SB Nation - Maxwell Tuioti-Mariner

Catch Up Buff Bites - Clearance Issues, Suspensions, Missions...We Got It All At CU

irish1611 — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:01:01 -0000

It was a bad weekend to go away for a bachelor party, never a bad event but bad timing for sure. Many noteworthy news stories in Buffland: WR Andre Simmons is still awaiting the final clearance from who knows who but Dan Hawkins says their should be no problems what so ever, OG Maxwell Tuioti-Mariner has decided to take a leave of absence to fulfill his LDS mission, and WR Markques Simas has been suspended for two games in what has been dubbed as an off the field incident that happened "a long time ago." You have to wonder if Simas will ever get it; I sure hope he does and one day it will click that he has a great opportunity to be a special player. I do find it ironic that West Virginia just allowed their number one receiver, Jock Sanders back on the team after his DUI arrest earlier this offseason. The Buffs received clearance from the newest member of the 2009 recruiting class, WR Will Jefferson, who seems to be impressing early on.

That was the big news of the weekend. Then their was the talk about Cody Hawkins increased build and Darrell Scott's weight as Hawkins added some more definition to his biceps and well, Darrell Scott is now 220 pounds after convincing us 205 pounds was his ideal playing weight. Again, who knows? From all accounts, Scott's 220 is not like last year's weight, consisting of all muscle. As long as he is running through guys this season and is healthy, no one will care.

Let the college football season begin and begin like a freight train it has. Here is the most links you will ever see posted in one serving. Enjoy as their is some good stuff. I am trying to get to practice this week as I know you are craving them.

Brooks: Kiesau Embraces New Role - CUBuffs.com

What does Kiesau, who replaces Mark Helfrich, have in mind to fix all the above? For starters, he, head man/receivers coach Dan Hawkins and the other offensive coaches have committed to what Kiesau calls "a downhill, blue-collar run game and an extensive passing game. "It'll be very different from last season . . . we're not going to do the no-huddle spread stuff. If I had to categorize and give it a name, it would be more of a pro-style, NFL offense. "We're going to get the ball downfield, let our playmakers get vertical. If you just run the ball along the box, they're going to stop you. We're going to play action and be able to throw it, we'll be extremely multiple. "It could change from week to week - one week we could be in a lot of two-back, the next week be empty (no backs). But we want to keep a lot of the same concepts, a lot of the same rhythm of the offense. "I don't know if 'identity' is the right word, but people will be able to see it."

Buffs tailback Scott bulks up for sophomore season - Boulder Daily Camera

Scott trimmed down to 200 pounds for spring ball and has since put on weight again. He started camp Friday at approximately 220 pounds. He hopes to play this season between 210 and 215 pounds. He believes a little extra weight will help achieve his goals. Hawkins announced Friday that redshirt freshman offensive lineman Max Tuioti-Mariner will take two years away from the program to complete his Mormon mission. He will return to the program in 2011. "I feel like I'm more experienced," Scott said. "I like this weight I have on and I'm going to use it to my advantage. "After our summer lifting, I put on a little extra muscle and I like it. I can run people over and it will help me with my durability."

Scout.com: 2009 Big 12 Schedules & Picks
CollegeFootballNews.com thinks the Buffs will be 7 - 5, beating Nebraska in the finale to get to win #7.

Scout.com: 2009 Big 12 Preview - Unit Rankings
College Football News was very friendly to the Colorado Buffaloes in their Big 12 unit rankings in my opinion going into the 2009 season. Nebraska was ranked behind the Buffs in both offense and quarterback rankings. The Buffs also were noted with the best secondary, 3rd best running backs and a 4th ranked defense.

Scout.com: 2009 CFN Top 30 Big 12 Players
CFN ranks the top 30 players in the Big 12 with Darrell Scott making an appearance as #17 on their list. Not a bad ranking at all.

Guard Max Tuioti-Mariner is leaving the program to serve an LDS mission - Longmont Times

Guard Max Tuioti-Mariner is leaving the program to serve an LDS mission, CU coach Dan Hawkins said Friday. Andre Simmons was on Colorado’s practice field wearing jersey No. 1 Friday night when the Buffs opened August camp. But he was not participating. Simmons, the wide receiver from Independence Community College whom CU signed last February, said his former school "closed early" Friday and did not send his transcripts to CU. CU reported Thursday night that Simmons has been accepted to the university as long as his community college transcript confirms what the football program has been told about it. The school will continue to wait for it over the weekend. Simmons said he expects Independence Community College to fax the transcript to CU on Monday. Once CU has it, he expects to be able to practice with the team.

Markques Simas Suspended - Longmont Times

Saturday’s news about Markques Simas’ suspension for the first two games of 2009 has left some Colorado Buffaloes frustrated. Simas, for one. "It’s a little frustrating, but I’m the only person you can blame for it," Simas said. "So I’m just going to keep preparing and work hard. "When it comes time for Wyoming, I’ll just be prepared and mentally ready." Simas redshirted in 2007 as a true freshman after he missed most of the summer and arrived in need of conditioning. He was academically ineligible in 2008. Simas will miss CU’s season opener against Colorado State on Sept. 6, then its first road game five days later at Toledo. Wyoming visits Folsom Field on Sept. 19. CU announced that Simas violated team rules to earn the suspension. Said Simas: "It’s just an issue me and (coach Dan Hawkins) have. It happened a while ago, but it’s overlapped into the next season." Senior linebacker Bryan Stengel, senior tight end Devin Shanahan and sophomore safety Travis Sandersfeld have been awarded scholarships.

Paige: A look at Buffs' H&H QB battle - The Denver Post
Woody Paige sits down with Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen for an interview that has some great quotes from the two buddies/competing quarterbacks.

Many, many more links after the jump...

Buffs DE Kasa not looking back - Boulder Daily Camera

"Once I made the decision that this was right for me, I haven't thought about it at all since," Kasa said after his first official collegiate practice. "I love it up here." Had Kasa gone to Florida, the preseason No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches poll, he would have almost certainly redshirted and perhaps been asked to play offensive line. At CU, there is a good chance Kasa will be in the rotation at defensive end this season. Over the summer he added 20 pounds to his 6-7 frame while working out with the rest of the Buffs. "He impacted the team in the offseason just by his ability," Bandison said. "He came in and he was able to compete right away in the conditioning stuff. He was running with Nate Solder, who makes every lineman look bad because he's so talented. Solder always wins all of the drills, he's always the fastest and the most athletic. And now Nick's competing with him. I think that helps them both.

Brooks: Buffs A Closer Bunch - CUBuffs.com

Returning Colorado players who began fall camp Thursday night say something was different about this opening, something present that might not have been there in recent camps. "Before, there were some really loving guys like Brad Jones (graduated outside linebacker), but there also were some other guys who just . . . weren't," said defensive end Conrad Obi, a sophomore scheduled to battle classmate Lagrone Shields for a starting spot at right defensive end. Continued Obi: "Now, everybody just loves everybody; there's not much hazing going on . . . everybody's respectful. There's no more fighting, things like that. We've got our minds on one thing and that's it."

The Buffzone Blog - A few minutes with RB Brian Lockridge

Optimistic Buffs open camp : Top Stories : Boulder Daily Camera

From Cody Hawkins' biceps to Darrell Scott's powerful runs to Nick Kasa's un-freshman-like physique, it's clear that this group made a commitment to the strength and conditioning program over the summer after injuries made life miserable for the Buffs last season.

