Colorado State University Athletics
Spring Drills Reach Halfway Point For Rams
4/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Colorado State University?s football team reached the halfway point in spring practice Saturday with a workout that last more than two hours.
The practice included a live contact session in place of a scrimmage that was to have taken place Sunday afternoon.
With wet weather forecast for the area Sunday, Lubick closed Saturday?s workout with the live session and said the Rams would practice four times in the coming week. The 13th-year coach said CSU would stage workouts Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
?We got some hitting in today,? said Lubick. ?We?ve had a little more contact this spring than normal, about 15 minutes at the end of each practice, as opposed do doing it all in one scrimmage.?
Lubick said he and his staff continue to focus on having the Rams be more physical on both sides of the ball.
?The focus is on the running game, offensively and defensively. The emphasis is to be tougher, be physical.?
Lubick said the Rams? rushing game showed improvement Saturday.
?Offensively, we started to run the ball a bit better. Our runningbacks have shown sparks and they are being more physical. We want them to take on tacklers.?
He praised the play of sophomore Kyle Bell, who saw spot duty as a true freshman last season. Bell, the state?s all-time leader rusher from Keensburg, Colo., is battling senior Jimmy Green for the team?s top runningback spot.
?Kyle Bell has looked especially good,? said Lubick. ?I?ve seen improvement from all the backs.?
Lubick said CSU?s rushing defense had been solid but the Rams weren?t as crisp Saturday.
?We had been good defensively on the run the first few practices. But today, we were not as good.?
Lubick said he?s hopeful the Rams can improve the next seven practices as they have in the first seven workouts.
?If we could have the same amount of improvement we had the first seven practices in the last seven, I?d be happy,? said Lubick.
Spring drills conclude April 23 with an intrasquad game at French Field in Fort Collins (adjacent to Rocky Mountain High School). The Rams can?t use Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium as renovations continue on the facility, which will be completed by the home opener Sept. 24 against the University of Nevada.
