Colorado State University Athletics
11/6/2026 2:00:00 PM | Football
Defense seeks the change of doing things better
As the weeks go by for Cedric Ross, the more acclimated he becomes to college life. Not just the football aspect, which was his main draw for coming to Colorado State but also life outside of the facility.
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He arrived on campus in the spring, giving him a bit of a jump start, and when he checked in he found he already had older players willing and ready to guide him. It's one pair in particular he's leaned on the most.
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"I feel every freshman in the country should have a Mel (Brown) and a Durell (Robinson)," Ross said. "It's great having guys like that. Durell's positivity. Mel helps me clean things up, like technique on the field. If I have questions, like what am I supposed to do on this, or how am I supposed to read that, I go to Mel."
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It is very much a two-way street. A program needs veterans who are open to supplying guidance, but the younger players have to be willing to reach out for assistance.
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At the end of Tuesday's practice in preparation for Saturday's game with No. 20 Boise State, Robby Harrison was working with Desmon Manuel well after practice. For Harrison, it is about meeting someone where they are most comfortable.
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"I try to ask them, so in school, how do you learn? Are you more take notes? Are you more take a picture of it, go home and study it?" Harrison said. "I try to do that in January, figure out how do you guys learn. So, if it's coming out here on the field, all right, hit me up. Let's get out here. If it's in the meeting room, all right, let's meet at this time. Let's watch some film.
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"I say for my younger guys, the main thing is they want to see it on and off the field. They want to do exercise here, and also they want to see and learn the game inside of the meeting room. They want to see the back sets. They want to understand what blocks you can get out of what. They want to understand the why; so I feel like that's the biggest thing with my young guys, and I feel like they're taking great heed. As you can see, they're getting time out there on Saturdays."
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For a team to grow, for a culture to take root, those are the relationships which have to develop inside a locker room. To CSU coach Jim Mora, those actions are a positive sign regardless of the team's record.
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Not that it surprises him considering he players involved.
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"It's a selfless culture, not selfish. When you get a Mel and Durell, who both are different personalities, working with a young kid like Ced, who's getting this first opportunity to really play a lot, just their conversations with him, how they approach the game is very, very helpful," Mora said. "When you get a guy like Robby, who's experienced and a veteran and very mature and stoic, and he can talk to those young defensive linemen, it's a big deal.
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"And then there's cross-culture stuff. You've got offensive guys talking to defensive guys about, hey, this is what we see. This is the best way to play. This is what I'm trying to do to attack you. And vice versa, that's really important to building what we're trying to build here."
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Changing the Right Things
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No, the defense hasn't performed up to expectations, and Harrison doesn't see it as a lack of effort. While everyone involved wants to see changes on the field, the right target must be set.
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"It's the process, you know, from the start to the end. We haven't switched up nothing from the beginning of the season," Harrison said. "So some people may, on the outside, be like, 'hey, that's the problem. Why haven't they changed nothing?' But if you consistently do the work, and every day you've just got to keep trying to get better at what you're doing, then the outcome will come sooner than later, minus the wins and losses. As long as we know we're working. That's, to me, all what matters when you walk through these gates."
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The past couple of weeks, Mora has met with the media on Wednesday feeling the Rams had a good week of practice. One week, his squad won a shootout. The next week, he was as frustrated as ever after the result against Utah State.
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So what does he look for which gives him a sign?
Â
"I have many triggers. Just more consistent play," he said. "It is impossible to play a perfect football game, and I think if you try to do that, you slow yourself down, let alone defense. But I've said this to you guys eight million times: The more certain you are, the faster you'll play. The faster you play, the more plays you'll make. And I stand by that.
Â
"So, specifically on defense, the more and more familiar they become, what they're supposed to do and how to do it, they'll be able to play faster because they'll be more certain, and then we'll make more plays. Guys are going to get out of their gap on occasion. They're going to get beat on occasion, but the important thing is they understand how to fix it without going in and drawing it up on the board or coming to the sidelines so that the next time it comes up in a series, we're able to fix it."
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Same Thing
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Put in the work. Make it honest work. That's how Ross said the offense will bounce back from an off performance, just 14 points – all in the second half – for an offense which was on a record kind of pace.
Â
"I'll say our standard, keeping our standard the same," he said. "Not changing, us increasing our work if anything, and not allowing ourselves to fall down and have emotion. Now, have a good week of practice.
Â
"It's us putting in the work. That's the biggest part."
Â
Colorado State's scoring has been a sum of it's parts. The rushing attack has been running back by committee, sometimes forced by injuries. A group of wideouts has been productive without any player needing to be a go-to guy. Two quarterbacks have played – and well for the most part – behind an offensive line which has seen consistent change.
