What We Saw: Non-Conference Slate Ends With Similar Results

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The final game of the non-conference portion of the season didn't look much different than the first three contests.

Some aspects were reversed. Like Colorado State's offense put points on the board for the first time this season. Also for the first time this season, the Rams didn't score in the second half. The passing game generated a couple of explosive plays, but not much outside of that. The defense struggled to get off the field on third down and this week's opponent, Sacramento State, not only scored, but scored with consistency.

"Ultimately, it's my job that everybody is accountable and that everybody is doing the things they need to do," CSU head coach Jay Norvell said. "We're still having some signs, some things that show up on game day that aren't what we want represented, so we have to address them, and we have to make sure they're not part of our makeup and our personality and obviously move forward.

"We're still correcting some habits from some kids, and we'll continue to do that."

This week, Colorado State has a bye before beginning Mountain West play on the road at Nevada on a Friday night. None of them are finding much pleasure in the season to this point, but there is still time to turn things around. Not by thinking grand – this isn't a team which can afford to get ahead of itself – but in single steps.

Norvell has seen some. There are players who are performing well. The Rams just need more of them, specifically on a consistent basis.

"It's' really just having a sense of do you really want to change things and turn things around? You need to have that accountability for yourself," running back A'Jon Vivens said. "It's easy to point fingers, but it's harder to look at yourself in the mirror and say what do I need to do better. I think we all need to do that in different areas and just go from there."

Next Arm Up

Having survived 23 sacks through the first three weeks of the season, the 24^th Clay Millen absorbed led to him going down awkwardly on his right shoulder, forcing him to exit the game in the second quarter. At that point, he had completed all seven of his attempts, but for just 62 yards, and one of them to Tory Horton covered 56.

Enter true freshman Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, who as one might expect, had an up-and-down debut. He missed his first two throws, then hit all four on his second drive, covering 90 yards and concluding with a 52-yard touchdown pass to Horton.

"I thought he handled it fairly good. He missed a couple of reads that he's going to have to make, especially if he's going to have to play consistently," Norvell said.

Which is the question. Norvell did not know the extent of Millen injury or how long it may or may not keep him out of the lineup.

Whoever was throwing the ball, the yardage wasn't adding up the way they expect. Like Millen, Fowler-Nicolosi's total was aided by one big play, but the others were short passes, and the horizontal throws were getting stopped at the point of attack, or worse, for negative yardage.

For a first outing, Vivens was impressed with his young teammate, who was on hand for spring practice.

"He's an extremely confident guy. He wasn't getting shaken," Vivens said. "He was ready to go out and try to make plays, try to take command of the offense. He's somebody that he looks forward to the opportunity and he wants to go out there and try to prove himself and try to help the team get a win."

Good Bye

The week will be spent addressing issues, but in the present and the future.

Most importantly, it gives the Rams a chance to get some players healed. In addition to Millen going down, the Rams lost another offensive lineman, guard Dante Bivens, to a concussion. Henry Blackburn missed a second consecutive week at safety, as did tackle Dontae Keys. Vivens and David Bailey have been dinged up, but both played.

But the lifeblood of a program is recruiting, and the staff will hit the road in an effort to add to a roster which will have plenty of scholarship flexibility due to recent departures.

"We typically practice Monday through Thursday, and we'll do that this week," Norvell said. "We play Nevada on a Friday night, so we'll start next week's practice on a Sunday and get a full week of practice in.

"The coaches are going to recruit; we've been really working hard on that, putting extra time in, evaluating players. We're going to have a lot of scholarships at the end of the year, so that's going to be really important for us to get out and see players this week. Most of the coaches will be here Monday through Wednesday, then be on the road Wednesday through the weekend."

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