Colorado State University Athletics
What We Saw: Special Plays Set Up Rams
9/22/2024 2:00:00 PM | Football
Winfield cashes in at big moment
He called it easy, which can't be true. If it were, people would be blocking punts left and right.
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Which doesn't happen, as Dane Olson should know. Maybe he was just being humble about his second career block, the first Ram to do so since he did it two seasons ago. When he broke through in the third, his play set the Rams up for a touchdown and a 21-3 lead in what would become a 27-17 victory over UTEP.
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"You just execute the plan," Olson said of the plans put forth by special teams coordinator Tommy Perry. "Full speed, do my job. Yeah, it is easy in that sense."
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After a subpar performance at Texas, the Rams have been better on special teams. Tory Horton has a punt return for a score, and punter Paddy Turner has been the defense's best friend as of late.
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Saturday, the senior averaged 38.5 yards per kick, but his final three all pinned UTEP inside the 20 yard line, one of them covering 58 yards. The first two didn't need as much distance to do the trick. Six of Turner's past seven attempts have all put the opposition starting inside their own 20.
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Olson is a member of CSU's "Magnificent Seven," seven players who play a huge role on the specialty units. Head coach Jay Norvell praises their work and efforts all the time and the impact they have in a game. Olson says the four main units all know they can help swing a game, as he did on Saturday.
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"We have a lot of pride in special teams here, and that's our standard, to play well," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "We were missing Tory (Horton) tonight. To get a block when Tory's not back there to return is huge, so I was really proud we were able to do that.
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"We've got to bring that every week. We've got to find ways to make a difference. We need to score or set up a score on special teams. That's really an important part of our football team."
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Catching On
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The Rams have been looking for additional playmakers on the perimeter, without a load of success through four games. Jamari Person leads the Rams with 13 receptions, but for just 96 yards. Caleb Goodie has 90 yards, most coming off one big 40-yard play, and he might have had another on Saturday if he wasn't overthrown on the first drive.
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Armani Winfield has gotten off to a slow start, dropping a few third-down passes the past two weeks, but they're hoping he found the spark he needs with his touchdown reception against UTEP.
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It covered 5 yards, but it was a tough catch in the corner, going up for the ball and keeping his feet in as two UTEP defenders pushed him out. Now he has seven catches for 44 yards.
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"I thought it was big, and I kept calling his number because I wanted him to have a chance to come back," Norvell said. "I'm proud of him. He's a great kid. He's got a lot of talent and ability. We have a lot of kids like that. Caleb Goodie is similar and Jamari Person. Those kids have not played a lot of college snaps. They just need the opportunity to make some plays and build some confidence."
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Up Next
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After four games in four different jerseys and three consecutive home games, Colorado State has the first of two byes this season. It will enable the Rams to gain some health before traveling to Oregon State on Oct. 5. The Beavers also have a bye and will host a third consecutive game at Reser Stadium when the Rams come calling.
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"We've got two weeks now where we can kind of get healed up a little bit," Norvell said. "It's going to be important we get some guys back; Tory back, we're hoping we get Nuer (Gatkuoth) back, I hope that we get DeAndre Gill back. We just have some really good players who haven't been on the field that we really need to get back. Hopefully, Alex Foster will be able to come back as well."
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Another one will be safety Jack Howell, who left the game after taking a hit in the second half. There was no word on his condition following the game.
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The Beavers are 3-1 following a 38-21 win over Purdue, fueled by more than 300 yards on the ground.
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Which doesn't happen, as Dane Olson should know. Maybe he was just being humble about his second career block, the first Ram to do so since he did it two seasons ago. When he broke through in the third, his play set the Rams up for a touchdown and a 21-3 lead in what would become a 27-17 victory over UTEP.
Â
"You just execute the plan," Olson said of the plans put forth by special teams coordinator Tommy Perry. "Full speed, do my job. Yeah, it is easy in that sense."
Â
After a subpar performance at Texas, the Rams have been better on special teams. Tory Horton has a punt return for a score, and punter Paddy Turner has been the defense's best friend as of late.
Â
Saturday, the senior averaged 38.5 yards per kick, but his final three all pinned UTEP inside the 20 yard line, one of them covering 58 yards. The first two didn't need as much distance to do the trick. Six of Turner's past seven attempts have all put the opposition starting inside their own 20.
Â
Olson is a member of CSU's "Magnificent Seven," seven players who play a huge role on the specialty units. Head coach Jay Norvell praises their work and efforts all the time and the impact they have in a game. Olson says the four main units all know they can help swing a game, as he did on Saturday.
Â
"We have a lot of pride in special teams here, and that's our standard, to play well," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "We were missing Tory (Horton) tonight. To get a block when Tory's not back there to return is huge, so I was really proud we were able to do that.
Â
"We've got to bring that every week. We've got to find ways to make a difference. We need to score or set up a score on special teams. That's really an important part of our football team."
Â
Catching On
Â
The Rams have been looking for additional playmakers on the perimeter, without a load of success through four games. Jamari Person leads the Rams with 13 receptions, but for just 96 yards. Caleb Goodie has 90 yards, most coming off one big 40-yard play, and he might have had another on Saturday if he wasn't overthrown on the first drive.
Â
Armani Winfield has gotten off to a slow start, dropping a few third-down passes the past two weeks, but they're hoping he found the spark he needs with his touchdown reception against UTEP.
Â
It covered 5 yards, but it was a tough catch in the corner, going up for the ball and keeping his feet in as two UTEP defenders pushed him out. Now he has seven catches for 44 yards.
Â
"I thought it was big, and I kept calling his number because I wanted him to have a chance to come back," Norvell said. "I'm proud of him. He's a great kid. He's got a lot of talent and ability. We have a lot of kids like that. Caleb Goodie is similar and Jamari Person. Those kids have not played a lot of college snaps. They just need the opportunity to make some plays and build some confidence."
Â
Up Next
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After four games in four different jerseys and three consecutive home games, Colorado State has the first of two byes this season. It will enable the Rams to gain some health before traveling to Oregon State on Oct. 5. The Beavers also have a bye and will host a third consecutive game at Reser Stadium when the Rams come calling.
Â
"We've got two weeks now where we can kind of get healed up a little bit," Norvell said. "It's going to be important we get some guys back; Tory back, we're hoping we get Nuer (Gatkuoth) back, I hope that we get DeAndre Gill back. We just have some really good players who haven't been on the field that we really need to get back. Hopefully, Alex Foster will be able to come back as well."
Â
Another one will be safety Jack Howell, who left the game after taking a hit in the second half. There was no word on his condition following the game.
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The Beavers are 3-1 following a 38-21 win over Purdue, fueled by more than 300 yards on the ground.
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Players Mentioned
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