Fort Collins –
Most college seniors don’t know where the time went. They show up as freshmen, make friends, learn the team rituals, win some games and lose some others. Just like that, their careers are over.
For Colorado State quarterback Justin Holland, however, time has dragged.
He came out of Bear Creek High School’s prolific offense with Parade All-America honors, only to wait three years for his turn to start. When he got it, a year ago, he made it only halfway through a disastrous season, suffering a broken leg against San Diego State.
Then he had to endure 10 months of waiting for another shot. Now, he has one final chance to live up to the enormous potential he has flashed.
“This is it. Time didn’t really fly by,” Holland said. “I just have to hope I can stay healthy. I don’t doubt my ability to have a great year.”
He has gained 10 pounds from a year ago and now is 6-feet-3, 210. He credits a tonsillectomy in December, a procedure he had put off for years, with helping him add weight. Antibiotics and chronic tonsillitis had worn him down more than he realized.
He returns to an offense that underwent an offseason diversification. In theory, at least, he’ll have a running game behind him to keep defenses from dropping eight men into pass coverage.
A deep crop of experienced receivers led by two-time all-Mountain West pick David Anderson also should help.
“I’m in a great position to succeed with the new offense we have,” Holland said. “It’s set up for me to have a great year. It’s not going to be me forcing the ball or doing anything incredible or trying to play above my ability. It’s going to be within the offense.”
Holland knows his improvement centers on cutting back on interceptions. Yes, he opened with 403 yards passing and two touchdowns in the furious comeback against Colorado a year ago. CSU fell behind 17-0 and ended half a yard shy of victory. But then he threw seven interceptions the next two weeks in lopsided losses to USC and Minnesota.
Just as his play began to improve in conference action, he was injured.
“I felt I could have played a lot better in those (first three) games,” Holland said. “I think we would have had a great shot at beating Minnesota if I put us in a better position, instead of making mental mistakes and throwing interceptions.
“Errors made the USC game worse than it was. I have to play better in those types of games. I can’t give the game away with interceptions.”
For the season, Holland threw for 1,622 yards, with 10 interceptions and six touchdowns.
CSU offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt said the 49-0 shellacking by USC was difficult to get over.
“The USC game really affected him and the team. A game like that scares you,” Hammerschmidt said. “He was on his way to getting better.”
Part of Holland’s problem was forcing the ball to Anderson, who has the ability to make a catch in traffic. Anderson had three 100-yard games in Holland’s first five starts, but only one after Holland was injured.
“We needed more emphasis on running the football,” Anderson said. “It doesn’t matter what quarterback is back there or what defense the defense is in. I’m looking forward to an improved running game and an improved passing game, as well.”
Hammerschmidt said he believes an improved running game will go a long way toward determining Holland’s legacy at CSU. All of the backs have shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield during preseason workouts. Holland has had success in scrimmages dumping the ball off.
“I think he’s going to have a good year,” Hammerschmidt said. “If he tries to be an All-American and chucks the ball all over like he shouldn’t, he won’t have a good year.”
Holland didn’t throw an interception in either of the two preseason scrimmages.
The offense has been redesigned to be less predictable. There will be more sets using a blocking back. H-back Kory Sperry brings more versatility to his role, and the Rams finally have the backfield speed in newcomer Nnamdi Ohaeri to break a run outside. A veteran offensive line should also help.
“I don’t know if (opponents) knew the plays, but they definitely had our protections down,” Holland said. “This year they won’t. They schemed up our protections. I think it was predictable.”
The low point of a nightmare season came during the New Mexico game, when Holland and tight end Matt Bartz were squeezed out of the coaches booth in the press box by visiting dignitary Monte Kiffin, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator and a close friend of CSU coach Sonny Lubick.
At least Holland can laugh now about being threatened with eviction from the media area – he and Bartz, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against USC, were cheering in defiance of press box protocol.
“Try kicking two cripples out of a press box for cheering for their own team,” Holland said.
Seeing the game from the press box, and getting an earful of what coaches say in the booth, gave Holland a new perspective he said should help him this year.
