Setting the Stage: Boise State

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Young players will often make a coach scratch their head with their actions. They can also make things interesting in a fun way, which is a mix Jay Norvell has come to embrace.

The good news is at the halfway point of the season, there's less head scratching and more laughter involved these days.

"Laughing keeps you from going crazy around here," Norvell said. "That's the thing about having young guys. They're full of spirit and energy, they do a lot of crazy things you don't expect, and they look at things in a different way. You have to ask a lot of questions to make sure they understand, but they are starting to get it. We're having fun. We've had a great week of practice; a lot of great plays being made at practice. Practice is fun for us, because we're throwing the ball around, we're doing different things and it's good to see them have a bounce in their step and having fun."

Coaches recruit to develop, and it's big reason they do what they do. The hope is to eventually build a balanced roster with veterans who have been through the system while the younger set learn and are given time. Colorado State hasn't had such a luxury this season.

They've had to start six freshmen during the season and another six players who had either not seen the field or played minimally in mop-up time. Many players in the same situation have become key backups and regular contributors. The more he gets to know them, and the more they start to understand what is being taught, the more fun they're all having. And Norvell is having fun.

It's been a season of learning on the fly, and the good news for Norvell is there will be a payoff.

"In many ways it's kind of the core of what we're doing, is teaching our offense from the very, very beginning, so yeah, it's exciting every day," he said. "It's stimulating every day, and to see the young guys, the light start to come on for them, it's awesome. Also, to know we're going to have these guys for a long time. That's the best part about it. Once you start building a foundation of understanding and execution, then it just builds on itself. Then it's fun, you can start being creative. We really can't be very creative right now because we have so many young guys and we're trying to understand the communication and we have so many new experiences. It's only going to benefit us in the future all the things we're going through now."

Feeling Special

Tory Horton has provided a spark in punt return and the Rams even have a blocked punt in the past few weeks. The special teams, with a coordinator all their own in Tommy Perry, are starting to show improved play.

"I feel over time players have noticed the impact of the game they're having with special teams. Having a coach like Coach Perry who's always enthusiastic when it comes to special teams is great, and I feel people have really bought in," longsnapper Jacob Raab said. "There's lot of young guys who get a lot of time on special teams who are actually making plays, like Jordan Williams and Louis Brown, they're just doing very well and it's because it starts at the top. It starts through meetings and everybody buying in over time.

"Coach Perry has brought in a mentality and a mindset you have to bring to special teams. No matter how good or how bad we do, he's going to be on us and keep us in check. He's not mean about it or gets on you in an aspect where you don't want to do it. You want to keep getting better because he gives positive reinforcement, so it keeps us going, and I think that's really helped us come together."

A special teams coordinator was new to the program, and even Norvell has said the systems they do are unique and not widespread, so it takes time to develop a learned behavior. That's what Raab is seeing, an understanding leading to improved performance as well as a better grasp of the impact the units can bring.

"It's definitely clicking," he said. "I think it's just going to keep getting better and there will be some more big plays real soon."

Poised and Ready

Boise State's defense has been playing better, ranking fist in the conference in total defense by allowing just 241.1 yards per game and third in points per game at 18.4. They also top the list in rush defense (112.3) and pass defense (128.9).

"They're kind of a bend-and-don't break defense. They're going to play coverage mostly and try to react up to things," Norvell said. "You have to be patient ant take your shots and be aggressive when you can. You have got to run the ball, take the throws they give you and be smart about how you attack them. That's the way they've always been. It's kind of a grind-out game when you play these guys. You're going to have to play then snap after snap and outexecute them. That's probably the kind of game it's going to be."

Norvell said the Rams have to take their shots, but they have to be smart about when they do. In his return to the starting lineup against Hawaii, quarterback Clay Millen had his first game without a turnover and displayed better decision making, using his feet to escape trouble and throwing away the ball when needed. Even still, he completed better than 70 percent of his passes.

The Rams' recent trend of running effectively with Avery Morrow will be tested by the Broncos, and the Rams have to show marked improvement in key situations.

"I think he's needs to take his shots when he gets his opportunities. We've talked a lot about that, but absolutely, you can't beat this team without making big plays," Norvell said. "You have to make big plays, but you also have to consistently make the consistent plays and give yourself an opportunity. We have to extend drives. We're going to have to make big plays on third and fourth down and we have to score in the red zone. Chunk plays really help do that."

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Louis Brown IV

Tory Horton

Clay Millen

Avery Morrow

Jacob Raab

Jordan Williams

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Colorado State University Athletics