Colorado State University Athletics
The Key Down is a Key Concern
10/2/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
Third-down dilemma remains after first third of schedule
Chalk it up to chemistry, or simply being connected. Whatever the case, third down has been a bugaboo all season. With so many moving parts involved, the process of problem solving is taking a bit of time.
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Longer than Colorado State would prefer.
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"I think it's just collective execution with some of our new skills guys. It's being on the same page with Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, route adjustments and making plays in traffic and just playing confidently," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "I think as we continue to play, the confidence of those kids will grow, and they'll start showing up on third down."
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Through four games, the Rams rank 107th nationally (33.3 percent) when it comes to converting the money down. They've only been good in one game (Northern Colorado, 7 of 14). There hasn't been a progression of improvement, with the past two games being the Rams' Â least productive, 26.6% against CU, 21.4% against UTEP.
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Down and distance doesn't really matter, either. In short yardage (1-2 yards), the offense converts 53% of the time, not exactly a high number. Middle distance (3-6) sits at 38%, 7 yards and longer just 14%.
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"The goal is always to manage the game to a point where you have a third-and-manageable. That's the main focus," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "When we're working on third down, we want to optimally be 5 or less. If we can get 7 or less, that's pretty manageable. That's definitely a main focus, and I can feel the chemistry between our newer receivers and I start to develop in those situations where we really need it.
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"That takes in-game reps and having live situations. I takes the gaining of trust. It does take time, and everyone makes mistakes. It's a matter of moving on, growing and learning from the mistakes so we can develop the trust where it's automatic."
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Tory Horton is a known commodity for the quarterback. He also hasn't really been available much the past two contests. Even still, Fowler-Nicolosi wants more than one option on the third down, and building a chemistry started long before the schedule was released with those on campus, and it continued as new targets were added.
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It involves a lot of conversation in film study, which he says isn't enough. It has to be taken onto the field, because in CSU's offensive concept, a route in a playbook isn't necessarily lined out in ink – it often depends on the leverage the defense is playing.
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That can change a route. It can change how a receiver sees a defense. It can change how a quarterback sees a defense. And they both have to see it the same way, which hasn't always been the case.
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And there are times even when they are on the same page, the connection isn't made. Earlier this year, newcomer Armani Winfield had a couple of key drops on third down. Fowler-Nicolosi did what a quarterback should to help build him up by going to him again. Against UTEP, Winfield's touchdown catch was a key third-down play.
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"Every quarterback says it, but it's what you actually do. You hear a quarterback say, 'don't worry about it, I'm coming back to you,' and they don't target him again," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "If you say that you're going back to him, you genuinely should. It's understanding every receiver is here for a reason and trusting that. Everyone has nerves. I know exactly how he feels because we all get the same nerves. It's understanding what position he's in, being there, and supporting him through that and showing him I do trust him."
Â
That would help the third-and-medium, maybe even a few third-and-longs. Practice reps will help. Success in games even more.
Â
What Norvell believes the receivers are trending in the right direction, in development and health.
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"A lot of those young guys, I'm seeing it with Jamari Person, I see it with Armani Winfield in the last game with the touchdown," Norvell said. "Caleb Goodie is showing signs. As those guys continue to make plays, they're going to have more confidence. Jordon Ross is an extremely athletic guy we feel can make those kind of plays as well. You throw Tory Horton back in that mix and that does a lot for those guys as well. We're excited to get those guys all ono the field together."
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The third-and-short number is just as problematic considering the Colorado State ground game has improved.
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Again, quarterback's coach Matt Mumme noted it's how you look at it. Third-and-goal on the 1 is different than third-and-1 at midfield. Defenses adjust to the situation.
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Same problem solving, however. Be tied together.
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"It's just executing up front as a whole with the O-line and the tight ends, knowing who to block and how to block them," Vince Brown II said. "We need to stay in front of the sticks on first down, getting second-and-short, third-and-short, keep our defense off the field and get a break by getting those third downs."
