Friday, July 19, 2013

COLORADO STATE FOOTBALL: 2013 PRE-SEASON REPORT CARD


PUBLICATION ORDER: Sections of the Pre-Season Report Card are published in the following order: (1) Schedule; (2) Coaching; (3) Momentum (4) Discipline On The Field (i.e. penalties); (5) Turnovers; (6) Special Teams; (7) Defense; (8) Offense; and (9) Summary.


TURNOVERS

Rationale: The past does not always predict the future, but the past often predicts the future

Team Recovered Turnovers (i.e. Gained Turnovers)
[2012 Team Statistic: Recovered Fumbles] 14 total recovered fumbles (1.2 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic: Caught Interceptions] 7 total caught interceptions (0.6 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic: Combined Recovered Turnovers (fumbles plus interceptions)] 21 total combined recovered turnovers (1.8 pgp)

Team Lost Turnovers
[2012 Team Statistic: Lost Fumbles] 11 total lost fumbles (0.9 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic: Thrown Interceptions] 15 total thrown interceptions (1.3 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic: Combined Lost Turnovers (fumbles plus interceptions)] 26 total combined lost turnovers (2.2 pgp)

NOTE: Garrett Grayson (Jr.) [2012 Individual Statistics: 3 interceptions in 138 passing attempts (2.2%)] and Conner Smith (So.) [2012 Individual Statistics: 6 interceptions in 126 passing attempts (4.8%)] are competing for the position of 2013 starting quarterback

Team Combined Net Turnovers [(Recovered Turnovers) minus (Lost Turnovers)]
[2012 Team Statistic: Combined Net Turnovers] negative 5 combined net turnovers (negative 0.4 pgp)

GRADE (Turnovers): C minus


DISCIPLINE ON THE FIELD

Rationale: The past does not always predict the future, but the past often predicts the future

Team Penalties
[2012 Team Statistic] 78 total penalties (6.5 pgp)
[2012 Team Statistic] 775 total penalty yards (64.6 pgp)

GRADE (Discipline on the field): C plus


MOMENTUM

Last season, Colorado State won 3 of their final 5 games, including a 24-20 win against New Mexico in their final game, and finished with an overall record of 4-8.

GRADE (Momentum): C plus


COACHING

Head Coach
Current Tenure as Head Coach at Colorado State: Jim McElwain is in his second season as the Head Coach at Colorado State.  In McElwain’s first season as the Head Coach at Colorado State, he had a 4-8 record (33.3% wins), including a 22-17 victory against rival Colorado.

Last Coaching Position: Offensive Coordinator at Alabama (2008 to 2011)

Prior Experience as Head Coach: None

Other Notable Facts: In 2009 and 2011, while McElwain was the Offensive Coordinator at Alabama, Alabama won the BCS National Championship.  McElwain has extensive experience coaching in post-season games (FBS Bowl Games and FCS Playoff Games).  McElwain has nearly 30 years of coaching experience.

Offensive Coordinator
Current Tenure as Offensive Coordinator at Colorado State: Dave Baldwin is in his second season as the Offensive Coordinator at Colorado State.  Last season, the Colorado State offense was ranked #100 in the nation for total offense.

Last Coaching Position: Offensive Coordinator at Utah State (2009 to 2011)

Prior Experience as Offensive Coordinator: Baldwin has been an Offensive Coordinator for the last 12 seasons. Utah State (2009 to 2011), New Mexico (2007 to 2008), Michigan State (2003 to 2006)(where a local radio commentator made Baldwin infamous for calling plays from the shotgun formation in hurricane-like weather), Baylor (2002), and Cincinnati (2001).

Other Notable Facts: From 1997 to 2000, Baldwin was the Head Coach at San Jose State where he produced three straight wins against rival Stanford (including a win against the 1999 Stanford Rose Bowl Team) and a win against #9 TCU.  After Baldwin left, SJSU began its descent into near termination.  Baldwin has more than 30 years of coaching experience.

Defensive Coordinator
The Colorado State website lists 2 defensive coordinators: Marty English and Al Simmons.  Both are in their second season as the Defensive Coordinator at Colorado State.  Last season, the Colorado State defense was ranked #69 in the nation for total defense.

In my opinion, co-coordinators are less effective than a single coordinator.  Co-leaders are less effective than a single leader because co-leaders often disagree, which causes internal conflict that may lead to a power struggle, and co-leaders often communicate inconsistent messages to subordinates.

Special Teams Coordinator
Current Tenure as Special Teams Coordinator at Colorado State: Jeff Hammerschmidt is in his second season as the Special Teams Coordinator at Colorado State.  Hammerschmidt is also the Running Backs Coach at Colorado State.

