Strike 3: Patience is an easy thing to preach. It’s much more difficult to put into practice, especially now, when the transfer portal makes it so easy and tempting for college football coaches to go for the quick fix.
But Jay Norvell is old school. Heading into his third season as the head coach of the Colorado State Rams, he’s never fully bought into the whole notion of turning a program around overnight. Having been a football coach for almost four decades, Norvell knows that patience is crucial and experience is key when you’re building up a football program.
It’s especially true when you’re developing an offensive line.
Yes, things like chemistry and continuity do matter.
Regardless of the style of offense, coaches know that football games are still won and lost in the trenches, as they say. Teams with the most powerful and productive offensive lines win a lot more football games than they lose. Look no further than CSU’s in-state rivals for proof. Despite their considerable skill talent, the Colorado Buffaloes patchwork o-line was the cause of frustration – and losses – for the Buffs and their fans a season ago. CU yielded 56 sacks, second-most in the nation, and struggled to run the football. “Improving” (not bolstering) the offensive line was priority number one for CU during the offseason.
Meanwhile, down in Colorado Springs, the Air Force Falcons offensive line – which helped AFA finish second in the nation in rushing a season ago and has paved the way for 40 wins over the past four full seasons – has been honored the past two years as one of the top units in the country.
Not a coincidence.
As for the Rams up front in 2024?
“We’ve now got way more game experience now that we really like,” said Norvell. “We’re one of two Mountain West schools (the other being UNLV) with at least two offensive lineman – Jacob Gardner and Drew Moss – that have more than 2,000 career snaps.”
Gardner, the Rams starting center, has played more snaps and has more career starts (45) than any player in the conference going into the new season.
Improved play up front will be key for the progression of sophomore quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, who’s 3,460 passing yards (a school record for a freshman) and 22 touchdowns from a season ago were somewhat remarkable for a guy who wasn’t scheduled to start the season. He ended up leading the MW in passing with just a shade under 314 yards per game.
But Norvell has pointed out that his quarterback can’t do it alone. “We put too much on him last season.” So he’s counting on an improved – not bolstered – run game to help balance things out. It’s going to help to have the exciting talents of young running backs Justin Marshall and Damian Henderson – both now healthy – to feature as well.
“We should be much different at running back this year. I think we are deeper and more talented there than we’ve ever been. All those kids have played and were excited about our depth at that position.”
And yet everything is still going to start up front. It always does.
