Surprised, But Pleasantly So

FORT COLLINS – He was prepared. He's also a bit surprised.

Recognized heading into the season as one of the best – if not the best – defensive lineman in the Mountain West, Mohamed Kamara figured he would draw some extra attention. Maybe a double team, be it another lineman, a bit of running back help, even a tight end.

So far, not so much. And so far, Kamara is doing what he normally does, which is collect sacks.

"Not a lot. I've been winning my one-on-ones," Kamara said. "Even if I don't win those, I'm still getting a QB hit. I know the quarterback's been feeling me every game. I expect this game coming up, they're going to throw a lot at us, chop, bring a tight end, a running back. I think they'll throw a lot at us."

The fifth-year senior for Colorado State has three on the season, ranking him third nationally with 1.5 per game. As a team, the Rams are averaging 3.5 in the two games played, a top-20 figure. With two against Colorado, Kamara moved in front of Joey Porter on the career list for sacks, now sitting sixth with 20.5.

In addition, he's also posted a pair of hurries on the season. Getting to the quarterback is what he's always done best, and he's only getting better. For defensive line coach Buddha Williams, the reason is simple – he never stops working.

"His attention to detail. Even during the summer, that's where it happens," Williams said. "Now you see the rewards of the offseason, the summer and spring. I think he took advantage of that stuff, dug deep within himself, looked at his rushes, other guys in the league who have a similar skill set and worked on those moves and worked on that approach. He's non-stop working on those things.

"That's the best part; self-motivated and wants to be great. He challenges himself every week. It's like it's always not good enough in his mind, which is really good."

The effort is not lost on any of his teammates. They see him remain after practice, working against dummies on his moves, his technique. They see him stay late to help out his linemates with what they're working to improve.

They also hear him. That charisma is infectious for the defense as a whole.

"It's just the mindset of Mo and how he's able to kind of spread that to the other guys in his group," cornerback Chigozie Anusiem said. "Probably the most impressive thing, I mean, we've all seen Mo on tape, he's athletic, explosive, twitchy, but it's like a contagious feeling with Mo. Like Mo will come up to me, 'I need a pick,' so I'm like, 'we've got you, get back there.' It's kind of spread out throughout the whole D line core is they're having the same feeling, so that's probably the most impressive thing.

"It's the respect we have for Mo. Mo is somebody on the defense who works. It doesn't matter if it's a 5-yard drill, he's going to try to be first. He'll race the DBs. With Mo, it's like he has so much respect (about) his work ethic is. He's not the nicest guy in the sense of when he's on the field, but I know where he's coming from. I think we all understand that."

Nobody appreciates a good pass rush like a player in the secondary. Forcing a quarterback out of rhythm by disrupting his timing is one group helping another have an easier day. In the same vein, other defensive linemen appreciate a teammate who is relentless about getting the quarterback, because as it draws attention their way, it frees up other players.

Williams is positive the defense will see the impact Kamara has as the season progresses. He's been impressed with his interior rushers and the way the collapse the pocket, saying their time is going to come, they've just been a click behind at this point.

Of the seven sacks the Rams have, six have come from the defensive ends, with Tony Pierce Jr. having a pair, Mukendi Wa-Kalonji one.

Kamara, who will miss the first half this week due to a targeting call last game, knows attention is coming his way. It has in the past. Eventually, it will go away, too.

"Most definitely. I actually thought it was going to be opposite, where they would double team me from the jump and then they realized they had to double team both sides and they don't have the people to do that," he said. "I thought I would get my sacks later because they realize a Nuer (Gatkuoth), a Tony Pierce Jr., Mukendi and Marshon (Oxley), Kennedy (McDowell), those guys are just as fast as me. I thought it was going to be the opposite."

Until then, Kamara will keep doing what he does best, apply pressure. And if teams allow him to go man-on-man versus a tackle, Kamara will relish those moments.

He's put the time in to watch more film and listen to his coaches. He's gone from a player who doesn't just see things these days, but one who understands better what an offense does, why it is doing it and how it impacts his job.

A player has to take advantage of what he can at this level.

"Just believing in myself, believing what works. I think one thing I take pride in is taking the easy things," he said. "If it comes to me, it comes to me. I have to win a one-on-one. Now, a tight end, tackle, guard coming at me, that's a story for another day, but if I get a one-on-one, I have to win those. That's what's given. That's what I have to do."

He's just surprised, that's all. Pleasantly so, too.

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