Colorado State University Athletics
Scouts Doing Their Part to Prepare for Victory
11/12/2019 7:40:00 PM | Football
Bobo calls their looks the key to quality practice
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Neither one of them has played a down this year, a fact which won't change this Saturday.
Even still, Anthony Grassi and Aidan Cullen – a pair of Colorado Springs-area products – know they can have a bit impact on the outcome with Air Force at Canvas Stadium by having a good week of practice.
"It's a big role, helming the scout team. I just want to get us ready," said Grassi, a walk-on receiver in his redshirt sophomore year. "This is a must win, and I think it's a pivotal game I can help the team with, and that's my only goal -- to help the team the best I can, even if I don't play Saturday."
So far, he's earning rave reviews from head coach Mike Bobo. He noted Grassi played in a similar offense at Palmer High School, though he was a running back. There was some discussion of finding somebody more athletic to do the task, but Grassi ran it so well last week, he's staying put.
Where the athletes are going are on the offensive line, with Cullen, a defensive lineman now lining up at tackle against the guys he spends time with during individual drills.
"It's competition, and it's with the guys I see all the time, so it's fun," said Cullen, a true freshman. "There's a little camaraderie between us, then we joke about it later. But it is fun to challenge those guys. I probably see Manny Jones, Jalen Bates and Ellison Hubbard the most. I love it. I think I'm frustrating the linebackers more than them, but I've definitely stuck on them a couple of times."
Grassi was a running back in the offense at Palmer, but the playbook is one he knows, which has helped him adapt to making reads within a concept he understands. He said there are subtle differences with the motions Air Force employs, but the traps, the dive plays and the option are virtually the same.
Even still, the study required this week in scout-team meetings has been magnified. Mimicking Fresno State is one thing, because there are so many similarities to be found. This week, that's not the case.
"It pushes us to do even more. It's the intensity of what we're about to play and how they play," Grassi said. "It's physical, it's tough, so you just have to play like that. We have to give that best look. We can never fully simulate it, but it's give the best look you can.
"Going through the film in scout meetings, it's something we do every week, but this week, it's a different offense, and that makes it important for us to really take in what they do and put it out there."
He looks comfortable in it, and every time he make the right read, or fakes a pitch and cuts up field for yardage, it's helping. Discouraging at the time, but it's teaching the defense what to look for and what gaps have to be closed down.
In short, the scouts are providing a valuable service which can't be undersold. That group, Bobo said, is the key to the team having good practices.
"It's huge. It's huge, the simulation of trying to emulate what they do is huge," Bobo said. "The speed of it is tough. We've got some injuries across our team that's kind of hurt us at some positions that might be some scout team players who can help us. It is what it is. We try to simulate it the best you can, but like Coach John Jancek told the defense, we're not going to be able to simulate the speed in what they're going to do it, so our focus has to be second to none, our discipline has to be second to none of how we play this week."
Both Grassi and Cullen look at it the same way. Even if they are out of position, this is still a chance for them to compete and make themselves better players. Bottom line, that's all they ask for in being Rams in the first place.
"It's something I've always said – I love the game, so getting the opportunity to play, period, I know I'm making those guys better," Cullen said. "I can control my effort every play, so just being out there and knowing that's my part on the team for the next couple of days, maybe even into the next few weeks, I'm just thankful for the opportunity to play.
"I can help this team win."
Even still, Anthony Grassi and Aidan Cullen – a pair of Colorado Springs-area products – know they can have a bit impact on the outcome with Air Force at Canvas Stadium by having a good week of practice.
"It's a big role, helming the scout team. I just want to get us ready," said Grassi, a walk-on receiver in his redshirt sophomore year. "This is a must win, and I think it's a pivotal game I can help the team with, and that's my only goal -- to help the team the best I can, even if I don't play Saturday."
So far, he's earning rave reviews from head coach Mike Bobo. He noted Grassi played in a similar offense at Palmer High School, though he was a running back. There was some discussion of finding somebody more athletic to do the task, but Grassi ran it so well last week, he's staying put.
Where the athletes are going are on the offensive line, with Cullen, a defensive lineman now lining up at tackle against the guys he spends time with during individual drills.
"It's competition, and it's with the guys I see all the time, so it's fun," said Cullen, a true freshman. "There's a little camaraderie between us, then we joke about it later. But it is fun to challenge those guys. I probably see Manny Jones, Jalen Bates and Ellison Hubbard the most. I love it. I think I'm frustrating the linebackers more than them, but I've definitely stuck on them a couple of times."
Grassi was a running back in the offense at Palmer, but the playbook is one he knows, which has helped him adapt to making reads within a concept he understands. He said there are subtle differences with the motions Air Force employs, but the traps, the dive plays and the option are virtually the same.
Even still, the study required this week in scout-team meetings has been magnified. Mimicking Fresno State is one thing, because there are so many similarities to be found. This week, that's not the case.
"It pushes us to do even more. It's the intensity of what we're about to play and how they play," Grassi said. "It's physical, it's tough, so you just have to play like that. We have to give that best look. We can never fully simulate it, but it's give the best look you can.
"Going through the film in scout meetings, it's something we do every week, but this week, it's a different offense, and that makes it important for us to really take in what they do and put it out there."
He looks comfortable in it, and every time he make the right read, or fakes a pitch and cuts up field for yardage, it's helping. Discouraging at the time, but it's teaching the defense what to look for and what gaps have to be closed down.
In short, the scouts are providing a valuable service which can't be undersold. That group, Bobo said, is the key to the team having good practices.
"It's huge. It's huge, the simulation of trying to emulate what they do is huge," Bobo said. "The speed of it is tough. We've got some injuries across our team that's kind of hurt us at some positions that might be some scout team players who can help us. It is what it is. We try to simulate it the best you can, but like Coach John Jancek told the defense, we're not going to be able to simulate the speed in what they're going to do it, so our focus has to be second to none, our discipline has to be second to none of how we play this week."
Both Grassi and Cullen look at it the same way. Even if they are out of position, this is still a chance for them to compete and make themselves better players. Bottom line, that's all they ask for in being Rams in the first place.
"It's something I've always said – I love the game, so getting the opportunity to play, period, I know I'm making those guys better," Cullen said. "I can control my effort every play, so just being out there and knowing that's my part on the team for the next couple of days, maybe even into the next few weeks, I'm just thankful for the opportunity to play.
"I can help this team win."
Players Mentioned
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