“It’s a great learning tool,” he said, “watching from a different perspective and seeing what the coaches are saying. None of it is pretty. The only thing that’s pretty is when you score and they start going nuts. The rest of the time, they see things wrong with every play.”
This year, he’s hoping to give them plenty of reasons to cheer.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
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COLORADO STATE
Coach: Sonny Lubick, 13th year, 95-51
2004 record: 4-7 overall, 3-4 MWC
What’s new: A running back corps missing in action since Cecil Sapp played his last game in 2002. The new-look backfield restores some life into an offense that had grown too predictable. RBs Kyle Bell (open-field power), Jimmy Green (short-yardage power) and newcomer Nnamdi Ohaeri (speed to the outside) complement one another. Tristan Walker has found his calling at the new blocking back position, which should help the running game.
Unfortunately for the Rams, the kicker (Kevin Mark) and punter (Jimmie Kaylor) also are new.
What to look for: A deep and talented senior class eager to return CSU to MWC contention and a bowl game. The offense should be improved. There are promising signs on defense, especially on the line. Questions persist at linebacker, where the Rams haven’t produced a dominant player since Eric Pauly left midway through the 2003 season with an injury. The secondary had better depth until senior leader and safety Ben Stratton was lost for the year with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Natalie Meisler predicts: 8-3, 5-2
PLAYERS TO WATCH
David Anderson, WR
Well established as one of the top receivers in CSU history. Makes the tough catch in traffic.
Justin Holland, QB
Primed for a big senior year after a frustrating career.
Miles Kochevar, S
Must take over leadership in secondary for injured Stratton.
Nnamdi Ohaeri, RB
Rams haven’t had this kind of quickness since Damon Washington in 1998.
Courtney Jones, MLB
Holds key to keeping thin linebacking group together.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
Offense
Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr.
QB 8 Justin Holland 6-3 210 Sr.
RB 22 Nnamdi Ohaeri 5-9 200 Jr.
WR 4 David Anderson 5-11 192 Sr.
WR 85 Dustin Osborn 6-0 196 Jr.
H-B 80 Kory Sperry 6-6 233 So.
TE 92 Matt Bartz 6-3 261 Sr.
LT 63 Mike Brisiel 6-5 305 Sr.
LG 70 Brandon Alconcel 6-4 285 Sr.
C 77 Albert Bimper 6-1 306 Sr.
RG 76 Josh Day 6-4 304 Jr.
RT 71 Clint Oldenburg 6-5 288 Jr.
PK 13 Kevin Mark 6-2 186 Sr.
Defense
Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Yr.
LE 44 Bob Vomhof 6-3 240 So.
NT 99 Delroy Parke 6-2 300 Sr.
DT 97 Blake Smith 6-2 290 So.
RE 59 Jesse Nading 6-5 252 So.
OLB 2 Jahmal Hall 6-0 197 Sr.
MLB 52 Courtney Jones 6-1 243 Sr.
OLB 51 Jeff Horinek 6-3 236 Fr.
CB 39 Darryl Williams 5-9 180 So.
CB 1 Brandon Cathy 5-10 190 Jr.
SS 26 Travis Garcia 6-1 212 Sr.
FS 30 Miles Kochevar 6-0 200 Sr.
P 8 Jimmie Kaylor 6-3 191 So.
KEY GAME
Utah at CSU, Oct. 8
The Utes’ two-year rampage through the MWC began here in 2003. If the Rams can restore the old conference order in this game, their confidence will soar for the remainder of the season.
2005 SCHEDULE
Sept. 3 at Colorado, 1:30 p.m., TBS
Sept. 10 at Minnesota, noon, ESPN2
Sept. 24 Nevada, 4 p.m., Fox
Sept. 29 Air Force, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 8 Utah, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 15 at BYU, TBA
Oct. 22 Wyoming ,TBA
Oct. 28 at New Mexico, 6 p.m., ESPN2
Nov. 5 at TCU, 5 p.m.
Nov. 12 San Diego State, TBA
Nov. 19 at UNLV, TBA
