SB Nation - Markques Simas

Post Game Reaction - Colorado Buffaloes Lose Season Finale to Nebraska 28 - 20

irish1611 — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 00:33:32 -0000

More photos » by Jack Dempsey - AP

22 days ago: After losing his helmet in the scrum, Nebraska defensive end Barry Turner (99), right, pursues Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen, left, for the sack in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Boulder, Colo., on Friday, Nov. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

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The Nebraska Cornhuskers (9-3, 6-2) scored 14 points via special teams and an interception to upend the Colorado Buffaloes (3-9, 2-6) 28 - 20 in the Buffs' last game of the 2009 season. On a beautiful day in Boulder, the Buffs played well at times and in other situations, they continued to be their own worst enemy, something that has become a staple for the Buffs in Dan Hawkins' four years at Colorado.

The Colorado defense only allowed 14 points and held the Cornhuskers' offense to just 217 yards, only 73 of which came through the air. Cha'pelle Brown played wonderfully in his final game as a Buff including a sack of Husker QB Zac Lee. The senior cornerback was also awarded this season's Buffalo Heart Award, presented annually to a Buffs player by fans. Colorado's defense has played relatively well since the West Virginia game but were never helped by its offensive and special teams counterparts for most of the season.

OG Ryan Miller and the offensive line did very well on DT Ndamukong Suh, even though the announcers kept making it out to be that Suh had 50 tackles and 20 sacks while being blocked by 19 players. Suh was the benefactor of a sack on a poor intentional grounding flag thrown in the third quarter that was clearly a tipped pass to Rodney Stewart. The penalty pushed the ball back to the 34 yard line and resulted in a missed field goal. That one phantom sack by Suh was the only sack given up today, a major improvement. QB Tyler Hansen still had to do some scrambling but the Buffs never were in 3rd and 20's because of a Husker sack.

Buff WR Markques Simas caught six balls for 107 yards. Although he was not featured enough tonight, he finished the month of November with 462 yards and 31 receptions. A very impressive last month for the sophomore receiver and will be a positive going into next season. Simas did not have a ball thrown his way until the 8 minute mark of the second quarter and had only one catch in the first half. Colorado forgot about him until half number two. Scotty McKnight, thanks to a 56 yard touchdown reception as time expired, also finished with over 100 yards, the second time the duo has accomplished that this year. McKnight had 7 catches for 114 yards and two scores. RB Rodney Stewart also went over the century mark with 110 yards on 21 carries as well.

Overall, the Buffs out gained Nebraska 403 to 217. They had 20 first downs to the Huskers' 14.

But, Colorado made enough mistakes to end up with their ninth loss of the season in a very winnable game.

more after the jump...

Tyler Hansen completed less than 50% of his passes and threw three interceptions as the Buffs lost the turnover battle by two. Colorado continues to struggle in the turnover margin category, often making more mistakes than the other team. One of the interceptions resulted in a Nebraska defensive touchdown.

The Buffs also gave up another non-defensive touchdown on a low line drive punt in the first quarter that WR Nebraska Niles Paul returned 59 yards for a 7 - 0 lead.

Special teams play continues to doom the Buffs. In the first quarter, the Buffs starting field position averaged the 8.5 yard line while Nebraska started at the 46. K Aric Goodman's performance continues to be abysmal as he missed two field goals in the second half that would have brought the Buffs within one point, 21 - 20, with 13:35 left in the game. The last two years, Goodman is 15 of 32 on field goal attempts, hitting only 46%. In 2009, he is 10 of 18. Essentially, the Buffs turned the ball over five times when counting the empty possessions from the missed field goals.

Colorado fielded punts inside the five yard line, dropped kickoffs and subsequently, were tackled inside the 20 yard line, kicked low line drive punts, missed field goals and of course, gave up the touchdown on a punt return.

The very next possession with 13:35 left after the second missed field goal, Nebraska had their only impressive offensive drive of the game, a 13 play, 80 yard drive for the 14 point lead. The Huskers only had to convert one third down on the drive while RB Rex Burkhead carried the ball 9 of the 13 plays. Burkhead ended up scoring, putting Nebraska up 28 - 14.

