OFFENSE

Finally, in his fourth year as coach at Colorado State, Steve Fairchild has a returning starter at quarterback. That fact alone gives the Rams and Fairchild something to celebrate.

Pete Thomas, though, is no ordinary returnee. He was the only true freshman quarterback in the country to start every game last year, and he responded by setting a school single-season record, completing 64.7 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,662 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The problem was that Thomas didn’t get a lot of help from his teammates. That should change in 2011, as the Rams return four of five starters on the line and depth at running back. If a couple of receivers step up, the Rams might be able to operate the type of attack Fairchild envisioned when he left the NFL to return to his alma mater.

Fairchild is counting on senior Raymond Carter and sophomore Chris Nwoke to produce solid numbers at running back. Converted running back Lou Greenwood could be ready for a breakout season at wide receiver after averaging 13.9 yards per catch last year, and freshman Thomas Coffman is already being compared to former Ram great and current Texans receiver David Anderson.
 

DEFENSE

The Rams’ best player is senior Mychal Sisson, an undersized linebacker who has a knack for making plays. Sisson led the nation in forced fumbles last year and was one of the few bright spots on a defense that finished last in the country in third down defense, allowing foes to convert an astounding 54.6 percent of their opportunities.

The really bad news is that nose tackle Guy Miller, CSU’s only All-MWC player in 2010, graduated, leaving a giant hole in the line. The Rams are hoping some of their younger players can grow and become viable players up front, but until they do, defense will continue to be the No. 1 concern.

One player worth getting excited about is sophomore Mike Orakpo, the younger brother of former Texas star Brian Orakpo. He lacks his big brother’s size but is a fierce hitter and playmaker.

The secondary will feature plenty of veterans, with safety Ivory Herd and corners Momo Thomas and Elijah-Blu Smith (a former safety) returning. Trouble is, the Rams intercepted only four passes last year, which helps explain their dismal third down performance.

SPECIALISTS

Experience abounds in the kicking game, with junior punter Pete Kontodiakos and senior kicker Ben DeLine entering their third seasons as starters. Kontodiakos averaged 43.7 yards per punt, while DeLine was a solid 16-of-22 on field goals. DeLine, though, missed three of his 21 PATs. The Rams have some game-breaking ability in Tony Drake and Derek Good, who set a Mountain West Conference single-game kickoff return record with 263 yards against Air Force on eight returns.

FINAL ANALYSIS

After posting back-to-back 3–9 seasons, Fairchild knows the heat is on him to produce. The good news is that four years of recruiting have greatly enhanced the team’s overall talent, particularly when it comes to speed, and Thomas is an emerging star at quarterback.

The schedule, which includes win-friendly non-conference dates with Northern Colorado, San Jose State, Utah State and UTEP, is designed to get Fairchild and the Rams into the postseason. Anything short of that, however, could spell the end of Fairchild’s run.