LAS VEGAS — The 2021 season is just around the corner and with it comes the annual preseason media days.
In a one-on-one interview with DNVR at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas last week, Colorado State’s superstar tight end Trey McBride dove into a variety of topics, including what the team has emphasized this offseason and why he ultimately decided to come back for one more season in the Green & Gold.
Here’s what else we learned from Trey.
Special teams have been a point of emphasis
Special teams were an absolute disaster for the Rams in 2020. Protecting the punter, kick coverage, tackling in the open field, it was all ugly for CSU last fall. Ram fans will be glad to know that the team has made a point to improve the third component of the game this offseason.
“We lost at least two, possibly three of our games due to special teams,” McBride said. “I’m excited that we’ve really had an emphasis on fixing our special teams and making sure that’s a strength, not a weakness.”
According to McBride, there was no singular issue that CSU needed to address or fix from a schematic standpoint. It was really an issue that stemmed from a general lack of focus and guys not understanding their roles or responsibilities.
“That’s something that won’t happen this year. I can assure you that.”
Rams were tougher than the score indicated
As rough as special teams were for CSU, McBride believes the Rams were a more competitive team than the final scores show. He explained that just looking at the box score doesn’t necessarily tell the whole story for the Rams.
For instance, CSU recorded at least three sacks in all four games last season. They need to tighten things up on the back end more consistently but there were flashes of a team that could be extremely disruptive. With all of the veterans in the front seven coming back, McBride is excited for a chance to run things back with the nasty defensive unit.
“I definitely think our team is a lot more physical and better than what the scores might have shown,” McBride said. So that’s kind of something that I’m excited to, you know, prove people wrong this year.”
Confident in talent around him
One of the biggest reasons McBride is confident going into 2021 is he has faith in the talent and toughness surrounding him, especially in the tight end room, and in the backfield.
McBride expressed his excitement to play alongside Cameron Butler once again. Butler broke out as a true freshman with three receiving touchdowns in 2017 and followed it up with a solid sophomore year in 2018 as well (29 receptions for 312 yards). Unfortunately, Butler has played in just four games in the last two seasons and misses 2020 entirely as he has struggled to remain healthy.
“Man, that guy is a warrior. He really is,” McBride said.
McBride continued, explaining that Butler is a player that he’s always looked up to. Butler took him under his wing in the early stages of his career. And McBride has always strived to carry himself like Butler does both on and off the field.
“A lot of people don’t understand how good he really is. He is a great player, man. Like that dude is the real deal,” McBride said. “He’s an NFL tight end. He does everything right. He’s smart. He loves football. And that’s something that I really love about him, he does it the right way…
“He’s a guy I really look up to. He pushes me to be the very best. He expects greatness out of me and I truly do appreciate that about him.”
McBride is looking forward to lining up with wide receiver Dante Wright again as well. But one of the players that McBride is particularly excited to see in action this fall is running back David Bailey.
Bailey, a 6-foot-0, 235-pound senior that transferred in from Boston College, is expected to be CSU’s lead running back this fall. Over the course of his collegiate career, Bailey has recorded 1,600 yards on 332 carries (4.8 YPC). He’s rushed for 16 touchdowns, including seven in each of the last two seasons. Bailey also has a pair of receiving touchdowns and 18 receptions for 158 yards.
“I haven’t seen him with his pads on yet, but from what I’ve seen on film, and kind of what I’ve seen in person, he’s a big, tough, physical guy,” McBride said. “He’s a big dude, man. He’s like 230 pounds and jacked up.”
McBride continued, saying that he’s really looking forward to Bailey’s addition to the offense, and the talent of the offense as a whole.
“We’re going to have threats all over — at running back, tight end and wide receiver,” McBride said. “We’re gonna be different. Ultimately that’s going to make us a better offense and give us some freedom. I’m really excited to see David (Bailey) run.”
Embracing physicality in the trenches
Finally, Steve Addazio’s brand of football may not be the sexiest, McBride believes that the Rams have the right pieces in place to be successful with it though. The senior from Fort Morgan, CO. explained that he thinks the offensive line has the right people to embrace the type of tough, hard nosed football that Addazio has become synonymous with throughout his career.
“He brought a lot of guys in,” McBride said. “Coach Addazio is known for having a great offensive line. He had one of the better offensive lines in the ACC, and he’s going to have that here. He’s brought a lot of guys in that can play right away. So I’m excited to see these guys gel together and, ultimately, I think we’ll be successful.”
McBride sees no issues at QB
The last thing that McBride addressed with DNVR is the quarterback position. While many fans online have been very vocal about their skepticism of the talent in CSU’s quarterback room, McBride feels good about their qualities.
“Todd (Centeio) is a great player,” McBride said. “He does everything the right way.”
McBride explained that he enjoys playing with Centeio because he works hard and because he’s a winner.
“He’s there for one reason and that’s to win,” McBride said. “He’s not there to do whatever else. And I’m confident in Todd. I think he does a great job and I believe in him.”
McBride added that he has faith in the coaching staff to put the offense in the best position to win. Whether it be Todd Centeio, Matt Valecce, or even someone else, McBride thinks the staff will make the correct decisions this fall. Considering he is currently QB1, though, McBride is presently focused on continuing to build a rapport with Centeio.
“I think Todd will do great for us. I’m excited about him,” McBride said. “He’s really improved and just as others have said, I’m confident in him.”