Last Coaching Position: Special Teams Coordinator and Defensive Ends Coach at Arizona (2008 to 2011)

Prior Experience as Special Teams Coordinator: Arizona (2008 to 2011) and Indiana (1998 to 1999).  (Also, in 2006, Hammerschmidt coached special teams at Stanford).

Other Notable Facts: Hammerschmidt has coached Pete Kontodiakos (2012 First-Team All-MWC Punter) and Jared Roberts (2012 Second-Team All-MWC Placekicker)

GRADE (Coaching): B minus


SCHEDULE

Game #1 is excluded from home and away total (Colorado State vs Colorado in Denver)

Total Home Games: 6
Consecutive Home Games:
§  Week 5 (UTEP), Week 6 (Bye Week), and Week 7 (San Jose State)
§  Week 10 (Boise State) and Week 11 (Nevada)

Total Away Games: 6
Consecutive Away Games:
§  Week 8 (at Wyoming) and Week 9 (at Hawai’i)
§  Week 12 (at New Mexico) and Week 13 (at Utah State)

Bye Week:
§  Week 6 (October 1, 2013 through October 7, 2013)

MWC Non-Division Games (i.e. games against MWC West Division Teams):
§  Week 7 (Home vs. San Jose State)
§  Week 9 (Away at Hawai’i)
§  Week 11 (Home vs. Nevada)

Week 1: Colorado State vs. Colorado (Played in Denver)
Game #: 1
Game Date: Sunday, September 1, 2013
Kickoff Time: 4:00pm MT
Stadium: Sports Authority Field at Mile High (Denver, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,280 feet
Elevation Change for Both Teams: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Both Teams: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Both Teams: none
Field Surface: reinforced natural grass (natural grass combined with artificial fibres)
Weather: temperature could be in the 90’s at time of kickoff
Stadium Noise: high
Commentary: New Colorado Head Coach Mike MacIntyre’s debut.  If Colorado loses, which is likely, Colorado Head Coach Mike MacIntyre will blame everyone else for the loss, including the catering staff.

Week 2: Colorado State at Tulsa
Game #: 2
Game Date: Saturday, September 7, 2013
Kickoff Time: 6:00pm CT (5:00pm MT)
Stadium: Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium (Tulsa, OK)
Elevation of Stadium: 700 feet
Elevation Change for Colorado State: decrease by 4,490 feet
Travel Distance for Colorado State: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Colorado State: increase by 1 hour (MT to CT)
Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)
Weather: temperature could be in the upper 80’s at time of kickoff (6:00pm CT)
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: Colorado State has 1 less day to prepare for this game because their prior game (Week 1) is a Sunday game.  Colorado State can perform a walkthrough or full practice on their travel day because the travel time is relatively short.

Week 3: Cal Poly (FCS) at Colorado State
Game #: 3
Game Date: Saturday, September 14, 2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium (Fort Collins, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,190 feet
Elevation Change for Cal Poly: increase by 4,957 feet
Travel Distance for Cal Poly: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Cal Poly: increase by 1 hour (PT to MT)
Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)
Weather: (kickoff time is TBA) temperature could be in the 90’s in the afternoon
Stadium Noise: low to moderate
Commentary: Cal Poly has a significant elevation increase of 4,957 feet that will likely have an adverse effect in the 4th quarter, especially on Cal Poly linemen

Week 4: Colorado State at Alabama
Game #: 4
Game Date: Saturday, September 21, 2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Bryant-Denny Stadium (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level
Elevation Change for Colorado State: decrease by 4,970 feet
Travel Distance for Colorado State: 1,091 miles
Time Change for Colorado State: increase by 1 hours (MT to CT)
Field Surface: grass
Weather: (kickoff time is TBA) temperature could be in the upper 80’s in the afternoon; high humidity will exacerbate effect of heat
Stadium Noise: high
Commentary: Colorado State Head Coach Jim McElwain was offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2008 through 2011

Week 5: UTEP at Colorado State
Game #: 5
Game Date: Saturday, September 28, 2013
Kickoff Time: 1:30pm MT
Stadium: Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium (Fort Collins, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,190 feet
Elevation Change for UTEP: increase by 1,280 feet
Travel Distance for UTEP: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for UTEP: none
Field Surface: artificial (Field Turf)
Weather: temperature could be in the 90’s at time of kickoff (1:30pm MT)
Stadium Noise: moderate

Week 6: October 1, 2013 through October 7, 2013
BYE WEEK

Week 7: San Jose State at Colorado State
Game #: 6
Game Date: Saturday, October 12, 2013
Kickoff Time: 1:30pm MT (12:30pm PT)
Stadium: Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium (Fort Collins, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,190 feet
Elevation Change for SJSU: increase by 5,105 feet
Travel Distance for SJSU: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for SJSU: increase by 1 hour (PT to MT)
Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)
Weather: insignificant (afternoon game in mid-October)
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: San Jose State has a significant elevation increase of 5,105 feet that will likely have an adverse effect in the 4th quarter, especially on San Jose State linemen.  San Jose State has a long trip to and from Hawai’i (flight time is approximately 5 ½ hours each direction – 11 total hours) in the prior week (Week 6).

