Jim Mora dropped a bombshell on Monday, October 19. Kenny McClendon, Colorado State’s defensive coordinator, hasn’t been home in two weeks. Mora told reporters they even turned linebacker coach Jordan Frost-Dixon’s office into a bedroom for McClendon, because the DC is literally living at the football offices in Fort Collins, grinding to rebuild the Rams’ defense. You know things are intense when your coach is sleeping at the stadium to fix the mess.
The Defensive Meltdown Kenny McClendon Inherited
McClendon has had his hands absolutely full since taking over as defensive coordinator. He assumed the play-calling duties for the rest of the season during the second half of Colorado State’s brutal 56-26 loss to Oregon State on October 3. That was the game where Mora relieved the previous DC, Tyson Summers, of his responsibilities in the first half. Summers, a second-year defensive coordinator who’d been kept on from the old staff, didn’t even come back to the sidelines for the second half. Talk about a swift, mid-game change-up.
Numbers Don’t Lie: The Struggle Is REAL
This defensive collapse didn’t happen overnight. After starting the season 2-0, Colorado State dropped two straight games, with the defense giving up at least 40 points and 500 total yards of offense in each. And in McClendon’s first *full* game calling plays last week? It got even worse. The Rams’ defense gave up a season-high 66 points and a mind-boggling 716 total yards of offense. It’s no surprise, then, that Colorado State ranks dead last in the Pac-12 in scoring defense, allowing 43.2 points per game, and also last in total defense with 530.3 yards per game. Mora, despite the brutal return so far, still believes the defense is in “good hands.” He’s talking about building consistency, but man, those numbers are screaming for help right now.
Colorado State sits at 2-4 overall, 0-2 in Pac-12 play. They’ve got a shot to turn things around, or at least show some improvement, when they host San Diego State at 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 24. All those sleepless nights have to start paying off soon, right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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