Addazio Excited About the Restart Spring Brings

For Steve Addazio, the spring is the fun part.

The teaching. The learning. The growth. The 15 practices spread out over time gives a coaching staff a chance to install, run through a system, then go back and evaluate it. There's no rush. There's no game to be played.

Colorado State's football coach wasn't really afforded the opportunity his first year in the program, not with a global pandemic bringing the process to a halt just hallway through. Then the season was just as bad, a 12-game slate cut down to eight, which was cut down to four due to COVID issues.

In some ways, round two of the spring teaching is really the first go.

"I don't know about just getting started, but certainly last year didn't allow you to really mature the team at the level you would have liked to," Addazio said, with the first spring practice looming Saturday morning. "I think all of those scenarios hurt first-year programs the most, unless they were a turnkey program.

"It's all been a process. We got a lot of out the eight-game prep and four games played. I can't imagine where we would be if we didn't at least have that. I think this thing takes cycles, and you're trying to get as many cycles as you can in. That's learning your team, implement to install, establish a culture. The good news is that we'll have a good bite out of it by the time we start the season."

For him, spring practice is the second cycle. The first – offseason conditioning – went well, with gains made in agility, speed, explosiveness and lifting. He liked the attitude, and definitely the work ethic.
The upcoming 15 practices – fingers cross, the virus still looms large over everything – is to have that translate into growth and learning.

Linebacker Dequan Jackson feels the abbreviated everything still allowed for a foundation to be laid. Now it's a matter of reinforcing it to hold up the program.

"How far as we've gotten as a team, as a whole, I don't think we've reached where we want to be, so it probably is like a start," he said. "As far as not having any foundation, it's not like that. I think we were still able to pick up and learn and grow as a team. With it being chopped up, I think it actually kind of helped us realize we had to pull together, kind of accept what it is, make changes.

"You've got to look yourself in the mirror and take responsibility for what's going on. You've got to be the change you want to see. Through that all, I feel like I learned a lot, so I don't feel like I'm at a starting point."

But there are some fundamental points which Addazio admitted will carry a high priority level in the spring. The Rams need to be able to convert on third-and-medium and in the red zone better. They have to break more tackles and establish the running game he craves, and special teams will be high on the list.

Colorado State surrendered too many points on those units during the season, giving up 21 to Boise State in the first half alone, then gave up touchdowns on punt and kickoff returns the following game with San Diego State. It was a roller coaster, because Addazio witnessed bright spots.

The goal this spring is to get the Rams off the roller coaster. Fundamentals can't be solid if not consistent.

"We're at the point where we've established the fundamentals, but it's the ability to maintain and sustain those fundamentals under duress, under strain. That's a lot of mental toughness stuff," Addazio said. "I think we have a lot of fundamentals in place in special teams, offense and defense, but in the heat of the battle – we like to call that competitive excellence – can you have competitive excellence at the most competitive moments? That takes a lot of mental strain, and in order to increase that, you have to be put in that situation. During the season they got pushed mentally really hard, physically and mentally. I'm hoping in spring we're going to be able to be within the walls of football, meaning on the field, and we can put them in tough, physical and mental situations to test and to continue to grow that real mental strain."

Tight end Trey McBride is all for it, and welcomes the chance to get back on the field and work. Offensively, there is a new coordinator in Jon Budmayr and wide receivers coach in Alex Bailey. With those additions will come with some alterations, so learning the playbook well enough to play with tempo will be key.

Even for an All-American candidate, the ability to learn on the field is still the preferred method. He's missed that part of the process.

"It's just important to go out and play football, like Addazio said. You can watch the film and sit in the meetings and all that, but ultimately going out and playing football is really going to get the most growth and be able to excel," he said. "That's something that we're all excited to do is go out with the coaches and learn from them and have them teach us what they know, because they're knowledgeable and experienced. I'm just excited to play for these guys and learn from them."

One question Addazio took off the board was at quarterback. Toddy Centeio is his guy. He feels the junior carries the "It" factor into the huddle and is a team leader. As much as they love his intangibles, Addazio said it's the staff's job to continue his growth in the other physical areas.

"Everything is open, but I know who the starting quarter back is going into spring ball. Now, God bless anybody who can step up and unseat anybody. Have at it," Addazio said. "He's our starting quarterback. No doubt about it. He's our leader, and he has all the physical and mental characteristics to be an outstanding quarterback in this conference. It's our job – my job -- to make sure we do the right job in his development and growth along the way. I think we're going to see that."

All of it brings a sense of urgency to what is about to take place. What was missed though the pauses of 2020 can be gained in the spring. It's necessary to make sure the next few phases – post-spring, summer and fall camp – to be as productive as possible.

McBride is definitely in line. So, too, is Jackson, and he's looking for a complete buy-in from the entire roster.

"I didn't like the results last year. I don't think the team liked them, the coaches didn't like it," Jackson said. "The only way to fix that is to go out and grind every day. I don't think we have time to waste. I think most of the team realizes that, and I feel like the rest of them are going to realize when we go to practice this spring. Guys aren't going to take anything less than 100 percent out there."

It feels like a fresh start. A restart, even. Addazio can't wait to get started, because this is the fun part.

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