FORT COLLINS — Colorado State’s leading — make that only — scorer isn’t one to boast about putting all nine points on the scoreboard. In a young season when the end zone has become a Bermuda Triangle for the Rams’ offensive unit, place-kicker Ben DeLine won’t take any credit for splitting the uprights.
“Teamwise, I’ve been doing everything I can in the games to help the team win,” said the junior from Steamboat Springs. “We’ll pull it together. We win as a team, we lose as a team, so I can’t say I feel any better or worse by scoring all the points.”
DeLine is 3-for-4 in field goals in two games and a career 6-for-6 from 40 to 49 yards out. Moreover, he has shown vast improvement kicking off, with four touchbacks in five kicks.
Special-teams coach Larry Lewis has repeatedly credited DeLine’s improved distance to a leap in leg strength.
DeLine, who arrived at CSU weighing 155 pounds and now is approaching 185 pounds, doesn’t think it’s his work in the weight room.
“I’m just focusing on the kicking during practice and technique,” DeLine said. “Kicking is 90 percent a mental game. There’s a lot of mental preparation, even more so than physical.”
Even on the field goals, he shares credit with the snapper (Scott Albritton) and holder (Matt Yemm).
“Without them, we wouldn’t score anything,” he said.
High spirits remain.
The Rams practiced for the first time since the 51-6 debacle at Nevada. There’s still plenty of noise on the field.
The biggest change was freshman kick returner Tony Drake taking more snaps at running back. His coaches previously had said Drake needed to absorb more of the offense before lining up from scrimmage.
There was no live tackling in evidence during 11-on-11 work, but running back John Mosure delivered quite a hit to a defensive player.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
