Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: CSU Athletics Communications
Rams use fall to become multiple
8/7/2019 9:00:00 AM | Football
Camp gives Bobo and Co. time to see what works best
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – If only it were so simple.
Football coaches across America talk about finding their best 11, knowing full well the concept goes much deeper than the best 22 players on the roster making up the offense and defense.
They account for matchups and opponent schemes. Down and distance and game situations must be considered, as is field position. Game management even, at the end of a half or the game itself. The idea of the best 11 can change in an instant.
"You'd love to have the more the better. That's what we're in the process of trying to figure out right now, what's the best personnel groups to give us the best chance to be successful," Colorado State head coach Mike Bobo said. "You'd like to be able to be a team that can still get some two-back stuff and make guys defend that and a team that can spread people out. I do think we have the ability to be in some 12 looks – two tight ends -- and do some different things in that. The more you can do, the more the defense has to prepare for you. The more one dimensional you are in certain personnel groups, it's a little bit easier on them."
Not even a week into fall camp, and with only one day in full pads, Bobo and his staff are still in the development and exploration stage. Each and every coach is alert to the smallest of hints about what a player may be able to bring to the equation, even how much. Maybe a player needs more reps to become fully integrated, or they simply factor in a special package.
Every period at practice provides tells, and the players are fully aware, too.
"I do like that. It gives us a little different style, lets you know who wants to be out there," defensive tackle Ellison Hubbard said. "In fall camp, it shows OK, this guy has been balling out, he wants to be in that package. So, OK, I trust him, I know he's going to come out here and execute on that package, or he's going to come in on penny and get in the backfield and sack the quarterback.
"It's way different, because now you know this is that package, or this is that period where I get to do this, now I get to work on it. In the game, I'm going to be prepared and execute in it."
Defensive coordinator John Jancek heads into the second season with still very much a young unit, some of whom grew up on the field last year. Where a Rashad Ajayi or a Devin Phillips played a big role, he has a Cam'ron Carter and a Dequan Jackson who have to take on more responsibility. He has to see how quickly transfers Jalen Bates, Tron Folsom, Andre Neal and Marshaun Cameron can pick up the system and find out where they fit into the mix.
A blend is required, because that's what the offenses of the Mountain West will provide. Facing Air Force and Boise State do not involve the same planning. Packages are needed, which requires numbers.
"I think we've improved our depth," Jancek said. "The problem is the depth is very inexperienced. It's not like you've got a senior and a junior or sophomore, a redshirt sophomore, guys who have been in your program. We've got guys that have played here last year, then everybody else is basically new comers. Whether they're a grad transfer or a true freshman, they're new to our program, new to our system, and that's where it becomes challenging as a coach. You don't want to overload them. You want to let them play, but yet you don't want to be so predictable that you're not playing on your terms as defense. That will be the balancing act that we have to look at moving forward."
Bobo has some similar questions of his own, starting with a young offensive line and new players who could factor in at the skill positions. The first full day in pads, he introduced some plays he likes, but not all of them worked. Again, just the fifth day, but it helps him determine what they can execute, what they can't.
Quarterback Collin Hill isn't worried about a top 11, feeling by the end of camp the Rams will have multiple packages to show opposing defenses. He knows it will take time to fully develop, but in the meantime, both he and Bobo feel strongly the strength and depth they have at tight end and with fullback Adam Prentice gives them a solid personnel package as a base.
"That's what's unique. If you go 21, you've got Adam Prentice in there, who is one of our better players. But if you want a quicker guy in the slot, you might put Brenden Fulton in there, you might go 11 personnel," Hill said. "We might go 12 if we want to go bigger, put two tight ends out there, because we're really talented there. It's just really a matchup thing, and it will probably be dependent on who we play. I do think we have a lot of different ways of getting our best 11 out there.
"I think that's what's special about our tight ends. Cameron Butler really runs like a receiver does, and Trey McBride is a big, freaky guy, too. I do think it will give young guys time to grow, but at the same time, if their number is called, I believe they'll be able to make plays, too."
In the meantime, it's pound in the fundamentals and find out who is geared up for contact. Who will create holes, who will clog them. Who needs to be put into open space and who on defense can close those gaps quickest.
The team has three more practices before the initial scrimmage of camp, when some theories can be put to the test. Bobo said he has a decent idea of who the Rams can be offensively, but his is a playbook which can expand as skillsets develop.
