With veteran defenders vowing to return for 2021, will CSU have the best d-line in the Mountain West?

FORT COLLINS, CO. — Let’s run it back. 

The 2020 season was synonymous with frustration. Most of the games were canceled and Colorado State got just one chance to play on their home turf. 

As difficult as the season was, though, one of the position groups that really made a difference was the defensive line. Led by Manny Jones, Toby McBride and Scott Patchan, CSU absolutely dominated the line of scrimmage and really got after the quarterback. In just four games played, the trio combined for 16.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. They also recorded 47 total tackles, showing that they were not just one-trick ponies — they were also dominant run stoppers. 

While their strong play was not always able to overcome some of the issues the Rams had in the secondary, it certainly made a difference in the win over Wyoming. On that night, Jones played like a man possessed. He recorded seven total tackles (5 solo), four of which went for a loss, and added two sacks for good measure. In that same game, McBride forced a fumble and had two tackles behind the line of scrimmage (5 total). Patchan pitched in with four tackles (1.5 for loss) and a sack too. 

After years of getting absolutely socked in the mouth by the Pokes, the Rams were able to overcome the team from the north by finally bringing the punch to them. It was a welcome sight for the Ram faithful and what’s encouraging was although the Border War was CSU’s lone victory in 2020, the stellar play from the defensive line was a consistent theme. 

Patchan was so dominant in the Boise State game that the Broncos essentially had to double-team him for the entire second half. And even after a couple of weeks off, Patchan never cooled down as he came out against San Diego State and put up season-high figures in tackles (7) and sacks (2). 

As of right now it’s unclear whether McBride will be returning for 2021. It’s definitely been a long road for the defensive tackle with an extensive injury history but I’d have to imagine that everyone in the building would welcome him back with open arms. Patchan and Jones, however, have both already decided that returning for next season is in their best interest — which is great news for Steve Addazio and Co. 

Addazio was pretty honest earlier this month when he stated that he believed the Rams would have the best defensive line in the Mountain West if the veterans returned, and now that it’s official, expectations for this unit will certainly be high heading into the 2021 campaign. 

While the Rams still have room for improvement on the defensive end — they allowed too many conversions on 3rd and long and struggled at times against the deep ball — Ram Nation can rest easy knowing that the foundation of the defense is in place. In a league where the best teams currently like to spread the field and attack you vertically, having a group that really pressure the QB is paramount.