Week 8: Colorado State at Wyoming (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 7
Game Date: Saturday, October 19, 2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium (Laramie, WY)
Elevation of Stadium: 7,220 feet
Elevation Change for Colorado State: increase by 2,030 feet
Travel Distance for Colorado State: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Colorado State: none
Field Surface: artificial (Desso Challenge Pro 60)
Weather: temperature could be in the 40’s in the evening, but Wyoming practices in similar weather in Laramie
Stadium Noise: high
Commentary: “Border War” (Both teams are separated by less than 60 miles)

Week 9: Colorado State at Hawai’i
Game #: 8
Game Date: Saturday, October 26, 2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Aloha Stadium (Honolulu, HI)
Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level
Elevation Change for Colorado State: decrease by 5,150 feet
Travel Distance for Colorado State: 3,344 miles (flight time is approximately 7 hours)
Time Change for Colorado State: decrease by 3 hours (MT to HT)
Field Surface: artificial (UBU Sports Speed S5-M)
Weather: rain is always possible in Honolulu
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: Colorado State has a VERY long flight to Hawai’i (flight time is approximately 7 hours), which will certainly cause significant jet lag for Colorado State players

Week 10: Boise State at Colorado State (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 9
Game Date: Saturday, November 2, 2013
Kickoff Time: 6:00pm MT
Stadium: Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium (Fort Collins, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,190 feet
Elevation Change for Boise State: increase by 2,495 feet
Travel Distance for Boise State: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Boise State: none
Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)
Weather: temperature could drop to the 30’s by the end of the game; possible snow on the ground, possible snow before and/or during game
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: Colorado State has a VERY long trip to and from Hawai’i (flight time is approximately 7 hours each direction – 14 total hours) in the prior week (Week 9)

Week 11: Nevada at Colorado State
Game #: 10
Game Date: Saturday, November 9, 2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium (Fort Collins, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,190 feet
Elevation Change for Nevada: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Nevada: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Nevada: increase by 1 hour (PT to MT)
Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)
Weather: (kickoff time is TBA) Temperature may be in the 30’s by nighttime, but Nevada practices in similar weather in Reno.  Possible snow on the ground; possible snow before and/or during game.
Stadium Noise: moderate

Week 12: Colorado State at New Mexico (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 11
Game Date: Saturday, November 16, 2013
Kickoff Time: 1:00pm MT
Stadium: University Stadium (Albuquerque, NM)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,100 feet
Elevation Change for Colorado State: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Colorado State: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Colorado State: none
Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)
Weather: possible snow on the ground; possible snow before and/or during game
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: New Mexico has an extra day to prepare for this game because New Mexico has a Friday home game in the prior week (Week 11)

Week 13: Colorado State at Utah State (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 12
Game Date: Saturday, November 23, 2013
Kickoff Time: 1:30pm MT
Stadium: Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium (Logan, UT)
Elevation of Stadium: 4,710 feet
Elevation Change for Colorado State: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)
Travel Distance for Colorado State: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Colorado State: none
Field Surface: artificial (AstroTurf)
Weather: possible snow on the ground; possible snow before and/or during game
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: Old rivalry game is rebuilding excitement

Week 14: Air Force at Colorado State (MWC Mountain Division Game)
Game #: 13
Game Date: Saturday, November 30, 2013
Kickoff Time: TBA
Stadium: Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium (Fort Collins, CO)
Elevation of Stadium: 5,190 feet
Elevation Change for Air Force: decrease by 1,431 feet
Travel Distance for Air Force: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)
Time Change for Air Force: none
Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)
Weather: (kickoff time is TBA) Temperature could be in the 20’s in the evening, but Air Force practices in similar weather near Colorado Springs.  Possible snow on the ground; possible snow before and/or during game.
Stadium Noise: moderate
Commentary: Air Force has 2 extra days to prepare for this game because Air Force has a Thursday home game in the prior week (Week 13)

GRADE (higher grade indicates favorable schedule): C



NOTE: Grading Standards: Grades are based on a national scale.  Unlike modern academia, my grades are not inflated.  A grade of “C” is average.  A grade of “C” is neither good nor bad; it is simply average.  A grade of “A” or “F” is rare.

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