Colorado State University Athletics
Turning the Tables on Turning it Over
10/30/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
Rams back to even on the season
Being dead-even has been the result of quite the turn.
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Once giving the ball away at a higher rate than taking it back, Colorado State was looming in the negatives when it came to turnover margin. Now, after a reversal of fortune highlighted by a stellar defensive effort the past two weeks, the Rams have balanced the scales.
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It's a trend they'd like to see stick around for a bit.
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"We talk about the ball all the time. That's our main emphasis – the ball, the ball, the ball," safety Henry Blackburn said. "We talk about getting turnovers, getting punches at the ball, go attack the ball when it's in the air. It's something that's going to keep on coming. I think guys are doing a good job.
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"We have a lot of guys playing with a lot of effort and a lot of detail. When you just play relentless football, good things will happen. Guys running to the ball, sometimes it's going to pop out. Sometimes guys are going to get a punch, whatever happens. It's good that it's starting to show up."
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Since the schedule flipped to conference play, Colorado State's defense has turned the page. After creating just five turnovers the first five game, the Rams have collected eight the past three weeks, led by five interceptions.
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They created three turnovers against Air Force, then four more in the win over New Mexico. Linebackers coach Adam Pilapil is thrilled with the change, but it's not like the defense has altered tactics.
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To the point, they're just paying off now.
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"I think you're always trying to attack the ball and you try to create those opportunities, but when those opportunities come and you're attacking the ball, good things happen," he said. "When you play really, really hard, you get rewarded for playing hard. I think the guys have been playing hard, so the ball's been coming their way and that's good.
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"I don't know if what we're doing is better or worse. It is what it is. Opportunities are there, and guys have been working on it all year; that hasn't changed. I think it's just the opportunities are coming around and we've been successful with it."
Â
Turnovers can be very random, such as how the Rams have been collecting them. The eight interceptions have come from seven different players; only linebacker Chase Wilson has two, his second putting a cap on the New Mexico win. The five fumbles recovered have been pounced on by five different players.
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Wilson has produced three of the turnovers. Buom Jock has an interception and a fumble recovery to his credit. It proves to Pilapil they are in the mix creating chaos, which is exactly where he wants them. They also lead the team in tackles, Jock with 71, Wilson with 67.
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"I would say so. At the end of the day, we talk about our job is to get the guy with the ball and if we can get the ball back too, even better," Pilapil said. "Guys have been doing a good job of that, and that's been their focus since July. I think that's the culmination of their work."
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The other half of the scale is the offense taking care of the ball better. The New Mexico game was the first time this season the Rams didn't turn over the ball. After throwing four interceptions the first four weeks, Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi has thrown just one the past four, none the past two weeks.
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Fumbles have been an issue up until last week, a hopeful sign to Norvell.
Â
"It was good, and it's been a goal of ours," Norvell said. "We're a work in progress. We're trying to continue to execute and improve in some areas, and we've got to keep drives alive."
Â
Offensively, yes. Defensively, they prefer the current trend of ending them early.
Â
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Once giving the ball away at a higher rate than taking it back, Colorado State was looming in the negatives when it came to turnover margin. Now, after a reversal of fortune highlighted by a stellar defensive effort the past two weeks, the Rams have balanced the scales.
Â
It's a trend they'd like to see stick around for a bit.
Â
"We talk about the ball all the time. That's our main emphasis – the ball, the ball, the ball," safety Henry Blackburn said. "We talk about getting turnovers, getting punches at the ball, go attack the ball when it's in the air. It's something that's going to keep on coming. I think guys are doing a good job.
Â
"We have a lot of guys playing with a lot of effort and a lot of detail. When you just play relentless football, good things will happen. Guys running to the ball, sometimes it's going to pop out. Sometimes guys are going to get a punch, whatever happens. It's good that it's starting to show up."
Â
Since the schedule flipped to conference play, Colorado State's defense has turned the page. After creating just five turnovers the first five game, the Rams have collected eight the past three weeks, led by five interceptions.
Â
They created three turnovers against Air Force, then four more in the win over New Mexico. Linebackers coach Adam Pilapil is thrilled with the change, but it's not like the defense has altered tactics.
Â
To the point, they're just paying off now.
Â
"I think you're always trying to attack the ball and you try to create those opportunities, but when those opportunities come and you're attacking the ball, good things happen," he said. "When you play really, really hard, you get rewarded for playing hard. I think the guys have been playing hard, so the ball's been coming their way and that's good.
Â
"I don't know if what we're doing is better or worse. It is what it is. Opportunities are there, and guys have been working on it all year; that hasn't changed. I think it's just the opportunities are coming around and we've been successful with it."
Â
Turnovers can be very random, such as how the Rams have been collecting them. The eight interceptions have come from seven different players; only linebacker Chase Wilson has two, his second putting a cap on the New Mexico win. The five fumbles recovered have been pounced on by five different players.
Â
Wilson has produced three of the turnovers. Buom Jock has an interception and a fumble recovery to his credit. It proves to Pilapil they are in the mix creating chaos, which is exactly where he wants them. They also lead the team in tackles, Jock with 71, Wilson with 67.
Â
"I would say so. At the end of the day, we talk about our job is to get the guy with the ball and if we can get the ball back too, even better," Pilapil said. "Guys have been doing a good job of that, and that's been their focus since July. I think that's the culmination of their work."
Â
The other half of the scale is the offense taking care of the ball better. The New Mexico game was the first time this season the Rams didn't turn over the ball. After throwing four interceptions the first four weeks, Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi has thrown just one the past four, none the past two weeks.
Â
Fumbles have been an issue up until last week, a hopeful sign to Norvell.
Â
"It was good, and it's been a goal of ours," Norvell said. "We're a work in progress. We're trying to continue to execute and improve in some areas, and we've got to keep drives alive."
Â
Offensively, yes. Defensively, they prefer the current trend of ending them early.
Â
Players Mentioned
DB
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