Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Focused on Seizing the Moment
10/2/2019 6:00:00 PM | Football
Team sees closing as the final step
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The concept of finishing out a game has been elusive for Colorado State this season.
Being in position to win has been common, but victories are not as the football team welcomes San Diego State to Canvas Stadium on Saturday for homecoming (8:05 p.m.; ESPN2). The Rams are looking for a solution, the idea being some of the behavioral traits can be taught, but some it just has to come through execution.
"I think you've just got to do it. You've got to do it," head coach Mike Bobo said. "You've gotta feel how to close that game. It's almost like hey, we've come to that point and we're going to know how to give it away. The message has been for the last few weeks you've got to go take the game. You've gotta take the game. You've got to win it. Nobody is going to give it to you, and especially in this league right now."
The opposite has been happening. The Rams have been giving games away to some degree, be it through turnovers or other miscues. There are 12 through five games, three in the second half to Utah State and three of them have been converted into fourth-quarter defensive scores by the opposition.
It runs counter to the end game.
Penalties, as Bobo pointed out, cost the team in the loss to Toledo.
Those are issues safety Jamal Hicks feels the team can be taught to carry out.
"I mean, I feel like you can be taught how to finish through preparation," said the Rams' tackles leader (39). "Just being put in situations that are hard, that aren't normal, that we don't do every play, every day, I feel that will help prepare us.
"That's really all it is, doing the little things all the time. We have to master them. In my opinion, the little things, the details, they all show on the field when we play. The fumbles, the missed tackles – the little things."
They have loomed large. The idea of Green Forge sessions and offseason conditioning were to push the players when they were already fatigued, helping them to find the reserve in the tank to carry it through. While energy hasn't been an issue, the Rams' breakdowns are making winning games harder than it has to be.
Winning in the Mountain West is hard enough.
There is just one team remaining on the schedule which has a losing record at this point, UNLV (103). Boise State is unbeaten at 4-0, Wyoming is 4-1 and Air Force, like San Diego State, is 3-1.
"You start looking at who we have to play, nobody is going to give you the game," Bobo said. "You've got to go win the game, and usually that's by doing your job for four quarters and not giving it away, just doing your job. I don't know if we're trying too hard to win the game. We're making some mistakes that are costing us. Turnovers are going to play a huge role in every ball game, and in every ball game we've lost, they've played a huge role, except for the Toledo game, and that was some penalties.
"Those are things that hopefully you can correct. It's about being more disciplined and doing the little things right, and that's what we've been working on. I do think it will come to fruition, I hope sooner than later."
A player can be taught to secure the ball. Discipline can lead to knowing a snap count, trying true to an assignment. All are learned behaviors, and Manny Jones said the best teacher is an experience the team is currently lacking.
As Bobo called it, breakthrough. The Rams haven't recognized the moment yet this season, but there is the belief they will, then seize the opportunity.
"I don't think we're going to know that. I think it's something that's just going to happen," he said. "We know we're getting there. It's just time."
Being in position to win has been common, but victories are not as the football team welcomes San Diego State to Canvas Stadium on Saturday for homecoming (8:05 p.m.; ESPN2). The Rams are looking for a solution, the idea being some of the behavioral traits can be taught, but some it just has to come through execution.
"I think you've just got to do it. You've got to do it," head coach Mike Bobo said. "You've gotta feel how to close that game. It's almost like hey, we've come to that point and we're going to know how to give it away. The message has been for the last few weeks you've got to go take the game. You've gotta take the game. You've got to win it. Nobody is going to give it to you, and especially in this league right now."
The opposite has been happening. The Rams have been giving games away to some degree, be it through turnovers or other miscues. There are 12 through five games, three in the second half to Utah State and three of them have been converted into fourth-quarter defensive scores by the opposition.
It runs counter to the end game.
Penalties, as Bobo pointed out, cost the team in the loss to Toledo.
Those are issues safety Jamal Hicks feels the team can be taught to carry out.
"I mean, I feel like you can be taught how to finish through preparation," said the Rams' tackles leader (39). "Just being put in situations that are hard, that aren't normal, that we don't do every play, every day, I feel that will help prepare us.
"That's really all it is, doing the little things all the time. We have to master them. In my opinion, the little things, the details, they all show on the field when we play. The fumbles, the missed tackles – the little things."
They have loomed large. The idea of Green Forge sessions and offseason conditioning were to push the players when they were already fatigued, helping them to find the reserve in the tank to carry it through. While energy hasn't been an issue, the Rams' breakdowns are making winning games harder than it has to be.
Winning in the Mountain West is hard enough.
There is just one team remaining on the schedule which has a losing record at this point, UNLV (103). Boise State is unbeaten at 4-0, Wyoming is 4-1 and Air Force, like San Diego State, is 3-1.
"You start looking at who we have to play, nobody is going to give you the game," Bobo said. "You've got to go win the game, and usually that's by doing your job for four quarters and not giving it away, just doing your job. I don't know if we're trying too hard to win the game. We're making some mistakes that are costing us. Turnovers are going to play a huge role in every ball game, and in every ball game we've lost, they've played a huge role, except for the Toledo game, and that was some penalties.
"Those are things that hopefully you can correct. It's about being more disciplined and doing the little things right, and that's what we've been working on. I do think it will come to fruition, I hope sooner than later."
A player can be taught to secure the ball. Discipline can lead to knowing a snap count, trying true to an assignment. All are learned behaviors, and Manny Jones said the best teacher is an experience the team is currently lacking.
As Bobo called it, breakthrough. The Rams haven't recognized the moment yet this season, but there is the belief they will, then seize the opportunity.
"I don't think we're going to know that. I think it's something that's just going to happen," he said. "We know we're getting there. It's just time."
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