Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: CSU Athletics Communications
Rams take a "we" approach to Shenault
8/27/2019 7:45:00β―PM | Football
Defense out to fix big-play issues from 2018
FORT COLLINS, Colo. β Mike Bobo isn't sure there is any one thing Colorado State can do to slow down Colorado receiver Laviska Shenault, at least that's inside the boundaries of fair play.
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"The best way is to send over some wings that have something in them, and maybe he gets food poisoning the night before the game and hope that he's too sick to play," the Colorado State coach said β jokingly. "You know, he's a great player. The thing that makes him special is they get him the ball in so many different ways. He's not just your typical just true receiver. He's able to do things out of the backfield, he's played wildcat quarterback β¦ I mean, he does everything. They do a great job in the past of getting him the ball."
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For the cornerbacks Friday night at Bronco Stadium at Mile High, Shenault is not a "me" problem. He is a "we" problem for the defense.
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He broke out against the Rams' defense with 11 catches for 211 yards. They didn't know much about him, but after his 89-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter β where he found a soft spot and took off β the Rams are very much aware of what he can do if they lose track of him.
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"We need all 11 hats to the ball to be able to stop a guy like that," said defensive end Jalen Bates, who faced Shenault at Arizona State last year. "He's a pretty good athlete, and he bounces off tackles. We have to have 11 hats to the ball every play. I mean, it's really that simple."
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Sophomore cornerback Rashad Ajayi knows he'll have the assignment more than once in the contest. A year ago, he was playing just his second college game a year removed from high school, and he was wowed by the crowd at the stadium, too.
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Not now. And he's bigger. More importantly, when he studies game film, he knows what to look for, no longer just watching plays like it was a game on TV.
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"Last year, he lined up in different formations, receiver, running back, wing," Ajayi said. "Everybody is keyed and locked in, because their offense has a lot running through him.
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"We just want to be able to contain him, be able to not let that many big plays happen against our defense this year. That can drain the whole team, can kill the whole momentum of our defense. We have to stop the big plays from happening and push on from there."
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Because it wasn't just Shenault. The Buffs scored on four plays of 38 yards or longer in 2018, a trend which haunted the defense throughout the season.
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This year, the Rams know the ball is going to Shenault, and will a lot in a variety of ways. A pass rush will help, but Bobo noted it doesn't slow down a quick-passing game, and a lot of times Shenault is getting the ball horizontally along the line of scrimmage.
Bobo knows they can't slow him down with chicken wings, but a sincere form of lip service will help.
Β
"I think the big key is communication, where he is, and then putting our eyes in the right spot for our keys -- the big things for us," Bobo said. "Now, obviously a pass rush is important to make the quarterback uncomfortable where he might be a little bit inaccurate and his feet aren't set.
Β
"The way they get the ball to Shenault, the way they have in the past, I think it's going to be a team effort defensively."
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"The best way is to send over some wings that have something in them, and maybe he gets food poisoning the night before the game and hope that he's too sick to play," the Colorado State coach said β jokingly. "You know, he's a great player. The thing that makes him special is they get him the ball in so many different ways. He's not just your typical just true receiver. He's able to do things out of the backfield, he's played wildcat quarterback β¦ I mean, he does everything. They do a great job in the past of getting him the ball."
Β
For the cornerbacks Friday night at Bronco Stadium at Mile High, Shenault is not a "me" problem. He is a "we" problem for the defense.
Β
He broke out against the Rams' defense with 11 catches for 211 yards. They didn't know much about him, but after his 89-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter β where he found a soft spot and took off β the Rams are very much aware of what he can do if they lose track of him.
Β
"We need all 11 hats to the ball to be able to stop a guy like that," said defensive end Jalen Bates, who faced Shenault at Arizona State last year. "He's a pretty good athlete, and he bounces off tackles. We have to have 11 hats to the ball every play. I mean, it's really that simple."
Β
Sophomore cornerback Rashad Ajayi knows he'll have the assignment more than once in the contest. A year ago, he was playing just his second college game a year removed from high school, and he was wowed by the crowd at the stadium, too.
Β
Not now. And he's bigger. More importantly, when he studies game film, he knows what to look for, no longer just watching plays like it was a game on TV.
Β
"Last year, he lined up in different formations, receiver, running back, wing," Ajayi said. "Everybody is keyed and locked in, because their offense has a lot running through him.
Β
"We just want to be able to contain him, be able to not let that many big plays happen against our defense this year. That can drain the whole team, can kill the whole momentum of our defense. We have to stop the big plays from happening and push on from there."
Β
Because it wasn't just Shenault. The Buffs scored on four plays of 38 yards or longer in 2018, a trend which haunted the defense throughout the season.
Β
This year, the Rams know the ball is going to Shenault, and will a lot in a variety of ways. A pass rush will help, but Bobo noted it doesn't slow down a quick-passing game, and a lot of times Shenault is getting the ball horizontally along the line of scrimmage.
Bobo knows they can't slow him down with chicken wings, but a sincere form of lip service will help.
Β
"I think the big key is communication, where he is, and then putting our eyes in the right spot for our keys -- the big things for us," Bobo said. "Now, obviously a pass rush is important to make the quarterback uncomfortable where he might be a little bit inaccurate and his feet aren't set.
Β
"The way they get the ball to Shenault, the way they have in the past, I think it's going to be a team effort defensively."
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