Colorado State University Athletics
Rams don full pads on a windy Friday afternoon
3/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 28, 2014
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Rams concluded their third spring practice, and first in full pads, on a windy Friday afternoon.
“It was interesting. That first day of pads in Spring Ball, it always takes them a while to get after each other,” Head Coach Jim McElwain said. “I thought our individual drills I didn’t think we did a great job of popping but once we got to team run it got a little bit better.”
McElwain, who expected sloppiness on day one in pads, said the first day is about adjusting to the pads and coming off with pad level.
The pads were popping as the Rams amped up their thudding on Friday, but did not actually go live.
“We go three times where we will be live in some situation,” McElwain said referring to scrimmages, the Green and Gold Game and situational drills.
Offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin met with the media after practice on Friday and outlined what he wanted to see from his offense.
“I think in the first 10 days it’s more important that we install what we do,” Baldwin said. “Today is a new install and tomorrow is a new install. We have 11 days of install and it’s more important that it all gets in.”
The wide receivers continue to be the hot topic surrounding Spring Football and Baldwin is just the next-in-line to praise the group.
“I’d like to see (Rashard) Higgins take another step,” Baldwin said. “He has a lot of talent, from game four he developed. I’d like to see Jordon Vaden play like he did in the bowl. That is pressure on people with two big wideouts. Sammie Long, Xavier Williams and (Elroy) Masters are big receivers. We are no longer tiny; we are really big out there. With Chuck (Charles Lovett) and (Joe) Hansley they are multiple and can play every place. They might be in the backfield, they might be in the slot or they might be outside and they are capable of doing all those things.”
The Rams will practice in pads for the second consecutive day on Saturday morning beginning at 10 a.m. on the practice fields south of Moby Arena.
Spring Camp Notebook:
Laddies Huddle: On Wednesday, April 2 McElwain and his coaching staff will be hosting Colorado State’s annual Ladies Huddle. The event will be a little different than in years past. Attendees are encouraged to wear tennis shoes and comfortable clothing because they will be participating in drills similar to what the Rams do in practice.
The 2014 Ladies Huddle begins at 5 p.m. and will wrap up between 8:30-9.
Upcoming Events: Fans in the Denver area will be able to get their first look at the 2014 Rams on Saturday, April 12 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. At around 11 a.m. the Rams will begin warming up and will participate in a scrimmage. This will be held in place of the Infinity Park practice.
A week later on Saturday, April 19 CSU will play its annual Green and Gold Game at Hughes Stadium. That will also begin around 11 a.m.
Get To Know: Throughout Spring Football CSURams.com will feature a series of short videos that will give fans the chance to learn more about their favorite athletes.
More From Baldwin:
(On quarterback mechanical adjustments)
“He long strides at times, and when you long stride you get in a tendency to turn the hips to early and we are working on that. We want him to pull through over the top a little more and not to the side. When I first got here Garrett (Grayson) drifted to the left all the time and our big adjustment last year was don’t drift into the left tackle.”
