Build Toward More Physicality Gaining Traction

When the news broke, one group in particular was excited. Offensive linemen prefer to run block.

"Oh, we love getting physical and getting after it, every single snap. Pass blocking is fun – pass protection shouldn't be passive is what they say – and we have that intent, but running the ball is awesome," CSU guard Tanner Morley said. "You get to smash some linebackers and defensive linemen and hopefully finish every block we can."

Colorado State coach Jay Norvell needed more physicality because he wanted to run the ball and with greater effect, as well as stop the run better. While the process always starts up front, it has bled into all the necessary facets, working its way toward becoming an identity for the team.

Having it show up overall has taken some time, but Norvell feels his team is starting to live the part.

"It's just a process. I think we've been doing it since we've been here, recruiting players who have the right stuff, working hard in the offseason, doing a great job with your strength program, building that competitive callous, all the things you have to do to build a team and build a rugged-minded team," Norvell said. "We're getting more players like that. We're getting better examples of that.
I'm just so proud of our big guys. Cam Bariteau, James Mitchell, Jacob Gardner, Drew Moss, the guys in the trenches are really consistent; they play extremely hard. And they've shown up every day and given us their best. That's what you need inside. That's what you need in the trenches to be consistent. We're just going to keep building on that. We have a lot of young guys who are watching them and learn from them.

"We're not where we want to be but were continuing to build a style of play that we want; we're getting more hats to the ball defensively. We're playing with more effort offensively, hustle blocks and helping our tailback up. There are things we emphasize, so we just have to continue to build on that."

Starting with the initiative to be a team better at running the ball and improved at stopping it set the wheels in motion. From the start, Norvell tried to recruit bigger players, particularly along both lines, and the speed and strength staff took up the task of making them even bigger.

Coming out of the offseason, Norvell felt the team was in better shape than any squad previously.

But the other part is attitude, which is just as vital to the personality coming to life. Point blank, safety Henry Blackburn said physical is what they've become by trade.

"That's CSU football. We want to be a physical team," he said. "That's what we want to brand ourselves as, as being a tough, gritty team. Whatever that looks like, finishing blocks, getting hits on a ball carrier, hustling to the play. It all collectively adds up. Special teams is huge part of that as well. Being physical is a mindset and a way we play, and that's something we really try to focus on as a team.

"I think we're a good team when we play with an edge. That's something we talk about. I think it's starting to show up each week, guys playing with an edge, guys playing fierce football. It's a gladiator sport we play."

Not just on game day – it can't happen that way -- but day after day.

It's how they work in practice. It's how the players take care of themselves away from the facility so they can come back to the next practice at their peak. When offseason analysis was taking place, it wasn't just changing to a more run-oriented attack, but additional developments to the way they went about practice.

Everybody had a role to play, even the wideouts on offense. While there aren't as many airborne attempts, there are payoffs.

"I think everyone understands we need to run the ball to throw the ball, and I think the guys in the scheme have bought in if we want the downfield shots if we want the one-on-one matchups, we've got to block for the guys who are running," wideout Armani Winfield said. "The receiver room, which was hard for us to understand at first, but when you see Caleb Goodie's last touchdown was a play-action post over the top, it all comes hand in hand."

Or right in the wheelhouse. Both sides of the line are used to the dirty work. The defensive line has been a big part of the Rams' clipping rushing yardage, and while not quite at the stated goal, the Rams are on the edge allowing 4.0 per carry.

The flip side is the offense has definitely met the mark, with CSU backs averaging 4.9 per rush. And the offense line says bring more of that.

"Coach said it from day one – the team will only go as far as the offensive line gets. It's probably the most important thing on the field, that position group," Morley said. "We have more than any other position. We have to do that every single day and do that through practice and the weight room. We do try to put that under our wing."

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