Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Cris Tiller
What We Saw: O'Brien Can Move Offense
9/22/2019 2:00:00 PM | Football
Defense still seeks run-game fixes
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Naturally, replacing Collin Hill at quarterback was a big question.
With Hill injured and out for the rest of the 2019 season, Colorado State turned to Patrick O'Brien, who had seen spot duty at Nebraska, but that was a few seasons ago. He'd had a year to sit and learn when he transferred, then was thrust into action late in the third quarter last week.
Saturday night, he was going to start for the first time.
"Everyone was kinda up in the air how Patrick was going to do," CSU tight end Trey McBride said. "We had his back the whole way. We knew he had a lot of experience in college, he knew the plays, knew the game plan really well. I was really excited. He came out, made plays and did exactly what we needed him to do. With him, and how well of a game he played, we definitely have a lot of confidence, and I'm excited to see where this team goes."
O'Brien threw for 405 yards in his first start, coming in a 41-35 loss at Canvas Stadium to Toledo. His first half had some merit, but also showed some rust, as many of his opening throws where low or short to receivers, one on a deep ball resulting in his lone interception.
"I think there's definitely some nerves to start off, but I think as the game progressed, I thought I settled in and started to make some throws," said O'Brien, who completed 32-of-52 tosses. "I thought I put our team in good situations, we just need to build on that and make ourselves a better offense."
The final numbers were good, for him and for the Rams. They posted 693 yards of total offense, the second-best figure in school history. It just wasn't enough. Still, he and his mates feel there are the makings of something to work with moving forward.
To start, he started. That experience alone, O'Brien said, should pay off Saturday on the road at Utah State. Even though he'd played before, he admitted there were butterflies after the opening kickoff. They didn't exactly show, as he guided the team on a game-opening touchdown drive, one he capped off with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Warren Jackson, the first on his home turf for the junior wideout.
"I thought Patrick O'Brien played really, really well for his first game," CSU head coach Mike Bobo said. "Yeah, we missed some, but people miss some. But he battled and gave us a chance at the end."
Tight Bond
The Rams insist theirs won't break, sitting at 1-3 heading into Mountain West play. The offense has surpassed the 500-yard mark in total offense three times, and they are scoring points. They have also allowed more than 40 three times.
"I don't think so. We've worked so hard in the offseason, we put in so much effort and work, I don't see this team breaking off at all," O'Brien said. "Guys are going to stay together, they're going to work for each other. We've played four games now. There's been no quit at all."
Bobo won't back down from that claim, either.
Nor will he deny they are still making too many mistakes for them to overcome and win games. It's a fine line, one the Rams have not crossed against FBS competition.
"There are lot of disappointed guys in the locker room, and rightfully so, when you've worked as hard as they've worked and you can't find a way to finish a ball game, it's disappointing," he said. "Like I told them, there's fight in that room. Guys are playing their butts off, but we're not good enough to make the mistakes that we're making to win ball games."
Those Mistakes
Colorado State turned over the ball once again in the game, but they didn't gain one in return, sitting negative-seven in the category this season. They still have not intercepted a pass a season after only picking off seven.
In a yellow-heavy game (21 combined penalties), the Rams drew 11 flags, costing them 85 yards.
Then there are the missed assignments on defense. Toledo rushed for 436 yards, the most the Rockets have had in a game since at least 2000. CSU's rush defense ranked 89th nationally entering the game at 180 per. Toledo back Bryant Koback rushed for 228 yards and had scoring jaunts of 37, 75 and 47, all in the third quarter.
"Defensively, we have to stop the run. We have to stop the run," Bobo said. "If you can't stop the run, you can't (win). We have to stop the run and we have to figure out what we're going to do defensively to stop the run."
With Hill injured and out for the rest of the 2019 season, Colorado State turned to Patrick O'Brien, who had seen spot duty at Nebraska, but that was a few seasons ago. He'd had a year to sit and learn when he transferred, then was thrust into action late in the third quarter last week.
Saturday night, he was going to start for the first time.
"Everyone was kinda up in the air how Patrick was going to do," CSU tight end Trey McBride said. "We had his back the whole way. We knew he had a lot of experience in college, he knew the plays, knew the game plan really well. I was really excited. He came out, made plays and did exactly what we needed him to do. With him, and how well of a game he played, we definitely have a lot of confidence, and I'm excited to see where this team goes."
O'Brien threw for 405 yards in his first start, coming in a 41-35 loss at Canvas Stadium to Toledo. His first half had some merit, but also showed some rust, as many of his opening throws where low or short to receivers, one on a deep ball resulting in his lone interception.
"I think there's definitely some nerves to start off, but I think as the game progressed, I thought I settled in and started to make some throws," said O'Brien, who completed 32-of-52 tosses. "I thought I put our team in good situations, we just need to build on that and make ourselves a better offense."
The final numbers were good, for him and for the Rams. They posted 693 yards of total offense, the second-best figure in school history. It just wasn't enough. Still, he and his mates feel there are the makings of something to work with moving forward.
To start, he started. That experience alone, O'Brien said, should pay off Saturday on the road at Utah State. Even though he'd played before, he admitted there were butterflies after the opening kickoff. They didn't exactly show, as he guided the team on a game-opening touchdown drive, one he capped off with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Warren Jackson, the first on his home turf for the junior wideout.
"I thought Patrick O'Brien played really, really well for his first game," CSU head coach Mike Bobo said. "Yeah, we missed some, but people miss some. But he battled and gave us a chance at the end."
Tight Bond
The Rams insist theirs won't break, sitting at 1-3 heading into Mountain West play. The offense has surpassed the 500-yard mark in total offense three times, and they are scoring points. They have also allowed more than 40 three times.
"I don't think so. We've worked so hard in the offseason, we put in so much effort and work, I don't see this team breaking off at all," O'Brien said. "Guys are going to stay together, they're going to work for each other. We've played four games now. There's been no quit at all."
Bobo won't back down from that claim, either.
Nor will he deny they are still making too many mistakes for them to overcome and win games. It's a fine line, one the Rams have not crossed against FBS competition.
"There are lot of disappointed guys in the locker room, and rightfully so, when you've worked as hard as they've worked and you can't find a way to finish a ball game, it's disappointing," he said. "Like I told them, there's fight in that room. Guys are playing their butts off, but we're not good enough to make the mistakes that we're making to win ball games."
Those Mistakes
Colorado State turned over the ball once again in the game, but they didn't gain one in return, sitting negative-seven in the category this season. They still have not intercepted a pass a season after only picking off seven.
In a yellow-heavy game (21 combined penalties), the Rams drew 11 flags, costing them 85 yards.
Then there are the missed assignments on defense. Toledo rushed for 436 yards, the most the Rockets have had in a game since at least 2000. CSU's rush defense ranked 89th nationally entering the game at 180 per. Toledo back Bryant Koback rushed for 228 yards and had scoring jaunts of 37, 75 and 47, all in the third quarter.
"Defensively, we have to stop the run. We have to stop the run," Bobo said. "If you can't stop the run, you can't (win). We have to stop the run and we have to figure out what we're going to do defensively to stop the run."
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