Colorado State University Athletics
Setting the Stage: Utah State
10/6/2023 2:00:00 PM | Football
Details matter in conference play
FORT COLLINS – The first game of the conference season carries an underlining meaning for a team. There's the sense a statement can be – should be – made to the rest of the Mountain West, one which clearly declares they are ready to go.
Colorado State's opportunity finally arrives Saturday when the Rams travel to Utah State (6 p.m.) as the last team to enter the conference fray.
"The first conference game is where you set that tone, you let the conference know you're for real. Especially coming from winning three games in conference (in 2022), you want to make it a statement game," offensive lineman Oliver Jervis said. "We're putting pieces together, but we want to play a full game as a team. Cut down the penalties, cut down the turnovers and just play smooth, get the running game going and show everyone else we're here."
Colorado State enters 2-2 on the season, the bye in the rearview mirror and a streak of eight games head coach Jay Norvell expects to be close battles. The Aggies are 2-3 and are already a game behind in the conference ledger with a loss to Air Force.
Norvell feels the Rams have learned a bit about themselves, prepping them for the most important stretch of the campaign. Colorado State has not had a winning Mountain West mark since going 5-3 in 2017. Obviously, it's a streak the Rams would like to put to rest, and a positive start would help.
"We've been waiting for this. You play nonconference and you really find out a lot about your team," he said. "We kind of know what to expect from the teams we're getting ready to play. We know what we can build on and we know what we can stay away from. We're building to play with all starters and all the guys on special teams with a really competitive mindset. We've talked about there's a difference between playing hard and competing to win on Saturday's. We have to come as a team to compete every week."
Jervis fully believes it's all on the squad's shoulders. The Rams see everything which has held them back as self-inflicted. He thinks the equation is simple – clean up and the team moves forward.
And do it in full view of the rest of their peers.
"We're trying to have the cleanest game possible. We have so much talent on this team, the only thing that's been setting us back has been the penalties, the run game struggling … Little things that if we clean them up, we should be a dominant team," Jervis said. "We've had four games now and we've progressed each week, we're starting to perform better and better. Now we have to be as close to perfect because every game you come out with a little more of an edge. Utah State is coming out to play. They just had a good comeback against UConn, so they're going to come play. We have to be ready for that."
Special Chances
Against Utah Tech, Norvell felt his squad won the special teams battle. But there's a difference between winning and taking full advantage, which he felt his team didn't do. In conference play, it becomes even more important.
"When you play a familiar opponent, you know each other, their strengths and weaknesses and their tendencies. So those details really come into play," he said. "I really was disappointed at our special teams play. I thought we won the game, we won that area of the game, but we left so many opportunities on the field. That's the thing."
There were a couple of good returns and solid coverage, but Norvell felt there was more to be had.
Taking a big swing is good, but if you miss, it doesn't matter. Mighty Jay does not want to strikeout and leave Old Town joyless.
"One of my heroes was Ted Williams … and understanding when you get a pitch to hit," Norvell said. "In football, there are so many situations, if you understand what a team is doing and you get that opportunity, those are pitches to hit in football. We missed too many opportunities in special teams last week were we could have made things happen. We have good return men and those are weapons for us. We have to take advantage of that."
Tight Games
Three weeks ago, Colorado State had to swallow a tough loss on the road to a ranked Colorado team. Norvell told his team at the time the only way it could serve a purpose is if the Rams learned from it.
The next week, in nearly the identical situation, the Rams won. Then a week later, they blew a close game open late with offensive fireworks.
"We feel much better. We just go back to our preparation and execution in games like that, executing the play call and doing your job," defensive lineman Cam Bariteau said. "That game was determined by a couple of plays, and down the stretch they got us. We played well, but that's a learning point for the rest of the season when we're in those close games to stay focused, stay locked in and execute toward the end of the game."
Colorado State has dropped four consecutive games to Utah State, the past two by a combined five points. In Logan, the teams are dead even, 21 wins a side with one tie. Norvell doesn't see any reason to expect anything different on this trip, and actually, for every week throughout the year.
The Aggies are coming off a week where a late stand sent them home with a road win. Norvell's message to his team has been to strap up and be prepared.
