Fort Collins – This was the year Colorado State linebackers were expected to cycle out of their problems of youth. The seniors of 2003 gave way to first-time starters last season. Progress looked inevitable with another year of experience.
With the season opener against Colorado little more than a week away, however, the linebackers still have much to prove. While Rams coach Sonny Lubick, who primarily watches the defense during practice, and defense coordinator Steve Stanard have praised the front four and the secondary, they measure their words carefully when discussing the linebackers.
“I’m a little harder to please,” said Stanard, who doubles as the linebackers coach. “We have to get more production out of everybody. Every day they get more and more comfortable with what they have to do. Every day they look a step quicker and more and more confident in what they are doing.”
That’s about as effusive as he’ll get.
Senior starter Jahmal Hall is more direct, saying: “We have to get back to the basics and make things happen this year. We have to get more physical up front. We have a defensive line this year that is getting off the ball. We have linebackers who have to make plays.”
CSU hasn’t produced an all-Mountain West Conference selection at linebacker since Eric Pauly made the second team as a junior in 2002.
Last season, new starters Courtney Jones in the middle and Luke Adkins and Hall on the outside each missed at least one game with injuries. As a group, they have had trouble staying healthy – and making big plays.
This year, there are more injury issues. It’s doubtful Adkins, a junior, will return anytime soon, if at all this season, after undergoing knee surgery after last season. His knee is not responding to rehabilitation.
His replacement at weakside linebacker is 6-foot-3, 236-pound redshirt freshman Jeff Horinek, who got a head start in spring practice with Adkins sidelined. He has brought a much-needed physical presence during camp.
Stanard does like the depth he has seen during camp. Jones, a senior, missed most of a week of practice with strep throat, and Hall is returning from a neck stinger. Junior college transfer Jon Radford continues to press for playing time in the middle while Hall’s backup, third-year sophomore John Nichols, has shown improvement.
Pending Adkins’ return, the long-range future of the unit rests with Horinek, younger brother of former Ram punter Deone Horinek.
“Jeff is getting more comfortable in what he is supposed to do,” Stanard said.
Horinek said he learned a lot during spring ball, but “I still have a lot of work to do. I’m not where I want to be.”
He won’t allow any excuses for his rookie status: “On game day they don’t care if I’m a senior or a freshman. I have to play like I’m a senior.”
One of the priorities of the coaches is clamping down on opposing running games. A year ago, opponents rushed 472 times for a whopping 5.2-yard average. The good news on the defensive side is the play of the line and the secondary in camp, despite the loss of leader Ben Stratton at safety this week from a knee injury.
Someone, somewhere on the defense will have to step up and take Stratton’s place as the vocal leader. It’s a job unlikely to fall to a freshman, but Horinek is willing to do what is asked.
“We have to work on getting a lot more intense and pumping everyone else up,” Horinek said.
New hope
Colorado State’s defense was hamstrung with injuries and ineffectiveness at linebacker a year ago. A look at this year’s projected starters:
Courtney Jones, MLB, 6-1, 243, Sr. Provides needed physical presence in middle. Had 52 tackles a year ago, including career-best 10 vs. Air Force in season finale.
Jahmal Hall, OLB, 6-0, 197, Sr. Undersized, relies on speed to make plays. Missed final two games with injuries last year. Has missed time in camp this fall with neck stinger.
Jeff Horinek, OLB, 6-3, 236, Fr. Redshirt freshman gets nod after posting a strong spring. Former starter Luke Adkins has yet to recover from knee injury.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
