Colorado State University Athletics
Offensive Line Impressive in Debut
9/3/2019 7:25:00 PM | Football
Growth, polish still required moving forward
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Scott Brooks figured he hadn't played an extended portion of a game for at least two and a half years, his final one in high school. Last year, maybe 10, 15 plays max.
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Nouredin Nouili had only played football for two and a half years. There was 40 percent of the offensive line Colorado State started Friday night in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. It was a group considered to the biggest question mark the Rams had on offense.
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Barry Wesley feels folks may have to find a new query to chase.
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"Honestly, I feel kinda sick about it. I felt we really physically dominated their defensive line," Wesley said. "There's not a doubt in my mind where we didn't dominate a play. When we watched the film, it killed me because we lost. That means we have to focus in again and lock in even more."
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Colorado State piled up 505 yards of total offense in the game, the 19th time in head coach Mike Bobo's tenure, but turnovers sealed the Rams' fate in the 52-31 outcome. There were two sacks allowed, but Bobo didn't pin them on the line. He also felt they blocked better than 131 yards rushing would suggest, saying the running backs need to gain more than what the line produces.
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While the group expected to play well, the opening drive of 80 yards in six plays, capped by Dante Wright's 39-yard touchdown catch, ignited what Wesley said they were able to accomplish.
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For the overall inexperience up front, the confidence they gained will help tremendously moving into Saturday's game with Western Illinois at Canvas Stadium (2 p.m.; AT&T SportsNet).
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"I mean, it's been a lot of work, and it feels good, because we did do some good stuff, but there's a long ways to go," Brooks said after making his first start at center. "We just have to get better every day. It doesn't matter what we did in the past. It's fine if we're the question mark every week, we just have to get better every week.
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"I think we played together, and I feel we were really focused throughout the whole thing, which was really good and really good to see. I think we definitely are more confident."
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The group is not a finished product, not even close. Nouili played well at guard by all accounts, but he also made some freshman mistakes. Brooks talked about his footwork, and Wesley noted concepts to clean up.
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But the first game was a start, and as Bobo suggested, the plan now is working, but can be expanded with growth.
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"Overall, I thought they did a good job with what we asked them to do in the game, and we've still got to be smart about what we ask them to do to put themselves in good situations," he said.
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Still, the talk about the line has changed a bit since the end of spring camp last year. Brooks said that's great, but it's just one game.
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Still, for starters, it's always a positive sign to have your quarterback in your corner.
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"They played awesome. They really did," Collin Hill said. I think we had really one sack that really wasn't on them at all. They were great all night, running the ball. We were balanced, did a great job in pass pro. They were really impressive all night."
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Nouredin Nouili had only played football for two and a half years. There was 40 percent of the offensive line Colorado State started Friday night in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. It was a group considered to the biggest question mark the Rams had on offense.
Â
Barry Wesley feels folks may have to find a new query to chase.
Â
"Honestly, I feel kinda sick about it. I felt we really physically dominated their defensive line," Wesley said. "There's not a doubt in my mind where we didn't dominate a play. When we watched the film, it killed me because we lost. That means we have to focus in again and lock in even more."
Â
Colorado State piled up 505 yards of total offense in the game, the 19th time in head coach Mike Bobo's tenure, but turnovers sealed the Rams' fate in the 52-31 outcome. There were two sacks allowed, but Bobo didn't pin them on the line. He also felt they blocked better than 131 yards rushing would suggest, saying the running backs need to gain more than what the line produces.
Â
While the group expected to play well, the opening drive of 80 yards in six plays, capped by Dante Wright's 39-yard touchdown catch, ignited what Wesley said they were able to accomplish.
Â
For the overall inexperience up front, the confidence they gained will help tremendously moving into Saturday's game with Western Illinois at Canvas Stadium (2 p.m.; AT&T SportsNet).
Â
"I mean, it's been a lot of work, and it feels good, because we did do some good stuff, but there's a long ways to go," Brooks said after making his first start at center. "We just have to get better every day. It doesn't matter what we did in the past. It's fine if we're the question mark every week, we just have to get better every week.
Â
"I think we played together, and I feel we were really focused throughout the whole thing, which was really good and really good to see. I think we definitely are more confident."
Â
The group is not a finished product, not even close. Nouili played well at guard by all accounts, but he also made some freshman mistakes. Brooks talked about his footwork, and Wesley noted concepts to clean up.
Â
But the first game was a start, and as Bobo suggested, the plan now is working, but can be expanded with growth.
Â
"Overall, I thought they did a good job with what we asked them to do in the game, and we've still got to be smart about what we ask them to do to put themselves in good situations," he said.
Â
Still, the talk about the line has changed a bit since the end of spring camp last year. Brooks said that's great, but it's just one game.
Â
Still, for starters, it's always a positive sign to have your quarterback in your corner.
Â
"They played awesome. They really did," Collin Hill said. I think we had really one sack that really wasn't on them at all. They were great all night, running the ball. We were balanced, did a great job in pass pro. They were really impressive all night."
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