Preview 2019: Previewing and looking ahead to the Colorado State season with what you need to know.
– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
– Schedule Analysis
– Colorado State Previews 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
2018 Record: 3-9 overall, 2-6 in Mountain West
Head Coach: 5th year, 24-27
5. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE COLORADO STATE OFFENSE
– The offense scored its fewest points since 2011, with no running game to get excited about, but with a passing attack that cranked up 305 yards per game. The O moved the chains, and it had its moments, but it was almost never clutch and it couldn’t make up for the mediocre defense.
– It starts with an offensive line that was okay in pass protection, but couldn’t do anything against the run. Only two starters are back, and it’ll be a work in progress though fall camp to come up with the right starting five. The backs are there, though, to do more on the ground. Marcus McElroy has the talent to be a breakout star, and there’s good depth with leading rusher Izzy Matthews and senior Mavin Kinsey back.
– Colorado State has been a machine for wide receivers, and it’ll miss Preston Wilson – one of the few bright spots from last season. However, Warren Jackson has the makeup and skills to be the new star of the show, and Auburn transfer Nate Craig-Myers about to be a strong No. 2, at least. Throwing to them is QB Collin Hill, decent veteran passer who’s had a hard time staying in one pice. Nebraska transfer Patrick O’Brien will push, but he’ll almost certainly be the backup.
NEXT: What You Need To Know About the Defense, Top Players, Keys to the Season, What Will Happen
4. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE COLORADO STATE DEFENSE
– The secondary didn’t do enough, the run defense got gouged, and infall, the defense was awful, allowing 452 yards and 37 points per game. Making matters worse is an experience issue with four of the top six tacklers gone. However, there’s hope for improvement up front with the return of Ellison Hubbard inside and Emanuel Jones outside. Now they have to get into the backfield more.
– The linebacking corps loses the key parts with top two tacklers Josh Watson and Tre Thomas gone. Trey Sutton is a decent veteran on the outside, and there’s going to be a rotation for a little while among the young parts to fill in the gaps. Dequan Jackson isn’t all that big, but he’s going to be a factor with a little bit of time in the middle.
– The secondary only picked off seven passes and got hit very, very hard for big plays and 30 touchdowns. Jamal Hicks is an all-star caliber safety to work around, but the corners have to be stronger – Rashad Ajayi has to rise up as a sophomore. There’s a whole lot of young talent to play around with.
NEXT: Top Players, Keys To the Season, What Will Happen
3. TOP COLORADO STATE PLAYERS
Best Colorado State Offensive Player
WR Warren Jackson, Jr.
Is Jackson the next Colorado State receiving star ready to roll? The 6-6, 219-pounder was the No. 2 guy next to Preston Williams, catching 32 passes for 405 yards and four touchdowns. He might not have the speed and quickness of a Williams, or a Michael Gallup, or a Rashard Higgins,
2. QB Collin Hill, Jr.
3. RB Marcus McElroy, Jr.
4. WR Nate Craig-Myers, Jr.
5. TE Cameron Butler, Jr.
Best Colorado State Defensive Player
S Jamal Hicks, Sr.
One of the team’s top tacklers last season, the 6-1, 200-pound Hicks didn’t do too much when the ball was in the air, but he brought the thump with 93 tackles including 15 against Air Force to end the season. He’s a strong, smart veteran with the talent to be the quarterback of the secondary and the defense – especially behind a young linebacking corps.
2. P Ryan Stonehouse, Jr.
3. DE Emmanuel Jones, Jr.
4. DT Ellison Hubbard, Jr.
5. CB Rashad Ajayi, Soph.
NEXT: Keys to the Season, Prediction & What Will Happen
2. KEYS TO THE SEASON
Biggest Key To The Colorado State Offense
The running game has to work again after the worst year – just 1,267 yards – in more than a decade. Colorado State is more than fine as long as the passing attack is going off on an efficient, consistent basis, but the ground game has to be a bigger part of the fun. It only averaged three yards per carry last season and went over 140 yards just twice. Worst of all, there were only eight touchdowns with three coming in the loss to Wyoming. The backs are there, but a commitment has to be made.
Biggest Key To The Colorado State Defense
Stop the big plays. The pass rush wasn’t great, but it wasn’t totally miserable, and the Rams didn’t face a whole slew of big-time passing attacks. The problem was the deep ball, allowing a whopping 9.2 yards per attempt fifth-worst in college football. On the year, the Rams gave up more than ten 11 yards per throw five times, and lost all five games. To make matters worse, the D came up with just one pick over the final six games.
Key Player To A Successful Season
CB Rashad Ajayi, Soph.
The Rams need a lockdown star at one corner spot to help settle things down for a bad pass defense. The 5-10, 175-pound Ajayi came up with an okay first season with 33 tackles, an interception and seven broken up passes. With other parts of the secondary still coming together, he could change around the entire D with a massive year.
Key Game To The Colorado State Season
at Utah State, Sept. 28
The Colorado and Arkansas games are going to be problems – even with the win over the Hogs last year – and dealing with Toledo won’t be easy. However, starting out the Mountain West run with a win could be a must with San Diego State and two road games to follow. The Rams pushed a strong Utah State team last year in a 29-24 loss. Now they have to win.
– Colorado State Schedule Breakdown & Analysis
2018 Colorado State Fun Stats
– Punt Return Average: Opponents 18.1 yards – Colorado State 3.67 yards
– Sacks: Opponents 30 for 199 yards – Colorado State 15 for 98 yards
– Rushing Yards Per Game: Opponents 219.5 – Colorado State 105.6
NEXT: What Will Happen
1. COLORADO STATE WIN TOTAL PREDICTION: WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN
There are a whole lot of moving parts and too many concerns to think the Rams will be major players in the Mountain West title chase, but there’s enough in place to at least get bowl eligible.
There’s a lot to like. The running backs are good, the receiving corps has the potential to be a thing, and Ryan Stonehouse is one of the nation’s best punters.
Across the board, the injury issues of last season at least led to more depth coming into this year, but everything has to start working.
The ground game has to be stronger, the passing attack has to keep up in shootouts, and the defensive front seven has to come up with a few meaningful stops.
Set The Regular Season Win Total At … 6
The key will be focus and attitude throughout the season. It’s likely the Rams will start out at worst 1-5, but maybe 2-4 or even 3-3. The slate eases up a bit in the back half … and then comes the regular season finale against Boise State.
It’s going to take a few upsets, but this has to be the year the program starts winning more of the games against the big boys. Colorado State went 7-6 for three straight seasons before last year’s clunker. Getting back to that range isn’t asking for the world.
– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
– Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
– Schedule Analysis
