Setting the Stage: Rams Taking it Step by Step

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at New Mexico

Their brains are aware of the prize. Their eyes are focused on the specific process, one which Jay Norvell says is team is following to the letter.

The ability to compartmentalize helps.

"All we've been worried about is the process we go through every day. We're not even looking at Friday yet, we're just looking at today and what we need to prepare ourselves for the game," the Colorado State coach said Tuesday. "Our guys have done a great job of that. It's been a process all year working to that point, but I like our focus, and we're totally present in practice."

The outline is simple: Win the final three games of the Mountain West season and the Rams play for the conference championship. Easy enough, but only if they stick to what is right in front of them.

Friday that would be rival Wyoming. They can't get to the end if they don't go step by step. While the Rams know what could be at the end of the trip, they aren't ignoring the stops along the way.

"You can't ever get to the grand prize if you can't handle what's right in front of you," linebacker Chase Wilson said. "I think you can have the end goal; you can know what that goal is at the end of the tunnel, but you're not getting to the end of the tunnel unless you handle the business right in front of you. That's what we focus on each week."

Different Look

Wyoming is 2-7 entering the game and struggled on offense much of the year. That doesn't appear to be the team entering Canvas Stadium this week, one also fresh off a bye week.

For starters, running back Harrison Waylee finally returned to the lineup and promptly rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown in he 49-45 win over New Mexico two weeks ago. To back it up, Kaden Anderson started at quarterback for the first time, throwing for 360 yards in the win. He's played in seven games, mopping up the Utah State game the week prior in his most extensive action.

That's the offense the Rams are preparing to face.

"Teams change throughout the year and transform depending on who is healthy and who's playing," Norvell said. "They're trying to get better, just like everybody. They're a different team than they were a month ago. We have to beat the team that shows up Friday night."

What Norvell noticed was Anderson's start gave the Wyoming offense a jolt of confidence a bit higher of execution. Former starter Evan Svoboda was hitting less than 50 percent of his passes; Anderson connecting at 63.2 percent clip.
Sometimes change simply inspires performance, which the Rams have to counter by doing what they have been during conference play.

"From what I've seen, they like to spread the ball around a lot more. I like games like that," CSU corner Dom Jones said. "It's giving me a chance to make plays in the passing game. I know the run game is fun, but I'm a corner. I'm trying to pick stuff off and make plays on the ball. He's good with his legs. He's a young guy, so he should be durable at this point. We have to make it a long day for him, give him pictures and get our hands on him."

Here and There

Norvell said center Jacob Gardner had a chance to play, but his official status is still up in the air. Gardner has started every game of his college career, a streak which stands at 54. Jack Howell will not play, missing his second consecutive game. The coach was not optimistic about the availability of punter Paddy Turner but didn't shut the door completely. … Colorado State leads the overall series 58-51-5, but Wyoming leads since the inception of the Bronze Boot in 1968, 35-31.

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