San Diego – Before the Poinsettia Bowl debacle against Navy, Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick was looking ahead to next season with the expectation of further improvement from the defensive front seven.
Little did he realize the Rams had to get worse before they can get better.
Gimpy senior linebackers Jahmal Hall and Courtney Jones were rendered immobile and ineffective by Navy’s fleet of option attackers in Thursday’s 51-30 loss. Led by slotback Reggie Campbell’s bowl record-tying five touchdowns, Navy produced the most yards (611) and points against the Rams this season.
Although CSU had done a good job all season making halftime adjustments, that didn’t happen in San Diego.
Lubick’s optimism for next year’s defense rests with two redshirt freshmen, linebackers Jake Pottorff and Sedric Patterson. Linebacker Jeff Horinek returns with a year of starting experience, and Lubick hopes to see Nathan Pauly back stronger from an injury-filled year.
Lubick said it would be easy to dismiss Navy’s success against CSU as an anomaly because the Rams don’t see teams with the Midshipmen’s option ability.
“If someone threw 60 times against us, you could say you don’t want to play that type of team either,” Lubick said.
He says the bottom line is: “We have to be tougher as coaches and as a football team.”
While linebacking play has been problematic for a few years, the defensive line made huge strides with the help of first-year assistant Karl Ballard. There are high expectations for defensive end Jesse Nading as possibly one of the top players in the Mountain West next season.
Although starting senior safeties Travis Garcia and Miles Kochevar will be missed, Ben Stratton is expected to return from preseason knee surgery, former walk-on Mike Pagnotta showed promise and Klint Kubiak, one of the few true freshmen to play in 2005, also will bid for playing time.
Offensively, Lubick said backup quarterback Caleb Hanie “will have the upper hand” going to spring ball, but Billy Farris and redshirt freshman Grant Stucker will get a look.
“Billy is good enough that he can play another position,” Lubick said.
Offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt made it clear weeks ago that all CSU quarterbacks in the future will be able to run the ball. While Hanie provided a spark off the bench, the Rams will miss Justin Holland’s arm strength and accuracy downfield.
No one will be missed more than wide receiver David Anderson, the all-time leading Rams pass catcher.
This year’s offensive innovation, the blocking back, worked when Tristan Walker was healthy. Kyle Bell exceeded expectations with his 1,289 yards rushing despite not starting until the third game of the season. However, speed threat Nnamdi Ohaeri, who missed several games with an ankle injury, never fulfilled his potential.
If any offensive player had a breakout game in the Poinsettia Bowl, it was H-back Kory Sperry with a career-best eight catches for 117 yards. He won’t have Anderson drawing all the attention next year although Damon Morton, Johnny Walker and Dustin Osborn will contend for go-to status.
There’s some work ahead for the offensive line, which loses seniors Mike Brisiel, Albert Bimper and Brandon Alconcel. Josh Day and Clint Oldenburg return as anchors, and center Nick Allotta comes back as a part-time starter.
As for the Mountain West, Lubick doesn’t see any drop-off by league champion TCU, which cruised through unbeaten.
“They pay their coach (Gary Patterson) $1 million a year, they have all the money for facilities and a rich recruiting base in their backyard,” Lubick said.
Lubick is working on a new contract, but he left a bargaining chip on the table when the Rams lost three of their final four games.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
