2011 Final Power Rankings: Colorado State, Idaho, Kansas & UAB at Nos. 109-112

The countdown through all 120 FBS football teams in the 2011 season continues with Nos. 109-112. Click the Power Rankings tab at top to view the previous inductions.

112. IDAHO

Offense:

Defense: 33.3 PPG allowed (No. 98); 436.8 YPG allowed (No. 101); 158.6 rushing YPG allowed (No. 65); 278.3 passing YPG allowed (No. 111); 17 sacks (No. 94); 85 percent opponent red zone conversion rate (No. 83); 37.7 percent opponent third down conversion rate (No. 46)

Special Teams: 46.6 yards punting per attempt (No. 4); 10 PR yards/attempt allowed (No. 83); 15 PR yards/attempt (No. 8); 10-15 FG/FGA; 23-24 PATs; 28.5 KR yards/attempt allowed (No. 120); 20.2 KR yards/attempt (No. 88)

Turnover Differential: -7

Time of Possession: 28:23 (No. 100)

Akey’s Army lost the firepower that yielded 14 wins over the 2009 and 2010 seasons. With Nathan Enderle no longer behind center and Eric Greenwood and Daniel Hardy gone from the receiving corps, UI’s passing attack struggled mightily. The Vandals were the nation’s worst rushing the offense the season before, and the improvement was marginal.

Idaho’s inability to move the football effectively squandered some of the best special teams play in the country. Vandal punter Bobby Cowan rated behind only Florida State’s Shawn Powell in average yards per kick. On the flip side, Justin Veltung averaged nearly 17 yards per return and scored twice. To show just how anemic the Vandal offense was though, Veltung’s two punt returns for scores totaled just one fewer than the team’s leading scorers rushing the ball (Princeton McCarty and Korey Toomer). That’s never a good sign, no matter how prolific the returner.

However, on the opposite side of its special teams the Vandals struggled. The most troubling statistic of all UI’s 2011 figures might be the 28.5 yards it surrendered per kickoff. Idaho was spotting opposing offenses more than a quarter of the field each time it started its possession.

111. KANSAS

Offense:

Defense: 43.8 PPG allowed (No. 120); 516.4 YPG allowed (No. 120); 239.1 rushing YPG allowed (No. 117); 277.3 passing YPG allowed (No. 110); 10 sacks (No. 116); 87 percent red zone conversions allowed (No. 96); 51.3 percent third down conversions allowed (No. 116)

Special Teams: 42.8 yards/punt (No. 72); 7.9 PR yards/attempt (No. 65); 14.3 PR yards/attempt (No. 114); 6-12 FG/FGA; 34-35 PATs; 19.5 KR yards/attempt (No. 105); 20.8 KR yards/attempt allowed (No. 46)

Turnover Differential: -5

Time of Possession: 31:17 (No. 29)

KU started promisingly enough. After handling its business against FCS opponent McNeese State (not a given in Jayhawk Country, lately), Kansas defeated a Northern Illinois team that would go on to win 11 games. From there though, things got decidedly ugly. The Jayhawk defense was the worst in college football statistically, regularly playing the role of the Mulkeys to the Big 12’s many explosive, Road Warrior-like offenses. Luckily, the man taking over for Turner Gill has a track record of overseeing capable defense *stifles laughter*.

OK, so defense wasn’t exactly Notre Dame’s strong suit in Charlie Weis’ last few seasons there. But he does come to Lawrence with former Irish quarterback Dayne Crist en two. Crist should be a much-needed upgrade for the lowly rated KU passing attack. The Jayhawks’ inability to mix up the offensive looks it threw at opponents limited scoring opportunities, thus forced the defense back onto the field.

Crist will share the backfield with James Sims, who was a bright spot in the otherwise bleak skies over KU. His 727 yards and nine touchdowns carried the offense — but were perhaps overshadowed by his House Party inspired ‘do.

110. UAB

Offense:

Defense: 36.8 PPG allowed (No. 110); 485.6 YPG allowed (No. 114); 203.3 rushing YPG allowed (No. 103); 282.3 passing YPG allowed (No. 114); 83 percent opponent red zone conversion rate (No. 72); 46.5 percent opponent third down conversion rate (No. 101); 8 sacks (No. 120)

Special Teams: 41 yards/punt (No. 42); 10.2 PR yards/attempt (No. 38); 4.7 PR yards/attempt allowed (No. 17); 16-19 FG/FGA; 24-25 PATs; 20 KR yards/attempt (No. 95)

Turnover Differential: -5

Time of Possession: 30:00 (No. 54)

UAB finished the season with a pretty decent November. The Blazers won two of their three games then, including a shocking upset of Southern Miss that, for all intents and purpose, kept the Golden Eagles from playing in the Sugar Bowl (maybe).

That UAB finished strong and is still this low is a testament to just how rough the team was for the season’s first eight weeks. The Blazers were among the nation’s worst teams on the defensive end. That was never more evident than in the regular season finale, when the Blazers surrendered 38 points to a hapless FAU offense.

The school’s athletic program tabbed Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee to take the helm, entrusting him to inject some of the octane into the passing game that powered the Razorbacks to consecutive double digit-win campaigns. Quarterback Jonathan Perry took over for Bryan Ellis and showed some modest two-way skills. Ultimately though, the Blazer offense was about as stagnant as the defense was porous.

109. COLORADO STATE

Offense:

Defense: 31.3 PPG allowed (No. 91); 413.3 YPG allowed (No. 85); 233.7 rushing YPG allowed (No. 116); 179.6 passing YPG allowed (No. 13); 74 percent opponent red zone conversion (No. 14); 43 percent opponent third down conversion rate (No. 88); 26 sacks (No. 41)

Special Teams: 43.5 yards/punt (No. 21); 10.3 PR yards/attempt (No. 36); 8.7 PR yards/attempt allowed (No. 71); 10-16 FG/FGA; 27-28 PATs; 24.1 KR yards/attempt (No. 21); 24.6 KR yards/attempt allowed (No. 114)

Turnover Differential: -4

Time of Possession: 30:52 (No. 44)

Colorado State was 3-1 at the end of September. The Rams’ final record was 3-9. An 8-game losing streak is usually a recipe for disaster for a head coach, even if half those defeats were by single digits — especially if half the losses were by single digits. Steve Fairchild was relieved of his duties, replaced by Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain.

McElwain has a solid building block on which to develop his first team. Running back Chris Nwoke went for 1130 yards and nine touchdowns, impressive figures given the lack of passing attack he had supporting him. Pete Thomas struggled mightily through the losing skid and has since left the program.

CSU shined in a few areas, specifically its red zone and passing defense. End Nordly Capi was a standout off the line, anchoring the entire Ram defense. Linebacker Shaquil Barrett was the Rams’ best in rush pursuit, but overall CSU lacked sorely in that facet of its game.

Home/Big 12