Colorado State University Athletics
What We Saw: Cleaner Play Needed
9/15/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
Team will look forward as well as back
Move past the result. Remember why it occurred.
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Two different things and one in the same for Colorado State's football team. Stew for a day. Come back ready to correct the issues.
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"Learn from it. Grow from it. Remember the feeling," CSU quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi said. "I think a lot of people don't emphasize that enough. Remember the feeling and understand how it makes me feel right now. Let it be motivation for it to never happen again. By the same time, by Monday morning, it needs to be gone, out of my head and on to UTEP."
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When the pain is gone, the realization will hit that much ground needs to be covered from a 1-2 start. Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said confidence is not among them. Playing smarter, playing cleaner are.
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"We go back, just like every week, and watch the film and see where we're not good enough and try to make those corrections," Norvell said. "There's only a couple of ways to do that: Get players better or replace players. We'll go back and look at that."
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None of the Rams were encouraged by much Saturday, but they remain encouraged for what future Saturday's can hold. The coaches feel the players are good enough to win. The players have confidence in those in the locker next to them.
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The key is getting more production, and that doesn't come from pointing fingers.
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"We have a lot of players who are able to band together really well. We have a lot of leaders on the team, and that's really helpful," defensive end Gabe Kirschke said. "I think continuing to reiterate the goals and all these things for the team, and going into next week, that's turning the page (Sunday) and being able to do that."
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Mistake Prone
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The turnovers were a big part of the outcome. So too were the penalties.
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Too many on both counts contributed greatly to Saturday's 28-9 loss to Colorado.
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Four turnovers played a significant role, with two of them resulting in a pair of touchdowns for the Buffs. And a third took a prime scoring opportunity off the board for the Rams. The penalties were just as alarming for the reversal they represented.
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After just drawing four flags the first two weeks, Colorado State drew 10 for 95 yards. The fact the Buffs drew more for more yards (12, 110) didn't dampen the fact. Two defensive flags helped Colorado extend drives which resulted in scores.
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"Obviously, penalties really hurt you. We need to clean those things up," Kirschke said. "We haven't had a lot of penalties going into this game, but obviously emotions and stuff get into it, so I think controlling those and go into next week and continue to learn from that."
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Up Next
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Colorado State will host a third consecutive home game Saturday when UTEP visits Canvas Stadium. The Miners are 0-3 on the year after a 28-10 loss to Liberty, a contest which opened conference play for them. UTEP had previously lost to Nebraska and Southern Utah.
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Two different things and one in the same for Colorado State's football team. Stew for a day. Come back ready to correct the issues.
Â
"Learn from it. Grow from it. Remember the feeling," CSU quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi said. "I think a lot of people don't emphasize that enough. Remember the feeling and understand how it makes me feel right now. Let it be motivation for it to never happen again. By the same time, by Monday morning, it needs to be gone, out of my head and on to UTEP."
Â
When the pain is gone, the realization will hit that much ground needs to be covered from a 1-2 start. Colorado State coach Jay Norvell said confidence is not among them. Playing smarter, playing cleaner are.
Â
"We go back, just like every week, and watch the film and see where we're not good enough and try to make those corrections," Norvell said. "There's only a couple of ways to do that: Get players better or replace players. We'll go back and look at that."
Â
None of the Rams were encouraged by much Saturday, but they remain encouraged for what future Saturday's can hold. The coaches feel the players are good enough to win. The players have confidence in those in the locker next to them.
Â
The key is getting more production, and that doesn't come from pointing fingers.
Â
"We have a lot of players who are able to band together really well. We have a lot of leaders on the team, and that's really helpful," defensive end Gabe Kirschke said. "I think continuing to reiterate the goals and all these things for the team, and going into next week, that's turning the page (Sunday) and being able to do that."
Â
Mistake Prone
Â
The turnovers were a big part of the outcome. So too were the penalties.
Â
Too many on both counts contributed greatly to Saturday's 28-9 loss to Colorado.
Â
Four turnovers played a significant role, with two of them resulting in a pair of touchdowns for the Buffs. And a third took a prime scoring opportunity off the board for the Rams. The penalties were just as alarming for the reversal they represented.
Â
After just drawing four flags the first two weeks, Colorado State drew 10 for 95 yards. The fact the Buffs drew more for more yards (12, 110) didn't dampen the fact. Two defensive flags helped Colorado extend drives which resulted in scores.
Â
"Obviously, penalties really hurt you. We need to clean those things up," Kirschke said. "We haven't had a lot of penalties going into this game, but obviously emotions and stuff get into it, so I think controlling those and go into next week and continue to learn from that."
Â
Up Next
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Colorado State will host a third consecutive home game Saturday when UTEP visits Canvas Stadium. The Miners are 0-3 on the year after a 28-10 loss to Liberty, a contest which opened conference play for them. UTEP had previously lost to Nebraska and Southern Utah.
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