Colorado State head coach Jim Mora was candid Monday answering questions about his team’s defense after a disastrous outing against Texas State last Thursday.
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Following a leadership change at the top of the defensive coaching staff, the Rams (2-4 overall, 0-2 in the Pac-12 Conference) gave up 716 yards, including 503 on the ground, in a 66-27 loss to the Bobcats.
Mora has heard the criticism build following each of his team’s past four games — all losses after a 2-0 start.
“I agree with the fans,” Mora said. “I want fewer yards and a lot fewer points. That’s the bottom line here. That’s what everyone wants to see. I want to see the ball carrier on the ground before he gets in the end zone. I want to see some punts. I want to see less points on the board.”
During the Rams’ loss to Oregon State on Oct. 3, defensive coordinator Tyson Summers was relieved of his play-calling duties. Summers chose to leave the game, and his defense, behind.
After the game, Mora said Summers was no longer with the program and assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Kenny McClendon would be the play caller going forward.
In McClendon’s first game doing so, the desired results were not met, and CSU remains near the bottom in most defensive statistical categories nationally.
Of 138 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, CSU is 123rd nationally in passing defense (256 yards per game), 138th in rushing defense (274 ypg), 138th in total defense (530 ypg) and 138th in scoring defense (43 points per game).
“Last week during practice I saw a tremendous improvement, and it translated well on a number of plays, and it didn’t translate on some others,” Mora said. “We were just a hair off. But you could see very clearly on film where the breakdown was. So, when you see it, you can understand it and you can fix it.
“As coaches, we have to point it out and we have to help fix it. They have an understanding of where the breakdown was and what their responsibility is to get it fixed.”
Mora knows seeing improvement in practice doesn’t always translate to success on game day.
It is hard to emulate game situations in a non-full speed atmosphere.
“A lot of the little intricacies that when you just watch the game at full speed, you don’t get it,” Mora said. “I see that stuff happening. Now what has to happen is you have to take from the practice field to the game. And the challenge is always the speed of the game. The intensity of the game is so much more than you can ever really replicate in practice.
“So, that’s the next step for us, becoming more consistent with the good plays that we made and eliminating some of the times where you go, ‘Oh, if I had just taken one more step or kept my head up on a tackle.’ You can at least clearly see where the issue is and then you can fix it.”
Mora still has confidence in McClendon and believes he can make the unit better going forward, starting with Saturday’s home game against San Diego State.
The two coaches spent four seasons together at UConn. Mora knew then that McClendon was capable of leading the defense and still has faith he can.
“Kenny and I have worked together for a long time,” Mora said. “I am just a sounding board for him, a source of advice for him, an overseer to say, ‘Hey, don’t miss this, don’t miss that. Make sure we’re doing this.’ I think it’s really important that the players hear Kenny’s singular voice when it comes to the defense.
“I’m there for Kenny and everywhere, which I said I would be the day that I got here. I know things are in good hands. It’s just a matter of building the consistency that’s going to help us become a good defense.”
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Quarterback update
Mora said Monday that quarterback Hauss Hejny will likely start against San Diego State on Saturday.
Hejny has been out since injuring his hamstring in the first quarter of the Rams’ third game of the season, against BYU.
“Hauss is rolling,” Mora said. “We’ll see how it goes during the week, but Hauss practiced full (Monday).”
In Hejny’s absence, K’saan Farrar has stepped up in the starter’s role. In three-plus games, Farrar has passed for 649 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed for a touchdown.
His quality of play has left Mora with a tough decision to make with two capable quarterbacks who have shown the ability to lead the offense.
“It’s a nice problem to have, but it’s a complicated one,” Mora said. “You always want the guy that came in and did a really good job to be acknowledged for that, for what he did. We’re going to go through the week, and they’re competing.
“Right now, as it stands, Hauss will start on Saturday and K’saan will be ready to go if needed. If Hauss isn’t feeling right, physically, we’re not going to put him in jeopardy. We’re not going to compromise his long-term health knowing that we have a guy like K’saan that can go out there and really perform at a high level.”
Before his injury, Hejny passed for 619 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also rushed for 143 yards and a TD.
Up Next
Saturday the Rams continue Pac-12 play against a familiar foe in former Mountain West Conference rival San Diego State.
The Aztecs are 2-4 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-12. They are coming off a 26-23 victory over Fresno State last Saturday in which they kicked a game-winning field goal with 57 seconds left.
Like CSU, San Diego State has used multiple quarterbacks this season. Jayden Denegal has seen the most time under center. He has passed for 899 yards and seven touchdowns.
Former CSU Ram Javion Kinnard is the Aztecs’ leading rusher. He’s run for 432 yards and one touchdown. Nathan Acevedo is the team’s leading receiver with 181 yards and two touchdowns.
“They’re big up front,” Mora said. “They spread you out much like Texas State in terms of formations and things like that. I see a team that, defensively, is very physical up front, one of the better defensive fronts that we face. “They’re coming off a win and that always jacks up your attitude a little bit.”
This will be the 39th meeting between the two teams. San Diego State leads the series 23-15. The Aztecs won last year’s contest 54-24 in San Diego. CSU’s last win over San Diego State came in 2023, a 22-19 victory in Fort Collins.
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