Air Raid Starting to Produce Fireworks

FORT COLLINS – Fireworks are a promise of the Air Raid offense. There was a bit of a delayed delivery, but now they're starting to light up the night sky.

Colorado State's offense produced eight in the passing game against Utah Tech – plays of 20 yards or more -- matching what the Rams had done in the previous two games combined. To this point, they have 10 passing plays of 30 yards or longer on the season; last year they had all of 15.

The net result: the Rams rank third in the country in passing yardage at 383.5 per contest.

"I think we have a lot of guys who are capable. We talked about that in our meeting; all of those receivers are good players and are capable of making big plays," CSU head coach Jay Norvell said. "That's where I think we can grow offensively is getting all of those guys involved in our passing game and giving them more touches. That's something we can do a better job of.

"Justus (Ross-Simmons) has proven he can make big plays. Louis Brown IV had more than 100 yards against Colorado, and I was really proud of Dylan Goffney. He came in and made some big plays in that game, and that's why we brought him here from SMU. We have a lot of different weapons."

Norvell has a point. All five of the Rams' main targets – including tight end Dallin Holker – have at least one catch of 40 yards or longer. Norvell said getting them the ball – some guy named Tory Horton included -- is the task of him calling the plays, quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and the staff to create and design concepts which get them all in space.

In three games – all of which Fowler-Nicolosi had thrown for 300 or more yards – the redshirt freshman triggerman has enjoyed his part of the equation, which he said centers more on relaying the right message.

"I think being able to communicate with my guys and understand where to take my shots and understand when the play is a dead play and understanding how to throw the ball away and accept that," he said. "It's just looking for those ideal looks and communicating that with coach so we're on the same page about when we take those shots."

Honestly, the Rams don't have to throw deep to cover a lot of ground. As a group of targets, they've made it a habit to create yards after the catch, 200-plus in each of the past three games as a group, with Horton collecting more than 100 in two of the past three games on his own. He had 136 in his 227-yard effort against Utah Tech.

In some regards, they view it as a matter of taking advantage of the situations when they arise. Horton has had a bunch, but all of them feel like they'll have ample opportunities as the season progresses.

"That's exactly how I see it. They're still going to keep doing their thing; they've deserved everything they've gotten," he said of Horton and Holker, who combined have 11 touchdown receptions. "Once teams start focusing in on them, it's more for me, LB and J-Ross to step up and make those plays."

The opening game as a bit of a dud offensively for the Rams until late, with Norvell taking part of the blame for not being aggressive enough in his play calling. Since then, he's made a switch at quarterback and opened up the playbook, looking for shots to take.

The more aggressive approach showed a new page last week when CSU spent the entire first quarter in an empty set (no running back), the first time in Norvell's career he said he's done so for an entire quarter.

"That's what I'm talking about. We have to press the issue," he said. "We can't get comfortable in anything. We have to move forward and we're probing different things we can do offensively. As Brayden grows in his understanding, the more opportunities those guys will have."

An undeniable factor is the addition of a tight end who can exploit a defense. Holker already has 26 catches for 362 yards, production exceeding what Colorado State tight ends did all last season. His average of 13.9 yards per catch is third on the team, behind Ross-Simmons (15.5) and Goffney (16.8).

The more he keeps producing, the probability of more open space outside increases.

"I think having to respect him out there is huge for us, opening up our outside lanes," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "It's been obvious in the first couple of games. When you have to respect a tight end who will go up and make crazy catches on the goal line and make tough catches inside, it's hard to guard him with one guy. You have to zone him off and that leaves big open pockets on the outside for J-Ross, LB and Tory, obviously."

The only piece missing is the run game. It has yet to produce an explosive play this season, with the longest run from scrimmage being 13 yards by Kobe Johnson. The team gets him back this week, but Avery Morrow, who broke his fair share of runs last year, is still out for the time being.

Norvell thinks it will come, and when it does, then he said the offense will be complete. Until then, Fowler-Nicolosi is more than happy to do his picking and choosing because at any time there could be fireworks.

"It's so fun. Going out there and knowing when we're in empty that all five of my guys have the capability … It's tough to guard and fun to plan," he said. "The crazy part is I think we still have five more who can do the same thing."

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Louis Brown IV

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi

Dylan Goffney

Dallin Holker

Tory Horton

Kobe Johnson

Avery Morrow

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