Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) -
2011 SEASON IN REVIEW: For a program that dates back nearly 120 years, the
Colorado State Rams have seen their share of ups and downs, and that's how the
2011 campaign played out for the squad.
Under the direction of head coach Steve Fairchild, the Rams got off to a
favorable start with victories over both New Mexico and Northern Colorado, but
those decisions were expected. CSU then clashed with the Colorado Buffaloes in
their annual Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver, and that battle didn't go
nearly as well as the Rams absorbed a 28-14 loss. A bit unexpected, given the
development of Utah State in recent years, CSU also found a way to defeat the
Aggies on the road in double overtime, 35-34, to move out to a 3-1 start, but
it was all just smoke and mirrors apparently.
The Rams failed to win a single game after that, dropping eight in a row to
close out 2011. While three of those games were decided by just three points,
the team bowing to UNLV, San Diego State and Wyoming by that margin, there were
also a handful of lopsided efforts that were too tough to ignore, particularly
the 63-13 setback versus Boise State in front of the home crowd in the middle
of October.
With the prospect of kicking off the 2012 campaign tied for the fourth-longest
skid in the Football Bowl Subdivision, Colorado State decided it was time for a
change at head coach and sent Fairchild packing. A former quarterback at CSU
himself, Fairchild finished his term with a record of just 16-33 over four
years, although he did manage to guide the program to a 7-6 mark with a win
over Fresno State in the 2008 New Mexico Bowl. The Rams brought in Jim
McElwain, the former offensive coordinator with national champion Alabama, two
weeks into December to become the 20th head coach of the program. While
McElwain's specialty is offense, something the Rams lacked as they scored just
21.4 ppg last season, what he really needs to focus on is keeping his
quarterback safe behind an offensive line that has been allowing opponents to
get countless shots on their signal-caller for the last several seasons.
2012 ANALYSIS:
OFFENSE: The change in the coaching staff at Colorado State had at least one
major impact on the roster as quarterback Pete Thomas elected to transfer to
NC State instead of stick around and try to rebuild under the current regime.
Honestly, no one can blame Thomas for bolting because over the last two years
he has taken a severe beating behind an offensive line that has spent more time
picking him up off the turf than anything else. The departure of Thomas has
paved the way for Garrett Grayson to become the new starting quarterback for
the Rams.
"Going into this season, it's a different feeling," Grayson says of his
projected starting status. "You feel good, you feel confident, but you just
want to show people that you can be that guy too. You're always going to have
your doubters and people saying why is this guy playing...But you have to go
into every game thinking you are the guy. You have to be confident. You don't
want to be cocky, but there is a difference, so I go into every game and I'm
going to prepare just like I did for the last few games last year."
The signal-caller will have all four of the top receivers from last season
suiting up yet again for the Rams. Crockett Gillmore proved to be one of the
top tight ends in the nation last season as he led CSU with 45 receptions for
468 yards and 4 touchdowns. Lou Greenwood accounted for another 26 grabs for
396 yards and 2 scores, but they are the only returnees who registered at least
200 yards in 2011.
Grayson can certainly feel confident about the running back lining up behind
him in Chris Nwoke, who ranked third in the league last season with 94.2 ypg on
the ground. However, a closer look inside the numbers for Nwoke shows someone
who typically ran for minimal yardage and managed to boost his stats thanks to
outings against San Diego State and Air Force in which he gained a combined 501
yards on the ground.
DEFENSE: Above everything else, the Colorado State defense has the most work to
do, particularly in stopping the run and the new coaching staff is well aware
of what needs to be a top priority.
"Defensively, we've added a couple guys that I think appear to be guys that'll
help us," says coach McElwain. "If I could make predictions I'd be in Vegas
right now, making a whole bunch of money at the sports book. I think we've
helped ourselves. Do we still need depth there? Yes, but I think we've helped
ourselves."
Putting up more of a fight at the line of scrimmage is of utmost importance,
but with only two returning starters along the defensive line (John Froland and
C.J. James) the struggle may be ongoing. James certainly has shown flashes of
what he can accomplish with eight of his 36 tackles from last year coming
behind the line of scrimmage and placing second on the unit with 5 sacks, but
he will need teammates to keep opposing teams from keying on him every weekend.
The strongest section of the defense is probably the middle of the field where
James Skelton and Shaquil Barrett are ready to set up residence for the
linebacking corps. Forced to do a little bit of everything last year, Barrett
led the team in total tackles with 99, recorded 4.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks as well
as breaking up 3 passes. Skelton was second on the unit with 89 total stops.
Losing Nordly Capi (11.5 TFLs, 10.0 sacks, 7 forced fumbles) will certainly be
a huge test for the squad moving forward.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Not only do the Rams have to re-think the offense with the loss
of Thomas, the squad is also going in a different direction on special teams as
well with both Ben DeLine and Chad VanderMolen no longer available to handle
the placekicking chores.
Instead, it will be sophomore Jared Roberts who will be handling the field
goals and kickoffs for CSU this time around. Both of his predecessors were
capable of hitting from beyond 40 yards on field goals, so Roberts has some
standards to live up to.
Senior Pete Kontodiakos has been penciled in as the starting punter for the
Rams once again after he let fly with 57 kicks last year, averaging close to 44
yards per attempt.
OUTLOOK: Coach McElwain and his troops are being thrown directly into the fire
to begin the new era at Colorado State, as they kick off against in-state rival
Colorado in Denver on Sept 1. A win there could give the team quite a bit of
confidence moving forward, but at the same time the Rams have to defend against
a let-down as well.
Further down the line the Rams will have some of their toughest tests of the
campaign out on the road where they will visit San Diego State, Wyoming and
Boise State in the second half of the campaign.
Assume that CSU will need some time to get acquainted with a new starting
quarterback and schemes from a new coaching staff.
The Sports Network