Keeping Staff Intact Has Helped Aid Progress

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5:00 PM

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5:30 PM

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at Boise State

FORT COLLINS – For the second and final scrimmage of fall camp, Colorado State coach Jay Norvell gave a select few veterans a view from the sidelines, allowing for some extra reps for the players battling for spots on the depth chart. Not necessarily the incoming freshmen, but the newest additions since the end of spring camp.

The offense moved the ball better and picked up the production during the 2-minute sessions, and overall, Norvell felt the team made progress from a week prior.

"We're finding our identity on offense. We're a football team that's being built for a 12-game fight," Norvell said. "These games are going to be really hard; they're going to be very physical. We have to be a team that can execute over and over and be really good in situational football. I expect to play a lot of close games this year. It's going to come down to the 2-minute drill at the end and the field goal kicker and how we execute.

"I told the kids today, when we win games it ain't going to be a fluke, it's because we're gong to be better than the other team. I honestly can say there's not a team on the schedule we don't match up well against, we just have to play well. That's our mindset."

Norvell will spend the weekend treating practices like camp but starting next week – classes begin on Monday – Washington State lessons for the Sept. 2 opener begin. The additions to the roster have started to take hold. He mentioned offensive linemen Bobby Lawrence and Drew Cannon. He raves about what receiver Dylan Goffney has brought to the team, not just in terms of his talent but the fact he's pushing young returners Louis Brown and Jusus Ross-Simmons to improve. Of the younger set, he has been impressed with the week true freshman quarterback Jackson Brousseau has put together.

What Norvell is convinced of is his current team is more tied together, which will show on the field. He sees a better team. He expects them to be better, due to the progress, some of which can be tied to keeping his staff intact for a second run.

There were moments as bigger schools made a push to steal away defensive coordinator Freddie Banks and defensive line coach Buddha Williams. Norvell called it one of this best recruiting jobs to retain them.

"I just think it's so important, especially your first two years to keep your staff intact," Norvell said. "It's hard for players to learn new coaches, and when you have that consistency of keeping your coaching staff intact, I think your players would feel more comfortable and you see their progress."

The players concur.

Safety Jack Howell, who has been through coaching shifts, likes the fact the voice he hears is the same for the second consecutive season.

"It's huge, just being able to go from year one to year two, especially with just being comfortable with the defense," Howell said. "I know this year it's a huge jump not having to learn everything and getting comfortable in my fits, knowing who to cover and knowing when to cover. Also, chemistry as well."

Which was the point receiver Tory Horton made. Just has Howell has a comfort level with fellow returning safeties Henry Blackburn and Ayden Hector, the team has the same feeling seeing familiar faces in the coaching offices.

With a roster which has undergone major shuffling, keeping the coaches in places helps offset the amount of learning taking place. Now, it's strictly from coach to player, with the same coaches using the same language and techniques as before.

"It just brings a lot more chemistry within the team, coming back all together," Horton said. "We're like starting where we left off and doing it from the mistakes we had last year, which makes it a little easier. It's just a train that's moving forward; no back steps."

The team will have tomorrow off, as well as Sunday. With classes starting Monday, practice times will start an hour later this next week, which concludes with a mock game on Saturday. The last week of August will take on the feel of a game week for the team.

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