Four Big 12 teams make USA Today coaches' poll - Big 12 - ESPN
Colorado received two votes in the coaches poll, putting the 53rd overall in the rankings

Coach Hawk Press Conference Transcription - CUBuffs.com

Buffs Wrap Up Third Day Of Practice - CUBuffs.comThe CUfootball team was back on the practice field on Sunday afternoon, as they continue to work their way through fall camp.

The Longmont Times-Call - Expectations remain high for CU running back Scott

Buffs Wrap Up Media Day After Second Fall Practice - CUBuffs.com
The University of Colorado football team wrapped up the second official practice of 2009 fall camp on the practice fields and then took part in the annual fall sports media day Saturday at the Dal Ward Athletic Center.

Scout.com: 2009 CFN Big 12 Preview

Coach On The Hot Seat Dan Hawkins, Colorado - Insiders suggest that there's no thought whatsoever of Hawkins not being around in 2010 unless the Buffs go into the tank this year, but there needs to be a major positive step forward to show the fan base that there's hope for a return to glory. The Gary Barnett era might have been marred by scandal and embarrassment, but the Buffs were in the Big 12 title mix every year. The program hasn't been close under Hawkins, but to be fair, he had to rebuild. Now there needs to be a payoff.

Young CU defense learning ropes - The Denver Post

Kiesau's plan: Stick to it - Boulder Daily Camera

Purify enjoys purity of semipro football - Colorado Springs Gazette

Bobby Purify doesn’t miss the days of scoring touchdowns for the University of Colorado. He’s OK with not hearing his name on ESPN and not reading his name in the newspaper. "It’s in my past," said Purify who works in real estate as a contractor for Colorado Springs Utilities. "I’ve lived my dream. I’ve done what I’ve wanted to do in my life. I have a blessed life in my eyes. My two girls (ages 4 and 2) are healthy, and I’m still able to play the sport I grew up playing." From 2000 to 2004, Purify trotted out to games in a black and gold uniform for the Buffaloes. Now, he takes the field donning red and black for the Colorado Springs Flames, a semipro team in the Colorado Football Conference.

The Quad Countdown: No. 26 West Virginia - The Quad Blog - NYTimes.com
Life after Pat White begins with Jarrett Brown under center, though the Mountaineers will rely heavily upon running back Noel Devine. Can West Virginia upend Cincinnati and return to the top of the Big East?

West Virginia Mountaineers receiver Jock Sanders reinstated 6 months after DUI arrest - ESPN
West Virginia has reinstated leading receiver Jock Sanders six months after a drunken-driving arrest in Morgantown.

WR Josh Smith and TE Ryan Wallance Leaving Colorado

irish1611 — Sun, 31 May 2009 04:35:37 -0000

Colorado WR/KR Josh Smith - picture by Phil Coale

View full size photo »

All I can really say is "wow." I am in disbelief. Thanks to our loyal reader mam2jd, most of you have read about the decision of WR Josh Smith and TE Ryan Wallace to leave the football program. Wallace, the 6'5" 235 pound redshirt freshman, decided to go his separate way because he was homesick and wanted to be closer to his family in Kentucky. Wallace was currently fifth on the depth chart but three seniors were in front of him so he was in line to have a good chance at seeing time in two years as a sophomore. He never played a down for the Buffs so it is hard to judge the impact he would have had. It's definitely a loss of a player with great size but we never learned what we had on the field.

As for Josh Smith, the junior all purpose player, we saw glimpses and imagined greatness. That ability to achieve new heights on the offensive side of the ball will not be realized with the Buffs. His own self comparisons to former Missouri WR Jeremy Maclin will be left incomplete. Smith has decided to leave Boulder and pursue a music degree in California or Arizona that the University of Colorado does not offer. He was honorable mention All Big 12 last year for his special teams work, something that was indeed special. No matter what you thought of Smith here are the facts: last year he was 9th in the nation in all purpose yards with 1,987. Yes, the 2008 sophomore fumbled, he dropped a few touchdowns, was injured and made some poor judgment plays but losing a guy who contributed 165 yards a game is never a good thing. Couple that with now only two scholarship receivers on the roster in Scotty McKnight and Markques Simas, the situation is now bordering ridiculous. I hope Terdema Ussery and Jarrod Darden, both true freshman who might be at prom or graduating from high school right now, are ready to play.

Smith was most definitely a polarizing figure for the Buffs. I am not going to lie, I loved watching Smith play and figured he might be the type that had a revelation one day & became a complete player. There will always be that question whether Smith really wanted or had the desire to become that complete player. Either way, he won't be competing on Folsom Field. I am shocked. Flat out, he was a playmaker, you can't deny that and the Buffs haven't shown they have a lot of those. He was not a great wide receiver yet but he had the potential to be. If the Buffs had four or five receivers above Smith on the depth chart, this may not be as big of a deal as most are making it but because of the current depth at wideout, it is.

Moving on now and assessing the situation objectively, a few things come to mind right away:

1) I find it hard to believe that pursuing a music career is the only reason for a transfer of this magnitude. If your an outsider looking in at the Colorado Buffaloes, you once again start to wonder what is considered the "normal attrition" that goes on within a program or if their is a deeper issue? Perception effects recruiting, donor gifts, season ticket buyers, etc.

2) This was my first thought when I heard of the news and what guys like Tim Griffin of ESPN will ponder is in regards to the future of RB Darrell Scott and even if he does stay at Colorado, how will this impact his football career at Colorado? A big reason Scott came to Colorado was his uncle Josh Smith and although Kyle Ringo said in his column that this shouldn't have an impact on Scott's status, he is a 19 year old young man who lost his best friend/family member in school. It might not be a big deal now but what about when school starts? Either way, this isn't good for what needs to be our best player in '09. I wouldn't worry about this one too much yet as it might be the first overreaction on this story but a year from now, what if the Buffs don't turn it around to a satisfactory level? What will be the first question most will ask?

You just have to hope their isn't more to the story on this one.

3) Special teams, obviously, takes an immediate hit. Smith had 1,276 yards on kick returns, second in the nation last season. The Buffs already have major questions in every other facet of special teams play, something that probably cost them or severely impacted the results of a game or two last year. The Buffs won't get to 10, 9, 8 or even 7 wins if this part of team doesn't improve.

4) What do the Buffs do now about wide receiver? Probably nothing can be done this summer from an outside perspective. Smith was a starting receiver on the most current depth chart. Kendrick Celestine is supposedly ineligible from his return to the program so he looks to be out of the question. Right now, the Buffs have one receiver who has ever caught a pass in a division one football game. ONE. I don't think bringing in another player right now is going to do anything other than add depth with an athlete that might not be "scholarship worthy." There is pretty much nothing that the staff can do other than hope JUCO transfer Andre Simmons (still not completely qualified for admission), Darden, Ussery, Simas, Jason Espinoza and even Ryan Maxwell are ready to be superior receivers. It was something Colorado was going to have to deal with anyway but this news magnifies it. Can anything else possibly happen to the receiver position?

