Photo by: CSU Athletics Communications
Monday Presser: Craig-Myers Set to Join Offense
9/16/2019 3:26:00 PM | Football
Hill will miss Toledo game
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Rams will add a new piece to the offensive puzzle this week as head coach Mike Bobo confirmed during Monday's press conference Auburn transfer receiver Nate Craig-Myers is eligible to play.
He played three games for the Tigers last year, and according to NCAA rules, had to be held out of competition for one full calendar year based on the date Auburn said he started the process of leaving the school. The date he becomes eligible – Sept. 21, 2019 – is the day Toledo comes to Fort Collins.
"It's another piece you've got to find a way to integrate into your offense," Bobo said. "I feel like he's a talented guy who will give you a chance to be productive offensively. It adds another receiver to depth."
The timing is good for the Rams, who have been trying to build depth at the position as they've dealt with injuries to Nikko Hall and A'Jon Vivens. True freshman Dante Wright has made an immediate impact with five total touchdowns, and classmate Ty McCullouch has seen action and is progressing, Bobo said.
In Craig-Myers, the Rams add someone who started 25 games in his first two seasons with the Tigers, finishing with 22 catches for 394 yards and four touchdowns.
Craig-Myers worked with the offense early in fall camp, then moved to the scout team to help the defense prepare. Last week he saw reps with the main offense, knowing he was going to be eligible for the game.
"Nate feels awesome. Nate got here late, and was able to start in the summer with the guys and have some meetings with coach Joe Cox, but not on-the-field work," Bobo said. "Nate has been an awesome teammate. He's done a good job learning our offense.
"He's in a good position. I feel like he'll be ready to go and just excited to get him on the field."
Training Room
The plan is Colorado State will need to move forward with a new starting quarterback this week, but there was no update on the long-term status of junior quarterback Collin Hill.
Hill was injured in the third quarter of Saturday's loss at Arkansas when he took a hit to his left knee, where his ACL has been surgically repaired twice in his career. Hill was not able to get an MRI on his injured left knee on Sunday, so it was rescheduled for Monday at 12:30 p.m., about the time Bobo's weekly press conference ended.
"He's going to be out this week. There's swelling in his knee, so hopefully there's going to be good news, but he'll be out," Bobo said. "Right now there's no way for him playing, and we're just going to evaluate and do what's best for the team. Right now, I'm not ready to say who the starter is going to be."
Replacing Hill, who has completed 67.6 percent of his passes in throwing for 840 yards and seven touchdowns, will not be easy. Patrick O'Brien finished the Arkansas game, completing 7-of-10 passes for 106 yards, most of it on a 75-yard scoring connection with Wright.
O'Brien and Justice McCoy have been battling for the No. 2 spot this season, and now it will be for the starting assignment against the Rockets. Bobo said the offense will see slight changes, based on strengths.
"I'm confident. I think they've done a great job to this point," he said. "I believe in both of those guys; I know our team believes in these guys. We have to go out and have a great week of practice by those two guys, and we have to pick it up in other areas, as well. One more thing, we just have to hold on to the damn ball. We have to protect the ball. We've got six turnovers – no, eight turnovers in three games. We've got to hold on to the football if we want a chance to beat anybody."
Hill may not be the only starter missing, as guard Jeff Taylor went down with an ankle sprain. Bobo said he's day-to-day, but would call him questionable. Defensive tackle Toby McBride is still under concussion protocol.
Noting Differences
Bobo didn't make a direct correlation to the two teams, but throughout the press conference, he noted key differences between the Rams and Rockets.
Toledo, he said, is a prolific offensive team that knows how to win and gets to bowl games. He later repeated the Rockets know how to win.
This year, the Rams have seen two tight games come apart late.
"At the end of the day, we have to make our own opportunities in ball games and finish ball games. We haven't been able to do that in two balls games," he said. "Very, very similar ball game as the first game. I thought we played better in this ball game that we did in the first, but at the end of the day, we didn't make enough plays and the those teams did."
He played three games for the Tigers last year, and according to NCAA rules, had to be held out of competition for one full calendar year based on the date Auburn said he started the process of leaving the school. The date he becomes eligible – Sept. 21, 2019 – is the day Toledo comes to Fort Collins.
"It's another piece you've got to find a way to integrate into your offense," Bobo said. "I feel like he's a talented guy who will give you a chance to be productive offensively. It adds another receiver to depth."
The timing is good for the Rams, who have been trying to build depth at the position as they've dealt with injuries to Nikko Hall and A'Jon Vivens. True freshman Dante Wright has made an immediate impact with five total touchdowns, and classmate Ty McCullouch has seen action and is progressing, Bobo said.
In Craig-Myers, the Rams add someone who started 25 games in his first two seasons with the Tigers, finishing with 22 catches for 394 yards and four touchdowns.
Craig-Myers worked with the offense early in fall camp, then moved to the scout team to help the defense prepare. Last week he saw reps with the main offense, knowing he was going to be eligible for the game.
"Nate feels awesome. Nate got here late, and was able to start in the summer with the guys and have some meetings with coach Joe Cox, but not on-the-field work," Bobo said. "Nate has been an awesome teammate. He's done a good job learning our offense.
"He's in a good position. I feel like he'll be ready to go and just excited to get him on the field."
Training Room
The plan is Colorado State will need to move forward with a new starting quarterback this week, but there was no update on the long-term status of junior quarterback Collin Hill.
Hill was injured in the third quarter of Saturday's loss at Arkansas when he took a hit to his left knee, where his ACL has been surgically repaired twice in his career. Hill was not able to get an MRI on his injured left knee on Sunday, so it was rescheduled for Monday at 12:30 p.m., about the time Bobo's weekly press conference ended.
"He's going to be out this week. There's swelling in his knee, so hopefully there's going to be good news, but he'll be out," Bobo said. "Right now there's no way for him playing, and we're just going to evaluate and do what's best for the team. Right now, I'm not ready to say who the starter is going to be."
Replacing Hill, who has completed 67.6 percent of his passes in throwing for 840 yards and seven touchdowns, will not be easy. Patrick O'Brien finished the Arkansas game, completing 7-of-10 passes for 106 yards, most of it on a 75-yard scoring connection with Wright.
O'Brien and Justice McCoy have been battling for the No. 2 spot this season, and now it will be for the starting assignment against the Rockets. Bobo said the offense will see slight changes, based on strengths.
"I'm confident. I think they've done a great job to this point," he said. "I believe in both of those guys; I know our team believes in these guys. We have to go out and have a great week of practice by those two guys, and we have to pick it up in other areas, as well. One more thing, we just have to hold on to the damn ball. We have to protect the ball. We've got six turnovers – no, eight turnovers in three games. We've got to hold on to the football if we want a chance to beat anybody."
Hill may not be the only starter missing, as guard Jeff Taylor went down with an ankle sprain. Bobo said he's day-to-day, but would call him questionable. Defensive tackle Toby McBride is still under concussion protocol.
Noting Differences
Bobo didn't make a direct correlation to the two teams, but throughout the press conference, he noted key differences between the Rams and Rockets.
Toledo, he said, is a prolific offensive team that knows how to win and gets to bowl games. He later repeated the Rockets know how to win.
This year, the Rams have seen two tight games come apart late.
"At the end of the day, we have to make our own opportunities in ball games and finish ball games. We haven't been able to do that in two balls games," he said. "Very, very similar ball game as the first game. I thought we played better in this ball game that we did in the first, but at the end of the day, we didn't make enough plays and the those teams did."