Colorado State University Athletics
Setting the Stage: Sacramento State
9/23/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
Change in play starts with change in the mind
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Three games into the season, the team is still looking for a starting point.
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A first win, sure, but how to get to it? Execution is being targeted, but first, Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said the team needs to change the mindset.
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"I believe the old saying that momentum is about attitude. If things aren't going your way, you can change them with your attitude, and I think that's what we need to be focused on is our attitude going into every game," Norvell said. "I told the team (Wednesday), it's as simple as this – what do you bring to the team? You should bring energy and effort everyday when you come to work. If you don't bring that to the team, the team doesn't really need you."
Â
The Rams have talked about creating a spark and doing so early, as they've been down early in each of the three games. Be it on offense or defense, striking an early blow could lead them down a different path.
Â
Even the players say they need to be in the right frame of mind to strike the match this Saturday against Sacramento State, ranked No. 6 in the FCS polls. A win could help change the complexion of the season.
Â
"It's really important. Right now, I think we're starving for that first win," cornerback Chigozie Anusiem said. "This first week with Sac State coming up, a big emphasis is mindset going into the game -- how we're preparing, the seriousness we approach it, the details we're playing to in walkthroughs and regular practices."
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Norvell brought up a conversation he had with a friend recently, who told him it's the storm that makes the sailor. Right now, the Rams are in the middle of a major one which could lead them all to being commissioned if they can fight the waves and come out intact.
Â
Playing ahead or behind, Norvell said attitude can set them right. Each week, he said he's starting to see a change on the roster.
Â
"I've seen it with quite a few guys. That's the thing as a coaching staff, we're really investing our time and effort on the guys who are doing things right. That's all you can ask, and we have to support those guys and help them all get better. It's important that it starts with individual accountability, and we're pressing for that."
Â
First Start
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Justus Ross-Simmons made his first start last week, and it looks likely he'll be on the field at the beginning once again. With the Rams losing two wide receivers, the true freshman's role is about to expand.
Â
Just don't tell him. He didn't make much of his first start – not even his first touchdown. In his mind, he was just doing what he had been.
Â
"I mean, I prepared, and I've been preparing. It wasn't like anything new to me," Ross-Simmons said. "Coach put me in, and I gave them what I could do, I gave them my all. I've just been working every day trying to get better and pursuing better every day."
Â
At 6-foot-3Â and 200 pounds, he's a big target who has appeared in all three games, accumulating three catches for 20 yards. All of the production came last week, using all of his frame to fight his way across the goal line after snaring a ball in traffic.
Â
He is the prototype of what Norvell wants at the position, a big receiver who is able to stretch the field and make the tough catches. He provided a glimpse of it during scrimmages when he made a couple of challenged catches in the end zone.
Â
All he's focused on is trying to do his part.
Â
"It's to execute. Me and my team need to execute, and we'll be good," he said. "I want to do what I can do for the team, that's it."
Â
A Different Role
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The Air Raid incorporates the tight end a bit differently, mostly as a big receiver. The past few years, Cole Turner played a major role in the offense at Nevada, one of the top targets in the system. So far this season, Colorado State tight ends have one catch, by Tanner Arkin early in the first game.
Â
Part of it is the type of player Arkin and Gary Williams are, what they do well and what the offense needs them to do because of the struggles of the offensive line. Injuries have led to three different starting combinations in three games.
Â
"The tight end is an important position for us. Cole was a special receiver," Norvell said. "We have good tight ends here; I like Tanner and I like Gary, but they're more blockers than they are receivers. We may have to go four wide a little bit more to get that production from the tight end position. I love Tanner; I think he's one of the hardest playing guys on our team. His role may show up less on the stat sheet, but his role is extremely important because he's a tremendous blocker."
Â
Norvell thinks Arkin can become that type of receiver, but right now, he's being used more in protection than for production.
Â
Â
A first win, sure, but how to get to it? Execution is being targeted, but first, Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said the team needs to change the mindset.
Â
"I believe the old saying that momentum is about attitude. If things aren't going your way, you can change them with your attitude, and I think that's what we need to be focused on is our attitude going into every game," Norvell said. "I told the team (Wednesday), it's as simple as this – what do you bring to the team? You should bring energy and effort everyday when you come to work. If you don't bring that to the team, the team doesn't really need you."
Â
The Rams have talked about creating a spark and doing so early, as they've been down early in each of the three games. Be it on offense or defense, striking an early blow could lead them down a different path.
Â
Even the players say they need to be in the right frame of mind to strike the match this Saturday against Sacramento State, ranked No. 6 in the FCS polls. A win could help change the complexion of the season.
Â
"It's really important. Right now, I think we're starving for that first win," cornerback Chigozie Anusiem said. "This first week with Sac State coming up, a big emphasis is mindset going into the game -- how we're preparing, the seriousness we approach it, the details we're playing to in walkthroughs and regular practices."
Â
Norvell brought up a conversation he had with a friend recently, who told him it's the storm that makes the sailor. Right now, the Rams are in the middle of a major one which could lead them all to being commissioned if they can fight the waves and come out intact.
Â
Playing ahead or behind, Norvell said attitude can set them right. Each week, he said he's starting to see a change on the roster.
Â
"I've seen it with quite a few guys. That's the thing as a coaching staff, we're really investing our time and effort on the guys who are doing things right. That's all you can ask, and we have to support those guys and help them all get better. It's important that it starts with individual accountability, and we're pressing for that."
Â
First Start
Â
Justus Ross-Simmons made his first start last week, and it looks likely he'll be on the field at the beginning once again. With the Rams losing two wide receivers, the true freshman's role is about to expand.
Â
Just don't tell him. He didn't make much of his first start – not even his first touchdown. In his mind, he was just doing what he had been.
Â
"I mean, I prepared, and I've been preparing. It wasn't like anything new to me," Ross-Simmons said. "Coach put me in, and I gave them what I could do, I gave them my all. I've just been working every day trying to get better and pursuing better every day."
Â
At 6-foot-3Â and 200 pounds, he's a big target who has appeared in all three games, accumulating three catches for 20 yards. All of the production came last week, using all of his frame to fight his way across the goal line after snaring a ball in traffic.
Â
He is the prototype of what Norvell wants at the position, a big receiver who is able to stretch the field and make the tough catches. He provided a glimpse of it during scrimmages when he made a couple of challenged catches in the end zone.
Â
All he's focused on is trying to do his part.
Â
"It's to execute. Me and my team need to execute, and we'll be good," he said. "I want to do what I can do for the team, that's it."
Â
A Different Role
Â
The Air Raid incorporates the tight end a bit differently, mostly as a big receiver. The past few years, Cole Turner played a major role in the offense at Nevada, one of the top targets in the system. So far this season, Colorado State tight ends have one catch, by Tanner Arkin early in the first game.
Â
Part of it is the type of player Arkin and Gary Williams are, what they do well and what the offense needs them to do because of the struggles of the offensive line. Injuries have led to three different starting combinations in three games.
Â
"The tight end is an important position for us. Cole was a special receiver," Norvell said. "We have good tight ends here; I like Tanner and I like Gary, but they're more blockers than they are receivers. We may have to go four wide a little bit more to get that production from the tight end position. I love Tanner; I think he's one of the hardest playing guys on our team. His role may show up less on the stat sheet, but his role is extremely important because he's a tremendous blocker."
Â
Norvell thinks Arkin can become that type of receiver, but right now, he's being used more in protection than for production.
Â
Players Mentioned
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