Colorado State University Athletics
Setting the Stage: Colorado
9/13/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
Keeping yellow flags from becoming red flags
In the past season, Colorado State was one of the most penalized teams in the country, ranking 128th overall. They were tagged with yellow flags 7.7 times per game on average, costing the Rams just shy of 70 yards per game.
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It didn't help he cause at all, especially in the loss to Colorado. The Rams drew 17 infractions for more than 180 yards. One has to believe it played a role in a double-overtime loss.
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Flash forward a season, the team has drawn just four penalties through two games, a vast improvement. To coach Jay Norvell, there's a definite correlation for the improvement.
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"Practice and fundamentals. That's what we put a priority on here is practice and being fundamentally sound and being better," Norvell said Wednesday. "I think that's starting to show in our play. We've got to continue to improve every week and get better in every area, and that's an area we've put a high priority on, and we want to see it show up when we play."
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Linebacker Chase Wilson agrees with his coach, that in this instance in particular, practice is making the team better. To the veteran, there's a definite link from poor fundamentals to penalties.
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Correct one, the other will follow.
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"A lot of it boils down to how you're playing your technique. A lot of times when you're getting penalties it's because you're out of leverage, you're not in great body position, so you hold or something. It's refining techniques. We've really been focused on cutting down penalties, and that plays into it."
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The Rams had just one infraction in the opener, three against Northern Colorado.
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In the House
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The importance of the games don't have to be explained to anybody. Nor does the idea that winning takes on greater meaning in rivalries. Yet the Rams have had an issue with the latter part.
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They're on a seven-game slide when it comes to their Front Range rivals, one the team would like to slam the breaks on starting Saturday. Heading into this particular contest, Norvell believes his team has taken the correct approach in part due to the team's makeup.
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"I think we're more mature. I think we're wiser about what we need to do to get ready to play," he said. "And I don't think we're wasting energy on things that don't matter. You only have so much energy, and we want to use all of our energy between 5:30 and 8:30 Saturday night. We want to do a great job of that through practice and preparing. We talk about not cheating the game. If you practice a certain way, prepare a certain way, you're going to play a certain way. We want to be that way in practice. We don't cheat practice. We come out and work hard every week and that should show on game day."
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Particularly this time around, as the Rocky Mountain Showdown has returned to campus and will be played at Canvas Stadium for the first time.
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Rivalry games are always emotionally fueled for those on the field and in the stands, regardless of where they are played. Neutral site games don't lack fuel, but hosting a rival will drive the needle. Norvell has been a part of such games in both circumstances, and he knows which setting is preferred.
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"There's no doubt. I think the home team really gets to relish the fact of having that game in their community and their stadium," he said. "We have such a special stadium here. It's very deserving of games like this. They just don't happen as often, and I'm glad that the game is back on both campuses."
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As safety Jack Howell did earlier in the week, he expressed his remorse this particular meeting will take a five-year hiatus before resuming, calling for an annual agreement.
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Here and There
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The Rams will know the availability of Tory Horton on Saturday, but either way, Norvell says the rest of the receiver room will need to do their part regardless. CSU has not thrown with the same regularity this year – just 51 times, or 10 more than what they averaged per game in 2023 – leaving the group's production potential still somewhat of a mystery. … The Rams have praised the speed of Colorado's wideouts all week, feeling the game with Texas gave them an early look.
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It didn't help he cause at all, especially in the loss to Colorado. The Rams drew 17 infractions for more than 180 yards. One has to believe it played a role in a double-overtime loss.
Â
Flash forward a season, the team has drawn just four penalties through two games, a vast improvement. To coach Jay Norvell, there's a definite correlation for the improvement.
Â
"Practice and fundamentals. That's what we put a priority on here is practice and being fundamentally sound and being better," Norvell said Wednesday. "I think that's starting to show in our play. We've got to continue to improve every week and get better in every area, and that's an area we've put a high priority on, and we want to see it show up when we play."
Â
Linebacker Chase Wilson agrees with his coach, that in this instance in particular, practice is making the team better. To the veteran, there's a definite link from poor fundamentals to penalties.
Â
Correct one, the other will follow.
Â
"A lot of it boils down to how you're playing your technique. A lot of times when you're getting penalties it's because you're out of leverage, you're not in great body position, so you hold or something. It's refining techniques. We've really been focused on cutting down penalties, and that plays into it."
Â
The Rams had just one infraction in the opener, three against Northern Colorado.
Â
In the House
Â
The importance of the games don't have to be explained to anybody. Nor does the idea that winning takes on greater meaning in rivalries. Yet the Rams have had an issue with the latter part.
Â
They're on a seven-game slide when it comes to their Front Range rivals, one the team would like to slam the breaks on starting Saturday. Heading into this particular contest, Norvell believes his team has taken the correct approach in part due to the team's makeup.
Â
"I think we're more mature. I think we're wiser about what we need to do to get ready to play," he said. "And I don't think we're wasting energy on things that don't matter. You only have so much energy, and we want to use all of our energy between 5:30 and 8:30 Saturday night. We want to do a great job of that through practice and preparing. We talk about not cheating the game. If you practice a certain way, prepare a certain way, you're going to play a certain way. We want to be that way in practice. We don't cheat practice. We come out and work hard every week and that should show on game day."
Â
Particularly this time around, as the Rocky Mountain Showdown has returned to campus and will be played at Canvas Stadium for the first time.
Â
Rivalry games are always emotionally fueled for those on the field and in the stands, regardless of where they are played. Neutral site games don't lack fuel, but hosting a rival will drive the needle. Norvell has been a part of such games in both circumstances, and he knows which setting is preferred.
Â
"There's no doubt. I think the home team really gets to relish the fact of having that game in their community and their stadium," he said. "We have such a special stadium here. It's very deserving of games like this. They just don't happen as often, and I'm glad that the game is back on both campuses."
Â
As safety Jack Howell did earlier in the week, he expressed his remorse this particular meeting will take a five-year hiatus before resuming, calling for an annual agreement.
Â
Here and There
Â
The Rams will know the availability of Tory Horton on Saturday, but either way, Norvell says the rest of the receiver room will need to do their part regardless. CSU has not thrown with the same regularity this year – just 51 times, or 10 more than what they averaged per game in 2023 – leaving the group's production potential still somewhat of a mystery. … The Rams have praised the speed of Colorado's wideouts all week, feeling the game with Texas gave them an early look.
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Players Mentioned
Inside the Nickelback Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Monday, April 27
Inside the Safety Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Friday, April 24
Inside the Wide Receiver Room | Colorado State Football | Rams Live
Sunday, April 19
Colorado State Football: Jim Mora Final Spring Practice Presser
Friday, April 17