Sixth, Colorado State

Colorado State

08-26-2006

2005 Record: 6-6

2005 MWC record: 5-3

2006 Predicted record: 4-8

Last bowl appearance: 2005 Poinsettia Bowl, Lost to Navy 50-31

QUARTERBACK: The Rams return seven starters on offense, but for coach Sonny Lubick and his veteran staff it must feel like they are starting all over again for a coaching staff that his used to have all-conference players dot their offensive lineup. The only first-team All-MWC pick for the Rams in 2005 on the field was the punter. Compounding the lack of star power is the need to identify a new quarterback. Caleb Hanie takes over for Justin Holland in his junior season after seeing time as a freshman and sophomore when Holland suffered injuries. In the spring game, Hanie completed 13 of 23 passes for 208 yards with two touchdown passes and one interception. His backup is sophomore Billy Farris.

RUNNING BACK: In addition to the Rams not placing a player on the All-MWC first team, running back Kyle Bell is the only returning second-team all-conference pick. The junior ran for 1,288 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 4.7 yards per carry. CSU uses a one-back offense, but there is essentially a second returning starter in the backfield when senior blocking back Tristan Walker is included in the equation. A strong running game has been a key to any season for the Rams since Lubick arrived in Fort Collins as the head coach. There is depth behind Bell with sophomores Gartrell Johnson and Tramell McGill.

RECEIVER: CSU labels its tight end position as an H-back, but whatever label junior Kory Sperry competes under, he plays it well. He was honorable mention a year ago as a talented blocker and receiver. He caught 42 passes for 547 yards that was good for 13.0 yards per catch and four touchdowns. Dustin Osborne returns as the starting wide receiver this year as he moves into the challenging role of playing the go-to guy with a new quarterback. Osborne’s backup is junior Luke Roberts and juniors Johnny Walker and George Hill compete for the starting nod opposite Osborne.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Three starters return in of the offensive trenches, including two who picked up honorable mention a year ago on the right side. That right side of the line should be strong again with the return of guard Josh Day and tackle Clint Oldenburg. Their play will be bolstered by the return of starting center Nick Allotta. The Rams are projecting him as an all-conference pick in 2006. The left side of the line has two big holes to fill. Senior Justin D’Arcy and sophomore Cole Pemberton are competing at left tackle and sophomore Dane Stratton is ready to take over at left guard after serving as a backup in his redhirt freshman campaign.

DEFENSIVE LINE: A Colorado State defensive that gave up 50 points in a bowl game? That’s unusual for a Sonny Lubick defense and can be blamed on inexperience last year. The Rams were repeatedly fooled up front by Navy’s option. But three of the defenders in the trenches return, led by junior Jesse Nading. He was honorable mention in 2005 at defensive end with 10.5 tackles for a loss. Junior Blake Smith also returns as a starting defensive end and sophomore nose tackle Matt Rupp is back with experience in the middle. Bob Vomhol gained experience as a sophomore backing up the graduated Terrance Carter.

LINEBACKERS: Another weak spot for Colorado State was its linebacker corps, which is a traditional strength for the Rams. Colorado State should show better experience at linebacker this year with the return of two starters at outside linebacker in senior Jon Radford and sophomore Jeff Horinek. Horinek is the second leading returning tackler on the team after finishing fifth last year with 61. Jon Radford could also move the middle linebacker role, where he was a backup last year. Radford’s backup, sophomore Sedric Patterson, earned a letter last year in a backup role and might provide the linebacker more overall depth if he starts and Radford shifts to the middle.

SECONDARY: Senior cornerback Robert Herbert was fourth on the team in tackles last year and is the leading returning tackler. That’s never a good thing for a defense when a cornerback is forced to make so many tackles. But with better play up front and two returning starting cornerbacks in Herbert and Darryl Williams, the overall defensive should make strides. Herbert was an honorable mention a year ago. There also is depth at cornerback with Brandon Cathy behind Hertbert and Williams. Two sophomores, Mike Pagnotta and Klint Kubiak, will take over as the safeties.

SPECIAL TEAMS: That lone first-team pick for the Rams last year is junior punter Jimmie Kaylor after he averaged 45.3 yards per punt with 11 touchbacks a year ago. The Rams also return their place-kicker with sophomore Jason Smith.