understand that.”
About the team’s look overall, Lubick said: “It wasn’t as crisp as you’d like, it but it wasn’t bad either.”
Footnotes
Any fumble on offense results in the entire offense doing “up and downs,” a conditioning drill that serves as punishment. It was instituted by offensive co-coordinator Dale Lay.
“Whatever it takes to get their attention,” said Lubick, who could see some peer pressure benefits in the drill.
Defensive end Bob Vomhof watched practice in street clothes with a tweaked knee. He was not obviously limping. Lubick praised Jake Galusha and Steve Juedes, both former walk-ons who moved to the top of the safeties heap while Klint Kubiak mends a lower abdominal injury.
While running back Michael Myers and Gartrell Johnson nursed minor hamstring problems, freshmen recruits Phillip Morelli (Mullen) and Lester Arnold (San Diego) saw their first action on the field.
The Rams take their first break Tuesday with media day at Hughes Stadium.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303 954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
