Colorado State University Athletics
Offense Out to Create Balanced Attack
9/10/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
Rams yet to show full passing prowess
The highlight was the rushing game, with 246 yards spread among a host of backs, even receivers. Colorado State could run when it wanted and how it wanted, a status of desire since last season exited stage left.
Â
Call it progress. Coach Jay Norvell called it as much, then he mentioned a discussion with quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme about tempo. Mainly how the Rams haven't really been able to get in rhythm when they want to fire up the jets.
Â
The Rams will want that eventually, Norvell said, heading into one of the analogies he fires up from time to time.
Â
"I think we have the opportunity to play varied tempos, and we have to be better that way. It's like a pitcher, you don't just throw fastballs all the time," Norvell said. "You've gotta throw changeups, you've gotta throw curves, you gotta keep people off balance. You have to back them up sometimes. We'll continue to work that, perfect that. I think as you go through the season, you grow as a team, and we'll certainly work on that and get better."
Â
He's not wrong. Nolan Ryan was the king of the fireball. He also had a wicked curve and a nasty change. But they were nasty because of the threat of his fastball.
Â
Do the Rams still have theirs?
Â
The answer was an emphatic "yes" from both Mumme and quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi.
Â
"Absolutely. One hundred percent," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "I don't think that's something you can lose. I think we still have the chemistry we need for it. We're just waiting patiently for our opportunity."
Â
Makes sense. The Rams went with a ball-control plan in the Texas loss and approached the Northern Colorado game wanting to establish the run even more. They haven't called for the heater much in the first two weeks.
Â
Last week is part of the reason Mumme doesn't worry about his quarterback having to bring the heat. He's never lost faith in his guy, knowing he's always up for a game. This week is definitely no exception.
Â
Even when they asked him to throw it, Fowler-Nicolosi shook them off.
Â
"It's being the complete quarterback," Mumme said. "Last week, he checked 11 pass plays to runs for 98 yards, so almost a little under half of what our yardage was called because of him."
What kind of Air Raid quarterback turns down the opportunity to throw the ball?
Â
The one Fowler-Nicolosi said he was becoming in the offseason.
Â
"A mature one. I think a year ago, I don't think it would be the same story," he said. "It's understanding our offense, what looks we like and how we can be effective as an offense and not just me as a passer.
Â
"As a quarterback, it's really nice to have that other dimension, which opens up the passing game. I'm looking forward to how that develops the offense throughout the season."
Â
As did his distribution in the win over Northern Colorado. He hit on 18-of-27 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown – a perfectly placed deep ball to Caleb Goodie – connecting with 10 different targets. It was an array of backs, wideouts and tight ends, vets and youngsters.
Â
The number of targets was important in a myriad of ways.
Â
"I think that just speaks to the maturity of our team, too. Guys growing up and not being the young guys we were last year," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "It shows the amount of weapons we have as an offense, and I think that's an exciting stat to look at."
Â
The offensive approach has looked different the first two weeks as opposed to the system which averaged more than 40 pass attempts per game, resulting in 306.5 yards per game in the air.
Â
The nice thing is it has looked much different than the offense which only averaged 3.4 yards per carry and less than 93 yards per contest on the ground. The ability to do both is preferred.
Â
Especially when Norvell has no qualms about calling for the No. 1.
Â
"You gotta have a fastball you can hang your hat on, yes. But we have a lot of tools in our tool kit we want to perfect as we go," Norvell said. "We don't use them all every week, but you kinda pull them out when you need to, and you need to be effective playing at different speeds."
Â
Â
Call it progress. Coach Jay Norvell called it as much, then he mentioned a discussion with quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme about tempo. Mainly how the Rams haven't really been able to get in rhythm when they want to fire up the jets.
Â
The Rams will want that eventually, Norvell said, heading into one of the analogies he fires up from time to time.
Â
"I think we have the opportunity to play varied tempos, and we have to be better that way. It's like a pitcher, you don't just throw fastballs all the time," Norvell said. "You've gotta throw changeups, you've gotta throw curves, you gotta keep people off balance. You have to back them up sometimes. We'll continue to work that, perfect that. I think as you go through the season, you grow as a team, and we'll certainly work on that and get better."
Â
He's not wrong. Nolan Ryan was the king of the fireball. He also had a wicked curve and a nasty change. But they were nasty because of the threat of his fastball.
Â
Do the Rams still have theirs?
Â
The answer was an emphatic "yes" from both Mumme and quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi.
Â
"Absolutely. One hundred percent," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "I don't think that's something you can lose. I think we still have the chemistry we need for it. We're just waiting patiently for our opportunity."
Â
Makes sense. The Rams went with a ball-control plan in the Texas loss and approached the Northern Colorado game wanting to establish the run even more. They haven't called for the heater much in the first two weeks.
Â
Last week is part of the reason Mumme doesn't worry about his quarterback having to bring the heat. He's never lost faith in his guy, knowing he's always up for a game. This week is definitely no exception.
Â
Even when they asked him to throw it, Fowler-Nicolosi shook them off.
Â
"It's being the complete quarterback," Mumme said. "Last week, he checked 11 pass plays to runs for 98 yards, so almost a little under half of what our yardage was called because of him."
What kind of Air Raid quarterback turns down the opportunity to throw the ball?
Â
The one Fowler-Nicolosi said he was becoming in the offseason.
Â
"A mature one. I think a year ago, I don't think it would be the same story," he said. "It's understanding our offense, what looks we like and how we can be effective as an offense and not just me as a passer.
Â
"As a quarterback, it's really nice to have that other dimension, which opens up the passing game. I'm looking forward to how that develops the offense throughout the season."
Â
As did his distribution in the win over Northern Colorado. He hit on 18-of-27 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown – a perfectly placed deep ball to Caleb Goodie – connecting with 10 different targets. It was an array of backs, wideouts and tight ends, vets and youngsters.
Â
The number of targets was important in a myriad of ways.
Â
"I think that just speaks to the maturity of our team, too. Guys growing up and not being the young guys we were last year," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "It shows the amount of weapons we have as an offense, and I think that's an exciting stat to look at."
Â
The offensive approach has looked different the first two weeks as opposed to the system which averaged more than 40 pass attempts per game, resulting in 306.5 yards per game in the air.
Â
The nice thing is it has looked much different than the offense which only averaged 3.4 yards per carry and less than 93 yards per contest on the ground. The ability to do both is preferred.
Â
Especially when Norvell has no qualms about calling for the No. 1.
Â
"You gotta have a fastball you can hang your hat on, yes. But we have a lot of tools in our tool kit we want to perfect as we go," Norvell said. "We don't use them all every week, but you kinda pull them out when you need to, and you need to be effective playing at different speeds."
Â
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballColorado State Athletics: Football Bye Week Update
Wednesday, September 10
Colorado State Football: Ellis (L) and Rogers (R) Postgame (Northern Colorado, 2025)
Saturday, September 06
Colorado State Football: Avant (L) and Fowler-Nicolosi (R) Postgame (Northern Colorado, 2025)
Saturday, September 06
Colorado State Football: Jay Norvell Post-Game (Northern Colorado, 2025)
Saturday, September 06