2008 Colorado State Football
Steve Fairchild takes over in his first year as Colorado State head coach this season. He’s a former offensive coordinator with the St. Louis Rams and a former quarterback, which appears to make a good hire for the Rams in 2008. He’ll have a decent group of returning starters with 15 guys back from last year’s 3-9 squad. Let’s see what he can do filling Lubick’s shoes as the team at Info Plays gives their 2008 Colorado State Rams football predictions and season preview below.
Offense:
Nobody will be able to say that Colorado State’s offense is too predictable this season. Steve Fairchild brings over his offensive prowess from the St. Louis Rams and will keep a close eye on the offense. He hired Greg Peterson, who comes off stints at Washington State and Kansas State to be the offensive coordinator. There will be spread elements and plenty of two-back sets to take advantage of depth at running back. The Rams showed shotgun, multiple receiving sets and direct snaps to running backs in the spring.
Billy Farris will be the starting quarterback, who displays good running ability and a strong arm. The former walk-on backed up Caleb Hanie the past two years. At receiver the staff likes junior college transfer Ryan Gardner and freshman Marquise Law’s chances of making an immediate impact. Kory Sperry has NFL talent at tight end, but he’s coming off an ACL injury suffered early last season. Two dependable senior return at running back in Kyle Bell and Gartrell Johnson III. After Bell suffered an ACL injury last year, Johnson III contributed five 100-yard rushing games in his place.
Defense:
The first person Fairchild contacted for his staff was defensive coordinator Larry Kerr. He brought along with him former Duke colleague Scott Brown to whip up the defensive line. Kerr, a former CSU defensive coordinator, saw the Rams’ run defense erode since his departure in 2002. It ranked 107th nationally last season, yielding 207.3 yards per game on the ground. Kerr will inherit a couple talented defensive ends, including Tommie Hill who had 5.5 sacks last year. Wade Landers will be the full-time starter opposite Hill.
Kerr also has a veteran linebacker corps to work with, led by senior Jeff Horinek and sophomore Ricky Brewer. An injury epidemic at safety last year contributed to the Rams’ woes. Original starters Klint Kubiak and Mike Pagnotta will make a big difference in the secondary if they can just stay healthy. Cornerback will be another story.
Colorado State Predictions at Info Plays: 8th in the Mountain West
It was an uncomfortable ending for former coach Lubick, but Fairchild was a great hire. The new era at CSU involves monumental rebuilding for the passing game and a return to the basics that made Colorado State a force in the mid-90s through the early part of this decade. They have a long way to go but Fairchild has the pieces in place with his coaching staff to get things turned around.
Get another Preview of the 2008 Colorado State Rams here!
Mountain West Wins Expected in ‘08: UNLV
Potential Scares/Losses: TCU, at Utah, at San Diego State, BYU, at Air Force, NEW MEXICO, at Wyoming
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