Spring Practice Report, Day 3: Defense makes strides
3/23/2018 5:45:00 PM | Football
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Q&A with senior offensive lineman Colby Meeks
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The Colorado State football team put on shoulder pads for the first time this spring on Friday, ramping up the level of intensity on the field.
Head coach Mike Bobo again complimented the team's effort and felt as though the defense made some gains on Friday.
"I thought there was a little bit of energy; a lot of energy for the defense running around and striking some folks today in practice," Bobo said. "I know we had some energy when we started out with board drills, but it was a good productive day. It was a little bit of a long practice, which was good, I thought we got some good work. It will be interesting to see on the film what our guys look like. We weren't too efficient on offense, but I thought the guys on defense were running around hitting some people today."
Special teams coordinator and linebackers coach Chase Gibson has had three practices to familiarize himself with his players, and he's been impressed by the motivation of the crew.
"I have really liked how eager these guys are to learn," Gibson said. "To me they are just excited about the new system. Coaching change is always different, and I think they have really bought into what we are trying to get done. They are flying around, we are preaching effort and we are really focusing on that, trying to get that [effort] on another level. They are buying in and it has been great and fun so far. Today was the first day putting the pads on so that always adds a another element to it, with the guys being excited getting that contact getting up there, so it was good to see some guys put their face in the fan a little bit on some plays. So it will be fun to watch the film with them."
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Q: CSU has a strong legacy of producing great offensive linemen. You are now a senior, veteran leader—how do you help continue that legacy?
A: I hope to continue by what we've been doing—working hard, trying to lead the team, trying to show that we are the dominant force and trying to lead everyone in the right direction, not just as players, but as young men, you know, lead them as far as we can down this road.
 Q: How has the o-line adapted to Coach Dave Johnson?
A: It is very new and what Coach Johnson wants is very different than what our previous coach wanted, so it does take a little bit of time to adapt to that. I'd say we're starting to work on that process. It's not going to happen overnight, and we also have a younger line so it's kind of hard for them to adapt immediately. They are doing as well as you'd expect and I'm proud of how they've been doing so far.
 Q: In your opinion, what does the team benefit from most during spring ball?
A: Since there's no game, we get to go a lot harder, we get to enjoy every moment. We've got a lot of energy going, we get to put in new plays, new different tweaks, different techniques and get to modify different things that help us a lot.
 Q: Favorite Netflix series?
A: If I'm bored, I like to put on Criminal Minds, it's a fun series: kind of serious, kind of funny.Â
 Q: Why would you recommend it?
A: Some people are kind of squeamish, there are some squeamish things on there, it's more for people who are interested in crime TV shows because there are a lot of different aspects of it that are of different interests to people and help you think a lot more.
 Q: Favorite Color?
A: I don't really have one, but this is really funny because I used to say, when I was younger, my favorite colors were green and gold… and look where we are now!
 Q: Favorite song to listen to currently?
A: Well, I've been going through kind of a rock phase, I would say "Wrong Side of Heaven" by Five Finger Death Punch.
 Q: Favorite football moment throughout your career?
A: If I had to pick one, just from college career, it would probably be last year, during Nevada. There was this one play where Dalyn [Dawkins] took it for 40 or 50 yards to the house and on that play I actually adjusted really well and helped out our center Jake Bennett. I went out to the 'backer to open up our whole form, and it just made me feel really accomplished.
 Q: Favorite thing about being a CSU Ram?
A: I'd have to say the people. All these people are really wonderful, they're helpful to us… There's this one teacher in my college, she's been very sweet and very helpful, understanding, considering how tiring and difficult it can be to be a collegiate athlete. She's worked with me step by step to make sure I get everything done.
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New season ticket commitments for 2018 are now being accepted by contacting the Rams Sales Team at 800-491-RAMS (7267) or visiting www.CSURams.com/tickets. With the season ticket renewal period having recently closed, the seat upgrade process will begin in early April for any renewed season ticket holder. When that process is complete, new season ticket purchasers will have the opportunity to begin selecting their seats for the 2018 season. In addition, all season ticket holders will be contacted in early May with the first opportunity to purchase tickets to away games, additional home games and additional Rocky Mountain Showdown tickets.
Three-game mini-plan packages will go on sale June 25 and single-game tickets will go on sale July 25. Exclusive pre-sales for both will be offered for CSU faculty, staff alumni and donors. On-sale dates for Rocky Mountain Showdown tickets will be announced later this spring.
Student tickets for the first home game may begin to be claimed on Aug. 7, and will be made available to claim for subsequent games on the Monday following each home game. The student ticket claim process will again be offered through the special student ticket portal.
The Colorado State athletics department provides a special football gameday website, which provides in-depth information on everything from tickets to parking, tailgating, gameday logistics and much more. The website can be found at www.CSURams.com/footballgameday. More information for specific games, and new procedures and offerings, will be added to the page as the season draws closer.
The Second Annual FORTitude 10K road race, which will finish in the new stadium, is scheduled for Labor Day, Sept. 3, 2018, on the weekend between the Rams' first two home games. Registration is open now for the community race at the Early Start rate of $45, with special pricing for ages 14 and under, and 65 and over. Registration increases to $50 after July 4, 2018. Click here for more.
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