Colorado State University Athletics
CSU Fall Camp Notebook: Practice No. 17
8/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
By Grant Larson
Athletics Communications
The Colorado State Rams held their 17th practice of fall camp on Friday morning at Hughes Stadium, their final practice in pads before scrimmage No. 2 on Saturday.
“Tomorrow will be our second scrimmage, we’re not going to do a third,” Head coach Mike Bobo said following practice. “So, tomorrow’s our last opportunity to just go play football. We’re looking for guys we believe we can depend on in the first game. We’re going to be looking for guys that play with great effort, guys that are disciplined and guys that make plays.”
Bobo mentioned the quarterbacks, receivers and defensive backs as key positions that he’ll be watching closely tomorrow with vets, as well as newcomers, fighting to stand out from the rest of the competition.
“I want to see if we can protect, I want to see us pick up blitzes, and I want to see if we can cover,” Bobo said. “You talk about the quarterbacks, receivers, and secondary, I really want to test those guys. That’s how you get a true evaluation.”
With fall camp coming to a close and the Rocky Mountain Showdown inching closer, the coaching staff will be making personnel decisions in the following week, deciding which players will be on the scout team, which players will travel and which players will be getting the most reps at practice. Bobo did emphasize the fact that just because a player begins the year on scout team, does not mean he won’t have the opportunity to work himself into a backup or even starting role.
“I’ve been in situations before where guys have been there, and then work their way and become starters,” Bobo said about scout team players. “There will be guys that work scout team, that also work team offense and defense. They might not initially be considered a backup or third-teamer, but they’ll still be competing for that spot.”
Back at Hughes today for practice No. 17 pic.twitter.com/w64J5zefaY
— CSU Rams Football (@CSUFootball) August 19, 2016
Saturday’s scrimmage begins at approximately 12p.m. and has been made an invitation-only event for season ticket holders. Follow @CSUFootball on twitter for exclusive looks, as well as CSURams.com for post-scrimmage photos and recap.
Position Change: True freshman Darius May is making the transition from running back to defensive back, as the coaching staff feels very comfortable with the running back situation and wants to add more competition to the defensive backfield.
“We want some more speed in the secondary and he’s an athletic kid,” Bobo explained. “I feel like he’d be a good running back, but he’s one of the guys that I always said could play both ways. He’s got the length, and is quick twitch enough to play running back, receiver or defensive back. I want explosive guys like that.”