The Buffs were able to get the ball back and drive down to the Nebraska 15 yard line with about five minutes left but, once again, the team shot themselves in the foot. This drive is a microcosm of the inadequacies this team displays on a weekly basis:

Play 1 - quick zero yard pass to Simas in bounds while the Buffs are down 14 points. You have to go up field there considering your timeout situation and only five minutes on the clock. At least a play out of bounds. Before that play, the Buffs took their second timeout of the second half, leaving them with only one. The play call of a small flip pass to Simas after the timeout is mind boggling.
Play 2 - incomplete pass. Now 3rd and 10 from the 15 yard line
Play 3 - delay of game, five yard penalty. Now 3rd and 15 from the 20 yard line.
Play 4 - false start, five yard penalty. Now 3rd and 20 from the 25 yard line.
Play 5 - pass incomplete. Now 4th and 20 from the 25 yard line
Play 6 - timeout, their second of the drive without gaining a yard since having the ball 1st & 10 and last timeout of the half.
Play 7 - interception

The Buffs had 7 penalties in total. They continue to be one of the most penalized teams in the nation.

Just like the defensive drive before it, this offensive drive and the two missed field goals in the second half, the Buffs continually fail to convert and make big plays when the game is within reach. The people in charge at the University of Colorado might think and interpret this as being a very competitive outing, as their press release stated yesterday, but I believe it to be a dangerous trend that we have seen all year against a very manageable out of conference and Big 12 North schedule.

I wish we could have pulled this out for the seniors. We are certainly going to miss players like Cha'pelle Brown, Marcus Burton, Benjamin Burney, Riar Geer, Jake Behrens, Shaun Mohler, Patrick Devenny, Kevin Moyd, Jeff Smart, etc. Thanks for sticking through this mess, it probably would have been easy to quit. Best of luck in the future. I wish it would have turned out better for you in your last season.

Under The Hood: Nebraska vs. Colorado Statistical Comparison

Jon Johnston — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:28:37 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Neibergall - AP

Tyler Hansen's favorite pose this season. Hansen has taken 31 sacks, over twice as many as the Huskers total. Part of that can be explained on Colorado throwing the ball all the time. Part of it..... CU Sucks.

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Statistics are good to know before you head into a game against a team that hates your guts. If they start giving you too much crap, you can just throw statistical information back at them. Unless they've been following along, they have little choice to respond with the phrase common to losers everywhere:

"YOU SUCK!"

Some stats can be dismissed, or made to say whatever you want, but when you're ranked at the bottom of several categories across several facets of football, things aren't going well no matter how much you rationalize.

That's where Colorado is this season. Before I looked, I thought that it would be Colorado's defense near the bottom of the NCAA rankings, but it's not. It's their offense.

Offensive Statistics

	Nebraska	Colorado
Rush YPG	147.73 (62/6)	83.73 (113/11)
Rush YPC	4.18 (65/5)	2.62 (117/12)
Rush TDS	17 (54/7)	14 (81/11)

Pass YPG	197.7 (85/9)	222.5 (53/8)
Pass YPA	7.1 (63/7)	5.7 (109/12)
Pass TDS	14 (75/10)	15 (67/9)
Pass Efficiency	128.82 (62/8)	105.86 (111/12)

Total Offense	345.5 (82/10)	306.3 (108/12)
Scoring Offense	25.4 (73/8)	22.5 (91/10

If you thought our offense was bad, welcome to the Buffs. Rodney Stewart is the Buffs top running back, ranked 67th nationally in averaging 69.4 yards per game. Stewart is averaging 3.92 yards per carry. The very low team per carry average is because of all the sacks and negative plays that Colorado has had this season - Cody Hawkins has lost an average of 12 yards per game (-84 yards rushing). That's icky.

I'm not going to say much about Cody Hawkins or Tyler Hansen because you can read some incredibly in-depth stuff here. Buff receivers Scotty McKnight and Markques Simas are dangerous, but not overwhelming. McKnight averages just over 70 yards per game, and has four TD receptions. Simas has come on strong lately, with 135 and 128 yards receiving against Texas A&M and Iowa State, respectively. He dropped to 92 against Oklahoma State, but I don't think anyone is going to confuse the Blackshirt defense with any one of those teams.

The Huskers don't have a good offense any way you look at it. We're only around average in rushing, and below average everywhere else. i don't know about you, but I'm going to spend the next two games playing the "Shawn Watson has kept the real offense under wraps until the end of the season!' angle. I find it irritates opposing fans when I refuse to listen to reason, which is the only way to make a cruddy offense enjoyable.

