FORT COLLINS — Life, over the course of the current four-game losing streak, has gradually become a more taxing experience for Colorado State players.
“The practices are a little longer,” offensive tackle Paul Madsen said this week. “We’re doing more meetings just to make sure everyone really knows what they are doing.”
You can’t be too careful when the stakes are as high as they are now for the Rams. Lose again, and it’s five in a row and no shot at a winning season. Win, and salvaging the season becomes a more realistic goal.
But just how far is CSU (3-5) willing to go to win? These are desperate times in Fort Collins. Some might think desperate measures are warranted. With four games remaining and a 3-5 record an albatross, is pushing the envelope in everything from play-calling to effort on deck?
Yes and no.
“Obviously there’s not a lot to lose,” CSU coach Steve Fairchild said. “We’d like to get this thing turned around here and play decent down the stretch. We did some things obviously a little different on both sides of the ball at UNLV, just subtle things that we’ve taken a look at. That’s this time of year.
“I don’t know if I would call it desperate, but you just roll the dice a little bit.”
Practices have been tweaked in everything from length to how they are run. Last week, more individual work was incorporated. This week, more work with the first-team offense vs. the first-team defense was the trend.
But what about during Saturday’s game against the San Diego State Aztecs?
CSU coaches are reluctant to throw caution to the wind. Offensively, the Rams have always run trick plays and scored touchdowns. Any additional chicanery could be seen as an extension of the norm.
Still, Fairchild said, “whatever it would take to move the football, we’ve got to be able to do.”
Offensive coordinator Pat Meyer stressed that CSU is going to run its base stuff but noted, “You’ve got to be a little bit more daring at times and take some chances.”
Defensively, taking more chances is tougher, particularly when the basics of stopping the opposition aren’t being done with consistency. Therefore, do not expect CSU’s defensive plan to deviate much. The team has to solve its problems before it can try to trick an offense into mistakes.
“That’s always a fine line,” defensive coordinator Larry Kerr said. “You get creased for 4, 5, 6 yards and so you try to change it up and maybe put a little pressure. Maybe it works and you get a 2-yard loss, but maybe it doesn’t and you get a 50-yard gain. You’ve got to play percentages. I’d like to be more in control, pick my spots.”
And yet with four games left and a desire to win at least three to become bowl-eligible, Colorado State doesn’t have the luxury of playing it safe.
The two items everyone agrees need to remain high are attitude and effort.
“Regardless of if you’re 6-2, 2-6, whatever your record is, down the stretch you’ve got to play full go, as hard as you can,” Meyer said. “There’s no quit in you, play smart, play hard, all of that. Stuff you’ve been preaching all year, but especially down the stretch. You’ve got to get that done. We’re not happy where we’re at right now, we’re not. The kids know that, and they’re not happy, either.”
Said Madsen: “As a player, I just try to go out there and grind out each play. I try to be as efficient as I can. From that perspective, I don’t know if we’re going to make different play calls. I don’t think the coaches are desperate. I think they’ve made good changes, and I don’t think they are going to do anything irrational.”
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
Three questions for CSU
1. Will Rams linebacker Mychal Sisson be able to play? Sisson, a senior linebacker and a player others respect most, practiced this week for the first time since breaking his right ankle Sept. 10. He’ll be a game-time decision, but the lift his presence on the field would give a beaten-down Rams team is immeasurable.
2. Can CSU’s defense contain San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman? Hillman generally runs over, around and through anyone in his path. Meanwhile, Colorado State has struggled to stop the run. The Rams will have to solve that problem and get Hillman under control if they are to have a chance at winning.
3. Can CSU run against San Diego State? Last year, CSU running backs ran 24 times for 46 yards. This year has to be different. San Diego State has showed an inconsistency in stopping the run, and CSU’s Chris Nwoke has improved as the season has worn on. He’ll need to be at his best to help CSU’s offense achieve balance and stay on schedule. Chris Dempsey, The Denver Post
