| | By Ed Graney
Special to ESPN.com
Colorado State Rams:
1999 record: 8-4, 5-2
Coach: Sonny Lubick, eighth season, 57-27.
Starters returning: 17 (9 offense, 8 defense)
Outlook:
It's never the biggest or fastest or prettiest team. The offense isn't very sexy; the defense isn't very flashy. But the Rams have won or shared a conference title four of the past seven years because no team plays harder or with more passion and purpose.
"We have defensive backs who run 4.9 in the 40 and who can't do this or that," Lubick said. "But they'll run you over and hit the heck out of you." That philosophy won't change, not with linebacker Rick Crowell having been granted a sixth year of eligibility due to injury and safety John Howell roaming the secondary.
Questions must be answered up front, where the Rams lost quality ends in Clark Haggans and Greg Pollard. Matt Newton is more solid than spectacular at quarterback, but the senior is smart enough to find speedster Dallas Davis (51 catches for 665 yards last season) often. The offense could be as good as Lubick has fielded at CSU, with a tight end (Jose Ochoa) who rivals any in the conference and a sophomore running back (Rahsaan Sanders) who will soften the loss of Kevin McDougal. The non-conference schedule (Colorado, East Tennessee State, at Arizona State, at Nevada) is built for success.
Keep an eye on:
Sophomore linebacker Adam Wade. He started the final nine games of his true-freshman season, totaling 52 tackles and two sacks. Crowell will draw much attention, allowing the athletic Wade to slip single blocks and make plays. The loss of linebacker Ula Tuitele could potentially hurt, but Wade is talented enough to dominate games. He has a future. It's called Sunday.
It's a good season if:
Both fronts stay healthy and play well. Really, nothing else stands in the way of another championship and Liberty Bowl berth. Potential roadblocks loom at Utah and rival Air Force, but there is a reason Lubick is the league's finest coach: His team is often as conservative as it is tough, leaving the big-game mistakes to others and the fancy rings to CSU. A nine-win season is within reach.
Ed Graney covers college football for the San Diego Union Tribune | |
ALSO SEE
Parity thrives in the Mountain West
|