Hate to point this out, but the Buffs have more passing touchdowns than we do despite much worse statistics in this area. That speaks volumes about our inability to get in the end zone earlier this season.

Roy Helu is ranked 29th nationally, just under 100 yards per game at 96.09. Not bad considering he's been injured.

Defensive Statistics

	Nebraska	Colorado
Rush YPG	98.09 (13/4)	162.73 (83/10)
Rush YPC	2.85 (8/3)	4.18 (75/9)
Rush TDS	6 (8/2)	15 (58/8)

Pass YPG	182.3 (17/1)	213.5 (57/4)
Pass YPA	5.3 (3/1)	7.3 (75/10)
Pass TDS	4 (1/1)	18 (81/10)

Total Defense	280.4 (8/2)	376.3 (72/9)
Scoring Defense	10.3 (3/1)	28.9 (88/11)

Look at the Huskers defensive stats. If that ain't beauty.... I don't know what you're looking for. Four passing touchdowns given up so far this season.

The Buffaloes on the other hand.... oy vey. Their defensive stats are not beautiful. They're not hideous, though, as they have not dropped to the Nebraska 2007 level (112th total defense - 476.8 yards per game, 114th scoring defense -37.9 points per game) or to Kansas State 2008 (118th total defense - 479.1 yards per game, 111th scoring defense- 35.8 points per game) so those comparisons are inappropriate.

The Huskers have given up 16 pass plays of 25+ yards, compared to the Buffs at 25 of 25+ yards. When watching Colorado football this year, they have a real problem with letting receivers get behind their deepest defenders.That explains poor passing touchdown defense.

The Details

	Nebraska	Colorado
3rd Down Conversions (Pctg)	40.13 (58/8)	35.06 (94/10)
Red Zone Conversions (Score %)	79.55 (72/9)	84.21 (43/6)

Turnover Margin	+2 (53/6)	-4 (82/10)
Sacks	32 (12/5)	24 (43/8)
Tackles for Loss	73 (33/5)	62 (63/9)
Sacks Allowed	15 (31/3)	42 (117/12)
Punting (Avg)	41.12 (51/5)	37.71 (103/11)
Punt Returns	10.15 (47/7)	2.96 (117/12)
Kickoffs (Avg)	68.20 (2/2)	64.86 (22/4)
Kickoff Returns	23.07 (39/5)	24.24 (20/3)
Penalties (Yds/G)	66 (102/7)	79.4 (117/10)

- Both of these teams are awful in picking up penalties. The Huskers haven't gotten any better in November, still ranked 102nd and averaging 64.3 yard per game. But the Buffs have gotten worse (yes, that's possible), dropping to dead last in FBS, 120th at 94.7 yards per game. Both teams have tendencies to pick up personal foul penalties at the worst possible moments. One wonders how sloppy Friday's game will be.

- 117th in sacks allowed? Wow! Insert your jokes about a Jared Crick - Ndamukong Suh feast in the comments section, while I stick with a "turkey shoot" meme. Tyler Hansen has taken 31 sacks so far this year. It'd be nice if he'd take about ten more this game.

- The Buffaloes do have a potential game-breaking weapon in kickoff returns. Brian Lockridge is 61st nationally with a 24.07 average. (By comparison, Niles Paul is 36th with an average of 25.69. 1.62 yards means a huge difference in ranking, but not an enormous difference on the field). Lockridge's sole touchdown came last week against Oklahoma State. The Huskers have done a great job of shutting down kickoffs this season (hence the #2 ranking), thanks largely to Adi Kunalic.

- Colorado's punting average is pretty hideous. There's an understatement for you.

- What did I miss?

WR Markques Simas' Emergence Bodes Well for the Future

irish1611 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:20:15 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

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For the past two years and most of year three, we heard the rumors of redshirt sophomore WR Markques Simas' potential. Apparently, he was making the first team defense look silly on the scout team and once he dedicated himself both on and off the field, he would be something special. After Simas was ruled ineligible last year and suspended for the first two games of this season for an off-the-field incident, many Buff fans wondered if this would be another one of those players who was highly recruited that wouldn't pan out.

