Steve Addazio accepted full responsibility when Colorado State’s special teams coverage brutally malfunctioned down the stretch of 2020.
To save face for assistants, plenty of head coaches would approach the discouraging circumstance similarly, at least while addressing media in the public eye. However, in CSU’s case, Addazio didn’t do so to avoid throwing a fellow staffer under the bus.
Rather than assigning someone else to the unit, the coach elected to supervise the Rams’ third phase during the past season and beyond. Hence, the detrimental special teams miscues truly traced back to him more than any assistant.
“Completely preposterous,” Addazio exclaimed following CSU’s Nov. 12 defeat at Boise State. “I’ve got to do a better job preparing these guys. I’ve never seen anything like that before. It’s totally unacceptable, and I’ve got to make sure that gets fixed.”
After handling identical duties throughout his Boston College tenure, embracing special teams obligations wasn’t anything new for Addazio amid his 10th campaign as a collegiate sideline orchestrator.
Nevertheless, 2020’s contact tracing-induced shuffle constituted an entirely foreign obstacle, forcing Addazio to swap players in and out of return teams at a practically unheard of rate –– which he views as the leading culprit to the late-season coverage incompetence.
Specifically, two blocked punts and one swatted field goal resulted in 21 points for the hosts during the Rams’ 52-21 demise at BSU. Marking the beginning of the end, San Diego State then took a pair of 90-plus-yard returns to the house in CSU’s only contest following the blue-turf embarrassment.
Regardless, the Mountain West’s 11th-ranked coverage (37 yards surrendered per kick) transpires as easily fixable to Addazio. Naturally, since commencing organized activities in 2021, Addazio has noticed legitimate strides upon penciling consistent rotations into his special teams groups.
“Special teams is a derivative of our team culture,” Addazio described. “I thought last fall we had some real issues, both from players being out from contact tracing and just guys that were overwhelmed with all the new stuff. But we had a great spring overall in special teams.”
Coverage units aside, Ryan Stonehouse returns to Fort Collins for his fifth and final go-around as the program’s all-time leading punter (46.8 yards per boot). The California native also rolls into 2021 seeking first-team all-league distinction for the fourth consecutive season.
Kicking-wise, though less established, the green and gold remain content with their options. Particularly, Robert Liss boasts seemingly promising chances of serving as CSU’s first-string place-kicker after posting passable numbers in 2020 –– given his true-freshman status.
Including a victory-clinching boot from 48 against Wyoming, Liss converted 4-of-7 field-goals and 11-of-11 extra points last year. Below Liss, sophomore Cayden Camper (7-of-13 career-FGs) grants the Rams an insurance policy.
“(Stonehouse) is and obviously has been one of the very best in the country,” Addazio said. “But then I think our field goal kicking is elite too, with Liss and Camper. They were excellent during spring. Obviously, we have to stay healthy. But I feel great about where we’re headed. We have a full stable on special teams.”
With the kick and punt realms in mind –– as well as long snapper Ross Reiter’s proven prowess and Dante Wright’s explosive potential in the return game –– producing comprehensive special teams efficacy will perhaps teeter on the Rams’ coverage capacity above all in 2021.
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