Bye Week Is All About the Team

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – This is the week to be selfish. Colorado State is concerned about one thing and is talking about only one thing.

The play of football team. Not the next game or what it means. Just about the group, the individual groups which comprise the team, and the individuals within those sub-groups. The only talking point is about how to improve.

That's all. Nothing else. Nothing less.

"Typically, the bye week we do a self-scout of the games we've played so far, see what our tendencies are. Then each coach will pick out three areas where he wants his position group to improve, and I pick out areas where I want the team to improve," CSU head coach Jay Norvell said. "We really focus and concentrate on those areas. We just use this week to get better. It's a bye week, but it's a week of improvement in specific areas we're looking at."

There is some healing taking place, and the availability of some players is still up in the air, including quarterback Clay Millen. There have been some who have left the program, opening up opportunities for others.

While getting young players ready for the Mountain West season isn't on the list, it sometimes feels as if it is just in the natural working of the week because it's the group where opportunity awaits.

"I look at it very simply: We have a lot of guys who are on scholarship and they're college football players. It's their job and responsibility to get ready to play. Whether they're young or old, they have a responsibility to their teammates to prepare and get ready to play. We happen to have a lot of young guys, a lot of young receivers, we have young linemen, young quarterbacks -- a lot of young players at a lot of positions. We knew that going into this year. Unfortunately, we tried to depend on some older players, and they weren't very dependable, and they weren't very committed, so we're moving on to the next guys up and giving them an opportunity and get better."

For some groups, it looks even more that way.

The offensive line was not only hit early it has been hit consistently. In each of the first four games, there has been a different starting group, so gaining cohesion hasn't been possible. For a veteran of the line, preparing the youth behind him has been a goal for the bye week.

"That's the biggest thing, at least for me," said Jacob Gardner, who started the first two games at center and the past two at left tackle. "My freshman year, I had four dudes go down in front of me before I got my opportunity, and I made the most of it. That's what we want from our young guys because everybody is going to play. You never know what's going to happen in a given year. A lot of things happen that can require the younger guys to get playing time, so I think the biggest thing is getting them ready and making them understand this is what college football is. It's on our own volition, too. You have to come in, you have to want to do the details."

There has been a growing list of opportunities for many positions, one of them being wide receiver. Justus Ross-Simmons had already moved into the starting lineup, and Louis Brown and Mekhi Fox are in line to get more reps, and if used correctly, more playing time. What Norvell has seen, he's liked.

"They're excited to play, and they're working hard out there and making plays," Norvell said. "We've got a lot of talented young guys who have the profile we're looking for. So, every day they go out on the field they get better."

The quarterback room is young, and true freshman Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi needed to step in for Millen. The game action for him against Sacramento State helped, as will the extra reps with the first team he's received so far this week and the specific situational work which has been targeted.

Part of that worked into what Norvell's three items were, which centered on a more aggressive offensive approach, better overall special teams play and creating more turnovers defensively. Involved in each of those is an attention to detail.

Detail is important to all of it. While the cornerbacks are also focused on their aggression in breaking on balls, tackling and beating blocks, the details are what will get them there.

"Actually, I do. I think right now we're going back to the basics," corner Chigozie Anusiem said. "Everybody is learning fundamentals so we do everything right, so it's a pretty good attitude right now."

To him, the attitude at which they approach the week has been key. They have talked about outside noise, especially with an 0-4 start. It shouldn't matter. What does, he said – and Norvell reiterated it to them – is them. What they think, how they practice and how they come back and perform.

What they're hearing may not always been good, but Gardner said it is exactly what is required.

"We need it. The details, it's a big thing," he said. "It's across the whole board, the details. This week has been big for us in terms of we have to change the way we practice and do certain things and we have to expect more out of people we expect are going to play on Saturday. It's not the most fun week, but I want to win. I would rather win than be all giggles and stuff like that. Whatever has to be said, people's feelings are going to get hurt. It's not your identity, so you can't take it personal."

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Chigozie Anusiem

Louis Brown IV

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi

Mekhi Fox

Jacob Gardner

Clay Millen

Justus Ross-Simmons

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