Simas, in his third year at Colorado, finally caught his first ball and touchdown against West Virginia. The next four games, the 6'2" 215 pound receiver never had more than three receptions in any single game. But then November rolled around...and something seemed to click between the receiver and his quarterback Tyler Hansen.

The last three weeks, Simas has been everything Buff fans dreamed for and more, turning in performances that bring back memories of top flight receivers of the past. Colorado fans have been clamoring for a bona fide number one receiver for a while now. Going back to 2004, Colorado's leading receiver has not gone over 600 yards and in two of those years, the Buffs leading receiver had 226 yards and 449 yards.

Just in the month of November, Markques Simas has 25 receptions and 355 yards. If he kept that production up over a full season, he would total 100 receptions, 1,412 yards and 8 touchdowns. Now that is a #1 receiver. It is clear Hansen and Simas have developed a nice report.

As you can see from the chart below (for optimal viewing, click the "wide view" button on the top right of the page), Simas ranks 10th in the nation for yards/game in the month of November among all receivers. He is surrounded by some pretty good company as well:

Top Receivers for the Month of November
#	Name	Team	Yr	Pos	G	Rec.	Yards	Avg.	TD	Rec./G	Yards/G
1	Danario Alexander	Missouri	SR	WR	3	34	587	17.26	5	11.3	195.7
2	Damaris Johnson	Tulsa	SO	WR	3	41	475	11.59	1	13.7	158.3
3	Antonio Brown	C Mich	JR	WR	2	24	299	12.46	2	12.0	149.5
4	Greg Salas	Hawai'i	JR	WR	3	34	435	12.79	3	11.3	145.0
5	Freddie Barnes	BGSU	SR	WR	3	30	428	14.27	5	10.0	142.7
6	Jordan Shipley	Texas	SR	WR	3	27	427	15.81	4	9.0	142.3
7	Golden Tate	Notre Dame	JR	WR	3	27	368	13.63	3	9.0	122.7
8	Emmanuel Sanders	SMU	SR	WR	3	21	364	17.33	4	7.0	121.3
9	Shay Hodge	Miss	SR	WR	3	19	363	19.11	3	6.3	121.0
10	Markques Simas	Colorado	SO	WR	3	25	355	14.2	2	8.3	118.3

It would be disrespectful not to mention the stellar play of WR Scotty McKnight. He catches a bad wrap because he is not a game breaker but McKnight has been solid and has led the Buffs in receiving yards for the past three seasons, something that should not be forgotten. McKnight has put up some amazing numbers in his three year career at Colorado. He has caught at least one pass in 34 straight games, a Colorado record, meaning he has caught a pass in every game he has played in. He ranks sixth in the Big 12 with 779 receiving yards in 2009, which is 44th in the nation.

Combine McKnight and Simas with Michigan transfer Toney Clemons and next year, this looks like a potential unit of strength. Also, don't forget 2009 signees Jarrod Darden, Terdema Ussery, Will Jefferson and Andre Simmons should be up to speed and challenging for playing time next year. It is not known whether WR/CB Anthony Wright will remain on the offensive side next year but if he does, that is another athlete that could make a difference.

Cody Hawkins vs. Tyler Hansen - Comparing The Quarterbacks' Productivity

irish1611 — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:09:40 -0000

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

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Watching the Oklahoma St. game at Blake Street Tavern this past Thursday night, a frantic frenzy occurred when Cody Hawkins ran out as the quarterback before anyone knew that Tyler Hansen was battling a hand injury. Then about half way through the third quarter after Cody Hawkins led the Buffs to an impressive touchdown drive that gave the Buffs the lead going into halftime, many wondered if Dan Hawkins should play the hot hand in Cody Hawkins. All of this questioning is a result of the Buffs being 103rd in the nation in total offense. But the big question is who has been more effective at quarterback this year? Bottom line, this offense has much bigger problems than who is playing at quarterback, particularly at offensive line and if they don't find something that works quick, the Nebraska defensive line led by Ndamukong Suh will make the Buffs' suffer even more this season.

More after the jump...

We will look at a couple of exhibits to try and get a look at the two quarterbacks the Buffs have trotted out there to lead the team in Dan Hawkins fourth year.

