Colorado State University Athletics
Spring Game Caps Growth for Norvell
4/20/2024 5:03:00 PM | Football
Specific targets address during camp
With a lack of numbers, Saturday wasn't going to showcase much.
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The three returning offensive line starters sat out Saturday's Green & Gold game at Canvas Stadium, a sign of the times in a spring where the unit took more than a fair share of hits, the product of a physical camp.
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Starting safety Henry Blackburn watched, as did All-Mountain West wideout Tory Horton, except for fielding punts which weren't live. CSU coach Jay Norvell figured about 50 players actually suited up for the game, so the results – a 28-17 win by the World team which was staked a 21-point advantage at the start – weren't going to tell him much.
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He had 14 prior practices to glean those answers, which he felt he did. Not all, but especially the targets he set. A particular place of interest was physicality, both in establishing it offensively and stopping it defensively.
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"We were coming off the season and really wanted to work on specific things to helps us be a better team. I mentioned the run defense and the run concepts on offense, and we really went back and drilled the crap out of that," Norvell said. "A lot more inside run, a lot more pods, a lot more perimeter blocking. Really, less plays in practice than we've had in the past and really worked on fundamentals and technique.
Â
"We wanted to work on the 2-minute drill at the end of the game with our offense and defense and our coverages at the end of the game; that was a really big point of emphasis for us. Just looking at some different schemes on both sides of the ball. I think that's one of the things we always do at this time of the year."
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The other part is the young players who prove they are ready to take the next step and be part of the solution. Jaylen Gardner in the secondary was one of them. So was linebacker Buom Jock, who had a fumble recovery to set up a touchdown run by Damian Henderson II. Also at linebacker, Drew Rodriquez took steps.
Â
There were other newcomers, a bit longer in the tooth, who improved the mood. Receiver Donovan Ollie caught a touchdown pass, and corner Isaiah Essissima picked off a pass. Norvell expects them both to be experienced adds.
Â
Norvell loves Essissima's attitude, coming to practice every day saying he's going to "get you one,' a promise he made and kept in the spring game. Having played in the system before, he felt comfortable from the jump, and now he has his focus set on what's next for the unit as a whole.
Â
"Just hold each other accountable. Playing together," Essissima said. "Each piece of the defense is so vital, so when once everybody is doing their job and everybody's holding everybody accountable, the sky's really the limit for us."
Â
Coming off his first season as the starting quarterback, Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi had his own personal checklist for camp, targets he was able to hit with the increased reps which come as the returning starter, not a third-stringer in the spring like last year.
Â
Norvell felt the youngster made gains this spring. More importantly, Fowler-Nicolosi feels better coming out of camp as a quarterback and as an offense.
Â
"I feel like for me, it was a matter of is the offense going to establish it's identity, and I feel we did a pretty good job of that," he said. "Throughout the spring we were trying out some new stuff in the run game, but base offense, I think we did a good job of finding ourselves and finding that identity we're looking for.
Â
"(That's) a tough offense that loves each other and will play for each other and make explosive plays, but also stay consistent."
Â
More to Come
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Some of what spring is about is finding holes in the lineup, and with the transfer portal opening up again, the team will seek some reinforcements. Both lines are on the list.
Â
"We really would probably like to sign a couple of D-lineman, especially interior guys, bigger bodies who can stop the run," Norvell said. "We'd like to sign another corner, and we have one on campus this weekend. We may sign a wide receiver if we get the right guy.
Â
"Maybe another offensive lineman. We'll probably look to add four or five guys in the portal. There are a lot of guys getting in there."
Â
In all, about 30 new players will be on hand when fall camp begins in early August.
Â
New Arrival
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Norvell's minority fellowship will be filled this first season by Adam Lopez, who was officially hired this week and added to the staff.
Â
"I'm really proud to be able to add that position in my father's name," Norvell said. "I'm just hoping more coaches will look at that and try to find ways to give young coaches a chance in this business."
