Facing option in consecutive weeks could benefit Rams

FORT COLLINS – After posting a shutout for the first time since 1997, Colorado State’s defense should be lining up across Air Force as a confident bunch. But Saturday night, the Falcons will throw them a changeup: the option.

Head coach Mike Bobo explained that, when preparing for an option offense, a defense typically plays its best with several weeks of practicing against it. He mentioned that his defense has gotten practice for the option in summer and fall camp, as well as during the recent bye week.

Simply put, attacking the option is all about responsibility. There can be all sorts of variation with who ends up with the ball and movement along the offensive line, but as long as everyone does their job, the advantage should favor the defense.

“It’s assignment football,” Bobo said. “It doesn’t matter who has the football, you’re taking your guy in your gap.”

Not only will CSU see the option Saturday night, but also next week when New Mexico comes to town. The Rams could very well benefit from two straight weeks against option teams, as they’ll be getting as many repetitions in practice as possible to try and get acclimated to stopping it.

“If we go practice well and pay attention, I feel like we’ll be in pretty good shape,” said defensive coordinator Marty English. “It’s hard to tell. We say it every week; we’re young enough with guys that haven’t been through playing the option and haven’t faced this and particularly Air Force and at Air Force and that type of stuff. It’s going to take a great week of practice.”

English went on to say that practice needs to be at full speed and that “it’s got to be a physical week.”

Evan Colorito believes the defense has been practicing the way English and Bobo expected them to.

“As a linebacking corps, we’re practicing defeating the cut,” said Colorito. “Air Force is known, their offensive line and outside perimeter guys cut the guys that are trying to tackle the ball carrier. So working on the cut, hat in hands and getting off blocks is really what’s important for us. And in the trenches, it’s getting our hands on the offensive lineman, shedding blocks and getting to the ball carrier.”

The Falcons feature a plethora of dependable ball carriers, including Jacobi Owens, D.J. Johnson and Shayne Davern. The trio has amassed nearly 1,500 yards on the season.

Quarterback Arion Worthman will be making his second start in as many weeks, taking over for the injured Nate Romine. Worthman totaled 19 carries for 63 yards and a rushing touchdown against Army. Plus, he completed six of nine pass attempts for 195 yards and a touchdown.

Though Air Force rarely puts the ball in the air, Worthman has a big-time playmaker on the outside in senior wide receiver Jalen Robinette. It all comes together to form an offense that frustrates opposing defenses with long, laborious drives.

“There’s a lot of variety of what they can do,” said Colorito. “There’s a lot of misdirection, they have a lot of fast guys in the backfield. The quarterback is basically just another running back that can throw the ball. I think discipline is what leads a team to victory against Air Force.”

Bobo discussed how the Rams’ offense must take advantage of every possession because you “might not see the ball again for eight more minutes.”

This week will be a major test for CSU, but keep in mind they have the fortune of facing similar style offenses in back-to-back weeks.