Colorado State University Athletics
CSU Fall Camp Notebook: Day 8
8/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State held practices No. 9 and 10 on Friday, the team’s final prep before its first scrimmage, which will be held Saturday at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.
After four days in full pads, head coach Mike Bobo allowed his team to wear shorts and shells, a welcomed change given the 90-degree heat. Despite just shoulder pads, the intensity was once again there.
“I thought the offense pushed through today,” Bobo said. “They were able to make plays. Defense had a couple guys out and really didn’t bow their neck when they had to, but did make a stop in the one-minute; we had a drop by a receiver and got a deflection and won the game.”
Friday’s second practice was the team’s 10th over an eight-day period. Bobo acknowledged the grind, but related it to being late in a game.
“I kept preaching that this is like the fourth quarter. We’re mentally drained, physically drained, but we have to realize that we have to go one more play.”
While there’s still work to accomplish, now halfway into fall training camp, Bobo believes there’s a substantial difference from the team he saw in the spring. Much of the credit, he said, goes to head strength coach Ryan Davis and his summer conditioning program.
“There’s no question that these guys prepared from spring practice until now – mentally and physically,” Bobo said. “Ryan’s done an awesome job of not only pushing these guys to a limit so they can realize they can go a little farther, but bringing them together as a team.
“Everybody thinks about strength and conditioning as getting stronger and getting in shape, but really, it’s mental too. We’re in this together and we do things together, and if one guy doesn’t do something right the whole team suffers and there are consequences. He’s done a great job of really bringing this team together. When there’s been some adverse situations, I’ve seen that unity out there, from both sides of the ball, and I think a lot of that has to do with Ryan Davis and the other coaches.”
Friday’s afternoon practice was a special teams walk through, going over assignments for Saturday’s scrimmage.
“Any time you get to put the ball down and play it’s exciting,” Bobo said. “That’s the closest you can get to a game atmosphere. When you start scrimmages, it makes guys realize that it’s like a game, a little bit more focused, a little bit more serious.”
In addition to the quarterback position battle, Bobo said he will also look closely at the tight ends and wide outs on Saturday. On defense, he’s excited to see some of the younger safeties.
“Trent (Matthews) is a little banged up, so I’m not sure how much he’ll go tomorrow, so it gives an opportunity for some of the young safeties to get some work. The corner play from spring, I think we’re a lot better right now, but I’m interested to see how we look in the scrimmage. Then we’ve got to be able to pass rush without having to blitz, so I want to see that.”
Additionally, Bobo said that scrimmages are an opportunity for players to prove themselves, particularly ones who may not every day during practice.
“Here’s an opportunity to see who’s going to make plays,” he said. “It might be a freshman or someone who doesn’t understand everything we’re doing, but he just shows up in the scrimmage. If a guy shows up, we have to figure out how to get him on the field.”
Following Saturday’s scrimmage, the Rams will get Sunday off before hitting the practice field twice Monday. CSU will close fall training camp with a second scrimmage on Aug. 22.
