Colorado State University Athletics
Monday Presser: Bobo Likes New Physicality of Rams
9/2/2019 3:36:00 PM | Football
McElroy should be ready to play Saturday
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Mike Bobo harkened back to a year prior, to a different team from the same conference.
In 2018, Illinois State, an FCS team out of the Missouri Valley Conference walked into Canvas Stadium and was physically better than Colorado State. With Western Illinois arriving Saturday for the home opener (2 p.m.; AT&T SportsNet), Bobo is confident that won't be the case this time around.
"I thought we were aggressive. I thought we played to win the game, we just didn't make enough plays to win it," Bobo said at his weekly press conference Monday. "I do think our physicality was there, I thought some toughness was there. I think our guys are more confident because they feel like they're stronger since the work they've done. Last year against Illinois State, who is in the same conference, we got whipped physically and we went to work on this this offseason to change that.
"We got beat by CU. We didn't get physically beat by them. We got beat because we didn't make the plays."
As the 2018 season played out, becoming a stronger team -- mentally and physically – became a target for the offseason, and the Rams approached it with a new vigor under the guidance of strength and conditioning coach Joey Guarascio.
The numbers shot up in all measurable areas, as well as with new speed work the team did. They also instituted drills to make the team uncomfortable in an effort to learn to overcome.
Bobo noted the major difference last week was Colorado made plays, Colorado State didn't, particularly the four turnovers the Buffs created as opposed to the ones the Rams didn't grasp.
"I felt like we played hard, we played physical," Bobo said. "There wasn't anything on our heels. I thought we were aggressive on both sides of the ball. Special teams, I thought we were aggressive there."
Four turnovers were the key, and Bobo made that clear. And when it came to the first interception, Bobo wished it wouldn't have happened.
First, he looked at his play call. Instead of taking a shot at the plus-20, he would have rather tried to punch the ball down in the red zone. But he made the call, and Collin Hill took his shot.
It was six inches too far away from Warren Jackson, and Colorado safety Mikial Onu made a really nice play.
The two parts of Bobo understood.
"I played quarterback. You've got a shot, you want to take it," he said. "I like the confidence he had to make the throw. We just didn't complete it."
Bobo didn't back down from wanting neutral officials in the Rocky Mountain Showdown, especially at a neutral site. However, he wasn't happy he opened the postgame presser with that on his mind.
"You say you don't make excuses, and I didn't like myself saying that when that's what we say to the team," Bobo said.
Running back Marcus McElroy should be ready to play this week. He sat last week at what Bobo called about 90-95 percent, but he had missed practice and they held him back. The Rams could use up to four backs in the game, having used Marvin Kinsey Jr., Jaylen Thomas and Christian Hunter the first game. For Thomas and Hunter, those were their first collegiate carries. … Bobo said he saw tears in the locker room, and it had been awhile since he had. "That means they paid a price."
In 2018, Illinois State, an FCS team out of the Missouri Valley Conference walked into Canvas Stadium and was physically better than Colorado State. With Western Illinois arriving Saturday for the home opener (2 p.m.; AT&T SportsNet), Bobo is confident that won't be the case this time around.
"I thought we were aggressive. I thought we played to win the game, we just didn't make enough plays to win it," Bobo said at his weekly press conference Monday. "I do think our physicality was there, I thought some toughness was there. I think our guys are more confident because they feel like they're stronger since the work they've done. Last year against Illinois State, who is in the same conference, we got whipped physically and we went to work on this this offseason to change that.
"We got beat by CU. We didn't get physically beat by them. We got beat because we didn't make the plays."
As the 2018 season played out, becoming a stronger team -- mentally and physically – became a target for the offseason, and the Rams approached it with a new vigor under the guidance of strength and conditioning coach Joey Guarascio.
The numbers shot up in all measurable areas, as well as with new speed work the team did. They also instituted drills to make the team uncomfortable in an effort to learn to overcome.
Bobo noted the major difference last week was Colorado made plays, Colorado State didn't, particularly the four turnovers the Buffs created as opposed to the ones the Rams didn't grasp.
"I felt like we played hard, we played physical," Bobo said. "There wasn't anything on our heels. I thought we were aggressive on both sides of the ball. Special teams, I thought we were aggressive there."
On One Hand
Four turnovers were the key, and Bobo made that clear. And when it came to the first interception, Bobo wished it wouldn't have happened.
First, he looked at his play call. Instead of taking a shot at the plus-20, he would have rather tried to punch the ball down in the red zone. But he made the call, and Collin Hill took his shot.
It was six inches too far away from Warren Jackson, and Colorado safety Mikial Onu made a really nice play.
The two parts of Bobo understood.
"I played quarterback. You've got a shot, you want to take it," he said. "I like the confidence he had to make the throw. We just didn't complete it."
Different Tone
Bobo didn't back down from wanting neutral officials in the Rocky Mountain Showdown, especially at a neutral site. However, he wasn't happy he opened the postgame presser with that on his mind.
"You say you don't make excuses, and I didn't like myself saying that when that's what we say to the team," Bobo said.
Of Note
Running back Marcus McElroy should be ready to play this week. He sat last week at what Bobo called about 90-95 percent, but he had missed practice and they held him back. The Rams could use up to four backs in the game, having used Marvin Kinsey Jr., Jaylen Thomas and Christian Hunter the first game. For Thomas and Hunter, those were their first collegiate carries. … Bobo said he saw tears in the locker room, and it had been awhile since he had. "That means they paid a price."
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballThursday, May 14
Monday, May 11
Friday, May 08
Tuesday, April 28