5) How does all of this effect the team? This was supposed to be the no excuses campaign. The way the players and coaches were talking, this was the "all or nothing" year. The year the turn around takes place. Gone is LB Lynn Katoa, WR Chance Blackmon, Wallace and Smith. Players like S Ray Polk, LB Jon Major, QB Tyler Hansen, DL Curtis Cunningham, OL Blake Behrens, OG Max Tuioti-Mariner are a few who were out or injured this spring. You have two coaches leave the program in Jeff Grimes and Mark Helfrich. Most are happy with the replacements but still, its a change, its a rocking of the boat, something we keep seeing with this program. Last year it was all about injuries and off-the-field issues. I wonder what the moral will be like in the fall time?

I find myself asking what's next? I didn't see this one coming. I wish Josh Smith and Ryan Wallace the best of luck in their future endeavors, wherever they may be. I enjoyed watching Smith with the football in his hands.

Just shocked...I guess I shouldn't be anymore especially with this hidden statement in Ringo's column:

The athletic department has planned several announcements concerning the football program for Monday. The updates will include the status of Hawkins' efforts to fill his coaching staff in the wake of Mark Helfrich's departure to Oregon and player personnel changes, including Smith and Wallace.

That including word might not mean this is over...stay tuned.

Spring Recap: The Offensive Line

irish1611 — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:11:38 -0000

Pre-Spring Thoughts:

Coming into spring ball, all we could really think about was the potential the offensive line had. Last year with the injuries to Ryan Miller, Mike Iltis and Max Tuioti-Mariner as well as other issues that plagued the offensive line, many young Buffs played and gained experience. When you looked at the 2009 roster before the start of spring, there were 12 players that were eligible for any one of the starting spots on the offensive line (that doesn't even count players like C Evan Eastburn and OT Ryan Dannewitz.)That is great depth and with many players getting a taste last year, it was easy to think that all of this competition would make the o-line that much better. Going into camp, you could guess that Ryan Miller (6'8 310 So.) and Nate Solder (6'9" 300 Jr.) had the inside track at both of the tackle positions with the three other spots open for battle. Optimistic was the best way to describe the offensive line.

But that optimism was tempered by the departure of 2008 offensive line coach, Jeff Grimes, to Auburn and the hiring of Denver Johnson, a former head coach of Murray State and Illinois State as well as the ACL injury to one time 2008 starting guard, Max Tuioti-Mariner (6'3" 300 RFr).

Prior to his head coaching stints, Denver Johnson worked his way through the ranks at Oklahoma State, Mississippi State and Oklahoma, gaining important Big 12 experience and establishing himself recruiting-wise in the state of Texas, something that made Buff fans excited.

As for MTM, the ACL injury was his third in as many years, something most of us cannot imagine returning from. Tuioti-Mariner showed why he was a top recruit in 2008 by quickly inserting himself into the starting lineup before he was lost early the season with his second ACL injury. He, as well as Ryan Miller, received a medical redshirt for last season, something that only increased the optimism around the future of the offensive line. MTM is still determined to come back and coach Dan Hawkins thinks that he can be ready for fall.

click after the jump to read the rest of the offensive line recap...

Post Spring Thoughts:

Starting with Denver Johnson, it seems like he has fit in extremely well with the offensive line as well as pleasing the fan base saying the Buffs were going to be more aggressive, playing on the opponents side of the ball. Johnson learned the terminology of the offensive line instead of instilling his own to keep the learning curve down, focusing more on changes in technique from the Grimes era, something that will pay dividends in the fall. Basically, Johnson's goal is turn the Buffs into a smash mouth team, something that fits the change in the overall offensive scheme. I think 9 out of 10 Buff fans would give an enthusiastic two thumbs up for the Denver Johnson hire thus far, with a perfect 10 coming if he can turn heads recruiting Texas.

On to the players. The first day of spring ball, the starting lineup was Solder at left tackle, Matt Bahr at left guard (6'4" 285 So.), Mike Iltis at center (6'3" 275 So.), Miller at right guard and initially surprising, Bryce Givens at right tackle (6'6" 275 R-Fr.). The move of Miller to guard and redshirt freshman, Bryce Givens, to right tackle came as a surprise to many Buff fans considering Miller's past starting experience at tackle but Denver Johnson stuck to his word; he wants the five best offensive lineman on the field. If you remember correctly, Givens was a four star recruit in 2008 but was about 250 pounds and had concussion issues. It looks like he has put the health concerns behind him and with the addition of 25 pounds to his 6'6" frame, he made himself a serious contender for the starting tackle spot. Solder and Givens are both big, athletic guys on the edge and should be a successful mainstay for the Buffs the next two years. At the conclusion of camp, Solder, Givens, Miller and Iltis found themselves in the same spots while the left guard spot is still up for grabs, in my opinion. Johnson is still trying to get a feel for all of his guys which would explain three different starters at the guard position this spring from Bahr to Sione Tau (6'5" 325 So.) to Ethan Adkins (6'4" 295 So.). Expect as many as six players battling for that one guard spot with the three I mentioned above as well as Shawn Daniels (6'3" 280 So.), Tuioti-Mariner and Blake Behrens (6'3" 290 So.) (all three out due to injury this spring) to have their shot.

As far as the performance this spring, it was a nice progression of results. With a new offensive line coach, Miller moving to guard, new starters at the other guard position as well as center and right tackle, everybody had to adapt and it took time to see the results on the field. I do have to say I am excited about the offensive line especially if we can solidify the guard spot. Hopefully Tuioti-Mariner or Behrens, who can gained experience last year, can step in and be a starter for the next three to four years.

The running game failed to really get going in the initial two scrimmages. The first scrimmage, the offense rushed for only 108 yards on 33 carries, good for a 3.3 average. No running back averaged over 4 yards a clip. The second scrimmage was not much better: 29 carries, 102 yards for an average of 3.5 ypc. The spring game was a different story, though. You could tell that the line had progressed and were more comfortable with the offense and the scheme. In a perfect way to end the spring session, the Buffs ran 50 times for 310 yards, an average of 6.2 per carry. All running backs went for over 5.5 yards an attempt, something that we expected based on the talent of the offensive line.

Injuries:

OG Max Tuioti-Mariner out for entire spring, OG Devin Head limited this spring, played in spring game, OG Blake Behrens limited/out this spring, OG Shawn Daniels limited/out this spring, OL Sione Tau did not play in spring game, missed a few practices for personal reasons after starting at left guard for the second week of spring. All expected to be ready for fall ball, doubt about MTM being ready.

Player(s) Who Emerged:

C Mike Iltis and RT Bryce Givens. Iltis has filled in nicely for last year's starter and stalwart, Daniel Sanders. Iltis is still learning this position and getting comfortable making the line calls but he never relinquished the center spot all spring. As for Givens, enough was said above about his successful offseason. Both Givens and Solder should be fun to watch at the tackle spots.

Final Assessment:

All things still look on the up and up. This squad is deep and if MTM comes back healthy, watch out. This unit has all the talent and it looks like the coaching to be very successful in the Big 12. A lot will be on the shoulders of the offensive line with a depleted wide receiver corp and a duo at quarterback that probably isn't going to beat anybody by themselves. The way this group goes, is the way the offense goes in 2009. The best part is they are still young, but experienced from last season!

