Fort Collins – The sooner Colorado State can get on the practice field today, the quicker it can exorcise a bitter 4-7 season, the nadir of Sonny Lubick’s 12-year Rams coaching career.
“Yeah, unless they are too tired from meeting,” said Lubick, who has scheduled team meetings before the first workout, which will begin at 4 p.m.
Despite 17 returning starters and only a handful of position battles, Lubick’s staff has as much preseason work ahead as any time in the past decade. The Rams were picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West Conference this season.
“We have to continue to develop a rushing attack, work hard on the turnover ratios; we’ve got to improve our run defense,” Lubick said of the to-do list haunting him since a season-ending 47-17 debacle at Air Force.
And that list doesn’t even begin to address special teams, which were a disaster at times a year ago – especially punt returns.
CSU also ranked near the bottom nationally in rushing offense (97th), rushing defense (111th) and turnover margin (110th).
There are reasons for optimism in the running game. Returnees Jimmy Green and Kyle Bell are listed 1-2 on the depth chart coming out of spring ball. All eyes will be on UCLA transfer Nnamdi Ohaeri, who hasn’t played offense since high school. He spent both of his years at UCLA on defense and special teams but will play running back for the Rams.
Lubick wants to try several players on punt returns, allowing senior receiver David Anderson to help in other areas. Lubick also wants sophomore receiver Damon Morton and junior receiver Dustin Osborn to get a look.
When the NCAA permitted more two-a-day practices, CSU devoted entire afternoon sessions to special-teams work. Now there are only four days of double practices, and camp has been lengthened, with players getting more rest days.
There are a few defensive spots up for grabs. Junior college transfer Jon Radford came out of spring pushing oft-injured starter Courtney Jones at middle linebacker. While senior defensive lineman Delroy Parke missed most of the spring with an injury, sophomore Erik Sandie took advantage to push for the job.
Footnotes
Walk-on running back Kyle Van Horn is out for the season after a boating accident. … Lubick described tight end Matt Bartz as 90 percent after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament early last season. … The Rams have their first full-contact practice Monday morning.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
