CSU coaches looking for consistency this spring

Colorado State is nearly two weeks into the spring practice session and Mike Bobo has continually put the pressure on the players to step up and play with consistent effort. The depth chart is wide open nearly across the board, and a lot of players, experienced and new, will have to earn their way into the starting lineup this fall.

After Tuesday’s practice, Bobo talked about some of the players that he wants to see consistency from this season. “Offensively I think you look at Xavier Williams and Deionte Gaines, have played a lot for us, but we need more consistency out of those two guys. They know it, they know what they need to do,” Bobo said.

“There have been flashes of consistency and still some of the old ways of not what we want, our standard,” Bobo explained. “So they’re being pushed to the limits. Guys like Trae Moxley (and) Colby Meeks on the offensive line. Trae is working his tail off to get into that top-five guys, and doing a nice job. Colby is too. We gotta see something out of those guys and know they’re guys we can depend on.”

On the defensive side of the ball, coach Bobo pointed to linebacker Josh Watson as a player he wants a consistent effort from.

“With (Deonte) Clyburn being out, he’s a guy who’s being challenged every day,” Bobo said. “(He) had a really really good day today. Saturday’s was not up to the standard that what we want.”

With CSU switching to a 3-4 defense this season, the linebackers will have to adjust this spring. Players like Watson and Kevin Davis will need to constantly give a solid effort for the Ram defense, especially with the limited role Clyburn will be able to contribute while rehabbing. Bobo believes defensive coordinator Marty English will be able to get everyone up to speed this spring.

“He was their position coach, so there’s a relationship between coach English and the linebackers. It’s preexisting, so it’s an easy transition for them. They understand when coach English talks about drills or fits or what he wants done.”

Bobo continued on the relationship with English and the linebackers. “It’s not somebody new coming in that it takes a while to understand what they exactly want. Now, it’s a different scheme, but they understand how he expects them to practice, the standard that he wants in the meeting room, and I think that helps the transition.”

In the new 3-4 system, Colorado State will look to improve defensively and limit big plays moving forward. With roughly four months until the Rams take on the CU Buffs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, the defense has plenty of time to get nice and adjusted.