Five Things About Five Players - Things We Hope to Learn (Part Two)

irish1611 — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:35:50 -0000

Part two of our "things we hope to learn" series features five players (see part one here), some not as well known as the other five we featured first but maybe just as important. It calls for people to fill voids, go beyond expectation and just flat out be prepared to compete.

Remember we are fast forwarding to April 25th, 6:00 pm. What do we hope to know about these five players at that time? Let's draw it up:

DL Conrad Obi - with Curtis Cunningham LIMITED this spring, the best chance for the Buffs to sure up the line looked to be a fall practice task. Further, many Buff fans are still holding out hope that incoming freshman Edward Nuckols and Nick Kasa may have an immediate impact but Conrad Obi has really stepped up and filled a vacant spot on the defensive line. At 6'3' 265, Obi has the ability to play both inside and outside and his motor looks have improved from his freshman year. Shields and Goree also showed well but Obi stood out the most of all defensive lineman and if the learning curve continues for young guys like Goree, Shields, Obi, Cunningham and Pericak, Colorado might not have to force incoming freshman Nick Kasa and Edward Nuckols into action, something that should be music to our ears.

WR Josh Smith - similar to the Simas situation, Buff fans were easily frustrated at Smith last year. We saw all the potential in spring and fall ball but rumors of a lack of commitment to the playbook to self prophesized comparisons to Jeremy Maclin to some head scratching decisions just kept Buff fans wondering if Smith would reach his potential and be our version of the Missouri all purpose player. Well, it looks like that frustration the players have had over the past couple of losing seasons really hit home with Smith. Coaches complimented Smith on his new dedication and like his nephew, he has assumed a vocal leadership role on this team. Finally healthy, Coach Kiesau and Helfrich have him inserted in the lineup on every play in the slot, being creative with Smith and getting the ball in his hands to make plays. When I was at practice, I didn't see one end around play called to #1, something that all Buff fans appreciated. What I did see is Simas and Smith working together to finally provide the Buffs a one-two punch in the offense-happy Big 12. Barring any injuries and the continuation of hard work from both Simas and Smith, we may be looking at a top four duo in the conference. Further, KR/PR Jason Espinoza looks to be healthy again, allowing the Buffs to monitor Smith's special teams output as to not affect his offensive production.

OL Bryce Givens - with Max Tuioti-Mariner out this spring and Devin Head & Mike Iltis LIMITED, guys not named Ryan Miller and Nate Solder have a chance to snag one of the three remaining offensive line spots come fall. No players' progress to gain weight has been followed more than Givens, a very talented redshirt freshman who's main task to go along with his athleticism was to gain weight this offseason. Givens succeeded to say the least. He added 25 pounds to get to 275 - 280 but I have heard rumors that he may be up to 290 pounds without having lost too much speed. Not only did he make it through camp without a re-occurrence of a concussion but he pretty much made it impossible for Denver Johnson not to find a place for him whether it means putting him at guard or moving Ryan Miller inside. He has the best feet of all the offensive linemen and now, can physically stand-up to the players on the other side of the ball. Givens provides another reason why Buff fans should be excited about the future of the offensive line.

TE Riar Geer - coming off a junior season where nothing seemed to go right for Geer both on and off-the-field, we saw a more effectively utilized tight end this spring. 2009 should be different for both Geer and Ryan Deehan as no position will get opened up more from what is going on around them than tight end. Injuries, the inability of the wide receivers to stretch the field, the spread offense and youthful core of players caused the tight end to be rendered useless in 2008. Last year, Geer had his least productive season as a collegiate player, only grabbing thirteen passes. With a new pro-style offense, the coaching staff made a point to bring back the tight end in both the passing game and as an effective second level blocker, something that Geer can handle well with his big frame. Other than the University of Miami, Colorado has had one of the more successful programs in turning out big time pro prospects at the tight end position. This year with a trio of impressive candidates in Geer, Deehan and Ryan Wallace, I would be shocked if we see the position go ignored again. If the Buffs are hitting the tight end like they showed in spring ball, this offense just became more dynamic.

K Aric Goodman - public enemy number one last year showed that he can respond. Goodman had a very impressive spring, gaining his confidence back with a more effective two step approach to place kicking. Although practice was not Goodman's problem in '08, he did nothing this spring that would hint to the coaches that he lost his confidence or had a hangover. Hawkins and Riddle made a point to make Goodman's life miserable with constant taunting and hints of 2008's misfortunes. Every day, the Buffs conditioning program was increased in severity based on the performance of Goodman, bringing pressure from both coach and player. Buff fans should be rooting for a turnaround from Goodman. Something tells me we don't want a freshman kicker trying to win the game at West Virginia. Goodman continued to show he had a strong leg and so far accuracy doesn't seem to be a problem.

Offseason Workouts Provide Spring Hope

irish1611 — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:59:47 -0000

I usually don't like to do this but the article written by Kyle Ringo today in the Boulder Daily Camera deserves its own post. It's good, really good and is full of meaty details that we have been waiting to hear about the week before spring ball. Of course, we always hear about the positives going into camp, their record is still 0 - 0 and optimism is in the air. This year feels a little bit different, though. Two prominent sports writers/bloggers have picked the Buffs to be a surprise team this year in Tim Griffin and Pete Fiutak. Now, we get this positive little piece from strength and condition coach, Jeff Pitman, who's tactics have been questioned over the past year because of all the injuries specifically to knees and shoulders. In the article, Pitman says that he had to re-analyze the way he did things because of those "20 players" that were hurt last year or were hurt due to surgery this offseason.

"We took a look at a lot of things," Pitman said. 'We changed up some running, not that I thought things we did in the past were bad or caused anything. We probably had more injuries last year than I've had in 16 years prior.

"We were healthy last spring and healthy through summer and the first day of camp hits, it's like a grenade went off. Of course you've got to adapt and change and take a look at stuff."

Right now, the jury is still out on this year's results. Many of the players didn't get hurt until fall ball or into the season in 2008. Only Max Tuioti-Mariner has suffered a significant injury this offseason, with another torn ACL, something that made Buff fans question the offseason training program because he was healing from his second ACL injury in the past two years. Many asked why MTM was even out their in the first place so early in the process. It will be interesting to see if MTM can recover from his third ACL tear, second in the right knee. First reports thought he could be back for fall practice. I am not a doctor but that doesn't seem right.

Back to the positives of the article. Every year, the strength and conditioning coach has three months to instill change and growth in the players, before the X's and O's kick in. Of course, players are holding their own throwing sessions, etc. but Pitman has his sole touch on the players from a coaching stand point for three months. Goals are set and it is really up to the players whether they buy in or not. And from Pitman's standpoint, they have:

Tired of losing...that sounds about right. Buffs fans could add in their tired of losing, tired of excuses, tired of expectations faltering midseason. But their is that point about average age increasing that should get us excited. The team is still young on paper but in terms of underclassmen playing time, the Buffs should be considered experienced. Most have been through a year of playing time on a big stage against great competition in the Big 12 and out of conference.

Now to the fun parts of the article. According to Kyle Ringo, Pittman singled out a few players that have really progressed and it sounds like he wasn't provoked in doing so:

While the entire team performed better than in the past, a few players stuck out to Pitman. He mentioned running back Darrell Scott and tackle Nate Solder by name and raved about the offensive line as a group.

