A = Top 25
B = Top 50
C = Top 75
F = 76-128
Your grade should be on the entire position group in the 2-deep, but give weight to the starters and whether you think they'll impact games.
I'm much better at understanding the past trends then predicting the future. Given what CU has been the past few years, with the heaviest emphasis on last season, and what the Pac-12 return this year I will not be able to practice across the board grade inflation in the preseason.
QB = B. Liufau threw too much last season and didn't perform well when the team needed him the most. Backups are non-P5 talent until proven otherwise.
RB = C. Should be higher, but these RB's need to be tougher and play hurt. No "go to" guys in the bunch.
FB = A. Frazier is a top 25 FB all by himself without even contemplating the 2nd string.
TE = F. Does CU even utilize a TE in this offense?
WR = B. Spruce is the goose. Fields needs to develop a lot over last season, he has the talent to do it. Too many JAGs behind these two. Any of six or so guys behind Spruce and Fields can mix-and-match, play-or-sit and probably won't make much of a difference on offense.
OL = C. The running game was better last year, but mediocre by other school standards. The middle three spots are unproven to ranked above the top 75 at this time. Lack of depth at OT hurts.
Offense = B. Not seeing much improvement over last season here.
NT = F. Going from Tupou/Solis to Solis/Lopez is devastating. Solis is a decent 2nd string player, but behind him is flat scary.
DT = F. Until/unless Kofavalu and Carroll prove to be better than 75th, they start at this level. Neither has shown any top 75 play at CU yet.
OLB = F. A who's who of "who?"
ILB = C. This would also be an "F" if Gillam hadn't played so well two seasons ago. Having one P5 legit player out of four (1st & 2nd string) is not enough.
CB/NB = B. I'm giving the guys the benefit of the doubt here. After Crawley and Awuzie the quality is unknown.
S = C. More benefit of the doubt here. Thompson had his brain badly hurt, hopefully he comes back at full throttle but I'm nervous he won't. The second spot is going to be filled by somebody that probably wouldn't play for any other Pac-12 team.
Defense = F. Love the Leavitt hire. But until they actually stop some Pac-12 teams any grade higher than an "F" is not honest.
K = F.
P = F.
LS = B.
PR = F.
KR = C.
Special Teams = F. The fact that Neinas is still on staff is enough to question if MacIntyre's ability to put a P5 staff together and pull CU into the top 10 in the Pac-12. There are some weak links in the staff, but Neinas is the poster boy.
TOTAL TEAM GRADE = C. Another big leap of faith here. They have been an "F" for a full decade so to rate them a "C" now is enough for anybody to question my sanity.
