Rams taking baby steps as way to boost offense

FORT COLLINS – As newly named Colorado State starting quarterback Faton Bauta trots out for the offense’s first possession Saturday, head coach Mike Bobo will be locked in on the first down marker.

“First downs equal touchdowns,” said Bobo. “You have to get a first down before you can score. Two or three first downs equal field position. And you punt the ball. But three-and-out and not changing field position doesn’t help anything.”

It would be surprising to see Bobo and the Rams come out Saturday with a pass-heavy attack. In fact, the game plan could parallel the one from last season’s matchup between these teams.

Then-quarterback Nick Stevens, who was still getting comfortable in Bobo’s system, finished 15 for 28 for 255 yards passing and three touchdowns. That’s a pretty solid performance, but remember, the CSU receivers from a year ago were much more explosive than the 2016 group.

The telling story in the 2015 contest was Bobo’s desire to run the ball. Four Rams carried the ball 46 times for 171 yards, led by Jasen Oden, Jr.’s 143. A 3.7 yards-per-carry average may not be what an offensive coordinator looks for, but the persistence of the Rams paid off.

CSU outnumbered UTSA in first downs 25 to 18 and wore down the Roadrunners defense. And when you’re running the ball nearly twice as often as throwing it, the job of the quarterback becomes easier.

And while Bobo said he thinks the running backs look ready to play well Saturday, they need help from the quarterback.

“He’s not going to be able to run the ball 20 times a game or maybe even 15,” said Bobo, speaking of Bauta’s running ability. “It’s got to be a change up. We’ve got to be able to do the things we do as far as run and play action. And then we’ve got to be able to hit our targets on third downs, conversion downs. He (Bauta) has to play the quarterback position and he’s got to do a good job of it. He’s done a good job this week. We’re going to get better. Hopefully, we get good enough this week to win the ballgame, but we will get better at that position.”

For having started only one game prior to Saturday, Bauta looks confident. He event spent some extra time with offensive coordinator Will Friend as they went through run checks.

The University of Georgia transfer hasn’t put on an act this week, though. Bauta said he learned from star Bulldog quarterback Andy Murray about the importance of the quarterback position to the team.

“You’ve got to walk in and act like you’re the starter every day,” Bauta said.

So how will Bauta approach pregame? It’s safe to say that he won’t be firing up his team emotionally like some quarterbacks would.

“I used to be a believer in speeches and all that kind of stuff,” Bauta said. “But at this point in time, all that stuff honestly doesn’t matter.”

Bauta referenced former Georgia teammate Todd Gurley as a star player that never had to be a “rah-rah guy.”

All the talk may be on how poorly Nick Stevens looked and how Bauta energized the offense in his brief time against the University of Colorado. But Bobo said there could be a short leash again Saturday for his quarterback.

“If we’re not executing, I’ll about do anything,” said Bobo. “If we’re not getting a first down, we’re going to do something until we get it.”

44-7 will likely be on the minds of CSU fans until the next meeting with CU. But for now, Bauta and the Rams insist that they’re locked into UTSA.

“We want to go 1-0,” said Bauta. “It’s something we’ve been talking about all week. Just 1-0 this week.”