Road games with Colorado, Brigham Young and Wyoming won't provide a cushion from the hard realities of rebuilding. Coach Sonny Lubick must go about repairing an inconsistent running game, breaking in an inexperienced offensive line and putting some teeth back in a defense that three times allowed more than 40 points and eight times gave up 30 or more.

The success of that experiment might depend on a new-look offensive line, which boasts only two returning starters and one senior. Junior tackle Tim Stuber might be as good as any player at his position in conference. The line's lone senior, Blane Saipaia, was slated to move from tackle to center, but he is back at his original spot after sophomore Jason Koontz proved he could start in the middle. The only bad news for the group came when tackle Broc Finlayson's broke his right foot last week. He is expected to be out for up to six weeks. Broderick Lancaster could play either guard or tackle.

While things are settling down on the line, the backfield remains up in the air. Quarterback Steve Cutlip has had been nursing a sore forearm, and has been throwing on a limited basis after missing six workouts. Fortunately, Jon Boyer has returned to the team to provide some depth. Boyer played in two games last year as sophomore, but following spring drills, he considered enrolling at a junior college. Just after fall camp opened, he notified Lubick he wanted to return to the team. Regardless of Cutlip's health Matt Newton could get the call behind center. Whoever it is throwing the ball, there are plenty of targets. Receivers Dallas Davis and Pete Rebstock have looked sharp in practice and Frank Rice appears fully recovered from last year's knee surgery. Davis must become the big-play guy this year after playing in a supporting role in '98.

The heart of the secondary is Erik Olson. The senior strong safety had 47 tackles last year despite missing three games with a leg injury. Olson is a three-year starter. Junior John Howell is competing with sophomore Aaron Sprague for the free safety position. Howell was a top backup and spot starter his first two seasons at Colorado State. But he played in just one game a year ago and received a medical redshirt after suffering a pulled hamstring which ended his season early. Junior cornerback Terrence Gibson started the final eight games a year ago. He is back, along with Andy Engelstad, the odd-on choice to play the other corner position. A year ago Engelstad alternated between cornerback and safety.

Clark Haggans is the team's top returning pass rusher and needs just four sacks to break the school record. A number of players are battling for time at the tackle positions, including Casey Wolf, Greg Pollard, Ron Cieslinski and Jamie Bennett. Sophomore Mike Mackenzie (6-2, 265) is the leading candidate to fill the other end position.