Mr. Darrell Scott. I am ready for the era to begin. I get more and more impressed every time I read about him. The fact that he is sticking out, working hard, realizing he is back to square on and everything must be earned has to be music to all of our ears.

Pitman said Scott showed up big time in the weight room this winter. Scott is down to 205 pounds and is over the ankle injury that plagued him throughout the fall.

"We're extremely happy with Darrell's progress," Pitman said. "I think he's done a great job. That guy has got a lot of pressure on him and he responded. Like all the guys, I don't make things easy on him, and he did a great job responding."

205 pounds equals a new running back and new monster. It is going to be a show this year. As fans, all we secretly wanted Darrell Scott to do this offseason was respond. Show us last year was unacceptable by his standards and that is all we wanted. Right now, he has answered all of our questions with flying colors. The fact that Pitman singled him out speaks volumes. But as Darrell Scott does his thing, don't forget about Rodney Stewart. Stewart is saying, "what Mr. Scott, you are late to the party, I was doing this last year. I am still dominating too."

Pitman said he added a wrinkle to the program this year measuring players against one another on a pound-for-pound basis. Pitman said pound-for-pound the strongest player on the team is running back Rodney Stewart, who is 5-6, 175 pounds.

Is Stewart one of the greatest unheralded finds in Colorado football history? All he does is lead the team in rushing his freshman year and was on pace to break CU records all over the place. Then he gets hurt, recovers and is still the strongest player on the team. The runningback competition just got a little more exciting in my eyes.

Now onto the big guys. Pitman says the offensive line really kicked it into gear this offseason, especially Nate Solder, who he calls one of the greatest athletes he has ever coached in his sixteen years and even goes as far to say the word "freak":

Those who know Pitman might not believe it's possible for him to sound giddy about anything. He came awful close when talking about Solder, whom he says is 6-foot-9, 305 pounds and runs a 4.8-second 40-yard dash, has a 34-inch vertical jump with 10 percent body fat.

"He's a freak," Pitman said. "That guy, for his size and how tall he is, in 16 years he very well may be one of the best athletes I've ever worked with. "He took it to a whole different level. I mean he's head and shoulders above a lot of dudes over the years. You know, I've worked with a lot of guys in the NFL."

305 pounds, 4.8 forty. Wow. Solder, who was a tight end in high school, is still very much learning the tackle position as was evident at times last season but he is one of those guys who should still be considered young but very experienced now. He obviously has the skills to succeed and I think Denver Johnson is going to be an upgrade over Grimes for these players. I think we are going to look back on this Johnson/Grimes trade and feel we got a better coach and a killer recruiter.

Other noteworthy stats from the article:

Cornerback Jimmy Smith is the fastest player on the team with an average 40-yard speed of 4.4 seconds. Smith was one of nine players on the team consistently timed in the 4.4 and 4.5-second range in the 40.

Once again, Jimmy Smith should be a first team All Big 12 corner this year. I can't wait for the Dez Bryant v. Jimmy Smith matchup this year. That should be his coming out party.

This got me excited and hopefully, it gets you going. The Buffs will still have to do it on the field but I like what I am hearing out of camp.

Let's just stay healthy.

Who is Denver Johnson? Supposedly The New Buffs Offensive Line Coach, That's Who

irish1611 — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:02:32 -0000

All signs point to former Illinois State head coach, Denver Johnson, being named the new offensive line coach according to Bloomington Pantagraph.com. Well, I have to say that this looks like a pretty decent move for the Colorado Buffaloes. No, Denver Johnson is not the founder of the Mile High Club. Johnson has been a head coach at two schools and has had assistant coaching jobs at Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Mississippi State. Johnson, a former offensive lineman who played at Tulsa and had a brief stint in the NFL with Tampa Bay in 1981 - 1983, recently resigned from the head coaching position at Illinois State after nine years in the position. More on his coaching resume below.

According to mvc-sports.com, Johnson resigned from the Illinois State job after a season ending loss that ended the "2008 season with a 3-8 record overall, after finishing 4-7 in 2007. It was ISU’s first back-to-back losing seasons in over a decade."

"During his nine-year run at Illinois State, Johnson posted a 48-54 record with the Redbirds, highlighted by the 2006 NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Playoff run and a season-ending No. 8 national ranking. Johnson’s teams produced some of the most prolific offensive campaigns in the program's history by establishing 28 offensive school records, including the most points and the most rushing, passing and total yards in a season."

He also seems to be a good recruiter:

As a result, the Redbirds landed three, three-star recruits, as rated by national recruiting services, and the class as a whole ranked No. 2 nationally among all NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs.

TRR's take: So it looks like he has a good track record for strong offensive production. Johnson will inherit one of the more promising units at Colorado in a long time in the offensive line. Still, Denver Johnson will have plenty of opportunity to put his stamp on this group as the pieces still need to be molded and grown. Johnson will first have to keep the growth and development of a promising line going in the right direction. Next, their are plenty of battles and questions that still need to be answered even with all the potential. First, who will take over duties as the rock of the offensive line in center. The good thing for Johnson is that he has a ton of talent to choose from. The bad thing is Johnson will have to find a guy with hardly any experience to play the position. At the other positions, he will have to hope OT Ryan Miller and OG Max Tuioti-Mariner heal and continue to develop. Miller and MTM have the ability to be All Big 12 players for the rest of their careers but both are still young. He will also have to be instrumental in continuing to develop a still very raw OT Nate Solder at tackle who still should be considered a project in one of the most important positions on the football field. The final task will be to get Bryce Givens ready to go and correctly shuffle through the log jam at the guard/tackle spots that consists of guys like Mike Iltis, Blake Behrens, Devin Head, Matt Bahr and Sione Tau among others, to put the best players out on the field. Johnson may have acquired one of the more promising unites on the team but there is still plenty of work to be done. The assistance of offensive technician Brad Bedell would be very helpful to keep continuity, something that is very important at the offensive line position with play calls, etc.

More on Denver Johnson from Illinois State's athletic site:

Johnson's players have gone on to receive 34 All-America honors in his tenure at Illinois State.

Following a disappointing 4-7 campaign in 2007, Johnson and his staff hit the recruiting trail with determination. As a result, the Redbirds landed three, three-star recruits, as rated by national recruiting services, and the class as a whole ranked No. 2 nationally among all NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs.

In 2006, the Redbirds posted the second-highest win total in school history with nine victories, finished the season ranked No. 8 in the final polls and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA FCS Playoffs.

From 2007 - 2005, the Redbird passing offense was the best in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Throughout his entire career, the offense at Illinois State was a leader in the MVC.

Illinois State originally plucked Johnson from Murray State after the 1999 season, where he was 7-4 in each of his three campaigns as the Racers' head coach. After four years playing professional football, Johnson began his coaching career in 1985 as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State and was with the Cowboys for the 1985 Gator Bowl.

His first full-time coaching job came at Tennessee-Martin, where he was assistant head coach and coached the offensive line from 1986-89. In 1988, UT-Martin, with an explosive offense, fashioned a record of 11-2 with a quarterfinal appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Johnson coached the offensive line at Oklahoma State from 1989-93 before embarking on a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Mississippi State. The 1993 Bulldogs earned a spot in the Peach Bowl, and in 1995, Johnson was recognized as one of the top assistant coaches in the Southeastern Conference.

