By: Mike Brohard
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – This wasn't a place where Jon Budmayr had to reinvent the wheel. At Colorado State, the product was still in production.In Steve Addazio's second season as the Rams' football coach, he had to seek out a second offensive coordinator. As an offensive coach with strict principles in how to devise a system, he was looking for someone with a likeminded approach. But as a longtime coach who understands the game changes and it's better to get ahead of the curve, Addazio needed someone with some fresh ideas to interject.
And joining a second-year staff which really only had about half of a season in which to implement an offense is not a bad place to be the new guy.
"I was excited to join this staff, because I know there were a lot of things that aligned with what Coach Addazio wanted to see on offense, and also some of the things I could bring to the table to impact it in a positive way," Budmayr said. "I think our unit is similar to our team. We're trying to establish an identity that pays attention to the details, values the details, puts the team first. Obviously it's about the team and the unit and the individuals are an awesome part of that, but you can't put yourself ahead of that ever."
The Rams have now had three spring workouts, and to this point, Budmayr thinks the instillation of the offense has progressed rather well. But it's early, and there's going to be more to digest and merge as the rest of the camp advances.
The players can already sense the new, be it the addition of plays and packages, even schematic adjustments. All will point toward improving situational aspects of the game, and for a team which struggled to move the chains in the abbreviated 2020 campaign, running back Marcus McElroy, Jr., likes where Budmayr is leading them.
"I think right now the big thing I'm really pulling from him being added is the fact that he really has a heavy focus on our third-down productivity right now," McElroy said. "Last year, that was a big issue that we had. We'd come out, go into third down and sometimes be in some really bad situations. We just didn't really know what to do. Right now, there's a big, heavy emphasis on third down. Right now we're starting off a little small, but its already set up to be by the end of spring ball, we're going to have a good little arsenal of third-down plays to put us in really good situations. Instead of being fourth-and-1 or 2, we're getting that first down regardless of what's going on."
McElroy hasn't seen the Xs and Os change much, and neither has tight end Trey McBride. There has been some new terminology to adjust to, and his teaching style is naturally his own. The way they describe it is the addition of wrinkles to much of what was already in place.
It makes sense, considering Budmayr arrives from Wisconsin, a program which traditionally has relied on a power running game. Running backs coach Brian White spent time there, so he knows. So does Addazio, because that's what he likes, too.
So if any of the wrinkles start to feel like waves, it will come in the one alteration Budmayr sees as a natural addition the packages already in place.
"The pass game and the play-action, there's some carry over," he said. "I'd say there are a couple of things that I've added that we did, and really probably the most new I've brought in is the drop-back passing game and being able to implement that whatever the situation may be, early in the downs, particularly second-and-long, third down, and it's going to be a big emphasis in the red zone. I think we aligned pretty well when it came to run game, play-action -- a lot of that played off of each other with some of the stuff we did at Wisconsin. But in the drop-back game, I'm trying to implement some of the things I believe in that I think can help us have success in those situations."
Naturally, the team has already seen a bunch of film on Wisconsin. If a coach wants to prove something new works, you show them where and when it did. In his other role as quarterbacks coach, Budmayr is having his troops understanding the details of footwork, and how that brings about a natural rhythm to the offense, whether it be dropping back and looking down field or handing the ball off to a back.
The introduction of all the material started with film work, and in voluntary sessions where the players wanted to get ahead of spring ball, quarterback Todd Centeio said the concepts were clearly seen to work in action. As the trigger guy for the system, it's a good place for him to be aligned with his new mentor.
"I'm more comfortable in this offense. It's detailed to the fact it can't waiver and you can't do whatever you want," Centeio said. "The footwork is the biggest thing that makes me comfortable within the plays, because it all times up well. I was going out there before spring ball, we'd go to the indoor and throw, and I'm doing the drops and I'm like, these routes are just timing up perfect with the drop. When you feel like that, you can be confident in your throw and the reads that you make. That's the most exciting thing about the new offense.
"Watching the tape and knowing Wisconsin, they're a very efficient team. That's one thing we need to improve on going into the season."
Like the footwork, putting in the offense requires a step-by-step approach. Each one is designed to lead the Rams in the right direction, not just from a physical standpoint, but a mentality and attitude.
The little pieces will matter, which the players are already learning. Along the way, the coaching staff, and Budmayr, are devising the necessary plans for who it involves and how they are utilized best. Not just power in the run game, but explosiveness from every avenue.
"As I'm continuing to implement it with our offensive staff, we spent a lot of times those first two weeks with what we want to do, how do we want to put different formations and personal sets out there and who do we want to get the ball in the hands of and how are we going to do that and put them in a position to be successful," Budmayr said. "It's been fun building it out. We're still early in that process, but continuing to see what the strength of this offensive unit is has been fun these first couple of days."
It's good to jump into new waters, especially when everyone else around you still has their feet wet, too. For Budmayr, he doesn't have to get the ball rolling, he just has to make it a smoother ride.
The Link Lonk
March 05, 2021 at 02:36AM
https://csurams.com/news/2021/3/4/ramwire-budmayer-brings-fresh-ideas-to-csu-offense.aspx
Budmayer Brings Fresh Ideas to CSU Offense - CSURams.com
https://news.google.com/search?q=fresh&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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