One would think Colorado State running back Kyle Bell would have plenty to prove this season.

Is he fully recovered from the right knee injury that caused him to redshirt last season? Can he remain healthy, or at least make it to the opening game this time? Can he regain the form of 2005, when he became one of the Mountain West Conference's most scintillating stories by rushing for 1,288 yards as a sophomore?

But when Bell speaks about what is out there for him to prove, he doesn't mention himself. The things that need to be validated involve the Rams as a whole, or at least their offense. For that unit, which often was anemic in Bell's absence, much is on the agenda.

"Proving that we're for real at CSU," said Bell, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament on the third-to-last day of practice before the first game last season. "Proving that we have a lot of talent on offense and a lot of ability. Just proving that we can be one of the top teams in the conference offensively, then proving we can be one of the top teams in the nation offensively."

One might think Bell is carrying a heavy burden considering many are pinning CSU's hopes on the return to form of the junior. Despite the attention and media scrutiny, he appears to be taking everything as it comes and not trying overemphasize his situation.

"Just like my mind-set was last year, you don't want to put too much on yourself," Bell said. "You don't want to wear yourself out mentally. But, yeah, I want to rush for as many yards as I can and as long as I'm doing that, we're going to win those games. Teams who can run the ball win games."

Bell said the mightiest challenge in the Rams' preseason practices hasn't been getting back to normal physically. Instead, it's the intellectual part of the game — recognizing holes, surveying defenses and making the right reads — that have been the biggest hurdles.

"Otherwise, I'm pretty close to where I was," he said.

While Bell hasn't overstated the need to prove he again is healthy, teammates see it a bit differently. Although many will witness for themselves if Bell is recovered when the Rams take on the University of Colorado on Saturday, there is someone who needs an earlier confirmation of his progress.

"I think he wants to prove it to himself, mainly," quarterback Caleb Hanie said. "You could notice he was kind of just feeling things out the first couple days of practice, just getting back in the groove of things. But we all think he's going to be better than he was before."

CSU coach Sonny Lubick already is convinced his starting back is in fine shape.

"I've heard 100 questions about Kyle Bell and Kyle Bell is 100 percent," Lubick said. "But Kyle Bell can't do it all by himself."

Getting to know Kyle Bell

• The hottest dinner spot in Fort Collins is . . .

"I like The Melting Pot. It's kind of on the more, well, expensive side, but it's a nice, quiet little place and the food is awesome."

• If you hosted a radio show, the first three songs you'd play . . .

"First, Harvester of Sorrow by Metallica. Then I'd play Since I've Been Loving You by Led Zeppelin, then probably Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond."

• The wheels that get you around Fort Collins are . . .

"I drive a 2002 Dodge Durango."

• The coolest gadget you've gotten in the past year is . . .

"The Microsoft Zune MP3 player. I think they're better than iPods. They've got some cool video, a bigger screen."

Outlook

7-5CSU will struggle early because of a schedule that includes California, Houston and Texas Christian. All three enter the season with better pedigrees. But the Rams will turn around their season, winning six of their last eight to finish 7-5 and 5-3 in the Mountain West Conference and getting into contention for one of the conference's four guaranteed bowl berths.

Preseason report card

• RUSHING OFFENSE: When coach Sonny Lubick has a proven, durable horse at running back, he rides him. If Kyle Bell stays healthy, he should have a nice bounce-back season behind an improved offensive front. Quarterback Caleb Hanie also is a running threat. Grade: B

• PASSING OFFENSE: Hanie needs to improve a touchdowns/interceptions ratio that dipped to 1 1/12 last season. He can do that with better protection, and he needs to use his running ability to keep defenses off-balance and further augment the passing game. Johnny Walker leads what might be the conference's deepest receiving corps and tight end Kory Sperry needs to be a more of a factor catching the ball than in 2006. Grade: B-minus

• RUSHING DEFENSE: The Rams improved drastically stopping the run last season and should show more improvement this year. Redshirt freshman Ricky Brewer's speed could help the linebackers and middle linebacker Jeff Horinek is a proven run stuffer. Grade: B-minus

• PASSING DEFENSE: CSU hopes to put pressure on quarterbacks with a rotating corps of linemen, all of whom have a goodly amount of game experience. CSU's secondary could be a strong point, with safeties Klint Kubiak and Mike Pagnotta complementing the improving cornerback duo of Darryl Williams and Joey Rucks. All four are game tested. Grade: B

• SPECIAL TEAMS: Lubick has shuffled the coaching staff in hopes of improving the overall special- teams performance. Jimmie Kaylor should have a fine senior season punting and Jason Smith is a reliable kicker. Walker has the potential to burn on returns. Grade: B-minus

• STATE OF THE PROGRAM: Lubick, 70, insists the program hasn't hit a lull, but the numbers don't lie. The Rams are 14-21 during the past three seasons. If Lubick has his fourth consecutive nonwinning season, people will begin wondering if he will move on, as Air Force veteran Fisher DeBerry did after a disappointing 2006. Still, this team has some talent, and a bowl season isn't outside the realm of possibility. Grade: I (incomplete)

Depth chart

OFFENSE Pos. Starter Backup Comment

QB Caleb Hanie Billy Farris Hanie wants bounce-back senior season.

