Colorado State University Athletics
Defensive Rise Bolsters Rams’ Run
11/20/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
Unit leads conference in points allowed
There are sprinkles of excellence within the numbers.
Both Colorado State linebackers are among the top 10 in the Mountain West tackles. Elias Larry sits in the top 10 of passes defended. Gabe Kirschke among the top 10 in sacks and forced fumbles.
Defensively, the Rams don't lead in sacks, tackles for loss or turnovers created. But where it matters, the defense does top the conference, and that's in points allowed. Just 22.7 per game for the season, a mere 14.8 in conference play.
Against their five conference foes, the Rams have held each under their season scoring average.
"A lot of these teams we've played have played a lot of high scoring games, and when they play us, they're not," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "It's part of the style we're playing."
The current run of five consecutive wins has a lot to do with how the Rams are playing on defense. There is not one standout stat which one can point to and proclaim that's where success stems.
What is successful is the unit, and because the defense is executing as a high level as a sum of its parts, the Rams have risen to the status of the conference's stingiest unit.
"That's it. We have a lot of guys who are physical, care about each other and love the game of football," linebacker Chase Wilson said. "It just comes down to execution at the end of the day. Are we going to execute and do our jobs, because I feel good about us against anybody when we're executing and doing our jobs.
"That's not to say we don't have great players, because I think we have depth and we 11 great players with depth. It just shows you can have a stud on your defense, but if the other 10 guys aren't doing their job, you're not going to have a good defense. We have 11 guys who are doing their job at a high level."
Every game of the streak has had a distinctive look. It started with San Jose State, when the Rams had no sacks or a tackles for loss and didn't produce a turnover until late, yet they held the Spartans' offense at bay. Against Wyoming, no sacks, no turnovers but only 10 points. New Mexico came in flying high and CSU limited the Lobos to just six points.
In five conference games, the Rams have scaled down attacks, with teams scoring 49.8 combined points less than they are used to scoring.
"I think we're impressed, but like (defensive coordinator) Coach (Freddie) Banks says every time we get in the meeting room, he says we're not finished yet. We're always hungry, we're always hungry to get a zero," said defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth, who is getting up to speed after being slowed by injury the beginning of the season. "Every time Coach Banks, he's never happy when he comes in the meeting room because he knows there's more in us. It's good we're holding teams to those scores, but I think we can be way better as a defense. We can be more disruptive, even more dominant, and we're chasing that every week. I feel like us chasing that every week is making us be better every week, making us more hungry."
Which for Wilson is a key. Banks is always convincing his group there is a better performance awaiting them, and week by week, they've taken steps.
None of the conference opponents have converted better than 33 percent on third down. The Rams rank first in conference play in pass defense efficiency, having broken up 25 throws in the run. In conference play, opposing offenses have only reached the red zone nine times, the next closest team (UNLV) allowing 16 trips.
Being stingy is one thing. Being better is the goal.
"I don't think we're at the level that we've played to our full potential as a team and as a defense, which is extremely exciting for me," Wilson said. "When we play to 100 percent execution across the board, we're going to be scary. It's not good enough. He definitely gives us our praise, and we have a little tradition where he hands out candy to the guys who play well on defense. Then it's on to the next opponent.
"That's what we all want. We're all grown men, good football players. If a coach isn't pushing you anymore, I don't know if I'd want that. I don't know if the guys on this team would want that. You want to always strive for better. You should never be content."
The defense continues to pinpoint areas. The group has cut down on the big plays allowed, especially the big chunks. Wyoming's 62-yard run was the longest play allowed to Mountain West offense, with only two explosives accounting for more than 40 yards.
Keep the ball out of the end zone, there's a chance for a stop on the next play. In the past three weeks, the Rams have not allowed an explosive play for a score. Two of the red-zone trips led to turnovers created by the Rams.
Gatkuoth believes with some of the youth joining the group, there has been a slow build through the season. Wilson takes it back even further.
"It goes back to when Coach Banks got here. That's when it started to build," he said. "We had to fail and fall on our face quite a few times to learn how to be a really good defense, to start learning to do things the right way. We're still learning every day how to do things better because no season is perfect. This season has been that first step to where you can really see a result, but this has been building for three years."
Norvell suggested at the beginning of the season the change in offensive approach was to help protect the defense. The way the unit is playing, the defense has protected the Rams' offense at times. And it is clear to him all three phases – including special teams – have played the role of enforcer. After building a 24-3 lead last week, Colorado State's final six drives of merit (not including the kneel down at the end) produced five punts, among them four three-and-outs.
Wyoming's final six – five punts, a turnover on downs, four three-and-outs and just 76 yards total.
