Colorado State University Athletics
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Defense knows it has to age well in short order
8/14/2019 10:00:00 AM | Football
Rams will still lean on youth in 2019
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The only aspect of the defense John Jancek wants to be similar to 2018 is in age.
In his first year as Colorado State's defensive coordinator, Jancek ran out a parade of youth. Eight true freshmen saw game action last year, accounting for 72 games played and 25 starts – the brunt a combined 22 between cornerback Rashad Ajayi and defensive tackle Devin Phillips. In contrast, the elder statesmen of the returning Rams add up to 91 games played last season and 38 starts – 21 belonging to defensive tackle Ellison Hubbard and safety Jamal Hicks.
Youth will still be a major factor. It can no longer matter.
"I want to say once I got in, I had to work and just keep working until I couldn't work no more," Phillips said. "The time is now. We've got to do everything now. Like everybody in society, we want it now, so we've just got to get out there and work and do it."
There's no hiding from the fact the future of the Rams' defense is also very much the present. Phillips and Ajayi will be around for a few more years. So too will Cam'ron Carter, Dequan Jackson, Quinn Brinnon, Tywan Francis and others. Future or present, the Rams cannot try to win games while allowing 219.5 rushing yards, 451.5 yards of total offense or surrendering 36.8 points per game.
In short, time to grow up.
"Most definitely. At the end of the day, it's our team," said Francis, who started one game last year and can roam at safety or nickel. "Whatever the outcome of the season is, we have to walk around with that on our back. With that being said, we have to dictate the pace of any game we step into, every practice. That's on us.
"They're leaning on us. I feel there's nothing to talk about, we can feel it. There's a sense of urgency that the time is now. We don't have time to waste, we have to get to work. We have to push."
This isn't just a recent development. In the past five seasons, Colorado State's defense has ranked in the top 50 nationally in scoring defense just once, back in 2014 (45th). In the same time frame, the Rams have ranked no higher than 90th in rush defense (2017) or 55th in total defense (2015).
It wasn't just Jancek and his system which was new, but the entire defensive staff. Miracles were not expected, but the Rams did take a step back. Now in the second season, the expectation is a large part of the educational process has been handled.
"I think it helps a lot. Our guys have done a great job, all the players who are returning have really improved," Jancek said. "They've taken it seriously and made a strong commitment, then we've added some newcomers."
Jancek likes what he' seen in terms of athletes. It's not just freshmen, but transfers such as Tron Folsom, Jalen Bates and Marshaun Cameron.
Folsom can help provide depth and experience at the linebacker position, the area where the Rams lost their top two tacklers from a season ago. He was an all-conference performer at Troy, but he's going to need assistance from a collection of players who have at least been in the system a year longer than he has.
"Even in the spring they were telling us y'all not rookies any more, you're not freshmen anymore, you've got to get ready," Jackson said. "It's the same mindset."
The spring gave Jancek and his staff a chance to slow things down and reteach the system. Those 15 practices proved valuable, as the players who were still learning through the 2018 campaign found they missed touching the ground on aspects of the system.
As Francis explained, the initial jolt for many in his class was adapting to the speed of the college game. Even when they felt they were caught up physically, the nature of the mental part became crystal clear.
"It may look slow on TV, but its actually moving. There's a lot of things going on before the snap," Francis said. "You have to make sure the line is correct, you have to make sure you know your read and communicate. Motion, you have to make sure you know what's going on so you can be able to play faster. That was the big key for me last year, just learn it. I had to accept a role and learn it."
With the season opener with Colorado (Aug. 30) rapidly approaching, the players say they can already feel a difference. Communication is better and players are following the reads to their assignments. They feel there is a flow which was missing most of last year, when they Rams limited just one team to fewer than 20 points – New Mexico.
The expiration date on the grace period has ended. While a good portion of the defense lacks the standing to be called upperclassmen, they have to assume the rank. None of them have shied away from the facts. Instead, they've taken a new zeal at making corrections.
