Colorado State University Athletics
Offense Confident it Will Return to Form
11/19/2019 6:00:00 PM | Football
Rams see, work to correct mistakes
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – This week, they're in search of themselves.
Fort Colorado State's offense, this is akin to finding the misplaced car keys: They aren't really lost, just misplaced, requiring a retracing of the steps.
The Rams may be averaging 30.6 points per game this season, but the unit has hit a few roadblocks along the way, and last week's performance against Air Force was well down the scale.
Of the 21 points CSU scored, only 14 came on offense, trailing just the San Diego State performance for the season's biggest head scratcher. The Rams looked brilliant on the first drive, then fell into a lull for nearly three quarters in the loss.
"It's back to the basics, practicing," quarterback Patrick O'Brien said. "Like coach said, we let the team down. We had moments to go up on them and put the game away, and we weren't able to capitalize on it. That's tough on us. We're capable of it as an offense. We saw what we needed to do, we saw the mistakes we made and we'll grow from it and get better. We're well aware of what we're capable of. I think we'll get back to it."
In this instance, "it" is a complex word. There wasn't a single item which led to a down performance, but a few sprinkled throughout the evening.
Failing to protect the quarterback – and have the single-caller aid the cause – was clear for all to see. The why, not so much. The running game didn't produce, and with that, CSU coach Mike Bobo said he gave up on it too soon.
In short, there is much to cover.
"It takes practice, more film. You just have to stay consistent and know our jobs, do the little things right," center Scott Brooks said. "It's all about the little things. If you don't do those things right, it sometimes affects the play in a huge way. You may have Warren Jackson running down the sideline, and it could be something so small as a first step that affects the play."
Bobo alluded to a painting which his coach at Georgia, Mark Richt, had hung in his office and in the offensive meeting room. It was of a quarterback, calm as can be, with a mess of activity around him.
While Patrick O'Brien has now started seven games, the Nebraska transfer is still catching up on lost time in terms of game reps and taking the constant heat of a rush. Bobo has been consistent through the years in saying road wins require strong quarterback play, and O'Brien will need to show improvement against a Wyoming defense allowing just 18.7 points and 98.3 yards rushing per game.
"To me, to play that position, you have to be calm amongst the chaos," Bobo said. "That doesn't mean you don't step up, that doesn't mean you don't scramble, that means you're eyes are focused and you're doing your job.
"You're going to get hit. There are going to be bodies around you. You have to stand in there amongst the storm and deliver the pass."
Or even throw it away. But a sure-fire way to slow a pass rush it with a strong running game, which the Rams didn't produce. Outside of Marcus McElroy breaking a tackle on the first run, the Falcons were winning one-on-one battles with CSU backs. Bobo sees that, and coupled with the big-play ability on the outside, veered in another direction.
Criticizing his play calling, that turn came too soon.
"I said after the game the other night I got away from the run a little bit because some safeties were making some one-on-one tackles when we've got guys blocked, and we're getting 2 yards," he said. "You get, alright, I've got Warren Jackson out here and Dante Wright out here, and we missed some. We threw four posts and hit one. You go 50-50, it might be a different game."
What the Rams lacked in production last week does not reflect at all in the confidence they carry into this game. Wyoming's defense is stout, yes, but CSU's offense has faith in its potential to be at its best throughout the game.
"We learn every week, every game, every practice," Brooks said. "You just keep moving forward. They do a lot of similar stuff – every team in the Mountain West does a lot of similar stuff. We just try to learn from every game and keep competing.
"We have the confidence as an offense, and every time we go out there for a drive, we know we're going to score. Sometimes it doesn't work like that, but we always go into a drive with the mentality we're putting it in the end zone."
Fort Colorado State's offense, this is akin to finding the misplaced car keys: They aren't really lost, just misplaced, requiring a retracing of the steps.
The Rams may be averaging 30.6 points per game this season, but the unit has hit a few roadblocks along the way, and last week's performance against Air Force was well down the scale.
Of the 21 points CSU scored, only 14 came on offense, trailing just the San Diego State performance for the season's biggest head scratcher. The Rams looked brilliant on the first drive, then fell into a lull for nearly three quarters in the loss.
"It's back to the basics, practicing," quarterback Patrick O'Brien said. "Like coach said, we let the team down. We had moments to go up on them and put the game away, and we weren't able to capitalize on it. That's tough on us. We're capable of it as an offense. We saw what we needed to do, we saw the mistakes we made and we'll grow from it and get better. We're well aware of what we're capable of. I think we'll get back to it."
In this instance, "it" is a complex word. There wasn't a single item which led to a down performance, but a few sprinkled throughout the evening.
Failing to protect the quarterback – and have the single-caller aid the cause – was clear for all to see. The why, not so much. The running game didn't produce, and with that, CSU coach Mike Bobo said he gave up on it too soon.
In short, there is much to cover.
"It takes practice, more film. You just have to stay consistent and know our jobs, do the little things right," center Scott Brooks said. "It's all about the little things. If you don't do those things right, it sometimes affects the play in a huge way. You may have Warren Jackson running down the sideline, and it could be something so small as a first step that affects the play."
Bobo alluded to a painting which his coach at Georgia, Mark Richt, had hung in his office and in the offensive meeting room. It was of a quarterback, calm as can be, with a mess of activity around him.
While Patrick O'Brien has now started seven games, the Nebraska transfer is still catching up on lost time in terms of game reps and taking the constant heat of a rush. Bobo has been consistent through the years in saying road wins require strong quarterback play, and O'Brien will need to show improvement against a Wyoming defense allowing just 18.7 points and 98.3 yards rushing per game.
"To me, to play that position, you have to be calm amongst the chaos," Bobo said. "That doesn't mean you don't step up, that doesn't mean you don't scramble, that means you're eyes are focused and you're doing your job.
"You're going to get hit. There are going to be bodies around you. You have to stand in there amongst the storm and deliver the pass."
Or even throw it away. But a sure-fire way to slow a pass rush it with a strong running game, which the Rams didn't produce. Outside of Marcus McElroy breaking a tackle on the first run, the Falcons were winning one-on-one battles with CSU backs. Bobo sees that, and coupled with the big-play ability on the outside, veered in another direction.
Criticizing his play calling, that turn came too soon.
"I said after the game the other night I got away from the run a little bit because some safeties were making some one-on-one tackles when we've got guys blocked, and we're getting 2 yards," he said. "You get, alright, I've got Warren Jackson out here and Dante Wright out here, and we missed some. We threw four posts and hit one. You go 50-50, it might be a different game."
What the Rams lacked in production last week does not reflect at all in the confidence they carry into this game. Wyoming's defense is stout, yes, but CSU's offense has faith in its potential to be at its best throughout the game.
"We learn every week, every game, every practice," Brooks said. "You just keep moving forward. They do a lot of similar stuff – every team in the Mountain West does a lot of similar stuff. We just try to learn from every game and keep competing.
"We have the confidence as an offense, and every time we go out there for a drive, we know we're going to score. Sometimes it doesn't work like that, but we always go into a drive with the mentality we're putting it in the end zone."
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