Johnson was on the Oklahoma staff for the 1996 season before taking over the Murray State program prior to the 1997 campaign.

A late hiring process and the loss of several key players from the previous year's team appeared to have Johnson poised for a slow start at Murray State, but that was not the case. The Racers responded with a 7-4 mark.

Johnson graduated from Tulsa in 1981. He helped TU to the 1976 Independence Bowl as a player and was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference offensive lineman under former Ohio State and Arizona State head coach John Cooper. He was also an academic all-conference pick.

Following his college playing career at Tulsa, Johnson moved to the professional ranks. He was with the National Football League's Tampa Bay Buccaneers from April 1981 to February 1983.

He then joined the Los Angeles Express of the now-defunct United States Football League from February 1983 through August 1984. Johnson then wrapped up his playing career with the USFL's Houston Gamblers from February 1984 through August 1985. His USFL playing days included playing stints with quarterbacks Jim Kelly and Steve Young, both of whom went on to stardom in the National Football League.

Known for his homespun humor and southern drawl, Johnson is a public speaker in high demand. His interesting delivery style, combined with a keen mind, plays well in the corporate setting, at fund-raisers, in a recruit's home and in the Redbird locker room.

Year-By-Year Head Coaching Results

2007 - Illinois State	4-7/2-4
2006 - Illinois State	9-4/5-2
2005 - Illinois State	7-4/4-3
2004 - Illinois State	4-7/2-5
2003 - Illinois State	6-6/3-4
2002 - Illinois State	6-5/4-3
2001 - Illinois State	2-9/2-5
2000 - Illinois State	7-4/4-2
ILLINOIS STATE TOTAL	45-46/26-28
1999 - Murray State	7-4/5-2
1998 - Murray State	7-4/5-2
1997 - Murray State	7-4/5-2
MURRAY STATE TOTAL	21-12/15-6
CAREER TOTAL (11 YEARS)	66-58/41-34

Coaching Ledger

2000-	Illinois State, Head Coach
1997-99	Murray State, Head Coach
1996	Oklahoma, Assistant Coach
1993-95	Mississippi State, Assistant Coach
1989-93	Oklahoma State, Assistant Coach
1986-89	Tennessee-Martin, Assistant Head Coach
1985-86	Oklahoma State, Graduate Assistant

Illinois State University Football

Poll

How do you feel about Dan Hawkins hiring Denver Johnson to be the next offensive line coach for the Buffs?

Looks like a good hire on paper and seems to have plenty of qualifications (former offensive lineman, two time head coach, impressive who's who in assistant jobs, etc.) to be satisfied with the choice

182 votes

I would have had preferred that they got someone who had more ties to CU like Stan Brock.

44 votes

226 votes | Poll has closed

Best of 2008 #7: The 3 - 0 Start

irish1611 — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:27:37 -0000

Who drank the Kool Aid? Okay maybe we didn't drink the Kool Aid entirely after less than stellar performances against Eastern Washington and West Virginia but at 3 - 0 we were able to rationalize those performances...sort of. Being undefeated felt good and it was easy to buy in after years of losing, even though most of us were less than satisfied. Winning blinds us all!

The win against Colorado State was one of the more complete victories of the season with the offense and defense both showing its moments. Against Eastern Washington, the Buffs survived that FCS scare with Cha'pelle Brown and some late Cody Hawkins heroics provided a 2 - 0 start. The Montana State and Eastern Washington storyline was extinguished and the Buffs had a little more than a week and a half to prepare for West Virginia, the consensus circle game of the year. The Buffs were 4 point dogs going into that game. Thursday night in Boulder, Erin Andrews in the house, the crowd was buzzing with a full on blackout for national TV. Colorado responded as the team came out on all cylinders. Two quick touchdowns. For a second there, I was drinking the Kool Aid and so was everyone else. Less than five minutes into the game, CU was up 14 points. I had an epiphany that maybe CU football had, once again, arrived. Maybe it was the Kool Aid or the 12 pack of Coors Light before the game but I got that feeling. You could rationalize the Eastern Washington game as being a youthful experience for a team still trying to find its play makers, its starting rotation at offensive line, running back and offensive line (if you were drinking the Kool Aid). The key, as was being said at that time, was the young Buffs found a way to win and in the first three games, they won in shaky but exciting fashion. But as the West Virginia game went on, we saw the offensive inadequacies and still wondered if the spread offense was the right choice with such a limited set of play makers (too bad we are wondering the same thing today). But the defense held its own against a quarterback who would end up being the NCAA all-time leading rusher for a QB. Things seemed good.

It is pretty safe to say that it went all down hill from there. Ryan Miller and Max Tuioti-Mariner, both starting offensive lineman went down with injuries. The youthful and injured Buffs couldn't get much going. The worst part was you look back on the season and the Buffs should have beat Florida State and should have beat Texas A&M. Cody Hawkins missed on three touchdown passes in the FSU game and well, the special teams did its usual thing; missing a field goal, giving up a safety followed by a subsequent field goal and allowing a kick off return for a touchdown. The team was never really the same after the Florida State game that they let slip away. It would have been one of Dan Hawkins first signature road wins and the Buffs would have been 4 - 0 going into conference play. Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda.

But for a second, well for about five minutes into the third week of the season, we believed. And I do have to say, it felt good. Next year, No excuses! Go Buffs!

Best of 2008 List
10) The Victory Against CSU at Mile High
9) The Iowa State Second Half
8) Buff Linebacker Shaun Mohler
7) The 3 - 0 Start

Worst of 2008 List
10) The Off the Field Issues
9) The Defensive Line Scheme/Play
8) Home Crowd Blues

Poll

Be honest, after five minutes into the CU vs West Virginia game with the Buffs up 14 - 0, did you drink the Kool Aid?

Yep, it was premature but after so much losing the past two years, I took a big gulp and then threw it up in the Texas game

29 votes

No, I liked the first 5 minutes of the West Virginia game but the Buffs almost lost to Eastern Washington!

7 votes

36 votes | Poll has closed

Evaluating Darrell Scott's Performance Saturday

irish1611 — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:23:15 -0000

So how did Darrell Scott's first chance at getting a bulk of the carries go? Decent. Scott definitely had his moments especially on the game changing drive to open the third quarter where he handled the bulk of the load including the 37 yard rush down the sideline. You can see from the chart below that Scott mixed in a few 5+ yard runs but we are still seeing a ton of negative rushes and "less than 3 yard" carries. Sometimes it's due to his impatience in the running game but most of the time it has to do with a young and banged up offensive line. Take away the 37 yard run to start the second half and Scott averaged 2.78 ypc. But we did see promise in the third quarter from Scott. I think we will have to wait until next year, though, to really assess Scott for a variety of reasons. First of all, he is a freshman who in high school was the best talent on the field by a long shot. He was faster and stronger than everyone so he could run through people and around everyone. Since that was the case, he has to "re-learn" waiting for holes to open up and patience in the running game. Second, the Buffs still aren't committed to him. You look at the first half, the Buffs only tried to pound Scott from the shotgun set and with little success in the passing game, they forgot about RB Darrell Scott. One thing the Buffs are also doing is hinting run and pass. When Scott is out, it is usually a pass, when he is in, it is usually a run. One of the best things Scott did early in the season was getting involved in the passing game. Where has that gone? I understand Sumler is a better blocker but they need to get Scott the ball on screen plays and out in space. Scott did well in the third quarter is they final got him off tackle. His two longest runs were over the right tackle. Another reason we have to wait to evaluate Scott is his obvious injury problem and the team's injury issues. You could tell that Scott had no burst on the 37 yard run to get around the safety. He looked like he easily had a touchdown but was caught at an angle. Next year, that won't happen. The Buffs get back OT Ryan Miller and OG Max Tuioti-Mariner next year, coupled with incoming recruit Jack Harris, red shirt OG Bryce Givens and a line that has one more year of experience. I think the Buffs will be head and shoulders ahead of where they are now which will give Scott more opportunity to run in space and not get tackled so often behind the line of scrimmage.

