Defensive Depth Aided by Transfers at Every Level

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – In building a strong defense, an impressive first wave is no longer enough.

As offenses in college football continue to red line the tempo, defenses are continually trying to not only stay in step, but stay fresh. And while Colorado State's unit showed signs of improvement a season ago, particularly on the defensive line, there were a lot of starters on the field for a majority of the plays.

In a four-game season, you can get away with it. But with a promising outlook on a full slate in 2021, the Rams want the reinforcements to continue to improve and impact the unit. That's exactly where transfers Anthony Koclanakis and Mike Ciaffoni can lend a hand.

"Both have played a fair amount of football," CSU coach Steve Addazio said. "Anthony played a bit more at Murray State; Mike played in our system at BC, and he's a very tough kid, a very smart guy. I just see those guys being able to help us have a heck of a year."

Koclanakis started 23 games in his final two years for the Racers, earning all-conference honors in 2019 after posting 124 tackles, including 9.5 for loss and three sacks. For the Eagles, Ciaffoni appeared in two games as a true freshman in 2018 and redshirted, but did not see the field under the coaching change a year ago.

For both, getting acclimated to the new surrounds and the system they play in becomes the first step in becoming part of the solution. For Koclanakis, that's taken a bit more time, with reason. The 4-3 set is the same for him, but with his old position filled – Dequan Jackson is there for the Rams – learning his best fit has taken up part of his introductory period.

"It's definitely a struggle to come in and try to learn a system right away and get out there and make plays. For a lot of transfers, you don't always start playing at the level you want to play at," Koclanakis said. "You have to learn the system first before you fly around and play fast. I think as the spring is going, a lot of us transfers are doing a good job of learning the playbook, making plays and showing we can be productive in this defense.

"I was always the Mike, but we have DJack at Mike, so when I first got here I was learning the Sam position I had never really played. They just moved me back inside, so I'm hoping to make a lot more plays and be more productive in there."

Ciaffoni had a bit of a head start in his process, having been recruited by Addazio and defensive line coach Antoine Smith at Boston College. For starters, he's happy to be back learning from Smith, but the defensive style is still new.

At BC, the system had the defensive line holding ground. Here, Smith has them flying up field. Either way, Smith is Smith, and Ciaffoni knows he will make him a better player.

"The room's been great. There's great leadership with Manny Jones, Scott Patchan, Toby McBride, Devon Phillips … I feel like they've really taken me under their wing and learned the defense," he said. "I feel like we're going to be a great defensive line this year.

"This defensive system, the defensive line, we're really trying to get penetration and make more plays, while at BC, we were more so hold your gap. We're a lot more up field and getting vertical I would say. He coaches them both the same. He's 100 percent every single day. He loves this. I've never see him so excited."

A year ago, CSU's defensive front produced more of a pass rush, but also showed it could be stout against the run game. Still, both areas can be improved, and a little depth never hurt. Because last year, there was not a lot of substituting going on up front.

Again, an abbreviated schedule can hide some of those reps where a four-month run from training camp through the postseason provides no such cover.

"On defense, you have to have a number of good D-linemen," Addazio said. "When you don't, they get worn down at the end of the game, and it's hard. Traditionally, you think four starters. I don't think you think that way here right now. I think it's more than that. They're going to rotate and play, and I think you're stronger and better for it. There's nothing worse when your guys are depleted on the defensive front and they start to wear you down. It just cascades on you."

The Rams have five players up front who have started multiple games. They also like the youth coming up behind them, and Ciaffoni bridges that gap to a certain degree.

Transfers have helped provide depth at every level of the defense – defensive backs Linwood Crump and Titus Jones are also in camp -- and this spring allows them to get comfortable with the playbook and the coaching styles, which should enable all of them to make their plays in fall camp and the season to follow.

"It's happening. It's more the confidence, coming from a place where you were the guy and everyone looked up to you and now you're in a new place, new system," Koclanakis said. "You have to get confident in what you do out there on the field and the people you're around. I'd say I'm probably about 80 percent."

The first week of camp, veteran safety Logan Stewart said it looked as if Crump had been with the Rams for years. That was a nice compliment, Crump said, but he felt it probably referred more to his style of play.

The truth, he said, was there was still much rolling around in his head as he picked up the system, one he feels he's virtually caught up with and one he feels he will fit in nicely.

"I think I caught up very well. The first week or so, it was kind of shaky for me, trying to learn the new defense," he said. "Now I think I'm comfortable, I'm actually learning the plays, I know the checks, I actually know where I'm supposed to line up, I know what play is going to run out, what route is going to run out. I think I'm getting a good grasp of it.

"I think this is a great scheme for me. There's a lot of man-press for me; there's a lot of great opportunities for me to go make plays on the ball. That's one of the biggest reasons I chose CSU."

But all of them, now past the halfway point of spring, say it's coming. So do the coaches.

In the fall, the goal is to bring them all, full force.

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