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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Sonny Lubick (14th season, 101-57) 2005 record: 6-6 MWC finish: 5-3 (t-2nd) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 89th (121.7 ypg) Passing: 16th (286.3 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 115th (222.8.5 ypg) Passing: 39th (206.0 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 Weber State Sept. 9 # Colorado Sept. 16 at Nevada Oct. 7 UNLV Oct. 12 at Air Force Oct. 21 at Wyoming Oct. 28 New Mexico Nov. 4 BYU Nov. 11 at Utah Nov. 25 TCU Nov. 24 at UNLV Dec. 2 at San Diego St. # at Denver Depth Chart: Offense 5 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. SE 7 Johnny Walker Jr. 87 Damon Morton Jr. FL 85 Dustin Osborn Sr. 82 Luke Roberts Jr. HB 80 Kory Sperry Jr. 89 Kevin McPeek So. LT 71 Clint Oldenburg Sr. 53 Cole Pemberton Fr. LG 67 Jerome Williams Sr. 60 Adrian Martinez Fr. C 64 Nick Allotta Jr. 57 Tim Walter Fr. RG 76 Josh Day Sr. 60 Adrian Martinez Fr. RT 75 Dane Stratton So. 53 Cole Pemberton Fr. TE 88 Chris Kawulok So. 93 Tyler Jorgensen Fr. QB 16 Caleb Hanie Jr. 15 Billy Farris So. RB 34 Kyle Bell Jr. 5 Gartrell Johnson So. Depth Chart: Defense 6 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 59 Jesse Nading Jr. 91 Tommie Hill So. NT 97 Blake Smith Jr. 95 Erik Sandie Jr. DT 45 Matt Rupp So. 92 Shawn McGoveran So. DE 93 Wade Landers So. 44 Bob Vomhof Jr. SLB 9 Luke Adkins Sr. 41 Sedric Patterson Fr. MLB 51 Jeff Horinek So. 42 Jake Pottorff Fr. WLB 25 Jon Radford Sr. 38 Nathan Pauly Jr. CB 39 Darryl Williams Jr. 1 Brandon Cathy Sr. CB 6 Robert Herbert Sr. 29 Joey Rucks Jr. SS 3 Ben Stratton Sr. 35 Mike Pagnotta So. FS 20 Klint Kubiak So. 15 Jake Galusha So. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 37 Jason Smith So. KR 27 George Hill Jr. P 8 Jimmie Kaylor Jr. PR 85 Dustin Osborn Sr.

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Over the past four seasons, Colorado State has won a league title (2002), played in three bowl games and spent time in the Top 25. It's a record just about any other team in the Mountain West Conference would be proud of.

At Colorado State, though, the past four seasons have not measured up to past success. The Rams' record over that time is 27-23, and they were 0-3 in those bowl games. In the previous four years they were 33-15, won two league titles and went 2-1 in bowl games, finishing the 2000 season ranked 14th nationally.

So, as the Rams enter 2006 they are looking to turn back the clock to the days when they ruled the MWC.

"We're tired of being mediocre and finishing 7-4," junior quarterback Caleb Hanie says. "We want to be champions again."

That will take some doing. Not only do the Rams face challenges from the usual MWC suspects - BYU, Utah and New Mexico - but they also have to deal with TCU, which might be even better this fall after cruising to a league title in 2005.

But if they can improve their run defense, and Hanie can make one of the MWC's best offenses more productive in big games, the Rams should make some noise in the league race.

OFFENSE

You might think Colorado State coaches would be fretting after losing Justin Holland and David Anderson, the best passing combination in school history, to graduation. That's not the case. While the Rams will miss Holland's strong arm and Anderson's record-setting hands, the offense could be just as good or even better in 2006.

Hanie, who gained experience backing up Holland the past two years, is an accurate passer who adds a dimension Holland could not: his legs. A powerful runner and dedicated student of the game, Hanie will allow the Rams to utilize elements of the spread offense that has become every defensive coordinator's nightmare.

Junior Kyle Bell, who set a school sophomore record with 1,288 rushing yards, gives the Rams a potent ground threat, while a legion of fast, talented receivers, led by wideout Johnny Walker and H-back Kory Sperry, should help fill the gap created by Anderson's departure.

If the line comes together as expected, the Rams should pound opponents with Bell or burn them with Hanie and his ability to make plays with his arm and legs.

DEFENSE

When you finish 115th in the country in rushing defense, there's little doubt about what needs work. Colorado State coaches believe that any improvement in that area will have a profound impact on the Rams' success.

The defensive front, often pushed around last year, will be bigger and more experienced. Junior end Jesse Nading and junior tackle Blake Smith are two-year starters just coming into their own, while sophomores Matt Rupp and Wade Landers look to be impact players.

The linebacking corps must be rebuilt, but that's OK; some of the most talented players in the program are at linebacker, and there is depth at all three positions. Sophomore Jeff Horinek moves from the outside to the middle, while senior Jon Radford takes over on the weak side. The wild card is senior Luke Adkins, who was terrific in 2004 but missed all but a few plays last year with knee problems. If he can regain his previous form, the Rams could be in good shape.

The secondary could be the strength of the defense. Robert Herbert, one of the best cover corners in the Mountain West, and Darryl Williams return at cornerback. Ben Stratton, a three-starter who missed all of last year with a torn ACL, is back at strong safety, while sophomore Klint Kubiak, the son of Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak, is a rising star at free safety.

SPECIALISTS

The Rams have a big weapon in punter Jimmie Kaylor, who finished fourth nationally at 45.3 yards per punt. Kicker Jason Smith, a walk-on from the track team who took over at midseason in 2005, is accurate and dependable.

The Rams have numerous options in the return game, including Walker, Damon Morton, Dustin Osborn and George Hill.

FINAL ANALYSIS

With TCU seemingly loaded for another title run, second place might be the best the Rams can hope for in '06.

The offense should be very good, and the run defense can't be any worse, so there is reason to be optimistic. The Rams certainly are capable of pulling off a few surprises and challenging for a seventh bowl game in eight years.