Three Phases: Rams Look at Executing Basics

For a disappoint Jay Norvell, it was the idea of executing some basic concepts. On offense. On defense. Waiting until the end of the game to find a spark offensively came up short for a second time at home this season, and playing a new defense against a Hawaii offense which differed from anything else they'd seen, led to issues for his Colorado State football team as it dropped a homecoming game in front of the largest home crowd the team has performed for in Fort Collins.

"Every week you have to start over. Every opponent's different," Norvell said after the 31-19 loss. "I knew it was going to be a much different game than a week ago, but I was disappointed in our inconsistency in being able to run the football. We have to do that every week. We have to be able to hang our hat on that, and that also settles the game down.

"When we run the ball effectively and we can rack up some yards in the run game, it controls the game physically and takes a little pressure off our defense, keeps them off the field. We did not do that tonight. And so, you know, the time of possession got out of whack, and we can't play with this team that way, and so we have to find a way to get that more balanced up next week.

Special Teams

This was the highlight of the game for Colorado State. Javion Kinnard produced the only points of the first half with his electrifying 91-yard punt return for a score, tying the program record for the longest return in program history. The true freshman had to retreat 20 yards for the punt which outsailed the coverage, and his return did the same.

"Well, my first turn around, my first thing, just catch the ball and get in position," Kinnard said. "And if there isn't anybody by me, I'm always thinking touchdown. You know, that's always my mentality."

What exactly did he see at first? A Chicks song: Wide Open Spaces.

"Too much space," he said. "Too much space. Way too much space."

Which was a blessing to Norvell as he watched the play unfold. He's seen what the youngster can do in open field, a punt that long is naturally going to provide him some to work with immediately.

It also gives him time to find more.

"I actually was kind of happy that they kicked it deep because it gave him great separation with the return team, and he was able to find open spaces and go," Norvell said. "He's a really talented young guy and really loved Javion, and he prepared really well this week. That's what I was really proud of because we did a lot of different things with him."

Punt coverage was good too, particularly on the play when C.J. Blocker ran down a Bryan Hansen punt and downed it inside the Hawaii 1. He had a second attempt to do the same, though the ball just evaded him. On the night, Hansen averaged 42.5 yards per attempt.

Lloyd Avant was good on kick returns as well, though flags were an issue, and Tommy Maher had a punt return of 15 yards. Overall, solid play from the third phase.

"We take a lot of pride. Coach (Tommy) Perry prides himself and prides us on it," Jake Jarmolowich said. "And we all do it from starters to if that's your only job. Special teams, we all pride ourselves. And, you know, there's definitely areas we can improve naturally as anybody. But for the most part, I would say it's a pillar of our team, and we take a lot of pride in it. Evidently so with Javion returning it. I don't think our sideline's ever been more juiced."

Offense

The Rams had just 106 yards of offense in the first half and was just 2-of-8 on third down. A rushing attack they've been able to rely upon was not effective for most of the night, and there were not enough explosive plays to bail them out.

Colorado State counts explosives by 20-plus yards through the air, 15-plus on the ground. There was one, a 37-yard catch by Tay Lanier to set up a touchdown. To Norvell, it's the basics which are eluding the unit.

"We haven't done a very good job attacking outside lanes. That's something that we've always really been good at, and we're just struggling to get that done this year," Norvell said. "This group has been a challenge for them. You know, throwing out cuts and comebacks. We had a chance at a comeback. I was really disappointed in the second half. It should have been an easy play.

"Some of the plays that should be easy are really difficult for us right now. That's just the truth. And so, we have to find a way to make those more routine and give our quarterback some options when we see those coverages, and that's something that we've had a lot of success with in the past, and we're just not this year, and we've got to find a way to get better."

Protecting Jackson Brousseau became an issue, allowing six sacks, the most in a game since 2022. He finished 15-of-29 for 176 yards with one score to Armani Winfield. The rushing attack had just 85 yards (thanks to the sacks), matching the season low from the season opener. The offense finished with 261 overall, a season low.

Defense

Hawaii wasn't hiding what it wanted to do, leading the nation in pass attempts per game. For the second consecutive week, the Rams allowed a quarterback to throw for 300 yards in a game, with Micah Alejado throwing three touchdown passes.

After an initial scoring drive was produced by two busts in coverage, Jarmolowich felt the unit somewhat regrouped.

"I think as a defense, you know, bend-don't-break type mentality. We made the adjustments, corrected them," the safety said. "And then from there on we had I don't know how many three-and-outs. We were stopping them from driving down the field, et cetera. So, we definitely made the corrections we needed to do."

Hawaii hit one big play – a 75-yard scoring pass on a short throw – and was effective on third down, converting at better than 50 percent. The Rainbow Warriors put the game away with a 35-yard scoring run in the closing minute on a fourth-and-inches rush. The unit did produced a turnover, with Jace Bellah intercepting his third pass in the past two weeks, but unlike the week before, the offense couldn't convert the gift into points.

Now, the team will look to regroup again prior to facing the biggest rival on the schedule, the Border War game in Laramie.

"We've got to get ourselves together. We've got a big rivalry game next week," Norvell said. "You know, they're coming off a loss (Saturday) as well, and so we've got to get ourselves together and get in the right frame of mind this next week to go play a real tough, physical Wyoming team on the road."

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