Doing it Better Up and Down the Roster

The message had been given all along. Go back to spring camp. It was reiterated throughout the fall by Jay Norvell and the captain. The refrain continued week by week during the season.

The bait can be set, but it has to be taken. Sometimes it requires a different voice, an altered tone. Or hitting the peak of frustration.

The key, Norvell told his team repeatedly, was in the details. The extra work. Meeting with coaches. Watching film. Recovering so players could come back the next day fully charged. A good portion of the roster was following through.

Just not all of them, and a loss at Oregon State in overtime helped push the needle well past the majority.

"I just think that players have to make a decision to do the hard things. We have more kids doing that," Norvell said. "To play well, you have to prepare. Not only do you have to practice, but you have to do the other things during the day that allow you to play well, which is study film, getting in with your coaches, understanding the game plan in detail and resting, recovering and preparing your body physically to play, but also your mind.

"I just like the mindset of our players the past month. We're showing up for a fight and a challenge and an opportunity to compete on game day, and we have more players who are ready to go, more players who are executing the details of what it takes to win and we're playing complementary football in all three phases. That's what it takes to win."

The result has been a four-game win streak, all in Mountain West play. It's the best run of victories for the program since 2017 and it's put the Rams in a prime position. Win their final three games and play for the conference championship.

That wasn't the path the team seemed to be on during non-conference play. Colorado State was playing uneven and inconsistent, far from complementary as they stood 2-3. The road loss to the Beavers in overtime – an outcome which accentuated the ideals the small things matter – really stood out.

"Coach Norvell has been emphasizing we use the most of our time since the summer, getting sleep, active recovery and watching film," offensive lineman Drew Moss said. "It's being able to utilize those things.

"I think our leadership gave us a kick in the butt. They drive us. At that point, you watch that game and it's so close. We had to emphasize we had to do the small things to get the big things done."

The defense has seen an uptick in performance. The unit has doubled its turnover creation, 10 in the past four games as opposed to five the five contests prior. The Rams are generating more sacks, and most importantly, the group has cut points allowed from 28.6 an outing down to 16.

Offensively the Rams are averaging a touchdown better per game in conference play and the special teams units have shined.

"I think you kind of get into a rhythm as a season goes along and progresses. We didn't start the best, so I think that really made guys want to lock in and what we had going at the beginning of the season was not how we were going to let the rest of the season play out," linebacker Chase Wilson said. "To get into that rhythm and to get into that routine takes a little time, takes a couple of weeks. I think we found that, and I think we need to keep pressing into that."

Moss says the captains will not let it rest, which is necessary no matter how good the flow is. In each position group, the leadership is holding the masses accountable. At this point, no small detail can be overlooked.

Individually, each player has their own approach. For Moss, it's daily reminders he writes on the tape of his hands.

"You have to have goals in practice. That's the perfect way to get better," he said. "I write stuff on my hands. Today, it was keep leverage on play side and then no lean on my pass punch."

The trickle effect has been just as important as the season has played out. When Norvell arrived, the roster lacked depth, a target for improvement each progressing year. This season, there's been a payoff.

Nuer Gatkuoth wasn't at the start, but Gabe Kirschke was ready to go. When Tory Horton went down, it provided more opportunity for Caleb Goodie and the rest of a young receiving core. Jacob Gardner, the most experienced player in the conference, went down with an injury and backup Trevyn Heil came in and played admirably.

The list goes on and on.

"It's getting better all the time. The depth in your offense and defensive lines is really critical," Norvell said. "If you're going to be a team that wins consistently, you better have big people who can play. We didn't have that our first couple of years. That's improved, but it's also a mindset of your program and turning the page to where we had guys who were riding the season out here in the past. We have guys who are ready to play and are wanting to perform now. That's a huge difference in our program."

Being ready is becoming part of the mindset. For Dane Olson, it always has been. A sixth-year player, he's played bit roles throughout his time, eventually becoming a mainstay on special teams. In the win over Nevada, he delivered two crucial plays – a diving catch to set up the opening touchdown, a fumble recovery to keep another scoring drive afoot.

He's now seeing more people take the approach he always has, and in turn, that's led to better practices team wide.

"I think it goes back to our practice habits. Going back to spring ball and fall camp," he said. "The competition we have internally as a team, we build a lot of trust with each other and no matter who is out there, we feel we're going to get the job done."

A message received which now has Colorado State on a clear path forward.

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