The great thing about Scott is he seems very mature and he wants the ball. He will get over this injury spat and the offensive line will get better. Will the play calling? I don't know but if Cody Hawkins or whoever at quarterback can make some plays in the passing game, the Buffs are going to see a lot more 5+ yard runs from Scott next year.

Down and Dist	Play Description
1st and 15 at ISU 46	Darrell Scott rush for 3 yards to the IowSt 43, tackled by Jesse Smith and James Smith.
DRIVE TOTALS: CU drive: 8 plays 20 yards, 03:07 CU FGA

Colorado at 6:04
1st and 10 at ISU 32	Darrell Scott rush for 6 yards to the IowSt 26, tackled by Jesse Smith and James Smith.
2nd and 4 at ISU 26	Darrell Scott rush for 2 yards to the IowSt 24, tackled by Jesse Smith and Nate Frere.
3rd and 2 at ISU 24	Darrell Scott rush for 7 yards to the IowSt 17, tackled by James Smith for a 1ST down.
2nd and 3 at ISU 10	Darrell Scott rush for a loss of 2 yards to the IowSt 12, tackled by Singleton and Tate.
DRIVE TOTALS: CU drive: 7 plays 20 yards, 03:09 CU FGA

END OF THE FIRST QUARTER
1st and 10 at COL 6	Darrell Scott rush for 3 yards to the Colo 9, tackled by James Smith.
2nd and 7 at COL 9	Darrell Scott rush for a loss of 3 yards to the Colo 6, tackled by Nate Frere.
1st and 10 at COL 32	Darrell Scott rush for 2 yards to the Colo 34, tackled by Kurtis Taylor and Fred Garrin.
DRIVE TOTALS: CU drive: 8 plays 51 yards, 00:00 CU INT

END OF THE SECOND QUARTER
1st and 10 at COL 37	Darrell Scott rush for 8 yards to the Colo 45, tackled by James Smith and Cameron Bell.
2nd and 2 at COL 45	Darrell Scott rush for 37 yards to the IowSt 18, tackled by James Smith for a 1ST down.
1st and 10 at ISU 18	Darrell Scott rush for 6 yards to the IowSt 12, tackled by Parker and McDowell O of B
2nd and 4 at ISU 12	Darrell Scott rush for no gain to the IowSt 12, tackled by Jesse Smith.
1st and Goal at ISU 6	Darrell Scott rush for 2 yards to the IowSt 4, tackled by Kurtis Taylor and Jesse Smith.
3rd and Goal at ISU 4	Darrell Scott rush for no gain to the IowSt 4, tackled by Chris Singleton.
DRIVE TOTALS: CU drive: 9 plays 63 yards, 05:10 CU TD

Colorado at 9:44
1st and 10 at COL 16	Darrell Scott rush for 2 yards to the Colo 18, tackled by Jesse Smith.
2nd and 3 at ISU 32	Darrell Scott rush for 2 yards to the IowSt 30, tackled by Josh Raven.
3rd and 1 at ISU 30	Darrell Scott rush for 8 yards to the IowSt 22, tackled by Smith and Lyle for a 1ST down.
DRIVE TOTALS: CU drive: 9 plays 84 yards, 04:18 CU TD

2nd and 10 at COL 25	Darrell Scott rush for no gain to the Colo 25, tackled by Fred Garrin.
DRIVE TOTALS: CU drive: 3 plays 0 yards, 01:03 CU PUNT

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER
2nd and 10 at COL 5	Darrell Scott rush for 4 yards to the Colo 9, tackled by Smith and Ruempolhamer.
DRIVE TOTALS: CU drive: 3 plays 4 yards, 01:02 CU PUNT

END OF THE FOURTH QUARTER

Game 4 Report Card - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Florida State Seminoles

irish1611 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:30:05 -0000

The Ralphie Report ranks the good and the bad (majority) from this Saturday's Colorado Buffaloes vs. Florida State Seminoles game.

QUARTERBACK
D-	I commend Cody for taking the blame for this game and being open and upfront about it. That being said, he needs to be better...a lot better and he knows it. He completed less than 50% of his passes (17 - 36, 154 3TDs 1 INT), had a costly fumble and interception. The fumble was an incorrect call on the field but Hawkins' turnovers this year have been in big spots. Hawkins needs to improve on is overall play making. Missing two "no doubt about it" touchdown passes, badly, and another that would have put the Buffs first and goal, left 21 points on the field. Couple that with a missed field goal and a dropped kickoff at the 2 yard line that led to 5 FSU points, the Buffs left at least 29 points on the field. This team, good or bad, will go the way Cody goes. I would be shocked if he didn't come out and answer the call with a good game against Texas. He will have to outplay Colt McCoy for the Buffs to win. Easier said than done as McCoy has probably earned himself some conversation as a potential Heisman candidate if he continues to play the way he has been.
RUNNING BACK
B+	Rodney "Speedy" Stewart continues to impress with his versatility and his ability to find get to the outside even against a fast FSU defense. The Buffs running back's averaged 5 yards a carry Saturday with a makeshift offensive line. The running backs did a relatively solid job on picking up the blitzes especially Darrell when he was in the game. The backs made two big blocks on the plays the Cody overthrew the receivers for a touchdown. CU tried to get mismatches on the outside with the running backs on wheel routes that FSU really defended well. I personally would have liked to see the Buffs get more screen passes going with Stewart like Oregon State did with their smaller running back. It would've slowed the rush as well as put Speedy on the outside where he could make a play. I am hoping that we hear a definitive word on what is wrong with Darrell Scott. We keep hearing that the knee is dinged up but if that is the case, why are we risking his health by playing him sparingly? Stewart is giving us the best chance to win right now, though, so I can't complain with him getting the majority of the carries.

