Colorado State fires defensive coordinator Tyson Summers following a 56-26 loss to Oregon State.
Colorado State head coach Jim Mora announced Saturday that defensive coordinator Tyson Summers was fired following the team's 56-26 loss against Oregon State. Kenny McClendon took over the defensive play-calling during that contest.
Mora stated that Summers left the field after the demotion occurred in Fort Collins. After starting the season with a 2-0 record, the Rams have suffered three consecutive defeats in college football.
During this difficult losing streak, the defense gave up an average of 52 points per game, according to information published by bleache.
Colorado State defensive struggles under Tyson Summers
Beavers quarterback Braden Atkinson shredded the Colorado State defense on Saturday with 413 yards and five touchdowns through the air. He completed 30 of 34 passes during the dominant offensive performance.
That difficult result came just one week after UTSA put up 542 yards of total offense and 59 points against the Rams defense. Two weeks prior, BYU rushed for a staggering 332 yards against them.
Summers, age 46, was in his second stint as the school defensive coordinator, a role he first held in 2015 before becoming the head coach at Georgia Southern.
Jim Mora addresses defensive complexity and scheme issues
Leading into the matchup against Oregon State, Jim Mora made it clear that he expected Summers to simplify his defensive scheme. He noted that players can only comprehend so much chaos during a game.
When players are not playing fast because of uncertainty, Mora explained that it is critically important to shrink the package. He emphasized the need to un-complicate the system for the student athletes.
Mora added that the coaching staff cannot wait to change things because it is unfair to the players. Unfortunately, those requested adjustments did not happen to his liking during the contest.
Coaching changes and future outlook for the Rams
Summers returned to Fort Collins in 2025 as the defensive coordinator and operated as the interim head coach for five games after Jay Norvell was fired. Jim Mora was hired afterward and kept Summers aboard.
That professional relationship proved to be short, however, with plenty of foreshadowing leading to the recent divorce. Kenny McClendon stepped in to handle defensive play calling duties mid-game.
The Rams must now regroup under Jim Mora and their new defensive leadership staff to address the glaring defensive vulnerabilities moving forward in the season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Colorado State fire Tyson Summers?
Colorado State fired defensive coordinator Tyson Summers following a 56-26 loss to Oregon State amid a three-game losing streak where the defense allowed an average of 52 points per game.
Who took over defensive play-calling for Colorado State?
Kenny McClendon took over defensive play-calling duties during the game against Oregon State after Tyson Summers was demoted and left the field.
What did Jim Mora say about the defense?
Head coach Jim Mora stated that the defensive scheme was too complicated and stressed the importance of simplifying the playbook so players could execute faster without uncertainty.
