Colorado State University Athletics
Monday Presser: Bobo Appreciates Extra Week of Preparation
11/11/2019 4:51:00 PM | Football
Improved physicality will be tested this week
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – This is the way it should be, if coach Mike Bobo had his way with the schedule.
Should the Mountain West hand him those responsibilities – highly unlikely -- he'd always factor in extra time before facing Air Force.
"If I could draw up the schedule every year, you'd have a bye week before Air Force or play them first and really spend some time working on this," the CSU head coach said at his Monday gathering with the media.
He feels his team used the time wisely last week, with his defense getting a good look at what the Falcons bring to the table, even if the Rams cannot expect to fully replicate the attack.
It was also a physical week for the team – unusual for a bye – and a plan the Rams will follow again heading into Saturday's game (5 p.m.; ESPN2).
"I do like what I saw. We went full pads every day last week to work on the schemes and try to simulate what Air Force is going to do offensively, which you can't simulate it," he said. "It's something they do year round, and we're trying to do it in a week.
"We're going to go full pads every day this week. I told them we might go full pads in no-sweat Thursday, our walk-through. Today we're full pads, which we normally aren't on Monday."
Those three days of practice in pads were used to get ready to identify what they're going to see, but also fend off the cut blocks and getting back up and running the ball, as well as the ideal pursuit angles. While much of it was focused on the teaching, this week will pick up in attacking and dialing in on assignments.
In his opinion, the Falcons are at their peak offensively in Bobo's time in Fort Collins, and it's impressive to him.
"They do what they do on offense. I think they're probably the most physical I've seen them up front since I've been coaching here at Colorado State. They run the option, but they run some zone schemes, they're physical, their nasty, they get after you and it's relentless, play after play."
To his point, the Falcons are averaging 34.4 points per game and rank second nationally with 323.1 yards per outing on the ground.
Holiday Cheer
With Monday being Veteran's Day, Bobo used the time to compliment the Falcons.
Really.
"They've got players. Coach (Troy) Calhoun will get on there and talk about what they don't have, facility wise and player wise and all this stuff, but they sign like 800 kids a year, and the guys who make it through and play on their team, they're physically and mentally tough. That's what you want, now that we're on Veteran's Day, to have guys like that fighting for your country."
For Saturday to turn into the fourth-quarter game Bobo anticipates, he said the Rams will have to match the discipline and toughness of the Falcons. They handed CSU the final loss of the 2018 game, an outcome which went a long way toward shaping the offseason plan.
On multiple occasions this season, Bobo has highlighted the Rams' play in that regard, but will they be tough enough this week?
"We'll find out. I believe that we've played more physical this year, played with a better passion about ourselves and how we play," he said. "I think we've been stronger, and we're working on that. We've been physically tougher and mentally tougher this year. A lot of what we did this offseason was for games like this. I said it after this game last year, they physically whipped us."
Of Note
This will be just the second time Colorado State has played Air Force following a bye week. The first time, 1982, led to a 22-11 victory. The Rams have opened the season against the Falcons six times, going 3-3. … Starting guard Nouredin Nouili returned to practice part time last week, and Bobo feels he will be available to play, even if he doesn't start. In his two-week absence, Keith Williams filled in at right tackle, with Barry Wesley sliding to guard. … Bobo went back and studied the past four years against Air Force, charting how many third downs and drives the Rams have had opposed to what they normally get. His math showed about 3.5-4 possessions fewer, leaving him to trim the game plan to two-thirds of normal. He said there are a lot of good ideas on the board, and he's saying yes to everything right now, but as the week goes on, items will be trimmed. The goal is to find what they feel really good about and go with it.
Should the Mountain West hand him those responsibilities – highly unlikely -- he'd always factor in extra time before facing Air Force.
"If I could draw up the schedule every year, you'd have a bye week before Air Force or play them first and really spend some time working on this," the CSU head coach said at his Monday gathering with the media.
He feels his team used the time wisely last week, with his defense getting a good look at what the Falcons bring to the table, even if the Rams cannot expect to fully replicate the attack.
It was also a physical week for the team – unusual for a bye – and a plan the Rams will follow again heading into Saturday's game (5 p.m.; ESPN2).
"I do like what I saw. We went full pads every day last week to work on the schemes and try to simulate what Air Force is going to do offensively, which you can't simulate it," he said. "It's something they do year round, and we're trying to do it in a week.
"We're going to go full pads every day this week. I told them we might go full pads in no-sweat Thursday, our walk-through. Today we're full pads, which we normally aren't on Monday."
Those three days of practice in pads were used to get ready to identify what they're going to see, but also fend off the cut blocks and getting back up and running the ball, as well as the ideal pursuit angles. While much of it was focused on the teaching, this week will pick up in attacking and dialing in on assignments.
In his opinion, the Falcons are at their peak offensively in Bobo's time in Fort Collins, and it's impressive to him.
"They do what they do on offense. I think they're probably the most physical I've seen them up front since I've been coaching here at Colorado State. They run the option, but they run some zone schemes, they're physical, their nasty, they get after you and it's relentless, play after play."
To his point, the Falcons are averaging 34.4 points per game and rank second nationally with 323.1 yards per outing on the ground.
Holiday Cheer
With Monday being Veteran's Day, Bobo used the time to compliment the Falcons.
Really.
"They've got players. Coach (Troy) Calhoun will get on there and talk about what they don't have, facility wise and player wise and all this stuff, but they sign like 800 kids a year, and the guys who make it through and play on their team, they're physically and mentally tough. That's what you want, now that we're on Veteran's Day, to have guys like that fighting for your country."
For Saturday to turn into the fourth-quarter game Bobo anticipates, he said the Rams will have to match the discipline and toughness of the Falcons. They handed CSU the final loss of the 2018 game, an outcome which went a long way toward shaping the offseason plan.
On multiple occasions this season, Bobo has highlighted the Rams' play in that regard, but will they be tough enough this week?
"We'll find out. I believe that we've played more physical this year, played with a better passion about ourselves and how we play," he said. "I think we've been stronger, and we're working on that. We've been physically tougher and mentally tougher this year. A lot of what we did this offseason was for games like this. I said it after this game last year, they physically whipped us."
Of Note
This will be just the second time Colorado State has played Air Force following a bye week. The first time, 1982, led to a 22-11 victory. The Rams have opened the season against the Falcons six times, going 3-3. … Starting guard Nouredin Nouili returned to practice part time last week, and Bobo feels he will be available to play, even if he doesn't start. In his two-week absence, Keith Williams filled in at right tackle, with Barry Wesley sliding to guard. … Bobo went back and studied the past four years against Air Force, charting how many third downs and drives the Rams have had opposed to what they normally get. His math showed about 3.5-4 possessions fewer, leaving him to trim the game plan to two-thirds of normal. He said there are a lot of good ideas on the board, and he's saying yes to everything right now, but as the week goes on, items will be trimmed. The goal is to find what they feel really good about and go with it.
Players Mentioned
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