How the Rams are already benefiting from an improved culture in 2019

FORT COLLINS, Colo.— Through three days of fall camp, there is not much that can be assessed from a competitive standpoint. The team is still practicing in shorts and the only drills we’ve seen are in individual groups. So until the pads come on, the truth is that most of the questions we all have about the lineup are still unanswered.

However, while these opening practices may not tell us much about who will be starting against Colorado on Aug. 30., this time of year is essential for creating camaraderie amongst the players and staff. And based on the initial read of the locker room, CSU seems to be much better off than a year ago in this regard.

After hearing from head coach Mike Bobo, along with players from both sides of the football, the suspicions that the 2018 unit was never on the same page seem to be true. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the people in the program feel the worst is behind them.

Head coach Mike Bobo told reporters on Thursday that he was pleased with his team’s energy, effort and communication on the field.

“When a guy made a mistake there was instant accountability out there, which was good to see,” Bobo said on Thursday.

Bobo, on Saturday, was again pleased with the team’s ability to keep the pace up in practice. What’s more, the players have continued to assist the coaches in raising the standard.

“I think it goes back to the standard we set in January—we were really going to put ownership on the players because coaches can’t really watch 24/7,” Bobo said, following Saturday’s practice in shells.

“There’s nobody hiding in this program, you’re not going to hide. If you’re not doing something that’s up to the standard, you’re going to get called out. If you continue to do something that doesn’t meet our standard, then you’re not going to be here.”

Bobo explained how everyone in the program needed to take a hard look in the mirror—not just the players—but the coaches as well.

“A lot of the times we want to point the finger at the players, but myself, coaches, support staff…everybody that touches our program,” Bobo said.

According to Barry Wesley, who started 12 games at guard and tackle in 2018, everything about this year’s group of guys has been better. Players are policing themselves when someone steps out of line or fails to give enough effort. More importantly, though, there is a desire to succeed as a team—not just as individuals.

“I think it has to do with the culture change,” Wesley said.

Wesley explained how the team’s new head strength and conditioning coach Joseph Guarascio has played a big role in improving the team’s strength, effort and overall morale.

But Wesley isn’t the only player that’s been open about how much different the team’s attitude is in the early stages of 2019. On Thursday, sophomore cornerback Rashad Ajayi explained that there wasn’t anybody on the defensive side that stepped up to help the younger players progress last season. That’s why Ajayi has taken it upon himself to be a leader in 2019.

Bobo praised both of the aforementioned players for their leadership qualities on Saturday.

“I thought leadership was missing last year upfront with the offensive line and Barry has taken that role—he’s been a leader since January with our football team,” Bobo said of Wesley.

When speaking of Ajayi, Bobo gushed to reporters how he couldn’t say enough about the young man. Bobo explained how Ajayi lost his father over the offseason, which was incredibly difficult for the young defensive back. But through those tough times, Ajayi’s commitment to his teammates never wavered. Now in the fall, his ability to be a role model continues to help the team.

“He’s always been a hard worker and goes about his business, but he’s totally changed as far as being vocal and challenging guys,” Bobo said. “This guy’s on a mission and he’s helped change the mindset of the defense.”

Reading through the lines, it’s clear that the current coaches and players believe that the 2018 group suffered from a lack of togetherness. They’re all too smart to call out individual names—it wouldn’t be worth the drama—but the fact that it’s coming from everyone is certainly telling.

When things became difficult last season, it was apparent that much of the roster, especially a few of the veterans, were more concerned with putting up numbers and looking good than they were about the team’s win-loss record. This, of course, was problematic on multiple levels for a team that was looking to create a new identity after losing a lot of talent from 2017.

But if the first three days of fall camp are an accurate indication of how the 2019 team intends to carry itself throughout the year, the Rams may just surprise the folks that picked them to finish fifth in the Mountain Division.