Backs Ready To Carry the Load En Masse

The words came easily. No real hesitation because deep thought was not required.

Tyson Summers, Colorado State's defensive coordinator, took in the question as it was easy to answer. From his perspective, going up against the offense every day, the best and deepest room belonged to the running backs.

From their perspective, it's good to hear as to them it means they are meeting a self-imposed standard.

"It's a great compliment. I would say that's what we expect out of our room," Mel Brown said. "Coach D (David Hill), he holds us to a high standard. He makes sure we come out here, we set the tone every time."

The position room is one which possess depth and experience. Talent and potential. Numbers backed by a desire to improve upon them.

Brown has played in 18 games and rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in his career. Durell Robinson, who like Brown is playing for Jim Mora at a second school, has similar career marks – 20 games and just shy of 1,000 yards. Both have 100-yard games under their belt.

Oliver Lundberg and Malichi Greaves know the system from UConn. There are four freshmen in the room, with the speed of Cedric Ross turning heads. Hill likes them all, especially with what the blend brings to the table.

He checks off boxes for big backs and smaller ones. Power runners and those who can evade in a phone booth. He has performers who are explosive and guys who will move the chains on third-and-short. In many instances, one of his backs can check off multiple boxes.

Most of all, he appreciates the approach.

"We're a family. We love each other, " Hill said. "We understand that it's bigger than us, and we just want to contribute to the team. If we've got tight ends down or wide receivers down, we just want to step up. We just always step up to the occasion. We ain't making no excuses, and we take on that challenge.

"I've told that from the beginning since I got here, that you eat what you kill, so every single day is an opportunity to earn reps. Nobody's guaranteed, not Durell, Mel ... Nobody's guaranteed reps in that room. So whether it's the young guy, Cedric, Amare (Gomez), or Damian (Moore Jr.) and Jayden (Fox) who just into the room, it's just an opportunity for them to get better and keep everybody on their toes. The mental focus, nobody can get complacent, because I'm playing the best players day to day. I owe that to CSU. I owe that to Jim Mora. I owe that to Pryce Tracy to put the best product on the field. So if it's a young guy, it's a young guy. If it's an old guy, it's an old guy."

Actually, it is all of them. Hill expects to use four backs in a game. He wants those who are carrying the ball to do so with fresh legs. There is strength in numbers, not just to push back against the aches and pains of a season, but wearing down a defense en masse, not just one workhorse.

Each one of them wants carries. Each one of them has a chance to earn them, and the one-for-all approach bonds them to the task.

"I feel challenged, but it's just healthy competition. I love to see my other guys go out there and break one for 80, and I'm like, all right, bet, now it's about the matches," Robinson said. "It definitely sets a tone for the room and makes practice fun each and every day because it's just seeing one guy do something great, then another, then another, then the next, then the next. So, it's definitely challenging, definitely very competitive in the room, for sure.

"I feel like our real secret is every day we talk about it means we want to be the best. Not the best on the team, not just the best in the conference, but we want to be one of the best in the country. We see we have that potential, so why limit ourselves to just being the best on the team or best in the conference? Why not the best in the country?"

The game has changed, not just in college but professionally. The days of running a great back into the ground are over, and Hill has the next level in mind for his players as he guides them through this one. He said the hardest contract to get in the NFL is the second one for a back. The legs and power have to be there, and he's not wearing them before they get there.

There are also games to win at this level, too. A hot back in a game will get more carries, but that can change from week to week. The flip side is a tired back is less likely to be explosive, so Brown said they are all mindful in the team scope of having a capable back behind them.

"There's no selfishness in it. Let's say if I'm in for a drive, I'm tired. I have no problem coming out knowing that the next guy is a good guy and he's coming in right behind me," Brown said. "If we're all fresh, it's like tag team WWE. You really don't know who can hit you. Nobody's going to be tired.

"Nobody's going to be gassed. Everybody's going to be able to play full speed, and that's when we play our best. It's just keeping everybody fresh. Keeping everybody healthy allows everybody to play at their best."
Summers appreciates the reality of what he goes up against every day in practice. Hill's reality takes on a slightly different perspective. It's taking what is good and making it better. Not only that but challenging the room to be at its best every day.

That's not easy over five weeks of fall camp, and just as tough through a season which the Rams hope carries past the 12 regularly scheduled contests. The way Robinson sees it, the games should be easier because Hill makes practice 10 times tougher.

Hill is a walking, talking motivational meme. He's also the guy most likely to bring them back to earth.

"I have real conversations. I challenge them. I don't lie to them," Hill said. "I'll just say to Mel, I'll tell him, 'man, you had a bad practice. You ain't looking good. Hope you're not complacent. You know, these young guys, they want to play too. They want to do things for their family as well too.' So they don't get to sit back and wait their turn. The time and age of people just sitting back and waiting two to three years to play football is over. You can get a freshman to come and be here and be better than everybody.

"So I'll just challenge them to be their best version, motivate them, and that's my job, is to motivate and keep them inspired every single day to chase the things that they said they wanted to do."

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Mel Brown

Malichi Greaves

Oliver Lundberg

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