Colorado State University Athletics
Putting the Improvements to the Test
10/1/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
Beavers’ rushing attack among best in the nation
To this point, there's a passing grade.
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A main target for Colorado State's defense was to stop the run this year, holding teams to less than 4.0 yards per carry. Through four games, the Rams are allowing 3.8, and the 113.5 yards per game ranks 38th in the country.
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"It shows all the work we put in during the offseason, it works. All the little technique exercises, just showing that putting it on display is a true testament that when you get work done in the offseason it shows up during the season," defensive tackles James Mitchell said. "We're getting better every week. Some of it is little progress a lot of people won't see, but we're making progress."
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Mitchell and the Rams understand what awaits them in Corvallis, Ore., this Saturday, facing an Oregon State team which prides itself on a physical rushing attack. No other team they've faced has put such an emphasis on running the ball.
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The Beavers rank seventh nationally at 267.8 yards a game, scoring 12 times on the ground while averaging 5.4 yards per rush. They've scored at least twice on the ground in each game while off to a 3-1 start. Only once, against Oregon, did OSU fail to rush for 200 yards as a team, held to 131 by the Ducks. Twice, the Beavers have surpassed 300 ground yards in a game, 362 against Idaho State being the high-water, 341 the total when they beat Purdue in their most recent game.
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CSU coach Jay Norvell has been encouraged by what he's seen from his group. This game, he knows he will learn more.
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"I think we've shown improvement. We haven't really seen a team like this that really hangs their hat on the running game," Norvell said. "It's going to be important. When you play against a team that runs the ball as much as these guys, it's important you play great on first down. They get a lot of manageable third downs because they run the ball effectively on first and second down. We've got to put them back behind the chains, we have to put them in long-yardage situations and make them play in an uncomfortable style they don't really want to play.
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"It's going to be a physical challenge. We have to do a great job of front with our front seven. They force your corners to tackle as well, so it's going to be a physical game for our perimeter players, and we've got to get involved early and often."
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It will take an all-hands-on-deck approach to slow down the two-tiered attack of the Beavers. Jam Griffin leads the team with 413 yards and four scores, averaging 6.2 a tote; backfield mate Anthony Hankerson has gained 372 yards, scoring seven times and sitting at 5.0 yards a run.
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They will hit the outside, so CSU corner Dom Jones knows the CSU secondary has to be active. He also understands they throw the ball about 23 times per game (just five passes fewer than the Rams average an outing).
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"I mean, it's still football. It's going to be physical, especially this week; we already know what we're getting ourselves into," Jones said. "They're going to try to run the ball. They're a very good team on first down, so that's the main focus is making them play behind he chains.
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"Corner is a hard position. They're going to run fit you, run fit you, run fit you and then they go to play action. It's having disciplined eyes. That's what my job comes with."
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The ultimate weapon Colorado State can employ against the approach to force the Beavers to alter their personality. In that blueprint, first down is the key to not allowing their attack to gain a rhythm.
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This game isn't about Colorado State's defensive front holding its ground, it's about making Oregon State give up real estate.
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"This is a real big test. They pride themselves on running the ball and we love stopping the run," said Mitchell, who leads CSU's defensive linemen with 14 tackles. "With their big dudes up front, it's a challenge, but we don't shy away from challenges. We want to move their ground, especially on first down. We want to get them behind their chains early, so they have to put the ball in the air. We've got a good secondary to back us up after we stop the run.
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"Every game starts up front. As defensive linemen, every game is on us. This game in particular. Thank God for the bye week before this game. We're fresh, they're fresh. It's going to be a war in the core."
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And a key midterm for the Rams to find out how much they've improved against the run.
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A main target for Colorado State's defense was to stop the run this year, holding teams to less than 4.0 yards per carry. Through four games, the Rams are allowing 3.8, and the 113.5 yards per game ranks 38th in the country.
Â
"It shows all the work we put in during the offseason, it works. All the little technique exercises, just showing that putting it on display is a true testament that when you get work done in the offseason it shows up during the season," defensive tackles James Mitchell said. "We're getting better every week. Some of it is little progress a lot of people won't see, but we're making progress."
Â
Mitchell and the Rams understand what awaits them in Corvallis, Ore., this Saturday, facing an Oregon State team which prides itself on a physical rushing attack. No other team they've faced has put such an emphasis on running the ball.
Â
The Beavers rank seventh nationally at 267.8 yards a game, scoring 12 times on the ground while averaging 5.4 yards per rush. They've scored at least twice on the ground in each game while off to a 3-1 start. Only once, against Oregon, did OSU fail to rush for 200 yards as a team, held to 131 by the Ducks. Twice, the Beavers have surpassed 300 ground yards in a game, 362 against Idaho State being the high-water, 341 the total when they beat Purdue in their most recent game.
Â
CSU coach Jay Norvell has been encouraged by what he's seen from his group. This game, he knows he will learn more.
Â
"I think we've shown improvement. We haven't really seen a team like this that really hangs their hat on the running game," Norvell said. "It's going to be important. When you play against a team that runs the ball as much as these guys, it's important you play great on first down. They get a lot of manageable third downs because they run the ball effectively on first and second down. We've got to put them back behind the chains, we have to put them in long-yardage situations and make them play in an uncomfortable style they don't really want to play.
Â
"It's going to be a physical challenge. We have to do a great job of front with our front seven. They force your corners to tackle as well, so it's going to be a physical game for our perimeter players, and we've got to get involved early and often."
Â
It will take an all-hands-on-deck approach to slow down the two-tiered attack of the Beavers. Jam Griffin leads the team with 413 yards and four scores, averaging 6.2 a tote; backfield mate Anthony Hankerson has gained 372 yards, scoring seven times and sitting at 5.0 yards a run.
Â
They will hit the outside, so CSU corner Dom Jones knows the CSU secondary has to be active. He also understands they throw the ball about 23 times per game (just five passes fewer than the Rams average an outing).
Â
"I mean, it's still football. It's going to be physical, especially this week; we already know what we're getting ourselves into," Jones said. "They're going to try to run the ball. They're a very good team on first down, so that's the main focus is making them play behind he chains.
Â
"Corner is a hard position. They're going to run fit you, run fit you, run fit you and then they go to play action. It's having disciplined eyes. That's what my job comes with."
Â
The ultimate weapon Colorado State can employ against the approach to force the Beavers to alter their personality. In that blueprint, first down is the key to not allowing their attack to gain a rhythm.
Â
This game isn't about Colorado State's defensive front holding its ground, it's about making Oregon State give up real estate.
Â
"This is a real big test. They pride themselves on running the ball and we love stopping the run," said Mitchell, who leads CSU's defensive linemen with 14 tackles. "With their big dudes up front, it's a challenge, but we don't shy away from challenges. We want to move their ground, especially on first down. We want to get them behind their chains early, so they have to put the ball in the air. We've got a good secondary to back us up after we stop the run.
Â
"Every game starts up front. As defensive linemen, every game is on us. This game in particular. Thank God for the bye week before this game. We're fresh, they're fresh. It's going to be a war in the core."
Â
And a key midterm for the Rams to find out how much they've improved against the run.
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Players Mentioned
DL
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