Colorado State University Athletics
What We Saw: Wyoming
11/5/2023 2:00:00 PM | Football
Maximum effort there, just not consistency
If someone didn't understand why Colorado State coach Jay Norvell says he never questions his team's effort, they should now.
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In the fourth quarter, trying to mount a late comeback, a quick snap which Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi wasn't expecting bounced off his chest. It went forward, then came back where Tyce Westland scooped it up and headed to the end zone.
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He needed 63 yards for a touchdown but only went 61. That's because Justus Ross-Simmons chased him down and tackled him at the 2. It mattered, because the Colorado State defense came up with a goal-line stand to leave the score at 24-15, where the game would finish.
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In the grand scheme, it didn't seem to matter. With the turnover, the Rams' final chance to steal the Border War was gone.
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In the moment, it meant everything to Ross-Simmons.
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"We've been talking about what play can change the game," Ross-Simmons said. "Once we made the mistake and fumbled the ball, I knew I had to go get him, and that's what I did."
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Effort matters to them all, which is a key component for Norvell's belief that eventually the rest is going to fall into place. The execution. The consistency which follows.
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Then the wins those characteristics produce.
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"That was great effort. That was a really special effort by Justus, and a great effort by our defense to stop them at the end," Norvell said. "Those guys were determined; we had a lot of guys playing hard and that's not an issue with this group. We just have to execute better. We have to find a way to score more. The last two weeks we haven't scored in the second half and that's not good."
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Third Down Woes
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The money down has been woeful for the Rams this season, who are now converting at less than 40 percent (38.6) after the worst performance of the season, 0-for-10 against Wyoming. Only twice this season have the Rams converted at least half of the time, against Colorado and Middle Tennessee.
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Norvell said some of the issue stems from the two plays prior.
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"We need to do a better job of being efficient on first down and getting out of those long-yardage situations, especially in the second half. That's tough on a young guy when we're playing with long yardage situations," Norvell said. "We've got to find ways to make more plays and take some pressure off of Brayden to where he doesn't have to carry us. That's not really fair for a young guy to put him in that situation. We have a lot of good players to take a load off his back."
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Colorado State ranks 73rd nationally in the category.
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Here and There
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Tory Horton ranks third nationally in receptions per game (8.6), Mohamed Kamara sits fourth in sacks (1.17 per game) and eighth in tackles per loss (1.4). … Jack Howell ranks 17th in the country at 9.8 tackles per game, third most among the country's defensive backs. Linebacker Chase Wilson ranks 19th at 9.6. … As a unit, the Rams' defense is second in the nation with 10 fumbles recovered. … Offensively, the Rams rank ninth in passing offense at 319.1 yards per game. … Four teams in the Mountain West are bowl eligible – Air Force, Fresno State, UNLV and Wyoming. Three teams, Boise State, Utah State and San Jose State need to win two of final three; four teams, Colorado State, New Mexico, Hawaii and San Diego State all have to win the final three. Only Nevada is eliminated from bowl contention at this point.
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In the fourth quarter, trying to mount a late comeback, a quick snap which Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi wasn't expecting bounced off his chest. It went forward, then came back where Tyce Westland scooped it up and headed to the end zone.
Â
He needed 63 yards for a touchdown but only went 61. That's because Justus Ross-Simmons chased him down and tackled him at the 2. It mattered, because the Colorado State defense came up with a goal-line stand to leave the score at 24-15, where the game would finish.
Â
In the grand scheme, it didn't seem to matter. With the turnover, the Rams' final chance to steal the Border War was gone.
Â
In the moment, it meant everything to Ross-Simmons.
Â
"We've been talking about what play can change the game," Ross-Simmons said. "Once we made the mistake and fumbled the ball, I knew I had to go get him, and that's what I did."
Â
Effort matters to them all, which is a key component for Norvell's belief that eventually the rest is going to fall into place. The execution. The consistency which follows.
Â
Then the wins those characteristics produce.
Â
"That was great effort. That was a really special effort by Justus, and a great effort by our defense to stop them at the end," Norvell said. "Those guys were determined; we had a lot of guys playing hard and that's not an issue with this group. We just have to execute better. We have to find a way to score more. The last two weeks we haven't scored in the second half and that's not good."
Â
Third Down Woes
Â
The money down has been woeful for the Rams this season, who are now converting at less than 40 percent (38.6) after the worst performance of the season, 0-for-10 against Wyoming. Only twice this season have the Rams converted at least half of the time, against Colorado and Middle Tennessee.
Â
Norvell said some of the issue stems from the two plays prior.
Â
"We need to do a better job of being efficient on first down and getting out of those long-yardage situations, especially in the second half. That's tough on a young guy when we're playing with long yardage situations," Norvell said. "We've got to find ways to make more plays and take some pressure off of Brayden to where he doesn't have to carry us. That's not really fair for a young guy to put him in that situation. We have a lot of good players to take a load off his back."
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Colorado State ranks 73rd nationally in the category.
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Here and There
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Tory Horton ranks third nationally in receptions per game (8.6), Mohamed Kamara sits fourth in sacks (1.17 per game) and eighth in tackles per loss (1.4). … Jack Howell ranks 17th in the country at 9.8 tackles per game, third most among the country's defensive backs. Linebacker Chase Wilson ranks 19th at 9.6. … As a unit, the Rams' defense is second in the nation with 10 fumbles recovered. … Offensively, the Rams rank ninth in passing offense at 319.1 yards per game. … Four teams in the Mountain West are bowl eligible – Air Force, Fresno State, UNLV and Wyoming. Three teams, Boise State, Utah State and San Jose State need to win two of final three; four teams, Colorado State, New Mexico, Hawaii and San Diego State all have to win the final three. Only Nevada is eliminated from bowl contention at this point.
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Players Mentioned
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