Colorado State University Athletics
One Drive Provides Blueprint for Rams
11/9/2021 12:13:00 PM | Football
Consistency and maximization key facing Air Force
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The meat of the drive was perfect.
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David Bailey ran for 15 yards. Then 8. Then 8 more. A rush of 14 followed, and a Colorado State offense which hadn't been able to run the ball effectively in the first half had found a rhythm down 17-10 to Wyoming in the third quarter.
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Bailey's work set the Rams up first-and-10 at the Wyoming 28. Then Jaylen Thomas hit the biggest run of the day and the drive, 17 yards for first-and-10 at the 11.
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That's the part Colorado State wants to remember heading into Saturday's game with Air Force. That part is basically perfect for what they'd like to do against a Falcon team which is notorious for long drives and eating up the clock, limiting the offensive possessions for the opposition.
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In a perfect world, CSU head coach Steve Addazio said the offense would go on long drives which result in touchdowns. Which is what the Rams didn't get last week out of a drive which was so impressive at the start. Three more runs led to just five more yards and the offense settled for a short field goal which was missed.
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The Cowboys countered with a long touchdown drive to make it a 24-10 game, eating up basically the rest of the frame and forcing Colorado State to throw the ball to play catch up.
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"It was depressing, especially when you get out of rhythm," Bailey said. "We wanted to move the ball, and when they scored, that put us behind and we had to start passing. If we're able to keep everything balanced, run the ball, pass the ball like we've been doing, we'll be great."
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But only if they finish, which the Rams acknowledge. Offensive coordinator Jon Budmayr said there's always pressure to maximize offensive possessions, but the nature of what Air Force does – the Falcons average 35:34 of possession time – makes it imperative.
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The play sheet is whittled down because the number of offensive drives will likely be down as well as the plays run. So the calls the Rams feel will be the most productive will carry more weight, and those they view as changeups will be limited.
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Budmayr feels the key component for any game is being able to stay on track.
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"We've got to stay on schedule. That's really important," he said. "With our offense, we've gotten into a couple situations this season where we've gotten to the pass toward the end of games feeling like we have to get going. We want to be able to establish the run. I thought we did a great job coming out of half, I thought guys had a real decided heart on how they wanted to approach that second half, and that's who we want to be. But we have to be able to stay on schedule and we have to be able to convert those red-zone points. Then you don't get behind. We're not playing complementary football right now on offense, and we have to do a better job of that."
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So the first drive of the second half is the target for the Rams to open the game. That drive, though it didn't end on a positive note, gives the offense a bit of encouragement and a place to start.
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It is a drive which encapsulates what Colorado State wants to be offensively, save for the red-zone performance which has plagued it much of the season.
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"Guys can see what we did when we came out in the second half. We came out strong," Bailey said. "The offensive line, they moved the ball. They got off the ball and enabled me to get some yards, so I feel like that's giving us confidence going into this game.
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"These types of games, we'll only get nine possessions max. We have to make sure our plays are 100 percent. They know they're going to take up a lot of time, so every possession, we have to score."
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In the first half, the Rams rushed for just 68 yards, averaging 3.2 yards per carry. Bolstered by the one real drive of the third quarter, the team rushed for 170 and averaged 4.9 per carry. That will work, but not if it is only one drive in the second half.
Â
It has to be all game, but the one drive gives the Rams some hope. More importantly, a blueprint. Those weren't new plays drawn up at halftime, just a renewed attitude.
Â
"There's not magic sauce," Budmayr said. "We just have to do our job, and if we do that, you can look at the tape. Things go well for us. We have to be consistent with it."
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David Bailey ran for 15 yards. Then 8. Then 8 more. A rush of 14 followed, and a Colorado State offense which hadn't been able to run the ball effectively in the first half had found a rhythm down 17-10 to Wyoming in the third quarter.
Â
Bailey's work set the Rams up first-and-10 at the Wyoming 28. Then Jaylen Thomas hit the biggest run of the day and the drive, 17 yards for first-and-10 at the 11.
Â
That's the part Colorado State wants to remember heading into Saturday's game with Air Force. That part is basically perfect for what they'd like to do against a Falcon team which is notorious for long drives and eating up the clock, limiting the offensive possessions for the opposition.
Â
In a perfect world, CSU head coach Steve Addazio said the offense would go on long drives which result in touchdowns. Which is what the Rams didn't get last week out of a drive which was so impressive at the start. Three more runs led to just five more yards and the offense settled for a short field goal which was missed.
Â
The Cowboys countered with a long touchdown drive to make it a 24-10 game, eating up basically the rest of the frame and forcing Colorado State to throw the ball to play catch up.
Â
"It was depressing, especially when you get out of rhythm," Bailey said. "We wanted to move the ball, and when they scored, that put us behind and we had to start passing. If we're able to keep everything balanced, run the ball, pass the ball like we've been doing, we'll be great."
Â
But only if they finish, which the Rams acknowledge. Offensive coordinator Jon Budmayr said there's always pressure to maximize offensive possessions, but the nature of what Air Force does – the Falcons average 35:34 of possession time – makes it imperative.
Â
The play sheet is whittled down because the number of offensive drives will likely be down as well as the plays run. So the calls the Rams feel will be the most productive will carry more weight, and those they view as changeups will be limited.
Â
Budmayr feels the key component for any game is being able to stay on track.
Â
"We've got to stay on schedule. That's really important," he said. "With our offense, we've gotten into a couple situations this season where we've gotten to the pass toward the end of games feeling like we have to get going. We want to be able to establish the run. I thought we did a great job coming out of half, I thought guys had a real decided heart on how they wanted to approach that second half, and that's who we want to be. But we have to be able to stay on schedule and we have to be able to convert those red-zone points. Then you don't get behind. We're not playing complementary football right now on offense, and we have to do a better job of that."
Â
So the first drive of the second half is the target for the Rams to open the game. That drive, though it didn't end on a positive note, gives the offense a bit of encouragement and a place to start.
Â
It is a drive which encapsulates what Colorado State wants to be offensively, save for the red-zone performance which has plagued it much of the season.
Â
"Guys can see what we did when we came out in the second half. We came out strong," Bailey said. "The offensive line, they moved the ball. They got off the ball and enabled me to get some yards, so I feel like that's giving us confidence going into this game.
Â
"These types of games, we'll only get nine possessions max. We have to make sure our plays are 100 percent. They know they're going to take up a lot of time, so every possession, we have to score."
Â
In the first half, the Rams rushed for just 68 yards, averaging 3.2 yards per carry. Bolstered by the one real drive of the third quarter, the team rushed for 170 and averaged 4.9 per carry. That will work, but not if it is only one drive in the second half.
Â
It has to be all game, but the one drive gives the Rams some hope. More importantly, a blueprint. Those weren't new plays drawn up at halftime, just a renewed attitude.
Â
"There's not magic sauce," Budmayr said. "We just have to do our job, and if we do that, you can look at the tape. Things go well for us. We have to be consistent with it."
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Players Mentioned
RB
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RB
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Tuesday, April 28