"It absolutely is," Norvell said. "I think when you have a good team, that's what you do."
Both Colorado State linebackers are among the top 10 in the Mountain West tackles. Elias Larry sits in the top 10 of passes defended. Gabe Kirschke among the top 10 in sacks and forced fumbles.
Defensively, the Rams don't lead in sacks, tackles for loss or turnovers created. But where it matters, the defense does top the conference, and that's in points allowed. Just 22.7 per game for the season, a mere 14.8 in conference play.
Against their five conference foes, the Rams have held each under their season scoring average.
"A lot of these teams we've played have played a lot of high scoring games, and when they play us, they're not," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "It's part of the style we're playing."
The current run of five consecutive wins has a lot to do with how the Rams are playing on defense. There is not one standout stat which one can point to and proclaim that's where success stems.
What is successful is the unit, and because the defense is executing as a high level as a sum of its parts, the Rams have risen to the status of the conference's stingiest unit.
"That's it. We have a lot of guys who are physical, care about each other and love the game of football," linebacker Chase Wilson said. "It just comes down to execution at the end of the day. Are we going to execute and do our jobs, because I feel good about us against anybody when we're executing and doing our jobs.
"That's not to say we don't have great players, because I think we have depth and we 11 great players with depth. It just shows you can have a stud on your defense, but if the other 10 guys aren't doing their job, you're not going to have a good defense. We have 11 guys who are doing their job at a high level."
Every game of the streak has had a distinctive look. It started with San Jose State, when the Rams had no sacks or a tackles for loss and didn't produce a turnover until late, yet they held the Spartans' offense at bay. Against Wyoming, no sacks, no turnovers but only 10 points. New Mexico came in flying high and CSU limited the Lobos to just six points.
In five conference games, the Rams have scaled down attacks, with teams scoring 49.8 combined points less than they are used to scoring.
"I think we're impressed, but like (defensive coordinator) Coach (Freddie) Banks says every time we get in the meeting room, he says we're not finished yet. We're always hungry, we're always hungry to get a zero," said defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth, who is getting up to speed after being slowed by injury the beginning of the season. "Every time Coach Banks, he's never happy when he comes in the meeting room because he knows there's more in us. It's good we're holding teams to those scores, but I think we can be way better as a defense. We can be more disruptive, even more dominant, and we're chasing that every week. I feel like us chasing that every week is making us be better every week, making us more hungry."
Which for Wilson is a key. Banks is always convincing his group there is a better performance awaiting them, and week by week, they've taken steps.
None of the conference opponents have converted better than 33 percent on third down. The Rams rank first in conference play in pass defense efficiency, having broken up 25 throws in the run. In conference play, opposing offenses have only reached the red zone nine times, the next closest team (UNLV) allowing 16 trips.
Being stingy is one thing. Being better is the goal.
"I don't think we're at the level that we've played to our full potential as a team and as a defense, which is extremely exciting for me," Wilson said. "When we play to 100 percent execution across the board, we're going to be scary. It's not good enough. He definitely gives us our praise, and we have a little tradition where he hands out candy to the guys who play well on defense. Then it's on to the next opponent.
"That's what we all want. We're all grown men, good football players. If a coach isn't pushing you anymore, I don't know if I'd want that. I don't know if the guys on this team would want that. You want to always strive for better. You should never be content."
The defense continues to pinpoint areas. The group has cut down on the big plays allowed, especially the big chunks. Wyoming's 62-yard run was the longest play allowed to Mountain West offense, with only two explosives accounting for more than 40 yards.
Keep the ball out of the end zone, there's a chance for a stop on the next play. In the past three weeks, the Rams have not allowed an explosive play for a score. Two of the red-zone trips led to turnovers created by the Rams.
Gatkuoth believes with some of the youth joining the group, there has been a slow build through the season. Wilson takes it back even further.
"It goes back to when Coach Banks got here. That's when it started to build," he said. "We had to fail and fall on our face quite a few times to learn how to be a really good defense, to start learning to do things the right way. We're still learning every day how to do things better because no season is perfect. This season has been that first step to where you can really see a result, but this has been building for three years."
Norvell suggested at the beginning of the season the change in offensive approach was to help protect the defense. The way the unit is playing, the defense has protected the Rams' offense at times. And it is clear to him all three phases – including special teams – have played the role of enforcer. After building a 24-3 lead last week, Colorado State's final six drives of merit (not including the kneel down at the end) produced five punts, among them four three-and-outs.
Wyoming's final six – five punts, a turnover on downs, four three-and-outs and just 76 yards total.
"It absolutely is," Norvell said. "I think when you have a good team, that's what you do."
Players Mentioned
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