"That's what we're trying to figure out," he said. "At the same time, there's a lot of different schemes; we're installing a bunch of them, but we've got to figure out what our guys can do the best to be successful."
Football coaches across America talk about finding their best 11, knowing full well the concept goes much deeper than the best 22 players on the roster making up the offense and defense.
They account for matchups and opponent schemes. Down and distance and game situations must be considered, as is field position. Game management even, at the end of a half or the game itself. The idea of the best 11 can change in an instant.
"You'd love to have the more the better. That's what we're in the process of trying to figure out right now, what's the best personnel groups to give us the best chance to be successful," Colorado State head coach Mike Bobo said. "You'd like to be able to be a team that can still get some two-back stuff and make guys defend that and a team that can spread people out. I do think we have the ability to be in some 12 looks – two tight ends -- and do some different things in that. The more you can do, the more the defense has to prepare for you. The more one dimensional you are in certain personnel groups, it's a little bit easier on them."
Not even a week into fall camp, and with only one day in full pads, Bobo and his staff are still in the development and exploration stage. Each and every coach is alert to the smallest of hints about what a player may be able to bring to the equation, even how much. Maybe a player needs more reps to become fully integrated, or they simply factor in a special package.
Every period at practice provides tells, and the players are fully aware, too.
"I do like that. It gives us a little different style, lets you know who wants to be out there," defensive tackle Ellison Hubbard said. "In fall camp, it shows OK, this guy has been balling out, he wants to be in that package. So, OK, I trust him, I know he's going to come out here and execute on that package, or he's going to come in on penny and get in the backfield and sack the quarterback.
"It's way different, because now you know this is that package, or this is that period where I get to do this, now I get to work on it. In the game, I'm going to be prepared and execute in it."
Defensive coordinator John Jancek heads into the second season with still very much a young unit, some of whom grew up on the field last year. Where a Rashad Ajayi or a Devin Phillips played a big role, he has a Cam'ron Carter and a Dequan Jackson who have to take on more responsibility. He has to see how quickly transfers Jalen Bates, Tron Folsom, Andre Neal and Marshaun Cameron can pick up the system and find out where they fit into the mix.
A blend is required, because that's what the offenses of the Mountain West will provide. Facing Air Force and Boise State do not involve the same planning. Packages are needed, which requires numbers.
"I think we've improved our depth," Jancek said. "The problem is the depth is very inexperienced. It's not like you've got a senior and a junior or sophomore, a redshirt sophomore, guys who have been in your program. We've got guys that have played here last year, then everybody else is basically new comers. Whether they're a grad transfer or a true freshman, they're new to our program, new to our system, and that's where it becomes challenging as a coach. You don't want to overload them. You want to let them play, but yet you don't want to be so predictable that you're not playing on your terms as defense. That will be the balancing act that we have to look at moving forward."
Bobo has some similar questions of his own, starting with a young offensive line and new players who could factor in at the skill positions. The first full day in pads, he introduced some plays he likes, but not all of them worked. Again, just the fifth day, but it helps him determine what they can execute, what they can't.
Quarterback Collin Hill isn't worried about a top 11, feeling by the end of camp the Rams will have multiple packages to show opposing defenses. He knows it will take time to fully develop, but in the meantime, both he and Bobo feel strongly the strength and depth they have at tight end and with fullback Adam Prentice gives them a solid personnel package as a base.
"That's what's unique. If you go 21, you've got Adam Prentice in there, who is one of our better players. But if you want a quicker guy in the slot, you might put Brenden Fulton in there, you might go 11 personnel," Hill said. "We might go 12 if we want to go bigger, put two tight ends out there, because we're really talented there. It's just really a matchup thing, and it will probably be dependent on who we play. I do think we have a lot of different ways of getting our best 11 out there.
"I think that's what's special about our tight ends. Cameron Butler really runs like a receiver does, and Trey McBride is a big, freaky guy, too. I do think it will give young guys time to grow, but at the same time, if their number is called, I believe they'll be able to make plays, too."
In the meantime, it's pound in the fundamentals and find out who is geared up for contact. Who will create holes, who will clog them. Who needs to be put into open space and who on defense can close those gaps quickest.
The team has three more practices before the initial scrimmage of camp, when some theories can be put to the test. Bobo said he has a decent idea of who the Rams can be offensively, but his is a playbook which can expand as skillsets develop.
"That's what we're trying to figure out," he said. "At the same time, there's a lot of different schemes; we're installing a bunch of them, but we've got to figure out what our guys can do the best to be successful."
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