Colorado State University Athletics
Spring Football Notebook: Practice 4
3/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Colorado State were in full pads for the first time under head coach Mike Bobo and it was lively. Bobo said after practice that the team went full-contact for 40 minutes of the 2-hour practice. Overall, the coaching staff was happy with what they saw today but they want to be more physical.
"We had a three-on-three drill which was live, we had a team perimeter drill that was live, we had a team run that was live and we had an 11-on-11 that was live. About 40 minutes that were live," Bobo said.
After practice, Bobo was quick to point out the strong performance of several players.
"I thought Cory James showed up and made some plays and I thought Trent (Matthews) made some plays defensively," said Bobo. "Sosa (Treyous Jarrells) did a nice job at running back. He showed up a lot, and receivers continued to make plays."
Through four practices this spring, Bobo has seen a lot of things he likes and a few aspects he wants to see improve.
"It's been four practices, 20-something days, and you feel like you should be a little further along," Bobo said. "Sometimes as a coach you get a little bit frustrated and you expect a little bit more, but I guarantee when I watch the tape there are going to be a lot of good things. I thought there was a little bit more execution on both sides of the ball today. First day in pads, we have to get a little bit more physical, but we're going to keep preaching it, keep living it and we'll get a little bit more physical and we'll see who wants to play on Saturday's."
The Rams will return to the practice field on Saturday afternoon for the second full-padded practice of spring.
Spring Notebook
INSTANT REACTION: Thursday was the first spring practice with full pads for the Rams, and the intensity was high. CSU's fourth practice featured 40 minutes of `live periods.' CSU Athletics put out an Instant Reaction video, showing fans one of the three-on-three live drills.
LAST QB OFF THE FIELD: Freshman Coleman Key was the last quarterback off the field on Thursday. Key spent extra time working on football and sideline passes with current graduate assistant Joe Cox. Cox was Georgia's starting quarterback under Mike Bobo in 2009.
"He's out there working on his feet right now with Joe Cox who played for me," Bobo said while looking on at Key. "It's good to see that, guys out there working extra. The big thing for him is getting his feet right and he'll do a nice job."
FACULTY & STAFF APPRECIATION: Colorado State instructors and staff members were invited by student-athletes to watch Thursday's practice.
ONCE A RAM, ALWAYS A RAM: Former players continue to come out to practice to get a look at what the new staff is implementing. Thursday's practice was attended by some of the same players as Tuesday: Bernard Blake, Tyler Clark, Charles Lovett, Jared Roberts and Ty Sambrailo. Also in attendance was 2010 graduate Ryan Griffith. Griffith played on the o-line for the Rams in 20 games between 2007 and 2010.
UPCOMING EVENTS: On Saturday, April 11, the Rams will conduct a spring scrimmage at the Broncos' Paul D. Bowlen Memorial Broncos Centre at Dove Valley at 10 a.m. MT.
Admission to the Dove Valley scrimmage will be made available exclusively to Colorado State football season ticketholders and Ram Club members who have renewed for 2015.
For information on how to purchase season tickets for Colorado State Football, and to join the Ram Club, please call 800-491-RAMS.
Spring practice will end with the annual Green and Gold Spring Game on Saturday, April 18, at 11 a.m. The game will be held at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. More details surrounding the game to come.
Defensive Coordinator Tyson Summers quotables
(on transitioning from 3-4 defensive formation to a 4-3)
"I think for the d-line it is a big transition, to be honest with you. I do think they're starting to understand some of the concepts and techniques we are trying to take with them. We've had four practices, for three of them, and again, they're trying to do what we are asking them to do. For the d-line it is a drastic change, with both the one-back sets and two-back sets."
(on Trent Matthews and Kevin Pierre-Louis)
"The two things about those two kids, is not just that they're starters or the experience, but they're good kids. They're smart football players, they're leaders and I think those two guys do a really good job of stepping up. Again, trying to lead, trying to motivate and trying to push kids. They're competitors, both of those two are big time competitors. I think that is where those two really help us and are advantageous for us."
(on why he's a believer in 4-3 defensive formation)
"I think, like anything else, some of it is it's what I've done, it is what I've been a part of for a long time, and it is something I feel the most comfortable with. There are going to be situations where we look very similar to how they did last year. Some of it depends on personnel, some of it depends on down and distance."
(on replacing linebackers lost to graduation)
"I've seen those guys on tape from last year, the two linebackers that we lost (Max Morgan and Aaron Davis), and they were certainly good players, but from an overall depth standpoint I think we've got good players. Coach English has done a really good job with that group, first and foremost. Second of all, I think he has done a good job of getting the right kids in recruiting and been smart about who he has taken. I think there are certainly good players and playmakers in that group, and I think there is some young depth in that group as well. Some guys that are true freshmen or true sophomores that are in that group that will be good players down the line."
