Rams Struggle Offensively in Homecoming Loss to Utah State

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FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Opportunities presented. Opportunities squandered.

As Colorado State's defense continues to grow and come together, it's giving the Rams a chance to win. But the offense is still struggling. With lineup alterations and most definitely production. It hurt most when one of the other phases of the game handed the offense prime field position three times, only to produce six points on a pair of field goals, resulted in a 17-13 homecoming loss to Utah State in front of the fourth-largest crowd in Canvas Stadium history, 35,009.

It's not that they haven't tried about everything. It's been more about they've had to try just about everyone available. The line between a lack of lineup continuity and limited production is a pretty straight draw.

"It's not really about that, it's just about execution of our base stuff. It's things we've been doing since spring," CSU head coach Jay Norvell said as his team fell to 1-5, 1-1 in Mountain West play. "We just have different players doing it every week. It's hard to build continuity off of it. When players start for the first time, you've got communication, you've got snap count, you've got a lot of things that go on. Once you play and get some experience, you can build on those things. When it's the first time, it's kind of like starting all over again.

"it's not just Giles Pooler, it's other kids, too. We've got other freshmen who are playing that do some things well at times and other times they play like freshmen. It is what it is. It's what we have to work with, and we have to help them as coaches. That's our job."

Colorado State's offense, playing with it's third different starting quarterback of the season and as in as many weeks – all of them freshmen -- struggled. For the second game in a row, the Rams were able to find some footing in the run game as Avery Morrow rushed for more than 100 yards for the second straight week. But all season, the Rams have lacked the air support from the Air Raid, and it's taking a toll.

Offensively, the Rams are averaging just 12.2 points per game this season. Saturday night, the unit generated just 14 first downs and 262 yards of offense, gave up three more sacks and completed 12-of-33 passes for one interception, and one of the passes was completed by wide receiver Tory Horton. The same Tory Horton who entered the game leading the Mountain West in receiving but was shut out for the first time this season.

Pooler was under pressure all night, and the Rams dropped a handful of passes in the contest.

The Rams had one impressive drive which gave them a 10-7 lead in the first quarter. It lasted six plays, covered 68 yards and Morrow, who finished with 116 yards on 27 carries ran through and around a host of Aggies defenders for a 26-yard score. Beyond that, the Rams' next best drive generated just 41 yards. In the second half, the Rams had a trio of three-and-outs, one which went for negative 17 yards.

"That's kind of been a problem for us for a couple of weeks now. We've got a lot of young guys who are still learning the offense," Morrow said. "They just have to execute. There's a lot of mess-ups, and they've just got to lock in, and it's got to be better. We're on our third-string quarterback and we're just kinda throwing guys in there. It's got to be better as a whole."

It really does, because penalty problems are still a thing, and some of them are being committed by the veteran offensive linemen. Holding to start a drive or a false start to put the offense behind the chains from the get-go.

There were some personal fouls which didn't help. Norvell said they have to be more disciplined, but more to the point, he said the team has to understand they are all amplified.

"Disappointed very much in our penalties. We're just a team that doesn't have a margin for error right now," he said after the Rams had 10 for 93 yards. "We have to play smart football with some of the injuries and the young guys we have playing on offense who are learning how to play the game. We just can't give plays away, and some of the penalties really put us behind the eight ball."

Defensively, the team has played well enough two weeks in a row to win two games. In the Mountain West, holding a team to 17 points would nearly guarantee a win. Utah State was down to its fourth-string quarterback by the end of the game, losing both Cooper Legas and Levi Williams before the first half ended.

Bishop Donovan entered and was able to lead one scoring drive in the second half, which was all the margin the Aggies would need.

The defense produced two turnovers. The first, and interception from Cam'Ron Carter, led to a Michael Boyle field goal and a 3-0 lead. A fumble recovered on the USU 12 also resulted in a Boyle field goal.

The unit won't like it gave up 252 yards on the ground, but it was stout when it needed to be.

"I just think we're starting to execute. We're starting to get off the field on third down, and we've got to continue to do that," said safety Jack Howell, who returned to the lineup to lead the team with a career-best 13 tackles. "There were some critical moments tonight where we needed to show up and we didn't quite get it done, so we've just got to be better than that."

Special teams even gave the offense a chance when Dane Olson blocked a punt, the first for the team since 2019 (also against Utah State), setting up the Rams at the Utah State 20. That led to a loss of 2 yards on four plays, resulting in a missed field goal.

"It's frustrating. It's very, very, very frustrating because these are things we feel we can execute," Norvell said. "We'll continue to try to put a plan together where our guys can execute."

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