"I feel like it has to be now. We're just working hard to pull together, so the youth of the team won't mean as much," Jackson said. "If we work together and try to eliminate mistakes, in the end, the experience will be covered in that area."
In his first year as Colorado State's defensive coordinator, Jancek ran out a parade of youth. Eight true freshmen saw game action last year, accounting for 72 games played and 25 starts – the brunt a combined 22 between cornerback Rashad Ajayi and defensive tackle Devin Phillips. In contrast, the elder statesmen of the returning Rams add up to 91 games played last season and 38 starts – 21 belonging to defensive tackle Ellison Hubbard and safety Jamal Hicks.
Youth will still be a major factor. It can no longer matter.
"I want to say once I got in, I had to work and just keep working until I couldn't work no more," Phillips said. "The time is now. We've got to do everything now. Like everybody in society, we want it now, so we've just got to get out there and work and do it."
There's no hiding from the fact the future of the Rams' defense is also very much the present. Phillips and Ajayi will be around for a few more years. So too will Cam'ron Carter, Dequan Jackson, Quinn Brinnon, Tywan Francis and others. Future or present, the Rams cannot try to win games while allowing 219.5 rushing yards, 451.5 yards of total offense or surrendering 36.8 points per game.
In short, time to grow up.
"Most definitely. At the end of the day, it's our team," said Francis, who started one game last year and can roam at safety or nickel. "Whatever the outcome of the season is, we have to walk around with that on our back. With that being said, we have to dictate the pace of any game we step into, every practice. That's on us.
"They're leaning on us. I feel there's nothing to talk about, we can feel it. There's a sense of urgency that the time is now. We don't have time to waste, we have to get to work. We have to push."
This isn't just a recent development. In the past five seasons, Colorado State's defense has ranked in the top 50 nationally in scoring defense just once, back in 2014 (45th). In the same time frame, the Rams have ranked no higher than 90th in rush defense (2017) or 55th in total defense (2015).
It wasn't just Jancek and his system which was new, but the entire defensive staff. Miracles were not expected, but the Rams did take a step back. Now in the second season, the expectation is a large part of the educational process has been handled.
"I think it helps a lot. Our guys have done a great job, all the players who are returning have really improved," Jancek said. "They've taken it seriously and made a strong commitment, then we've added some newcomers."
Jancek likes what he' seen in terms of athletes. It's not just freshmen, but transfers such as Tron Folsom, Jalen Bates and Marshaun Cameron.
Folsom can help provide depth and experience at the linebacker position, the area where the Rams lost their top two tacklers from a season ago. He was an all-conference performer at Troy, but he's going to need assistance from a collection of players who have at least been in the system a year longer than he has.
"Even in the spring they were telling us y'all not rookies any more, you're not freshmen anymore, you've got to get ready," Jackson said. "It's the same mindset."
The spring gave Jancek and his staff a chance to slow things down and reteach the system. Those 15 practices proved valuable, as the players who were still learning through the 2018 campaign found they missed touching the ground on aspects of the system.
As Francis explained, the initial jolt for many in his class was adapting to the speed of the college game. Even when they felt they were caught up physically, the nature of the mental part became crystal clear.
"It may look slow on TV, but its actually moving. There's a lot of things going on before the snap," Francis said. "You have to make sure the line is correct, you have to make sure you know your read and communicate. Motion, you have to make sure you know what's going on so you can be able to play faster. That was the big key for me last year, just learn it. I had to accept a role and learn it."
With the season opener with Colorado (Aug. 30) rapidly approaching, the players say they can already feel a difference. Communication is better and players are following the reads to their assignments. They feel there is a flow which was missing most of last year, when they Rams limited just one team to fewer than 20 points – New Mexico.
The expiration date on the grace period has ended. While a good portion of the defense lacks the standing to be called upperclassmen, they have to assume the rank. None of them have shied away from the facts. Instead, they've taken a new zeal at making corrections.
"I feel like it has to be now. We're just working hard to pull together, so the youth of the team won't mean as much," Jackson said. "If we work together and try to eliminate mistakes, in the end, the experience will be covered in that area."
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