Rams Confident Something Special is Brewing

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – They tend to make a difference in early season games.

Also against teams which are favored. Most certainly, an impact play by Colorado State's special teams this Saturday at Michigan would be welcomed to have a chance to pull off the upset on the road against the No. 6 team in the country.

There's a catch, and CSU head coach Jay Norvell is well aware.

Michigan is really good in the third phase of the game, calling the Wolverines' units among the best he's seen in some time. The kickers, the coverage and the return men all are very potent in his view.

"That's a formula that we have to win. It's a big challenge for our special teams," Norvell said. "I think their return men are outstanding, and they have excellent kickers, and they play hard. They cover hard on kicks; they do an outstanding job. We want to be the type of team that can make a difference in teams and gain an edge in teams that help us in field position offensively and defensively. That's important that we really establish that this first game, and it's going to be important for us to play great in special teams in this game."

Nothing says a team is serious about the units more than hiring a coach dedicated to them and them alone. It's a Norvell idea which is rather novel in these parts.

Colorado State didn't have a designated special teams coach under the last regime. The one prior had a coach with the title, but the units were divided up among the masses on the coaching staff. The results haven't been all that stellar, even with the NCAA career leader in punting on board.

Enter Tommy Perry, who does nothing but work on the units and devise the plan. Equipped with the type of voice to make a drill sergeant jealous, he is a man in control and precise in his teaching during special teams periods. When those are over, he's working with the longsnappers, punters and kickers. There is never a down moment for him.

When he's done – even on his birthday, which was Monday – he heads into the weight room to throw around some iron.

"Tommy is just a unique individual. He loves special teams; he has a passion for it," Norvell said. "He's got a lot of unique schemes that have helped us win games over the years. Our kids are buying into that. We're going to play our best players on special teams. We told our coaches that if a guy needs a rest, he's going to get a rest on offense or defense, but special teams are important, and we want our best players on there. I'm really excited to see our kids playing on teams.

"We have a saying, every time that horn blows for special teams, it's got to mean something to you. It's important to have your players understand how important those meetings and those periods are. I'm involved in all of them; I want them to understand the importance of it. Tommy just does an amazing job, just great passion and energy and it's rubbing off on our kids."

As much as Colorado State's special teams have faltered in the recent past in terms of having kicks blocked and blown coverage, there were some valuable pieces no longer at his disposal. Ross Reiter was considered one of the best longsnappers in the country, and Ryan Stonehouse's resume speaks for itself.

Even with Stonehouse, CSU's punt coverage unit ranked 123^rd. The kick coverage was better (46^th). Returns were just as up-and down for the Rams, ranking 12^th in kickoff returns but just 75^th in punt returns, even with a Thomas Pannunzio touchdown in the books.

There are new pieces in place, with Paddy Turner about to punt in a college game for the first time, and San Diego State transfer Jacob Raab set as the longsnapper. Cayden Camper returns after a record-setting year as the placekicker, but there has been competition for his job. Even still, Turner has earned respect from his teammates, declared when he was elected by them as a team captain.

It is worth noting he has only been on campus for eight months and in the country a little over a year.

"It was a great honor. When I came to the program in January, I met the likes of D-Jack (Dequan Jackson) and A'Jon Vivens and came over with Jacob Gardner, and those guys welcomed me with open arms and showed me the way," Turner said. "I was actually lucky enough to share a small locker room with D-Jack in those first winter workouts, and he kind of showed me the Colorado State way. That's something I took upon myself to show the freshman and the new transfers in the spring to do the same. That was just the standard here; nothing changed with me. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and be that leader, and when I got here, that was the standard, so that was an easy transition for sure."

Part of it comes from Perry, who Turner has said has had a big influence on him, be it through teaching meditation or how to work with a short memory. As gruff as his voice sounds, it's easy to see Perry has a way of reaching his players and getting them to believe in his system.

This is what Perry does. He's done it at stops at Nevada with Norvell previously, and he's done it at UTSA last year when that squad won a conference championship. Where he's been, his units have made a difference.

Already at Colorado State, there's a feeling change is brewing. There is an energy during those periods, and a lot of it stems from not just the plan from Perry but his style and drive.

"He's had a major influence, along with Coach Norvell as well," Turner said. "They speak about it every day, how impactful it can be, so yeah, it gets put into our brains every single day, every single meeting. I think that's really been resurrected by our players as well. Everyone has jumped on board and they're giving it their all. Every meeting they're taking notes. Every period their giving absolutely 100 percent.

"Full respect to Michigan's special teams. They've been very successful the past few years, so we have a huge job to do, and I believe our guys are up to the challenge because I think we have a really good group. It's really going to be a good show for where we're at as a team."

With somebody dedicated solely to the task at hand, Colorado State is more than hopeful improved performances are on tap.

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