Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Hope Turnovers Spark Bigger Things
9/14/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
Banks likes effort, but is seeking more consistency
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The hope is they've started a trend. At the very least, Colorado State's defense has the itch to create some turnovers.
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In a two-drive span, the Rams' defensive unit created turnovers and gave the ball back to the offense with good field position. The first led to a touchdown to cut the lead to 34-19 at the time, the second led to a missed field goal.
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The impact they can cause became rather clear.
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"You saw us stripping at the ball throughout the game. We said if you strip long enough, you're going to get one," CSU defensive coordinator Freddie Banks said. "We got it at a time when we needed some momentum, so it was a great time to get our first one. I wish we would have had the one at Michigan in the red zone, but I think they're going to start piling up for us."
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The first one was pure effort, Mohamed Kamara tugging at the ball as the running back was being tackled. Banks has said in the past, a unit may punch, swipe and try to pry a ball from a back 10 times in a game, but it may only net one or two turnovers. Even still, it's worth the effort.
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It may have been the best way to get a first turnover, using it as a lesson.
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"Getting turnovers is really hard. People make is seem it's just catching a pick or forcing a fumble or hitting a guy so hard," Kamara said. "Everyone is a D1 athlete. We're not playing scrubs. Everybody trains to keep the ball in their hands, and we train to get it out. It's really hard, but when it comes through, especially where I got it back, there was a high percentage chance of our offense scoring there.
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"We do feel like that's an opportunity for our defense to build confidence in ourselves. Getting turnovers, getting picks, getting sacks, that is contagious. Other guys want a sack, another DB wants a pick or another linebacker wants to get a turnover. It's a competition within ourselves and that's the type of defense we want."
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With the offense struggling in the early going, the defense has been on the field a lot, and often with its back to the wall. Against Michigan, the Rams forced the Wolverines into three field goals in the red zone.
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Banks said that's the way of life sometimes. And even if the group is backed up, it has to find a way. Getting a couple of turnovers and playing solid the final 25 minutes in the loss to Middle Tennessee was a starting point from which to build.
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"It's definitely just a start. We have a young offense, and I've liked how they haven't turned their backs on each other," CJ Onyechi said. "In certain cases, we haven't started in the best field position, so sometimes we don't' get into the full package of our defense, and we don't get to always get them in the perfect position on the field where if we know if it's a pass we can rush the passer efficiently, or we can be more disguised on some of our coverages, we just have to play it true. I think this is just the beginning."
And Onyechi said it does become contagious. Kamara gets a sack or strips a ball, he wants to do it too. When Jack Howell picked off a ball off a Chigozie Anusiem deflection, other defensive backs want to get into the fray.
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Washington State, another Air Raid offense, will put the ball in the air. There will be chances, but Banks said they just have to be in position to make the plays. More importantly, make the plays – turnover or not – when it's needed most.
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"Our effort is there. I though our execution was a little bit better last game , but there were a lot of crucial times in the game where we have to execute and get off the field and we didn't. There were about four or five plays that really could have changed the game and gotten the ball back for the offense in good field position, and we didn't execute.
Â
"It's learning how to be at your best when we need your best. Our spirits are high. I'm excited about where were headed. We're going through the growing pains of being a good defense, and I think we can be a good defense."
Â
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In a two-drive span, the Rams' defensive unit created turnovers and gave the ball back to the offense with good field position. The first led to a touchdown to cut the lead to 34-19 at the time, the second led to a missed field goal.
Â
The impact they can cause became rather clear.
Â
"You saw us stripping at the ball throughout the game. We said if you strip long enough, you're going to get one," CSU defensive coordinator Freddie Banks said. "We got it at a time when we needed some momentum, so it was a great time to get our first one. I wish we would have had the one at Michigan in the red zone, but I think they're going to start piling up for us."
Â
The first one was pure effort, Mohamed Kamara tugging at the ball as the running back was being tackled. Banks has said in the past, a unit may punch, swipe and try to pry a ball from a back 10 times in a game, but it may only net one or two turnovers. Even still, it's worth the effort.
Â
It may have been the best way to get a first turnover, using it as a lesson.
Â
"Getting turnovers is really hard. People make is seem it's just catching a pick or forcing a fumble or hitting a guy so hard," Kamara said. "Everyone is a D1 athlete. We're not playing scrubs. Everybody trains to keep the ball in their hands, and we train to get it out. It's really hard, but when it comes through, especially where I got it back, there was a high percentage chance of our offense scoring there.
Â
"We do feel like that's an opportunity for our defense to build confidence in ourselves. Getting turnovers, getting picks, getting sacks, that is contagious. Other guys want a sack, another DB wants a pick or another linebacker wants to get a turnover. It's a competition within ourselves and that's the type of defense we want."
Â
With the offense struggling in the early going, the defense has been on the field a lot, and often with its back to the wall. Against Michigan, the Rams forced the Wolverines into three field goals in the red zone.
Â
Banks said that's the way of life sometimes. And even if the group is backed up, it has to find a way. Getting a couple of turnovers and playing solid the final 25 minutes in the loss to Middle Tennessee was a starting point from which to build.
Â
"It's definitely just a start. We have a young offense, and I've liked how they haven't turned their backs on each other," CJ Onyechi said. "In certain cases, we haven't started in the best field position, so sometimes we don't' get into the full package of our defense, and we don't get to always get them in the perfect position on the field where if we know if it's a pass we can rush the passer efficiently, or we can be more disguised on some of our coverages, we just have to play it true. I think this is just the beginning."
And Onyechi said it does become contagious. Kamara gets a sack or strips a ball, he wants to do it too. When Jack Howell picked off a ball off a Chigozie Anusiem deflection, other defensive backs want to get into the fray.
Â
Washington State, another Air Raid offense, will put the ball in the air. There will be chances, but Banks said they just have to be in position to make the plays. More importantly, make the plays – turnover or not – when it's needed most.
Â
"Our effort is there. I though our execution was a little bit better last game , but there were a lot of crucial times in the game where we have to execute and get off the field and we didn't. There were about four or five plays that really could have changed the game and gotten the ball back for the offense in good field position, and we didn't execute.
Â
"It's learning how to be at your best when we need your best. Our spirits are high. I'm excited about where were headed. We're going through the growing pains of being a good defense, and I think we can be a good defense."
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