Â
Boise State's defense has been solid this season, and offensively, the Broncos are a clip better (35.9-35.4) than the Rams.
Â
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He arrived on campus in the spring, giving him a bit of a jump start, and when he checked in he found he already had older players willing and ready to guide him. It's one pair in particular he's leaned on the most.
Â
"I feel every freshman in the country should have a Mel (Brown) and a Durell (Robinson)," Ross said. "It's great having guys like that. Durell's positivity. Mel helps me clean things up, like technique on the field. If I have questions, like what am I supposed to do on this, or how am I supposed to read that, I go to Mel."
Â
It is very much a two-way street. A program needs veterans who are open to supplying guidance, but the younger players have to be willing to reach out for assistance.
Â
At the end of Tuesday's practice in preparation for Saturday's game with No. 20 Boise State, Robby Harrison was working with Desmon Manuel well after practice. For Harrison, it is about meeting someone where they are most comfortable.
Â
"I try to ask them, so in school, how do you learn? Are you more take notes? Are you more take a picture of it, go home and study it?" Harrison said. "I try to do that in January, figure out how do you guys learn. So, if it's coming out here on the field, all right, hit me up. Let's get out here. If it's in the meeting room, all right, let's meet at this time. Let's watch some film.
Â
"I say for my younger guys, the main thing is they want to see it on and off the field. They want to do exercise here, and also they want to see and learn the game inside of the meeting room. They want to see the back sets. They want to understand what blocks you can get out of what. They want to understand the why; so I feel like that's the biggest thing with my young guys, and I feel like they're taking great heed. As you can see, they're getting time out there on Saturdays."
Â
For a team to grow, for a culture to take root, those are the relationships which have to develop inside a locker room. To CSU coach Jim Mora, those actions are a positive sign regardless of the team's record.
Â
Not that it surprises him considering he players involved.
Â
"It's a selfless culture, not selfish. When you get a Mel and Durell, who both are different personalities, working with a young kid like Ced, who's getting this first opportunity to really play a lot, just their conversations with him, how they approach the game is very, very helpful," Mora said. "When you get a guy like Robby, who's experienced and a veteran and very mature and stoic, and he can talk to those young defensive linemen, it's a big deal.
Â
"And then there's cross-culture stuff. You've got offensive guys talking to defensive guys about, hey, this is what we see. This is the best way to play. This is what I'm trying to do to attack you. And vice versa, that's really important to building what we're trying to build here."
Â
Changing the Right Things
Â
No, the defense hasn't performed up to expectations, and Harrison doesn't see it as a lack of effort. While everyone involved wants to see changes on the field, the right target must be set.
Â
"It's the process, you know, from the start to the end. We haven't switched up nothing from the beginning of the season," Harrison said. "So some people may, on the outside, be like, 'hey, that's the problem. Why haven't they changed nothing?' But if you consistently do the work, and every day you've just got to keep trying to get better at what you're doing, then the outcome will come sooner than later, minus the wins and losses. As long as we know we're working. That's, to me, all what matters when you walk through these gates."
Â
The past couple of weeks, Mora has met with the media on Wednesday feeling the Rams had a good week of practice. One week, his squad won a shootout. The next week, he was as frustrated as ever after the result against Utah State.
Â
So what does he look for which gives him a sign?
Â
"I have many triggers. Just more consistent play," he said. "It is impossible to play a perfect football game, and I think if you try to do that, you slow yourself down, let alone defense. But I've said this to you guys eight million times: The more certain you are, the faster you'll play. The faster you play, the more plays you'll make. And I stand by that.
Â
"So, specifically on defense, the more and more familiar they become, what they're supposed to do and how to do it, they'll be able to play faster because they'll be more certain, and then we'll make more plays. Guys are going to get out of their gap on occasion. They're going to get beat on occasion, but the important thing is they understand how to fix it without going in and drawing it up on the board or coming to the sidelines so that the next time it comes up in a series, we're able to fix it."
Â
Same Thing
Â
Put in the work. Make it honest work. That's how Ross said the offense will bounce back from an off performance, just 14 points – all in the second half – for an offense which was on a record kind of pace.
Â
"I'll say our standard, keeping our standard the same," he said. "Not changing, us increasing our work if anything, and not allowing ourselves to fall down and have emotion. Now, have a good week of practice.
Â
"It's us putting in the work. That's the biggest part."
Â
Colorado State's scoring has been a sum of it's parts. The rushing attack has been running back by committee, sometimes forced by injuries. A group of wideouts has been productive without any player needing to be a go-to guy. Two quarterbacks have played – and well for the most part – behind an offensive line which has seen consistent change.
Â
Boise State's defense has been solid this season, and offensively, the Broncos are a clip better (35.9-35.4) than the Rams.
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Players Mentioned
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