Stacking Improvements One Week to the Next

Calendar

Show:/

Sep 20

7:30 PM

Football

vs UTSA

Sep 27

5:30 PM

Football

vs Washington State

Oct 3

8:30 PM

Football

at San Diego State

Oct 10

7:00 PM

Football

vs Fresno State

Oct 18

5:00 PM

Football

vs Hawai'i

The first game didn't go as planned. The second week, better.

The third outing, Colorado State's defense understands it has to continue to ascend. Colorado is a rival, a wounded one even. The Buffs have explosive players. The challenges are amplified, and thus, so must be the play on Saturday.

"It's guys being able to make adjustments from week one to week two as far as our tackling and being better in coverage, that's huge. Each week you just want to keep progressing," safety Jack Howell said. "It doesn't matter who the team is, whether it's Texas, UNC, CU, you just want to keep progressing. It's about how you play the football, not how the other team plays."

Texas is the No. 3 team in the country, Northern Colorado an FCS team which is struggling under a second-year coach. They are on opposite planes, but somewhere in the middle of those first two assignments is the Rams' defense now. Saturday, they all feel they need to be somewhere else.

Coach Jay Norvell spelled it out for them. The Buffs have a good quarterback, and he has three main threats who can all break big plays. Allowing explosive plays has been an issue in the first two games for Colorado State, an area with an eye for correction.

"Every game, especially at DB you can't have mental errors. We had one last week and it resulted in a touchdown," Howell said. "That's what happens with DBs when you don't execute fundamentally. Obviously with a great wide receiver corps like they have, Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn, those guys are two really good football players. We're really excited to play them, but we have good football players too. It's cool talking about them but look at our guys. We've got Dom Jones, (Isaiah Essissima) and Elias (Larry), and those guys are really good football players."

Colorado State does have experience in the secondary, but it's a group which will be greatly aided by a pass rush to force the issue. While Colorado has been vulnerable up front protecting the passer, the Rams are young in those pass-rushing spots.

They'll remain young, too, as Nuer Gatkuoth will again not be available for the game. In his place, however, youngsters Kenyon Agurs and Gabe Kirschke have taken advantage of the opportunity and have made splash plays in games.

Agurs, in a backup role, leads the team with 3.5 tackles for loss. Kirschke, who started the first two weeks, has the Rams' lone sack and 1.5 tackles for loss himself. Regardless of the competition, they've been present.

"It's not a surprise at all, but it's been very pleasant to watch. Those guys are hard-nosed and tough, executing," Wilson said. "They're athletes, they're ball players. It's been great for both of them to step into significant roles and it's been a pleasure to watch them. That's one of the things we try to attack each week, regardless of who we're going to play, we're going to play defense, and they emulate that perfectly."

CSU's defense has seven returning starters including Gatkuoth, but the newcomers are playing their part. Buom Jock leads the team with 16 tackles, just one in front of Wilson. Through camp and the two games, Wilson has been impressed with their play, as well as their growth.

Each week is a learning experience for them. It's also another chance for the defense to grow into the group it wants to become. It's the mentality of the next game, the next step forward.

"I'm extremely encouraged. I think it's a testament to who they are and their work ethic and the culture we have as a team," Wilson said. "I'm encouraged. It's an honor to see the progress some of these guys make. There's never a point of satisfaction. There's always something you can improve. You have to celebrate the little victories and be cognizant of the areas of growth, but we're always trying to improve.

"This week, we have to exceed it. We're striving to get better every single week. We did some good things last week, but there's also quite a few things we need clean up for this game. We know the coaches are going to put us in the best position to win this football game, and it's our job to execute, play with tremendous effort, strain and focus. We'll be just fine."

With the caveat being the defense must continue to improve week after week.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results