Monday Presser: Youngsters Adding to Depth

FORT COLLINS – A few weeks ago, Jay Norvell stated some younger players were going to be given their shot to aid the cause, and a handful have started to take advantage of the opportunity.

It began with Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi taking over as the starter at quarterback, and for the past two weeks, true freshman TJ Crandall has started at cornerback. Linebacker Buom Jock, safety Jaylen Gardner and defensive end Kennedy McDowell are getting more reps. Offensively, he continues to mention Jamari Person as somebody who needs to be prepared to play a role moving forward.

Despite not playing early, they stuck with the plan.

"We told those guys we played some big teams early and they might not have been ready for those games early in the season, but their time is coming," CSU head coach Jay Norvell said at his weekly press conference Monday. "We made the decision about halfway through nonconference to play those freshmen, and I anticipate some more playing as the year goes on. We're really happy with Jaylen Gardner and TJ and Buom Jock defensively, and Kennedy McDowell. All of them have played significant reps, and they're going to play more down the stretch."

Crandall and Gardner have appeared in all five games, McDowell and Jock four each, both missing the Colorado game. Crandall was just the first to crack the starting lineup.

He made a big early play in Saturday's game, intercepting his first pass, and his 25-yard return set up a touchdown. He's made 10 tackles on the season (one for a loss), and each week Norvell sees him picking up something new.

"He's a really athletic kid, and he's a very confident kid. He and Jaylen Gardner both played quite a bit," Norvell said. "We've played a lot of tempo teams, so guys get gassed, guys get tired, so we're trying to play more of those young guys. T.J. played really well, had a big interception in the game. He learned some things throughout the game, as well. I anticipate him getting more time and playing better and better. We want to use him on special teams, as well."

Jock has 12 tackles, Gardner seven and McDowell 3. As the season progresses, Norvell expects they'll get better and start to contribute even more.

The fact they're playing has impressed their more veteran teammates, who have taken note of their work habits at practice to earn the action they've seen on game day.

"Those guys are just really coming along. They're really helping us, coming in and rotating," defensive tackle Cam Bariteau said. "They've just been taking every day at practice really seriously, and at meetings they're asking questions and getting to know the system even more so they can help us out."

Next Game

Week by week is the way the players view the process. After a loss, people talk about bouncing back, and while essentially it is what a team is looking to do, that doesn't necessarily make it the mantra.

More to the point, improving – after a win or a loss – is the main driver.

"I don't know if we look at it so much as a bounce-back game," tight end Dallin Holker said. "I definitely feel like after a loss it just hits you a little differently and you really want to get that win that next week. It's just kind of different; everything's a little different. It wakes you up a little bit more."

Program to program, the approach after a loss can alter, with Norvell sticking to a more positive tone.

He's spent the early part of the week reminding the team what it does well without ignoring the areas which have to be improved.

"We already started. We turned the page on last weekend, and we're going to work," he said. "Sometimes there's different philosophies to things, but I reminded our kids about all the good we've accomplished. We're the No. 1 passing team in conference, we're leading the league in sacks, we've got the best punt returner in the conference and our punter is second in the league in net punting and is doing an outstanding job. We've got a lot of good, so we have to build on it and we have to go out and compete. It's one game at a time."

Here and There

This is homecoming weekend, and the Rams are 51-46-1 all time in the game, winning six of the past eight such contests. … The program is 0-12 against Boise State in its history, the only Mountain West team to have not beaten the Broncos. … The defense has tripped up against tempo offenses every week this season, getting a flag for too many men on the field on Saturday. Norvell said that was a staff mistake, trying to make personnel changes at the wrong time, something they have to correct. … Norvell is hopeful both Mohamed Kamara and Tory Horton, who missed the last part of Saturdays' game with injuries, will be available on Saturday.

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