RB Kyle Bell Michael Myers Bell hopes to reprise 1,200-yard 2005.

FB* Gartrell Johnson Zac Pauga Johnson also will see time at running back.

SE Johnny Walker Damon Morton Both are explosive receivers, kick returners.

FL Luke Roberts Dion Morton Wideout is most experienced position.

TE Kory Sperry Chris Kawulok Sperry has to be bigger in pass game.

LT Cole Pemberton Brian Lepak Pemberton won job in summer practice.

LG Shelley Smith Tim Walter Smith bulked up to almost 290 pounds.

C Tim Walter Nick Allotta Californian Walter started four games in '06.

RG Nick Allotta Scott Benedict Allotta a 19-game starter at center.

RT Adrian Martinez Dane Stratton Martinez started 10 games in '06.

PK Jason Smith Jared Lamb Smith hit 49-yarder against New Mexico.

DEFENSE Pos. Starter Backup Comment

RE Jesse Nading Tommie Hill Nading preseason all-MWC; Hill also tough.

T Blake Smith Matt Rupp Smith and Rupp take turns at key position.

NG Erik Sandie James Morehead Sandie poised for nice senior season.

LE Wade Landers Bob Vomhof Landers had 2 1/2 sacks in 2006.

WLB Jake Pottorff John Clark Both should play plenty in rotation.

MLB Jeff Horinek Nathan Pauly Horinek fourth on team with 69 tackles.

SLB Curtis Sedric Patterson Cornelson a JUCO All-American in '06. Cornelson

RCB Darryl Williams DeAngelo Williams tested; Wilkinson promising. Wilkinson

LCB Joey Rucks Jermaine Walters Rucks had 35 tackles in '06.

FS Klint Kubiak Jake Galusha Kubiak, son of Gary, rebounding from injury.

SS Mike Pagnotta Zac Bryson Pagnotta known for toughness, big hits.

P Jimmie Kaylor Jared Lamb Big year could get Kaylor noticed by NFL.

Three things the Rams must prove

1 That Kyle Bell, coming off right knee surgery, can jump-start an ailing rushing game. Last season, without Bell — the small-town Colorado standout was injured and lost for the season a few days before the Rams' opener — CSU was one of the most anemic running teams in NCAA Division I-A. Bell and a retooled offensive line hope to lead a rushing renaissance.

2 That coordinator Steve Stanard's defense can improve as much during the course of the season as it did last year. After a rough 2005, CSU's defense played reasonably well for much of 2006. It's time to take that next step.

3 That coach Sonny Lubick, at 70 not getting any younger, can reverse recent trends. He still is hoping to return the Rams to Mountain West Conference contention and a bowl berth.

Schedule, forecast

Date Opponent Time Last year Pick

Saturday Colorado* 10 a.m. Won 14-10 CSU

Sept. 8 CALIFORNIA Noon Did not play California

Sept. 22 at Houston 2:30 p.m. Did not play Houston

Sept. 29 at Texas Christian 5 p.m. Lost 45-14 TCU

Oct. 6 SAN DIEGO STATE 3:30 p.m. Lost 17-6 CSU

Oct. 13 AIR FORCE 3:30 p.m. Lost 24-21 CSU

Oct. 20 at Nevada-Las Vegas 7 p.m. Won 28-7 CSU

Oct. 27 UTAH 3:30 p.m. Lost 35-22 Utah

Nov. 3 at Brigham Young Noon Lost 24-3 BYU

Nov. 10 at New Mexico 1 p.m. Lost 20-19 CSU

Nov. 17 GEORGIA SOUTHERN Noon Did not play CSU

Nov. 23 WYOMING Noon Lost 24-0 CSU

* Invesco Field at Mile High

• NOTE: Home games in CAPS. All times Mountain and subject to change.

• RADIO: The CSU radio network includes KLZ-AM (560) in Denver.

• TICKETS: $25 to $30 for Air Force, San Diego State, Utah and Georgia Southern; $25 to $40 for Wyoming; $40 for California; $55 to $85 for Colorado; $90 for pick-three miniplan (California and two games not including CU). Information: 1-800-491-7267.

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