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Takeaways from first CSU football spring scrimmage and first two weeks of practices

kevin lytle, fort collins coloradoan
·3 min read

The offensive line pushed back Saturday.

That was the main takeaway from the first scrimmage of Colorado State football spring practices.

The Rams went full live action for an extended period for the first time this spring and the offense could be considered the "winner" of the day.

Saturday's scrimmage was CSU's practice No. 7 out of 15 in spring and I have been at each of them. Here are some of the things I've seen and learned so far.

Early offensive line encouragement

We’ll start with the caveat that it is still early spring and nearly six months until the first game of the 2023 season, but Saturday was a positive day for the offensive line.

CSU ran the ball well, converted at a strong rate in the red zone and protected the quarterback well. There are four new starters on the offensive line (three are transfers).

“I was just so encouraged by the improvement I saw,” CSU coach Jay Norvell said. “I thought we did a good job protecting the quarterback and we ran the ball well.”

The defense was unable to create the pressure in the scrimmage that it did during the week.

“The dominance that we usually put out during the week; we didn’t see today,” defensive lineman Mohamed Kamara said.

The defense will be just fine, so push-back from the offense is a good sign.

Defensive line work sessions

Kamara and many defenders have been vocal about being the best in the league. That D-line is the best and deepest position group on the team.

More: Colorado State football defense bullish: ‘No reason we shouldn’t be the best’ in Mountain West

Watching them work daily is fascinating. There’s a lot of technique drilling with assistant coach Buddha Williams and then it’s been notable, the player-led sessions after practice.

Most days a group — often led by Kamara and Rhode Island transfer Matt Thomas — spends time working with young players (Kennedy McDowell is always there).

Tight ends now part of the offense

CSU hardly used its tight ends in 2022 (only 19 total TE catches on the season). They didn’t have the personnel fits and they often had to stay in to help block.

It should be different in 2023 and all three of the top tight ends flashed in the scrimmage.

BYU transfer Dallin Holker will start and his first catch was a contested ball over the middle. Junior college transfer Vince Brown caught a deep seem pass from Giles Pooler, while Jordan Williams made several catches.

The over-the-middle and mid-range passing game was missing last season.

It's also worth noting that CSU great Trey McBride was in attendance and spent time talking with Holker after practice.

Running back shortage

CSU’s running backs room is very light this spring: 2022 starter Avery Morrow is suspended as the legal process plays out after a January arrest.

Two highly touted freshmen — Damian Henderson and Justin Marshall — are coming but won’t be here until the summer.

That means Keegan Holles is the only scholarship back, and he was put on late last season. He scored a touchdown on the first drive of the scrimmage but went down with an injury not long after. The severity of the injury will be known next week.

It meant Vann Schield had the majority of the carries and he ran well with the ball. Walk-ons Mason Adams and Ryan McConnell also carried the ball.

“I think (those) kids ran the ball hard,” Norvell said.

The Rams recently landed a commit from JuCo running back Kenyard Edwards and are recruiting potential transfers.

Reinforcements will come, but the room is light in spring.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Takeaways from first CSU football spring scrimmage, first two weeks of practices