Colorado State has a long road ahead.
Saturday’s home opener was a reminder that while the program is on the right track under Jay Norvell, the results are probably going to be a mixed bag in the first season.
It’s easy to get ahead of ourselves, get caught up in the excitement of a new era, and all that comes with it.
Looking at the flashy offensive talent like WR Tory Horton, who has the seventh-most receiving yards (255) of anybody in the FBS and is currently tied for third with four touchdown receptions, the explosive potential of this group is evident — particularly when you think about the raw arm talent QB Clay Millen brings to the table.
On the defensive side, there are a lot of new pieces but the athleticism of the unit flashes when the guys on the edge are able to wreak havoc, or Jack Howell is able to adjust his body on the fly to bring down a tipped ball for a crucial interception in the second half.
What’s really been exposed through the first eight quarters of football in 2022 though, is that while the Rams did add a variety of experienced players through the transfer portal, it’s going to take the staff some time to truly rebuild the offensive line. In hindsight, I should have been more concerned by the fact that the group struggled in the preseason scrimmages.
With CSU now losing left Brian Crespo for the season with a knee injury, we’ll see what adjustments the coaches can make in the trenches moving forward. But I’d expect to see some shake-ups like Jacob Gardner moving back to left tackle.
“We’ve got to shore up our protection,” Norvell said postgame. “We’re gonna have to really look at personnel and possibly move some guys around to help us with some of the injuries that we’ve had.”
Millen is ultimately going to have to continue working on getting rid of the football quickly. While it hopefully will not be as rough as it’s been early in the season, the reality is the redshirt freshman quarterback also has to be aware of the situation and try to keep himself off the turf as much as possible.
“I thought Clay competed hard. He was in some tough situations, took some shots, and we can’t continue to do that to him,” Norvell said. “We’ve got to protect him and do a little bit better job of managing around him.”
Norvell has clearly brought in quality players to add to the talent that was still on the roster from previous years. He’s also rejuvenated the fans in a major way, reconnected with the community both on campus and beyond, and he is recruiting significantly better than the previous regime according to the rankings. He is doing the right things to set this program up for success, not just short-term but for the foreseeable future.
For all the things that are going right for CSU though, it’s going to take time for everything to click. Sonny Lubick didn’t immediately dominate the field, nor Jim McElwain. There are going to be some bumps in the road, like getting shell shocked by Middle Tennessee for two quarters before finally showing some life. The good thing is that excuses are not being made.
“I was more encouraged by our effort in the second half, but it was just too little and too late,” Norvell said. “We’re going to have to really look hard at this film, and try to make some corrections to give ourselves a competitive chance next week.”
Ideally CSU will be able to adjust enough this season to give themselves a shot to be competitive in what appears to be a below-average year for the Mountain West. And when you look at the third quarter, it seems like that’s still possible.
“You just have to show the players that’s what we’re capable of when we play together,” Norvell said.
If Ram fans truly want to return to glory though, the fans have to embrace the journey. It worked with Niko Medved, and it can work on the gridiron. A winning culture just takes time to establish. Trust the process and understand that creating a sustainable winning program is the goal here.
