Up-and-down Colorado State still searching for 'complete game'

Year two for Colorado State head coach Mike Bobo has been a bit of a head-scratcher.

The Rams were stampeded by Colorado to open the season before winning two relatively easy non-conference games. They battled and ultimately had chances to beat the University of Minnesota on the road and laid an egg against Wyoming in Fort Collins.

At halftime the following week against Utah State, the Rams faced a two-touchdown halftime deficit and appeared to be headed toward disaster. But a late-game surge helped even up their record at 3-3.

And then there’s last week. Nobody gave CSU a chance against perennial power Boise State, especially in Idaho.

The Rams turned in stellar first half defense and clung to a 3-0 lead through much of two quarters. Then 28 unanswered points proved to be the undoing of the green and gold, despite the Rams’ improbable rally at the end.

You tell me if you’ve got this team figured out.

Sure, they’ve started three different quarterbacks, underachieved at times on the offensive line, failed to force turnovers with regularity on defense and struggled with third down on both sides of the ball.

And yet, they’re a few lucky bounces and big plays from being 5-2.

It’s maddening and the coaches know it. As Bobo emphasized during his Monday press conference, he’s still looking for a consistent performance from start to finish.

“We’re looking to put together a complete game and play like, I believe, we can play,” Bobo said to the media.

There’s no doubt that this bunch is young and inexperienced. Just look at Collin Hill, who wasn’t even supposed to take a snap in 2016.

But Bobo believes he’s got the guys to take the next step and win with.

“I believe we’ve got answers in the room and that we’ve got guys that can win the one-on-ones,” he said. “We’ve just got to win them on a more consistent basis to play a complete game.”

You may be asking yourself, “What’s a complete game?” The first thought that might come to mind is that a team executes for all four quarters, has success throughout the game and fails to make mistakes.

To the Rams’ coach, it’s something else.

“A complete game doesn’t mean you dominate, but it means you made plays,” he said. “We didn’t make enough plays in that ballgame (against Boise State).”

He went on to explain how he doesn’t expect perfection. For example, he’s not on the sideline holding his breath for his defense to pitch a shutout all night long or for his offense to put up touchdown after touchdown.

However, he does want constant effort and belief from the opening kickoff to the final whistle.

“That’s the number one expectation is we play hard for 60 minutes,” said Bobo. “Not play hard if something goes good and now we’re in the game. We ought to expect to be in every ballgame. And that’s what we’re trying to change around here.”

In the world of sports cliches, every game is a must-win. But lose Saturday afternoon in a favorable road matchup with UNLV and the Rams are in trouble, as far as postseason play is concerned.

Focus on the details, execute and make a play when the time calls for it. They’re all somewhat simple principles that CSU has often struggled with this season.