Â
Nobody is preaching patience because they're all in hurry to find the solution. It does take time, and they know that's going to start dwindling down, too.
Â
Â
Longer than Colorado State would prefer.
Â
"I think it's just collective execution with some of our new skills guys. It's being on the same page with Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, route adjustments and making plays in traffic and just playing confidently," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "I think as we continue to play, the confidence of those kids will grow, and they'll start showing up on third down."
Â
Through four games, the Rams rank 107th nationally (33.3 percent) when it comes to converting the money down. They've only been good in one game (Northern Colorado, 7 of 14). There hasn't been a progression of improvement, with the past two games being the Rams' Â least productive, 26.6% against CU, 21.4% against UTEP.
Â
Down and distance doesn't really matter, either. In short yardage (1-2 yards), the offense converts 53% of the time, not exactly a high number. Middle distance (3-6) sits at 38%, 7 yards and longer just 14%.
Â
"The goal is always to manage the game to a point where you have a third-and-manageable. That's the main focus," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "When we're working on third down, we want to optimally be 5 or less. If we can get 7 or less, that's pretty manageable. That's definitely a main focus, and I can feel the chemistry between our newer receivers and I start to develop in those situations where we really need it.
Â
"That takes in-game reps and having live situations. I takes the gaining of trust. It does take time, and everyone makes mistakes. It's a matter of moving on, growing and learning from the mistakes so we can develop the trust where it's automatic."
Â
Tory Horton is a known commodity for the quarterback. He also hasn't really been available much the past two contests. Even still, Fowler-Nicolosi wants more than one option on the third down, and building a chemistry started long before the schedule was released with those on campus, and it continued as new targets were added.
Â
It involves a lot of conversation in film study, which he says isn't enough. It has to be taken onto the field, because in CSU's offensive concept, a route in a playbook isn't necessarily lined out in ink – it often depends on the leverage the defense is playing.
Â
That can change a route. It can change how a receiver sees a defense. It can change how a quarterback sees a defense. And they both have to see it the same way, which hasn't always been the case.
Â
And there are times even when they are on the same page, the connection isn't made. Earlier this year, newcomer Armani Winfield had a couple of key drops on third down. Fowler-Nicolosi did what a quarterback should to help build him up by going to him again. Against UTEP, Winfield's touchdown catch was a key third-down play.
Â
"Every quarterback says it, but it's what you actually do. You hear a quarterback say, 'don't worry about it, I'm coming back to you,' and they don't target him again," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "If you say that you're going back to him, you genuinely should. It's understanding every receiver is here for a reason and trusting that. Everyone has nerves. I know exactly how he feels because we all get the same nerves. It's understanding what position he's in, being there, and supporting him through that and showing him I do trust him."
Â
That would help the third-and-medium, maybe even a few third-and-longs. Practice reps will help. Success in games even more.
Â
What Norvell believes the receivers are trending in the right direction, in development and health.
Â
"A lot of those young guys, I'm seeing it with Jamari Person, I see it with Armani Winfield in the last game with the touchdown," Norvell said. "Caleb Goodie is showing signs. As those guys continue to make plays, they're going to have more confidence. Jordon Ross is an extremely athletic guy we feel can make those kind of plays as well. You throw Tory Horton back in that mix and that does a lot for those guys as well. We're excited to get those guys all ono the field together."
Â
The third-and-short number is just as problematic considering the Colorado State ground game has improved.
Â
Again, quarterback's coach Matt Mumme noted it's how you look at it. Third-and-goal on the 1 is different than third-and-1 at midfield. Defenses adjust to the situation.
Â
Same problem solving, however. Be tied together.
Â
"It's just executing up front as a whole with the O-line and the tight ends, knowing who to block and how to block them," Vince Brown II said. "We need to stay in front of the sticks on first down, getting second-and-short, third-and-short, keep our defense off the field and get a break by getting those third downs."
Â
Nobody is preaching patience because they're all in hurry to find the solution. It does take time, and they know that's going to start dwindling down, too.
Â
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