Scott Patchan
Locked and loaded
CSU defensive line could be the best in the conference
C
olorado State’s defensive line casually trotted toward Canvas Stadium following a grueling session of spring practice. Only, instead of effortlessly walking into its meeting room, an obstacle stood in the group’s way. Specifically, a hurdle blocked the players’ from entering their posttraining congregation.
6 | Green & Gold Report
No one would have blamed CSU’s athletes for hesitating. Or even naturally muttering a sarcastic response. Come on, coach, why not just leave that for the practice field? But neither occurred. The Rams didn’t flinch. Instead, they instinctively crawled through the doorway oneby-one without a murmur—
By Eddie Herz
which tells you everything you need to know about how bought-in CSU’s defensive front is to Antoine Smith’s methodology. “That’s when you know you have a good group of kids that believe in what you’re doing,” the secondyear defensive line coach said. “There was no reaction from them other than each
guy just crawled under the hurdle. Matter of fact, I don’t think I’ve ever had a conversation with one of them about the hurdle. And there’s a lot of similar things that I do to keep these guys on their toes.” When Smith arrived as part of Steve Addazio’s inaugural staff, his players weren’t quite sure of what to
