Monday Presser: Rams Piecing Together Linebacker Puzzle

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Colorado State (3-6, 2-3) vs. Air Force (6-3, 3-2)
Canvas Stadium | Fort Collins, Colo.
Saturday, Nov. 13, 5 p.m.

GAME LINKS

Watch | Listen | CSU Stats | AFA Stats

O'Brien running scout team at quarterback

GAME RECOGNITIONS
Cannoneers: Col. Timothy Childress, United States Space Force	Bell Ringers: Heather Kent, Veteran and 2021 Graduate

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State is not in the ideal situation to be heading into Saturday's game with Air Force, especially on the injury front and where the abundance of those injuries can be found.

Linebacker.

Starting middle backer and leading tackler Dequan Jackson is still questionable. His main backup, Bam Amina, is likely out for the season, head coach Steve Addazio said at his weekly press conference on Monday. Sanjay Strickland is out.

There will be some shuffling taking place, and as the week begins, the Rams aren't sure who will be available each day for practice, let alone game time.

"Yeah. I don't have the answers for that right now," Addazio said. "There's an old expression I can't use, but I would. I mean, we're going to figure it out. My sense would be we'll gain a couple of guys back, but they probably won't practice, which I'm worried about that."

Every defensive coach will tell you facing an option attack requires discipline. There are assignments for everybody, from the fullback dive to the quarterback and the pitch man. There are keys to be read long the way, and it takes time to learn them.

Colorado State prepared for the Falcons last year, but didn't get to play. They put in some work this summer, too, which is a traditional habit for teams in the Mountain West.

But when a defense doesn't have all the pieces when starting to build the puzzle, it adds a layer of frustration they'd rather not deal with when it comes to the Falcons.

"We're behind the eight ball, no doubt, but we've got to get it done," he said. "We practiced (Sunday), a walk-through/run-through, if you will. We're going to go to the dance with who we have. We've got some young guys in there. You've got AK (Anthony Koclanakis). Cam'ron Carter is still feeling pretty good and Brandon Hickerson-Rooks will be playing some outside backer; he's been hurt for a number of weeks. Mohamed Kamara is going to play some outside backer. Tavian will be standing behind with Dequan, kinda walking through it and see how we progress with them.

"I don't have a magic wand here. We're going to put it together. We've just got to get our arms around it."

Mixed Feelings

The loss to Wyoming stung. Naturally. What also bothered Addazio was he felt that even in the two losses leading up the game, his team was still showing signs of improvement in certain areas despite the outcome.

He didn't carry the same feeling away from the loss to the Cowboys. Still, he was encouraged by the reaction at Sunday's practice.

"There's no one walking around this building feeling sorry for themselves right now, which is pretty cool, because that was hard on Saturday," Addazio said. "(Sunday), we went out there with a hell of a crisp practice, watched our defense attack that style of offense, our offense attacking what we have to do. I give our players a lot of credit, and I'm really excited about it.

"That's an important thing to see. That ability to overcome great disappointment and have a great mindset to attack a challenge. That's what happened. I feel pretty good."

Here and There

One of the key questions for Air Force week is who will run the scout team offense. Addazio said the team has the perfect candidate in backup Evan Olaes, but that's out of the question. Instead, Jonah O'Brien will be handling the duties. … True freshman Jack Howell, who has played in eight games and started a few, still ranks fifth on the team in tackles with 43. He's also intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and recorded two break ups. … Air Force doesn't throw a lot, so naturally, the Falcons don't give up many sacks. They do a few each year, but the last Ram to record a sack against Air Force was Cory James back in 2014.

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