FORT COLLINS, Colo. — 23 programs participated in the 2020 FBS season with a new head coach. While everyone struggled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Colorado State, along with Washington and Washington State, played the fewest games under their new leadership (four games). Despite all of the adversity that Steve Addazio and the Rams had to whether last season, though, it was apparent that there were some highly talented players capable of making a difference for this football team.
Ram Nation should already be familiar with wide receiver Dante Wright and tight end Trey McBride. But before we dig into their games and what makes them so crucial to the Rams’ success in 2021, fans should get familiar with former Boston College running back, David Bailey, who transferred to Colorado State this spring to reunite with Steve Addazio.
Bailey started seven games for the Eagles in 2020 and was an efficient playmaker at times, but he struggled to live up to his 2019 form. Similar to former Eagle and current Green Bay Packer, AJ Dillon, Bailey is a big back listed at 6-foot-0, 240 pounds, but showcases impressive movement skills that fit right in with the Rams zone blocking scheme.
The Eagles run wide zone to the boundary here and Bailey shows good patience and efficiency in his jump cuts to set up a block from center Alec Lindstrom. Bailey is then able to barrel through a defender and pick up the first down.
Again, it’s wide zone to the boundary for the Eagles. Here Bailey shows off his vision and an ability to hit the cutback once he diagnoses the linebacker overcommitting. He then finishes off the play with another powerful and punishing blow to a defender.
This time we get split zone to the field side. Bailey is forced to break a tackle at the line of scrimmage when the left tackle fails to peel back on his combo block. He then shows his toughness and willingness to play physically by spinning his way to another first down.
Bailey’s game is centered around strength, toughness and physicality but he has the ability to create big plays also.
Another wide zone snap. Bailey shows his feel for the cutback, reads his blocks well and with the help of some atrocious tackling from the Yellow Jackets, scores an easy touchdown.
Outside zone on this snap. There’s some miscommunication amongst the combo blocks and Bailey has to break a tackle before he even gets to the line of scrimmage. After barrelling through some of his own linemen and the Wildcat defense it’s six points for the Eagles.
This time the outside zone run is executed much better by the offensive line. Bailey is easily able to shed attempted tackles in the open field and gets into the end zone for another first-half touchdown.
Although these plays highlight Bailey’s strengths, he did struggle at times in multiple aspects in 2020. Perhaps the change of scenery and familiarity with Coach Addazio could bring Bailey back to form in 2021. The Rams’ running game was lackluster at times in 2020 though.
Complimentary football is winning football. If the Colorado State rushing attack can improve on a lackluster effort in 2020, it would not be a surprise to see even more explosive plays from the Rams’ best downfield targets in Trey McBride and Dante Wright.
Starting off with our Team DNVR Athlete, Trey McBride is one of the best tight ends in the country and even earned high praise from long-time draftnik Todd McShay, as his 27th ranked overall draft prospect going into the 2021 season.
McBride is a do-it-all tight end that makes just as big of an impact with his blocking as he does with his receiving skills.
This inside zone run gets bounced to the outside but it is turned into a decent gain of five due to McBride eliminating the overhang defender from the play the minute he gets his hands on him. McBride doesn’t finish the block until his man is on the ground. This nasty display of blocking is a frequent thing for McBride.
Even when the run is called away from McBride’s side, he blocks with the same nastiness and intensity as he would if he was the block at the point of attack.
McBride is also an impact blocker out in space. He does a tremendous job of recovering and being able to continue the block well down field to give Dante Wright a chance to gain the edge.
The play-action fake by O’Brien is well done and is ultimately the reason McBride gets so open. McBride does a good job adjusting to the ball and carrying the defender into the end zone for six.
Another well-executed play fake opens up the middle of the field for McBride. Here he shows natural hands and his ability to rack up yardage after the catch as well as his tendency to punish opposing defenders when they attempt to tackle him.
Not only can McBride get the job done downfield, he is a legitimate threat with the ball in his hands in space. He is able to effortlessly catch the ball, turn upfield and pick up speed to move the ball across midfield for the Rams.
With Bailey and McBride earning so much attention from opposing front 7’s, there are going to be plenty of opportunities for Dante Wright to make plays downfield and on the perimeter. Wright only played in three of the Rams four games in 2020 but he got at least nine total touches in every appearance.
A switch-release paired with the cornerback’s hesitation due to the play-fake get Wright open almost immediately. Wright makes a great adjustment to secure the catch and gets both feet down for a big gain into the red zone for Colorado State.
Wright has the ability to consistently rip off big gains like this on screen plays. The Rams have numbers on the perimeter and another good block in space by McBride allows Wright to rip off a gain of 20+ in last season’s matchup against Wyoming.
Wright doesn’t need separation to create big plays either. Although he’s only listed at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds; Wright has the ability to make tough contested catches all over the field.
While the quarterback position remains somewhat up in the air — Todd Centeio has only attempted 36 passes for the Rams and is largely unproven — the buzz is starting to build about the former Temple Owl’s dual-threat ability and leadership skills. With weapons like Bailey, McBride and Wright, Centeio has multiple playmakers to rely on as the Rams compete for the Mountain West title in a matter of days. He just needs to distribute the football and not give opposing teams extra opportunities with turnovers.
