The list of problems plaguing the CSU defense in recent games is a long one, and fans on social media since Saturday's 45-28 loss to Air Force have been vocal about the job of defensive coordinator Marty English and the entire defense.

Just about everything the Rams could do wrong, they did in Saturday's loss to Air Force, whose option offense rang up 413 yards rushing.

"Poor leverage. Over-running things, not playing inside-out on guys, not being in a football position, playing out of control," coach Mike Bobo said, checking off the boxes at his Monday press conference.''

And Bobo wasn't through.

"Then not getting enough hats to the party. A lot of time missed tackles might not be as glaring if you've got more pursuit there that's coming,'' he added.

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He's said missed assignments and missed tackles were problems as the defense struggled in close wins over Nevada (44-42) and New Mexico (27-24). The Rams gave up an average of 21.7 points per game through the first six games, but over the past three have given up an average of 37 points per game.

Against the Air Force option, Bobo said Colorado State University elected to play a base defense that is successful when players win one-on-one battles. The Rams (6-3, 4-1 Mountain West) haven't proved they can do that consistently.

Bobo suggested at his weekly press conference that the defense will have to change how it attacks going into Saturday's critical game at Wyoming (5-3, 3-1).

"We're not being aggressive. The play is being dictated to us. We're on our heels. That's on me," Bobo said. "We've got to get a plan this week where we attack. We don't need to sit back and react. We're not good enough to sit back and react."

Bobo has some fixes in mind for the defense, but don't expect big changes during the season.

He said Monday he's planning to move spring practice up to right after National Signing Day (Feb. 7). Spring practices last year ended in late April. Moving up the practices will allow CSU to "have a longer lifting cycle for our guys and try to get stronger at the point of attack."

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Recruiting bigger, stronger, faster players is obviously also a goal, the same as every other team in the country.

But for the next three games, there's no time for a huge makeover.

"Right now, it's fundamentals," Bobo said. "It's not necessarily beating everyone physically sometimes. It's the fundamentals of playing with your hands. A lot of guys don't know that coming in. It's something you teach and get better at."

How much CSU is able to improve the defense will be a big factor in the success the rest of the season. A loss to either Wyoming on the road Saturday or at home against Boise State on Nov. 11 will likely knock the Rams out of conference title contention.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle at twitter.com/Kevin_Lytle and at facebook.com/KevinSLytle.

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