Â
Â
The three returning offensive line starters sat out Saturday's Green & Gold game at Canvas Stadium, a sign of the times in a spring where the unit took more than a fair share of hits, the product of a physical camp.
Â
Starting safety Henry Blackburn watched, as did All-Mountain West wideout Tory Horton, except for fielding punts which weren't live. CSU coach Jay Norvell figured about 50 players actually suited up for the game, so the results – a 28-17 win by the World team which was staked a 21-point advantage at the start – weren't going to tell him much.
Â
He had 14 prior practices to glean those answers, which he felt he did. Not all, but especially the targets he set. A particular place of interest was physicality, both in establishing it offensively and stopping it defensively.
Â
"We were coming off the season and really wanted to work on specific things to helps us be a better team. I mentioned the run defense and the run concepts on offense, and we really went back and drilled the crap out of that," Norvell said. "A lot more inside run, a lot more pods, a lot more perimeter blocking. Really, less plays in practice than we've had in the past and really worked on fundamentals and technique.
Â
"We wanted to work on the 2-minute drill at the end of the game with our offense and defense and our coverages at the end of the game; that was a really big point of emphasis for us. Just looking at some different schemes on both sides of the ball. I think that's one of the things we always do at this time of the year."
Â
The other part is the young players who prove they are ready to take the next step and be part of the solution. Jaylen Gardner in the secondary was one of them. So was linebacker Buom Jock, who had a fumble recovery to set up a touchdown run by Damian Henderson II. Also at linebacker, Drew Rodriquez took steps.
Â
There were other newcomers, a bit longer in the tooth, who improved the mood. Receiver Donovan Ollie caught a touchdown pass, and corner Isaiah Essissima picked off a pass. Norvell expects them both to be experienced adds.
Â
Norvell loves Essissima's attitude, coming to practice every day saying he's going to "get you one,' a promise he made and kept in the spring game. Having played in the system before, he felt comfortable from the jump, and now he has his focus set on what's next for the unit as a whole.
Â
"Just hold each other accountable. Playing together," Essissima said. "Each piece of the defense is so vital, so when once everybody is doing their job and everybody's holding everybody accountable, the sky's really the limit for us."
Â
Coming off his first season as the starting quarterback, Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi had his own personal checklist for camp, targets he was able to hit with the increased reps which come as the returning starter, not a third-stringer in the spring like last year.
Â
Norvell felt the youngster made gains this spring. More importantly, Fowler-Nicolosi feels better coming out of camp as a quarterback and as an offense.
Â
"I feel like for me, it was a matter of is the offense going to establish it's identity, and I feel we did a pretty good job of that," he said. "Throughout the spring we were trying out some new stuff in the run game, but base offense, I think we did a good job of finding ourselves and finding that identity we're looking for.
Â
"(That's) a tough offense that loves each other and will play for each other and make explosive plays, but also stay consistent."
Â
More to Come
Â
Some of what spring is about is finding holes in the lineup, and with the transfer portal opening up again, the team will seek some reinforcements. Both lines are on the list.
Â
"We really would probably like to sign a couple of D-lineman, especially interior guys, bigger bodies who can stop the run," Norvell said. "We'd like to sign another corner, and we have one on campus this weekend. We may sign a wide receiver if we get the right guy.
Â
"Maybe another offensive lineman. We'll probably look to add four or five guys in the portal. There are a lot of guys getting in there."
Â
In all, about 30 new players will be on hand when fall camp begins in early August.
Â
New Arrival
Â
Norvell's minority fellowship will be filled this first season by Adam Lopez, who was officially hired this week and added to the staff.
Â
"I'm really proud to be able to add that position in my father's name," Norvell said. "I'm just hoping more coaches will look at that and try to find ways to give young coaches a chance in this business."
Â
Players Mentioned
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DB
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QB
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RB
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LB
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WR
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