FORT COLLINS — After six practices of installing new systems, Mike Bobo and his staff are ready to see what the football players at Colorado State know. Not only that, but what they can execute and who can do it at a high level.

Consider it a midterm exam of sorts, as Saturday’s session out at Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium will mark the eighth of 15 days of spring ball.

Bobo said the effort has been great outside of the opening day when the players were a bit lost, now he just wants to see that paired with the ability to run the concepts they’ve been practicing.

“Saturday, I really want to see a combination of all three,” he said. “I want to see who can make plays in a game-type situation, who’s ready to become dependable. I talked about opportunity is not in fall camp, it’s not Game 2, you’re opportunity is this Saturday. If you want to prove you’re a dependable player and want to play, then you’ve got to show it this Saturday.”

The players are ready to find out for themselves, as well. Last week, the Rams spent the final 25 minutes with a bit of a scrimmage, one the defense controlled. For that group, they want the same type of display.

“Saturday, I think the approach is to go out there and dominate, whether we’re doing something wrong or not,” linebacker Kevin Davis said. “If we’re doing something wrong, you can always go back and fix it. You just look to the next play and go 100 miles per hour.”

His position coach, Marty English, has a more specific take on what he’d like accomplished. Though he and the players say the scheme isn’t really all that different from what the Rams ran last year, this one has different terminology.

In order for the defense to play as one, English said they have to show they can talk to each other and be on the same page play after play.

“Great communication and playing fast,” English said of his checklist. “The biggest thing for us is communication and then just recognizing for us down-distances, formations and being able to play fast from there.”

Bobo said the offense will be simplified for the session in an effort to make sure the players have a good idea of how his no-huddle is run. He said they’ll basically have a mini game plan in place so they can familiarize themselves to be able to run it correctly.

Most importantly, he said, was just to go out and let the game flow like normal and don’t try to win the job on one throw.

“You play football. You’ve been prepared, you prepared well,” he said. “Now take what you know and go out and play the game. Don’t be a robot, don’t try to think too much.”

Guest visitor — JC Robles, the one quarterback the Rams signed in February, has spent the week in Fort Collins — his spring break — taking in practices and meetings. Bobo said it’s been a great first impression on both sides.

“It just shows the commitment,” Bobo said. “It started with recruiting and getting to know him. You can tell he’s a very passionate guy; he’s locked in.”

Bobo said Robles has been using his iPhone to take pictures of the board, a stark contrast to his senior spring break, one in which he thinks he painted a house for his father.

Newest Ram — CSU signed junior college linebacker Caleb Smith this week, a player Bobo said fits the bill of the type of athlete the program is seeking. Bobo said Smith, who has four years to play three, could end up as a defensive end or linebacker.

“He’s a long, athletic guy who can rush the passer and play in space,” Bobo said. “We’re looking for those longer bodies that can play in space and rush. We thought we might need another speed guy on the edge, and a guy who can play in space and drop in coverage.”

Training room — Safety Kevin Pierre-Louis and receiver Rashard Higgins still aren’t practicing, but Bobo said reports from the training staff is they will return soon. With this being a new staff, it’s important for them to get back on the field if they are capable.

“New staff, they need to get out there and run the plays,” he said. “New terminology, see the different looks. The time they’re missing is not good, because they’re missing reps. At the same time, they’re getting mental reps, and that helps them.”

Higgins was not even at practice, as he was in Denver at the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame banquet. He was named the male college athlete of the year by the organization.

Mike Brohard: 970-635-3633, mbrohard@reporter-herald.com and twitter.com/mbrohard