"We're going to play a lot of close games, and we've played some the last two weeks where we had to come back and win in the second half. This team won't quit," Norvell said. "Utah State has had to come back and win their games the same way we have, so we have to play a complete game and we have to understand our opponent wants to win. It should be a really competitive night."
Colorado State's opportunity finally arrives Saturday when the Rams travel to Utah State (6 p.m.) as the last team to enter the conference fray.
"The first conference game is where you set that tone, you let the conference know you're for real. Especially coming from winning three games in conference (in 2022), you want to make it a statement game," offensive lineman Oliver Jervis said. "We're putting pieces together, but we want to play a full game as a team. Cut down the penalties, cut down the turnovers and just play smooth, get the running game going and show everyone else we're here."
Colorado State enters 2-2 on the season, the bye in the rearview mirror and a streak of eight games head coach Jay Norvell expects to be close battles. The Aggies are 2-3 and are already a game behind in the conference ledger with a loss to Air Force.
Norvell feels the Rams have learned a bit about themselves, prepping them for the most important stretch of the campaign. Colorado State has not had a winning Mountain West mark since going 5-3 in 2017. Obviously, it's a streak the Rams would like to put to rest, and a positive start would help.
"We've been waiting for this. You play nonconference and you really find out a lot about your team," he said. "We kind of know what to expect from the teams we're getting ready to play. We know what we can build on and we know what we can stay away from. We're building to play with all starters and all the guys on special teams with a really competitive mindset. We've talked about there's a difference between playing hard and competing to win on Saturday's. We have to come as a team to compete every week."
Jervis fully believes it's all on the squad's shoulders. The Rams see everything which has held them back as self-inflicted. He thinks the equation is simple – clean up and the team moves forward.
And do it in full view of the rest of their peers.
"We're trying to have the cleanest game possible. We have so much talent on this team, the only thing that's been setting us back has been the penalties, the run game struggling … Little things that if we clean them up, we should be a dominant team," Jervis said. "We've had four games now and we've progressed each week, we're starting to perform better and better. Now we have to be as close to perfect because every game you come out with a little more of an edge. Utah State is coming out to play. They just had a good comeback against UConn, so they're going to come play. We have to be ready for that."
Special Chances
Against Utah Tech, Norvell felt his squad won the special teams battle. But there's a difference between winning and taking full advantage, which he felt his team didn't do. In conference play, it becomes even more important.
"When you play a familiar opponent, you know each other, their strengths and weaknesses and their tendencies. So those details really come into play," he said. "I really was disappointed at our special teams play. I thought we won the game, we won that area of the game, but we left so many opportunities on the field. That's the thing."
There were a couple of good returns and solid coverage, but Norvell felt there was more to be had.
Taking a big swing is good, but if you miss, it doesn't matter. Mighty Jay does not want to strikeout and leave Old Town joyless.
"One of my heroes was Ted Williams … and understanding when you get a pitch to hit," Norvell said. "In football, there are so many situations, if you understand what a team is doing and you get that opportunity, those are pitches to hit in football. We missed too many opportunities in special teams last week were we could have made things happen. We have good return men and those are weapons for us. We have to take advantage of that."
Tight Games
Three weeks ago, Colorado State had to swallow a tough loss on the road to a ranked Colorado team. Norvell told his team at the time the only way it could serve a purpose is if the Rams learned from it.
The next week, in nearly the identical situation, the Rams won. Then a week later, they blew a close game open late with offensive fireworks.
"We feel much better. We just go back to our preparation and execution in games like that, executing the play call and doing your job," defensive lineman Cam Bariteau said. "That game was determined by a couple of plays, and down the stretch they got us. We played well, but that's a learning point for the rest of the season when we're in those close games to stay focused, stay locked in and execute toward the end of the game."
Colorado State has dropped four consecutive games to Utah State, the past two by a combined five points. In Logan, the teams are dead even, 21 wins a side with one tie. Norvell doesn't see any reason to expect anything different on this trip, and actually, for every week throughout the year.
The Aggies are coming off a week where a late stand sent them home with a road win. Norvell's message to his team has been to strap up and be prepared.
"We're going to play a lot of close games, and we've played some the last two weeks where we had to come back and win in the second half. This team won't quit," Norvell said. "Utah State has had to come back and win their games the same way we have, so we have to play a complete game and we have to understand our opponent wants to win. It should be a really competitive night."
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