Monday Presser: Rams Keeping Stable of Back Fresh

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Oct 3

8:30 PM

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at San Diego State

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7:00 PM

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vs Fresno State

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5:00 PM

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5:30 PM

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12-Days

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vs UNLV

The room they felt so good about heading into the season – the running backs – is proving why it was considered a strength. All three of the main backs – Jalen Dupree, Lloyd Avant and Justin Marshall – are averaging better than 5.0 yards per carry while sharing the load.

Dupree has 53 carries, Avant 30, over the course of four games. Marshall, who entered the rotation the second week, has 13. The position is very much a timeshare, and it's been by design.

"I think coach (Jeremy) Moses is trying to get all those guys involved. We have some packages where we have two running backs on the field, and we'll use them as we're trying to find a place to get them all involved. It's not easy.

"I think Chop's (freshman Javion Kinnard) is the fourth guy, and he's a guy we like to get his hands on the ball more. We're using those guys in special teams as well, and so all those guys have to contribute in every way they can. Jeremy has a good feel. He's trying to figure out how he can get guys in and get them all involved. I think they have the ability to stay fresher and play more physical as we rotate them."

The next step is to get those numbers to mean a little bit more on the scoreboard. The per-rush averages are great, but it has led to CSU averaging 153 yards per game as a team (sacks allowed come into play), and twice the Rams have been outrushed by the opponent. That's not just on the backs and it was one of the areas of concern for Norvell as he reviewed the four prior games at his Monday press conference. Friday's opponent, San Diego State, is averaging 149 yards rushing an outing.

"The next big area is consistency in the running game and gaining an advantage in that area of the game against our opponent. This last game, the yards per rush, we did not win that. We were disappointed about that," Norvell said. "That was an area they had been struggling in, so we've got to go back and really establish that area of the game for us."

Offensive Changes

Having said every aspect of the team is put under a microscope during the season, Norvell said Monday that pass game coordinator Matt Mumme will take a more active role in the area of calling plays this week. The two have worked together for the past nine seasons, and Mumme called plays the first year they were together at Nevada.

"Our motto is we over me, and we're going to make decisions that are going to help the football team. Matt and I have been handling offense for a long time, nine years together," Norvell said. "Matt's going to communicate with the quarterback this week; he's done a good job, and we're just going to change it up that way. I think a lot of people have a lot of misconceptions about how our staff works and how we work on offense. But that's how we'll handle it this week.

"We've been on the same page for a long time about what we're going to do. We need a little spark. We'll continue to make changes and adjustments throughout the year like we do every year. So, this is no different."

Here and There

Colorado State is 3-7 in the past 10 Mountain West openers. Seven of those games have been on the road, where the Rams are 2-5. … Owen Long is now averaging 13.0 tackles per game and is still leading the country. … This will be CSU's first trip to Snapdragon Stadium, which opened in 2022. San Diego FC and San Diego Wave FC also call it home.

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