The purpose of spring ball is to bring the team together. Valuable practices and reps in the offseason that give the team a chance to re-familiarize themselves with the playbook and with each otherbefore the student-athletes go on summer vacation.
Redshirt junior quarterback Nick Stevens has said on multiple occasions that he believes team chemistry is better than ever. The veteran QB feels that both sides of the ball have improved throughout the spring, and CSU as a whole has improved as a cohesive unit.
“As a team we’ve really come together this spring,” Stevens told the media after Tuesday’s practice. “The offense supports the defense. The defense supports the offense. Obviously we are going to have our competition and conflicts with the two of us, but I think that deep down we are really trying to make each other better.”
From 2013 to 2014, the Colorado State offense improved by leaps and bounds with Garrett Grayson’s second full season in a Jim McElwain offense. The year was Grayson’s third with McElwain, but Grayson missed most of the 2012 season with a broken leg.
One of the big reasons the offense became elite in 2014 was team cohesion. Grayson’s timing with his receivers was impeccable, and behind an extremely talented offensive line the green and gold thrived in both the pass and run game.
Stevens has a similar opportunity moving forward in his second year with Bobo and offensive coordinator Will Friend. Stevens was Grayson’s backup in 2014 and saw what happens when a team comes together as one unit. After transitioning to a new offense in 2015, and all the ups and downs that came with it, Stevens feels this team has what it takes to be great.
“A lot of the really good teams do have that chemistry between their teammates,” Stevens said.
This Saturday will be the third and final scrimmage of the spring for CSU, and with the backfield being razor thin due to injury, CSU could air it out this Saturday with both Stevens and graduate transfer Faton Bauta. The Ram offense is expected to be run heavy this fall, but Stevens says you always have to be ready to sling the rock under Bobo, and the Green and Gold Game is no different.
“I think that with the way coach Bobo calls his plays, any day can be one of those days,” Stevens said of taking big chances. “He likes to take shots. He’s able to recognize defense, and really capitalize when he knows what calls they are going to make. So I don’t think it’s going to be much different than any other week.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wemvjzBWZe0
The annual inter-squad scrimmage marks the end of the 15 practice period, and is the only chance for fans to see what the Rams have been working on. What will it take for this spring to be viewed as a success?
“I think offensively we definitely need to take care of the ball,” the quarterback explained. “That’s going to be the biggest thing with the spring game.
“Another emphasis when we came into spring was have more explosive plays, because we had very few last year. We’ve seen some explosiveness out of a lot of guys this year in spring, and I think that we’ve kind of discovered some new playmakers for us.”
If CSU is going to improve from their 7-6 overall record last season, the offense is going to need to be consistent throughout the season. The spring game will be the last chance before August for a lot of players to leave their mark. Stevens is fighting to keep his starting position this fall and for a chance to take the Rams to a make a fourth straight bowl appearance. Players and coaches have all spoken of the chemistry within the program right now, and Stevens feels the sky is the limit for the green and gold.
“Anything short of the Mountain West Championship is going to be a disappointment for us in the locker room,” Stevens told BSN. “I think that we definitely have the tools and assets to do that on offense and defense. We’ve got experienced guys all around. I fully expect to take it all the way this year.”
The path to a conference championship starts with spring ball, and will be continued at the Green and Gold game. CSU is trying to build a perennial powerhouse in this conference, and the mindset Bobo has implemented in the program is that of a winner. Stevens led the team well in his first year as a starter, and is now trying to take it to the next level. Grayson did so in 2014.
Will 2016 be the year of Nick Stevens?