WIDE RECEIVER
D	Paging Patrick Williams and Scotty McKnight! Your attendance is needed for the Buffs to be successful. I wasn't expecting much from Williams but McKnight was Hawkins favorite target last year and by far the Buffs most consistent wide receiver. McKnight caught just one ball against the 'Noles for no yards and over the last two games, he has caught 5 balls for 21 yards. That will not get it done. I expected McKnight to have 60 - 70 catches this year, right now he is on pace for 48, a one catch improvement on last year's freshman season. Josh Smith had a good game at the wide receiver position, not at the kick returner position, with 7 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. He abused the secondary and always seemed open. All I have to say is Texas is going to look at Josh Smith and make sure he doesn't beat them. McKnight needs to step up and work the middle of the field like he did last year. Of course it doesn't help when Cody Hawkins was under 50%. The Buffs need a two touchdown game from McKnight next week for the bid at the upset.
TIGHT END
C+	What is one of the big differences between last year's team and this year's team? The use of the tight end. Only three catches between Geer and Devenney which came late in the game. With the lack of production in McKnight and the tight ends, teams are not having to respect the middle of the field with any consistency. The opposing team's safeties are going start leaning towards Josh Smith on the outside. The middle of the field should be open against Texas but we have not seen the Buffs make a concerted effort to work that area of the field. I wonder if Hawkins height has anything to do with finding the appropriate passing lanes to hit the tight end and McKnight. Either way, the Buffs need to make opposing defenses cover the whole field.
OFFENSIVE LINE
B-	For being a makeshift line, I thought they didn't do too bad. FSU DE Everette Brown beat OT Nate Solder on the third play of the game to cause a horrible miss called fumble that led to the first touchdown of the game. Losing Tuioti-Mariner the week before and Miller during the game could have made this game a complete blood bath but the Buffs were able to run the ball upfront, averaging 5 yards a carry and if Hawkins makes the three mis-throws, today Buffs' nation is talking about how good this line did picking up the all out blitzes on those plays.
DEFENSIVE LINE
D	A lot of blame going to the quarterback in this game but when we previewed the game last week, everyone and their mother knew that if the Buffs could stop the run and make the sub par quarterbacks of Florida State throw the ball 30+ times, the Buffs had a great chance of winning. CU failed miserably. Whether it was the gameplan or the players, the Buffs should have had one mission: to make Christian Ponder beat them. The Seminoles ran 46 times for 259 yards. The week before, FSU averaged 3.8 yards a carry against Wake Forest. CU's best unit according to Dan Hawkins didn't register one sack while the Hypolite, Herrod and Nicholas totaled 6 tackles on 46 rushing attempts. Maurice Lucas and Curtis Cunningham played decent but against a team who ran for 259 yards, the Buffs should expect more than 3 TFL. If the performance on Saturday needed to be any more embarrassing for the defensive line, the Seminoles didn't have one Junior or Senior on the offensive line. I know George Hypolite is a fan favorite but we need more production from him and if he is getting double teamed, the three guys surrounding him need to get pulled for guys like Curtis Cunningham and Conrad Obi. They wouldn't do any worse at this point as the Buffs have given up 570 yards rushing that past two games, ranking them 88th in the country against the run. Luckily for the Buffs they played a team in Eastern Washington that didn't run the ball or they would be out of the top 100. It won't get any easier this week as Texas rolls in with the #22 rushing attack in the nation. Colt McCoy is the Longhorns leading rusher averaging 8.2 ypc for a total of 287 yards.
LINEBACKER
C	Worst ranking of the year for the best unit on the team so far. Statistically, Shaun Mohler and Jeff Smart were solid. Mohler led the team with 7 tackles and 1 TFL but part of the blame for the 259 yards rushing falls on the linebackers, even though I don't think the defensive scheme was strong. The Buffs didn't use Brad Jones' speed enough to put pressure in the backfield. The refs missed a horrible holding penalty on Michael Sipili at the point of attack on Antone Smith's 60 yard touchdown run that changed the momentum of the game.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
B	Not a hard day for the defensive backfield trying to stop the pass as Christian Ponder is not very good at all and the front seven didn't make Ponder throw enough. The defensive backs were the run stoppers after FSU sealed off the our underachieving defensive line. You know your in trouble when 4 of the 5 leading tacklers are safeties and corner backs. Safties Ryan Walters, Daniel Dykes and Anthony Perkins combined for 19 tackles. This group better be ready because McCoy, Reesing, Freeman and Daniel are coming. No one has exposed this group yet and if the Buffs don't starting getting penetration in the backfield, I don't care if you have Champ Bailey in the secondary, good quarterbacks like the ones I have listed above will eat you alive. The defense better play out of their minds next week if the Buffs have any chance.
SPECIAL TEAMS
F	Short kickoffs, a kickoff returned for a touchdown, a missed chip shot field goal, a dropped kickoff at the two yard line that led to a safety and a field goal, 10.4 y/kickoff return, 7.5 y/punt return...need I say more. Coach Riddle better get his boys playing ball.
COACHING
C-	B+ for the offense, F for the defense giving the coaches a net grade of C-. I thought the offensive game plan was fine. I would like to see the tight ends get involved in the game plan but if Hawkins makes those three plays, we are sitting here today going crazy about how open this offense is and the creativity behind it. The running game was solid. I firmly believe with this one that the coaches coached but the players didn't make the plays. Woody Paige was completly wrong in his critique of the spread offense. It hasn't been polished yet but I go back to the point that the Buffs did establish a running game against a solid defense and were three throws away from exploding on the 'Noles. Defense is a different story. They made the FSU offense look functional which is hard to do with zero passing threat. The Buffs had one job to do and that was stop the run. Make the damn team who threw 5 interceptions last week throw the ball. Seems logical right? The Buffs didn't load the box at all, playing a base defense and letting FSU pick where they wanted to run. Against an offense so bad don't you throw everyone on the line of scrimmage and make Ponder beat you? Don't you be the aggressor? They made an inexperienced FSU line look like world beaters. Bad scheme.

Pos	Name	Injury	Last Year Production	Status
OG	Blake Behrens	*shoulder surgery	769 plays (12 gms), 3rd most on OL	Limited
FB	Jake Behrens	*knee surgery	Played in 12 gms, 2 TD, 75 yds receiving	Full Go
CB	Cha'pelle Brown	*shoulder surgery	starter, 4th in tkles, 1st in int, best DB in 08	Full Go
CB	Jalil Brown	*shoulder surgery	started 12 gms, 7th in tkles, 4 break ups	Limited
CB	Ben Burney	shoulder surgery	2007 starter, 2008 injured	Full Go
DT	Curtis Cunningham	*shoulder surgery	Productive true frosh, 12 games, 2TFL, 1 int	Limited
PK	Jameson Davis	*knee surgery	Kickoff guy and limited FG action	Out
WR	Jason Espinoza	broken collarbone	Potential special teams returner	Full Go
TE	Riar Geer	*shoulder surgery	Starting TE, 13 receptions, 2 TD's	Limited
OG	Devin Head	*shoulder surgery	Played in 11 games, 4th most plays on Oline	Limited
OG	Mike Iltis	knee surgery	Potential starter, hurt in offseason drills	Limited
ILB	Jon Major	knee surgery	Blue chip recruit, injured offseason drills	Limited
WR	Ryan Maxwell	shoulder surgery	Walkon	Full Go
OT	Ryan Miller	broken fibula	Starting RT before getting hurt in FSU game	Full Go
S	Ray Polk	shoulder surgery	Blue chip recruit, redshirt last year	Out
WR	Markques Simas	*finger surgery	Ineligible last year, talent to be big time player	Full Go
RB	Rodney Stewart	leg/ankle	08 leading rusher as a freshman, 669 yds	Full Go
OG	Max Tuioti-Mariner	torn ACL	Starter as a true freshman, hurt in practice	Out
TE	Luke Walters	stress fracture	Walkon	Out
QB	Cameron Wright	*shoulder surgery	Walkon	Limited
*denotes offseason surgery