Colorado State University Athletics
Setting the Stage: Washington State
9/16/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
Offense works on adjustments to aid pass protection
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – With sacks having been a major issue for the offense this season – nine last week – Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said they'd have to consider some changes, including personnel, moving forward.
Brian Crespo-Jaquez is not coming back soon, and Dontae Keys status is still unknown week to week. Because of it, Norvell said the staff did move around some parts this week.
"We're moving around different combinations, trying to figure out the best fit," he said after Wednesday's workout. "We're experimenting with some different guys in different spots."
The Rams have allowed 16 sacks this season, not all of which can be attributed to the offensive line alone. The running backs are part of pass protection, as are the tight ends, and quarterback Clay Millen has held on to the ball too long at times.
Still, an issue is an issue, but personnel up front isn't the only way a team can address the problem while the offensive line becomes more cohesive. Schematic changes can be used as an aid, too. Last week, there wasn't time to change the plan.
"We have to address those issues. We got kind of caught last week; both tackles got hurt late in the week, and it was very difficult to adjust the game plan to handle that," Norvell said. "We've had some time to really think about it and figure out how we want to shore that up. We'll definitely have some changes in our game plan this week."
Washington State's defense has produced seven sacks in two games, and the pressure has come across the board has no one Cougar has more than 1.0, eight in all have a hand in the total. At 3.5 per game, they rank 14th nationally.
A Touch of Home
Punter Paddy Turner's family is in the middle of a three-week stay in Fort Collins, which has been a boost for the native of Ararat, Victoria, Australia. He has not been home since first coming to the United States 15 months ago, so having home come to him has been great.
His father, Scott; his mother, Kerri; and his sister, Pippa; are all here for a three-week stay. They were here for the home opener, will travel to Washington State and be on hand for the Sacramento State game. His girlfriend, Jacki, has been here for two months.
Absolutely. It always means something to put on a CSU jersey, but I also always have Turner on my back, so having my family here as well is extra special," he said. "It just shows a little more perspective. I give 100 percent every day, but you have someone to go home to and people to open up to when things aren't going well. I do have a brotherhood here, but it's just an extra loving vibe I get from having Jacki and my family out here, too."
The week before the season started, he lost his grandfather, Kerri's father, which was tough to handle on his own. They do communicate, but the time difference makes even a video call tough to work out at times, and nothing beats walking into the house and getting a hug from mom and dad.
Plus, mom's cooking, though Paddy said they're a big lamb family and have had a hard time finding some, so if anybody has a tip, he's open for suggestions.
Scott is a former Australian Rules Football professional, and during practice, he shagged some balls and kicked some back when they attended practice earlier this week.
"The boys were a bit impressed, but I'm going to have to teach him a few more spirals because he only does the back-spin ones at the moment. He loves it," Paddy said. "His legs might not love it after this, but I got to show them all around the facility. This is totally a top facility. You don't see this in Australian unless you're in the utmost professional leagues. They've been blown away by all of this, and I appreciate Coach Norvell letting them walk around at practice."
Familiar Faces
Washington State defensive coordinator Brian Shaw was Norvell's defensive coordinator the past two years at Nevada, but his ties to current CSU defensive coordinator Freddie Banks run deeper. Shaw was his position coach in college, Jake Dickert was a grad assistant on that staff and defensive ends coach A.J. Cooper was a coach during Banks' time at North Dakota State and is one of his mentors.
"It's always fun to see them, but you want to beat them even more. B Ward was my position coach in college and is really a mentor to me, helped me a long my career, and the head coach was a GA when I was playing and he coached me. We clinic and we talk ball all summer, and we run the same system, so a lot of things I've adapted from them and learned from them. The defensive ends coach is like a big brother to me, a mentor. If I ever have a major decision to make professionally or even with my family, I usually call him and he keeps it real with me.
"In this profession and this world, it's real relationships. I love those guys, but I want to beat them."
Brian Crespo-Jaquez is not coming back soon, and Dontae Keys status is still unknown week to week. Because of it, Norvell said the staff did move around some parts this week.
"We're moving around different combinations, trying to figure out the best fit," he said after Wednesday's workout. "We're experimenting with some different guys in different spots."
The Rams have allowed 16 sacks this season, not all of which can be attributed to the offensive line alone. The running backs are part of pass protection, as are the tight ends, and quarterback Clay Millen has held on to the ball too long at times.
Still, an issue is an issue, but personnel up front isn't the only way a team can address the problem while the offensive line becomes more cohesive. Schematic changes can be used as an aid, too. Last week, there wasn't time to change the plan.
"We have to address those issues. We got kind of caught last week; both tackles got hurt late in the week, and it was very difficult to adjust the game plan to handle that," Norvell said. "We've had some time to really think about it and figure out how we want to shore that up. We'll definitely have some changes in our game plan this week."
Washington State's defense has produced seven sacks in two games, and the pressure has come across the board has no one Cougar has more than 1.0, eight in all have a hand in the total. At 3.5 per game, they rank 14th nationally.
A Touch of Home
Punter Paddy Turner's family is in the middle of a three-week stay in Fort Collins, which has been a boost for the native of Ararat, Victoria, Australia. He has not been home since first coming to the United States 15 months ago, so having home come to him has been great.
His father, Scott; his mother, Kerri; and his sister, Pippa; are all here for a three-week stay. They were here for the home opener, will travel to Washington State and be on hand for the Sacramento State game. His girlfriend, Jacki, has been here for two months.
Absolutely. It always means something to put on a CSU jersey, but I also always have Turner on my back, so having my family here as well is extra special," he said. "It just shows a little more perspective. I give 100 percent every day, but you have someone to go home to and people to open up to when things aren't going well. I do have a brotherhood here, but it's just an extra loving vibe I get from having Jacki and my family out here, too."
The week before the season started, he lost his grandfather, Kerri's father, which was tough to handle on his own. They do communicate, but the time difference makes even a video call tough to work out at times, and nothing beats walking into the house and getting a hug from mom and dad.
Plus, mom's cooking, though Paddy said they're a big lamb family and have had a hard time finding some, so if anybody has a tip, he's open for suggestions.
Scott is a former Australian Rules Football professional, and during practice, he shagged some balls and kicked some back when they attended practice earlier this week.
"The boys were a bit impressed, but I'm going to have to teach him a few more spirals because he only does the back-spin ones at the moment. He loves it," Paddy said. "His legs might not love it after this, but I got to show them all around the facility. This is totally a top facility. You don't see this in Australian unless you're in the utmost professional leagues. They've been blown away by all of this, and I appreciate Coach Norvell letting them walk around at practice."
Familiar Faces
Washington State defensive coordinator Brian Shaw was Norvell's defensive coordinator the past two years at Nevada, but his ties to current CSU defensive coordinator Freddie Banks run deeper. Shaw was his position coach in college, Jake Dickert was a grad assistant on that staff and defensive ends coach A.J. Cooper was a coach during Banks' time at North Dakota State and is one of his mentors.
"It's always fun to see them, but you want to beat them even more. B Ward was my position coach in college and is really a mentor to me, helped me a long my career, and the head coach was a GA when I was playing and he coached me. We clinic and we talk ball all summer, and we run the same system, so a lot of things I've adapted from them and learned from them. The defensive ends coach is like a big brother to me, a mentor. If I ever have a major decision to make professionally or even with my family, I usually call him and he keeps it real with me.
"In this profession and this world, it's real relationships. I love those guys, but I want to beat them."
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