Monday Presser: Team Sees the Goals Still in Front

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Oct 18

5:00 PM

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vs Hawai'i

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5:30 PM

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at Wyoming

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12-Days

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1:00 PM

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at New Mexico

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at Boise State

There's the 24-hour rule. After the game, be mad, get frustrated, and feel bad.

That bled into the next day, which Jay Norvell called tell-the-truth Monday. It was necessary. And it was good.

"I think it's needed, for sure. It's a reality check we already knew would come," punter Paddy Turner said. "We also have the 24-hour rule, about focusing on the next game after 24 hours, but after a game like that, it's pretty hard to just move on after all the buildup of the past 12 months. It's tough. Everyone's gotta hear it, everyone's gotta believe it. After the meetings are over today, we focus on UTEP, and we move forward."

Coach Jay Norvell hit a myriad of topics at his weekly Monday press conference, focusing on areas of improvement and the nature of play on both offense and defense, primarily looking at a more aggressive approach.

Most notable for the team is the group of preseason objectives still waiting to be achieved. Nine more games over the next 11 weeks still presents much to play for as long as the Rams approach it in the right manner.

"You've got to bounce back. We had our 24 hours of feel bad, feel sorry for ourselves, but we've got to go now," Norvell said. "We can't wait around, and as coaches, we had a good day, we were very energetic and got our guys going. We have a lot of our goals in front of us, and we have a lot to play for. We're excited about the opportunity, and obviously it starts this week."

UTEP is very much in the same place, sitting at 0-3 under a first-year staff as the Miners come to town for the State Pride game. As a team, they aren't scoring a lot (averaging less than 14 points per game) and allowing north of 31 points a contest.

Those two numbers look quite similar to Colorado State's (15.7 and 32.8). Dwelling on them won't fix anything, so as hard as it may be, the 24 hours has to be firm, and the Monday talk has to be real.

"I think it's good, too, but you might focus on the bad things after a loss like that. You also get to see what you did good that game and take that into the next week, polish and build off that," cornerback Elias Larry said. "I know we lost and everything, but we still have to see bright spots from that game and move on. The overall goal is to get better every week, and even through a loss you can get better, so I feel that's how you have to look at that first day back.

"That 24 hours after the game, you get that little time to be upset about the game, but right after that 24 hours its ready to move on. You might have made a mistake or something, but it has nothing to do with this upcoming week. You focus on how you're going to do it again."

Youthful Production

Offensively, Norvell spoke particularly about the young wideouts being used and with Tory Horton's availability quite questionable this week, how this Saturday is a crucial step for them all.

The defense has leaned on a young player, as well, and Buom Jock has taken a lead role at linebacker. He leads the team in tackles with 28, including 1.5 for a loss. He also forced a fumble last week which turned into the defense's second turnover created.

"Buom is playing well. He still makes some mistakes, but he plays hard," Norvell said. "He's a quality player and he's a little bit more mature than most guys who haven't played as much. I'm pleased with Buom, and he and Chase (Wilson) have to continue to take this defense to the next level. I'm anxious to see it.

"These are things, we talked today, we have to build confidence through practice, by practicing well. It just doesn't happen, but it happens when you practice well, and you execute the things you try to do in games in practice and the confidence will transform to the game."

Here and There

Norvell said Horton probably should not have played last week, and he doesn't believe he'll play this week. Neither will Nuer Gatkuoth, who has yet to play this season. Also out is starting guard Alex Foster. … With seven explosive plays in the run game this year, Colorado State already has as many as it had in all of 2023. … The Rams rank 111^th nationally in long pass plays from scrimmage (10 yards or more) with 17. They rank 96^th in similar run plays, with 10.

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