Colorado State University Athletics
Second Scrimmage Produces Desired Effect
8/17/2022 2:34:00 PM | Football
Steps forward taken on both sides of the ball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The main guy wasn't able to attend, but the main objective was still in place.
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Move forward from the first scrimmage. Clean up mistakes and show overall improvement in terms of being assignment sound and executing. To that end, Colorado State's football team reached the goal.
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The offense was on higher alert after the first scrimmage, and the line protected the quarterback better and the group moved the ball well but stalled a bit in the red zone. As was expected, there were steps forward with more required.
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"I think just our efficiency of moving the ball up and down the field. Now we have to finish and score points," said quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme. "That's the thing that comes with time. When we were back at Nevada, we averaged 29 the first year, but we'd like to push the pace here and get up in the 30s and get in the end zone a lot of times."
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Head coach Jay Norvell couldn't be there, and he's been absent for the past five days after contracting Covid, but he's still very much involved. Word has it he was watching Michigan game film at 4:30 a.m. earlier this week, and he Zooms in for offensive meetings and updates. He just wasn't on the field, and it was noticeable, particularly to Chigozie Anusiem.
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"We do miss Norvell. I hope he gets better soon," he said. "When he's out here, obviously being an offensive-minded coach, he talks back to us, we talk to him, so it's good competition with him out here."
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And a quick offense, which did pick up the pace a bit more. Mumme said in both scrimmages the offense was working with particular packages and not so much wide open, but the tempo they'd like is starting to come into form.
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As an offensive front, tackle Dontae Keys felt they did a good job of learning from mistakes and making the necessary corrections, which in turn showed in their play.
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"I would definitely say our run game was more efficient, speaking for the O-line up front," he said. "I know we got a lot more movement, cleaned up a lot of mental errors that we made last week. Our offense is definitely coming together.
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"Basically, all week, since we watched the last scrimmage, we're getting to the ball quicker, running plays more efficiently, faster, so were getting in better shape, getting our bodies in the right position for that speed. I definitely feel like it's very efficient picking up our tempo on offense. We'll catch a lot of people off guard."
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Anusiem felt the defense picked up their level of play, too, even mentioning he felt they tackled better. Defensive coordinator Freddie Banks actually had that on his did-not-accomplish checklist, but he will reassess after watching film.
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What he's really looking for with his system is a group with plays aggressively together, and through camp, he feels they are getting to that level.
"I think so. It's a daily process and reminding them that every time we touch the field there's only one way to play, and that's physical," Banks said. "As you're running to the ball having fun, we demand that we celebrate when we make big plays, because you don't work football, you play football. Our guys are buying into that. It's hard to get stops. You see tempo and all of these different offenses we're going to see. We're going to see triple option, we're going to see RPO, pro-style – everything under the sun – on our schedule, and guys are buying into it."
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It's become a mindset for the defense, which in the process is building some depth and versatility. Angel King is still slated for safety, but he started the day at cornerback, where he lined up at Nevada. The addition of Ayden Hector at safety makes a deep group even more so, and the defensive line, hit hard by graduation, has Banks encouraged there are enough pieces to count on to form a rotation of 10 to keep them fresh.
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At linebacker, Banks likes what he sees in regard to production and numbers. But whether it's starters or backups on the field, the key remains unchanged.
Â
"It's a habit of how we practice," Anusiem said. "Every day, scrimmage, game, it doesn't matter if it's a walkthrough, we just always try to bring energy to the defense, and I feel that's' a good way. If a couple of guys start feeling tired, it gives you a jump."
Â
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Move forward from the first scrimmage. Clean up mistakes and show overall improvement in terms of being assignment sound and executing. To that end, Colorado State's football team reached the goal.
Â
The offense was on higher alert after the first scrimmage, and the line protected the quarterback better and the group moved the ball well but stalled a bit in the red zone. As was expected, there were steps forward with more required.
Â
"I think just our efficiency of moving the ball up and down the field. Now we have to finish and score points," said quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme. "That's the thing that comes with time. When we were back at Nevada, we averaged 29 the first year, but we'd like to push the pace here and get up in the 30s and get in the end zone a lot of times."
Â
Head coach Jay Norvell couldn't be there, and he's been absent for the past five days after contracting Covid, but he's still very much involved. Word has it he was watching Michigan game film at 4:30 a.m. earlier this week, and he Zooms in for offensive meetings and updates. He just wasn't on the field, and it was noticeable, particularly to Chigozie Anusiem.
Â
"We do miss Norvell. I hope he gets better soon," he said. "When he's out here, obviously being an offensive-minded coach, he talks back to us, we talk to him, so it's good competition with him out here."
Â
And a quick offense, which did pick up the pace a bit more. Mumme said in both scrimmages the offense was working with particular packages and not so much wide open, but the tempo they'd like is starting to come into form.
Â
As an offensive front, tackle Dontae Keys felt they did a good job of learning from mistakes and making the necessary corrections, which in turn showed in their play.
Â
"I would definitely say our run game was more efficient, speaking for the O-line up front," he said. "I know we got a lot more movement, cleaned up a lot of mental errors that we made last week. Our offense is definitely coming together.
Â
"Basically, all week, since we watched the last scrimmage, we're getting to the ball quicker, running plays more efficiently, faster, so were getting in better shape, getting our bodies in the right position for that speed. I definitely feel like it's very efficient picking up our tempo on offense. We'll catch a lot of people off guard."
Â
Anusiem felt the defense picked up their level of play, too, even mentioning he felt they tackled better. Defensive coordinator Freddie Banks actually had that on his did-not-accomplish checklist, but he will reassess after watching film.
Â
What he's really looking for with his system is a group with plays aggressively together, and through camp, he feels they are getting to that level.
"I think so. It's a daily process and reminding them that every time we touch the field there's only one way to play, and that's physical," Banks said. "As you're running to the ball having fun, we demand that we celebrate when we make big plays, because you don't work football, you play football. Our guys are buying into that. It's hard to get stops. You see tempo and all of these different offenses we're going to see. We're going to see triple option, we're going to see RPO, pro-style – everything under the sun – on our schedule, and guys are buying into it."
Â
It's become a mindset for the defense, which in the process is building some depth and versatility. Angel King is still slated for safety, but he started the day at cornerback, where he lined up at Nevada. The addition of Ayden Hector at safety makes a deep group even more so, and the defensive line, hit hard by graduation, has Banks encouraged there are enough pieces to count on to form a rotation of 10 to keep them fresh.
Â
At linebacker, Banks likes what he sees in regard to production and numbers. But whether it's starters or backups on the field, the key remains unchanged.
Â
"It's a habit of how we practice," Anusiem said. "Every day, scrimmage, game, it doesn't matter if it's a walkthrough, we just always try to bring energy to the defense, and I feel that's' a good way. If a couple of guys start feeling tired, it gives you a jump."
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Players Mentioned
Thursday, May 14
Monday, May 11
Friday, May 08
Tuesday, April 28