Colorado State University Athletics
Out to Solve the Third-Quarter Swoon
11/8/2023 2:00:00 PM | Football
Rams have been outscored in conference play 51-10
On Monday, Jay Norvell talked about how the third quarter didn't go well for the team. The Colorado State football coach was referencing the way the team breaks down a season in quarters, each a three-game set, but he could very well have been speaking about third quarters in general.
Â
The frame has not been kind to his Rams this season, especially in Mountain West play. The team has been outscored 51-10 coming out of halftime, those 10 points coming against Boise State.
Â
It's been highlighted the past two weeks, where the Rams have entered the locker room in a tight battle, only to have the opposition seize momentum. A 13-all game with Air Force became 23-13 heading into the fourth. Down 10-7 to Wyoming, it was 24-7 entering the final stanza.
Â
"We haven't played well in the third quarter the last two weeks. We responded in the fourth this last week, but in the third we did not," Norvell said. "We have to do a better job. One of the areas we need to do a better job of is running the football and stopping the run. We were really disappointed in this last game in our ability to create some big plays in the running game and also stopping Wyoming in that area. We're capable of doing a better job. That comes back to fundamentals, that comes back to emphasis and technique."
Â
It's not about the halftime speech. No, both Justin Sanchez and Louis Brown IV laughed, saying Norvell's a pretty good speaker. To them, the start of the second half has been a mishmash of mix ups from week to week. It could be turnovers, yielded and not generated. A run game which has been slow for Colorado State yet picks up steam for the opposition.
Â
They all know something has to change this week, most of it between the ears. It's focus and execution.
Â
"There definitely has to be a change in the mindset knowing we've been struggling in those situations as of late and putting and emphasis on third downs and third quarters," Sanchez said. "It's a lot of film study on third down and what they do, and our coaches will put us in the best position to make plays. That's part of the third quarter, just coming out of half with the fire and intensity to stay on our game and stay focused."
Â
The offensive struggles in the quarter have been there all year. It has been the worst quarter in terms of output, just 23 points. In only three games have the Rams put points up in the third.
Â
The past two contests, the Rams have only had two third-quarter drives in each game, converting just one of five third downs. The time of possession the past two weeks has not exceeded 2:33. It's a Saturday problem the players say have to be addressed each day leading up to the game.
Â
"It's Monday. Before Saturday, we have to think we have to lock in," Brown IV said. "We have to execute our assignments and our plays throughout practice to do what we have to do throughout practice so we can execute on game day. We're on each other about going hard in practice and executing our assignments."
Â
Seeing the problem is the first step. Not overthinking it becomes an issue, as a team playing under too much pressure can get tight, Brown IV said. That leads to blown assignments, which lead to not extending drives and falling into the same pattern.
Â
Being better is simply the answer. Exceptional isn't a jump the team needs, just productive.
Â
"We've played a lot of games – the last couple games, the first half have been really close going into the locker room, and it has been slow coming into the third," Oliver Jervis said. "We want the ball, try to pound the rock and get the run game going; if we can get the run game going, it takes a lot of pressure off of Brayden (Fowler-Nicolosi). We have to maintain control and we have to finish on third downs. If we can maintain control of the ball – I think last week we only had two dives in the third quarter – you can't win a football game not maintaining possessions. We just have to get out there motivated to hold to the ball and drive down the field so our defense can get a rest and also give them good field position."
Â
Every phase of the game has been a component, and Norvell and his players realize they all have to lean on each other, or if necessary, pick each other up. Complementary football has not been in practice in the third quarter.
Â
The third quarter of the season is over, a series of three losses. For the actual frame itself, Colorado State has a trio of chances to fix the issue, and viewing each game as a playoff makes Saturday the optimal starting point.
Â
Â
The frame has not been kind to his Rams this season, especially in Mountain West play. The team has been outscored 51-10 coming out of halftime, those 10 points coming against Boise State.
Â
It's been highlighted the past two weeks, where the Rams have entered the locker room in a tight battle, only to have the opposition seize momentum. A 13-all game with Air Force became 23-13 heading into the fourth. Down 10-7 to Wyoming, it was 24-7 entering the final stanza.
Â
"We haven't played well in the third quarter the last two weeks. We responded in the fourth this last week, but in the third we did not," Norvell said. "We have to do a better job. One of the areas we need to do a better job of is running the football and stopping the run. We were really disappointed in this last game in our ability to create some big plays in the running game and also stopping Wyoming in that area. We're capable of doing a better job. That comes back to fundamentals, that comes back to emphasis and technique."
Â
It's not about the halftime speech. No, both Justin Sanchez and Louis Brown IV laughed, saying Norvell's a pretty good speaker. To them, the start of the second half has been a mishmash of mix ups from week to week. It could be turnovers, yielded and not generated. A run game which has been slow for Colorado State yet picks up steam for the opposition.
Â
They all know something has to change this week, most of it between the ears. It's focus and execution.
Â
"There definitely has to be a change in the mindset knowing we've been struggling in those situations as of late and putting and emphasis on third downs and third quarters," Sanchez said. "It's a lot of film study on third down and what they do, and our coaches will put us in the best position to make plays. That's part of the third quarter, just coming out of half with the fire and intensity to stay on our game and stay focused."
Â
The offensive struggles in the quarter have been there all year. It has been the worst quarter in terms of output, just 23 points. In only three games have the Rams put points up in the third.
Â
The past two contests, the Rams have only had two third-quarter drives in each game, converting just one of five third downs. The time of possession the past two weeks has not exceeded 2:33. It's a Saturday problem the players say have to be addressed each day leading up to the game.
Â
"It's Monday. Before Saturday, we have to think we have to lock in," Brown IV said. "We have to execute our assignments and our plays throughout practice to do what we have to do throughout practice so we can execute on game day. We're on each other about going hard in practice and executing our assignments."
Â
Seeing the problem is the first step. Not overthinking it becomes an issue, as a team playing under too much pressure can get tight, Brown IV said. That leads to blown assignments, which lead to not extending drives and falling into the same pattern.
Â
Being better is simply the answer. Exceptional isn't a jump the team needs, just productive.
Â
"We've played a lot of games – the last couple games, the first half have been really close going into the locker room, and it has been slow coming into the third," Oliver Jervis said. "We want the ball, try to pound the rock and get the run game going; if we can get the run game going, it takes a lot of pressure off of Brayden (Fowler-Nicolosi). We have to maintain control and we have to finish on third downs. If we can maintain control of the ball – I think last week we only had two dives in the third quarter – you can't win a football game not maintaining possessions. We just have to get out there motivated to hold to the ball and drive down the field so our defense can get a rest and also give them good field position."
Â
Every phase of the game has been a component, and Norvell and his players realize they all have to lean on each other, or if necessary, pick each other up. Complementary football has not been in practice in the third quarter.
Â
The third quarter of the season is over, a series of three losses. For the actual frame itself, Colorado State has a trio of chances to fix the issue, and viewing each game as a playoff makes Saturday the optimal starting point.
Â
Players Mentioned
Colorado State Football: Jay Norvell Weekly Press Conference - Week 3 (2025)
Monday, September 15
Colorado State Athletics: Football Bye Week Update
Wednesday, September 10
Colorado State Football: Ellis (L) and Rogers (R) Postgame (Northern Colorado, 2025)
Saturday, September 06
Colorado State Football: Avant (L) and Fowler-Nicolosi (R) Postgame (Northern Colorado, 2025)
Saturday, September 06