FORT COLLINS — The long layoff between games gave Colorado State a chance to go back to the basics, at least with the first four practices leading to the Dec. 29 Arizona Bowl against Nevada.
It was definitely time spent looking at younger players who didn’t get as many reps during the season, but to defensive coordinator Tyson Summers, it was just as crucial for the older players who had a chance to go back to the basics.
Defensively, the Rams will need to be settled in when taking on Nevada and the Wolf Pack’s 1,000-yard rushers — James Butler (1,153) and Don Jackson (1,029).
The Rams (7-5) have been an odd bunch defensively, starting the season doing well against the run, then getting creased consistently in the middle of the campaign. They were strong once again when facing Wyoming and UNLV, yet in the Rams’ final two regular-season games, both New Mexico and Fresno State rushed for more than 200 yards.
Overall, it hasn’t been the run-stopping unit that CSU wants, allowing 208.1 yards per game, just a shade more than what Nevada (6-6) averages per game (205.5).
“The one thing about this team, we’re consistent with teams that run the ball and not against teams that don’t run the ball,” defensive end SteveO Michel said. “We give up the run against teams that don’t try to establish the run. When we face teams that are trying to establish the run, we do pretty well. I believe we’ll go in there and bow our neck, continue to communicate and play like we did all year against a team that knows how to run the ball.”
Nevada is a running team, built around two tailbacks who have proven to be explosive and tenacious behind an offensive line that went through a number of changes because of injuries. What they accomplished as a group is considered special to them.
“You’ve got to take pride in that, because that’s what we do at Nevada,” Jackson said. “We run the football. I think that helped show we had an offensive line that battled through some stuff, and they really fought. They never quit. Next man up every single time something happened. If it was a guy moving from tackle to guard or guard to tackle, they were going to do whatever it was to get us a win.”
As always, the Rams — Summers and his defenders alike — point back to following the basic tenants of what needs to be done and sticking to the rules.
“It’s always about what we need to do to fix our problems, but they are the next team and the last game of the season,” linebacker Deonte Clyburn said. “We have to home in on what they do best and try to limit their success.”
Nevada’s pistol offense won’t be anything new because the Rams have seen it during the course of the season, Summers said. Nor is the fact that the Wolf Pack will have a new play-caller, with Jim Hofher replacing the departed Nick Rolovich, who recently took the head coaching job at Hawaii.
But even in giving up more yards on the ground than they would prefer, the Rams have been able to limit the amount of explosive plays. Butler and Jackson will press that, as both have reeled off long runs throughout the season.
Again, back to the basics.
“I think through the last couple of weeks we certainly did a better job of that,” Summers said. “I think the emphasis continues to be that. That’s the thing that just hurts your heart.
“We’ll continue to emphasize it. I think as long as we continue to emphasize our eye progressions and our keys and continue to emphasize trying to get off blocks and get an extra hat to the ball, we’ll have a better chance.”