	Passing							Total	Sacks
Opponent	Att	Comp	Int	Yds	Avg/Att	%	TD	Yds
Opponent	Att	Comp	Int	Yds	Avg/Att	%	TD	Yds
Colorado St.(17-23)	40	24	1	222	5.6	60.0%	1	251
Toledo(38-54)	64	30	3	356	5.6	46.9%	4	451
Wyoming(24-0)	31	17	0	175	5.6	54.8%	0	326
West Virginia(24-35)	54	27	3	292	5.4	50.0%	2	392
Texas(14-38)	23	9	2	85	3.7	39.1%	2	127
Kansas(34-30)	25	14	1	175	7.0	56.0%	1	322
Kansas St.(6-20)	37	17	2	184	5.0	45.9%	0	244
Missouri(17-36)	36	22	1	190	5.3	61.1%	0	176
Texas A&M(35-34)	32	21	1	271	8.5	65.6%	1	437
Iowa St.(10-17)	38	18	1	258	6.8	47.4%	1	390
Oklahoma St.(28-31)	49	30	0	240	4.9	61.2%	3	253
	429	229	15	2448	5.7	53.4%	15	3369	42
	Passing							Total Yds	Sacks
Cody Hawkins - Total	239	121	11	1279	5.4	50.6%	10	1547	11
Cody Hawkins - Avg.	47.8	24.2	2.2	255.8	5.4	50.6%	2	309.4	2.2
Tyler Hansen - Total	186	108	4	1169	6.3	58.1%	5	1822	31
Tyler Hansen - Avg.	31.0	18.0	0.667	194.8	6.3	58.1%	0.8	303.7	5.2

You can see from the chart above, the results are a mixed bag. The equalizer for all for all of the passing statistics is the two efficiency numbers - completion percentage and yards/attempt. Cody Hawkins had a much less efficient five games compared to Tyler Hansen. Hansen averaged 0.9 yards more per attempt than Cody and completed 8.1% more of his passes when he was in the lineup (Kansas through Oklahoma State) compared to Cody Hawkins (Colorado St. through Texas). Hawkins does have more touchdowns per game (2.2 vs. 0.7) but Hansen has thrown 1.2 less interceptions a contest which is a huge improvement. You get more scores from Hawkins but you also give the opposition more chances to score.

Considering Hawkins is a third year starting junior and Tyler Hansen should still be considered a first year starting quarterback as a sophomore, Hansen's results compared to a third year player is pretty solid but more production is needed.

The 58.1% completion percentage ranks 73rd in the nation, that needs to improve. Hansen's 0.8 touchdown passes per game is not enough either.

Improvement is needed but it looks like from a passing efficiency perspective Tyler Hansen is the better choice at quarterback.

But what gets me worried is the amount of sacks Tyler Hansen has taken. Most will agree that Colorado doesn't win the Kansas game unless Tyler Hansen is at quarterback. I am a supporter of that claim as there is no way Cody Hawkins converts the multiple third downs on the touchdown scoring drive in the fourth due to all of the improvisation that Hansen needed to do. That being said, the perception Cody Hawkins is a statue back there and gets sacked much more often is false. While Tyler Hansen is a little more efficient than Hawkins, Hansen has been sacked an amazing 31 times in six games compared to Hawkins' 11 in five games. 5.2 sacks per game for Tyler Hansen! An absolute killer. The teams Hawkins played in his first five games rank a combined 53rd in the nation in sacking the quarterback. Hansen's six oppositions rank 50th. Not much of a difference there but on a per game look, Hansen is averaging three more sacks a game against.

It is hard to weigh interceptions against sacks and while Hansen's interception numbers are 1.5 lower per game, you could make the argument that 3.0 more sacks per game is probably equivalent to 1.5 interceptions since sacks are drive killers.

Bottom line, the offensive line/pass protection (whoever Denver Johnson wants to blame) play has regressed since week five by a big margin in terms of protecting the quarterback. As for the running game, the offensive line can also be blamed for being extremely poor in getting any consistency going.

When Cody Hawkins left the starting lineup after the Texas game, the Buffs' offensive rankings were as follows: 112th in rushing offense (83.4 y/g). 53rd in passing offense (226 y/g). 104th in total offense (309.4 y/g). 85th in scoring offense (23.4). 73rd in turnover margin (-.20). 89th in sacks per game (2.4 s/g).

After week 12 with Tyler Hansen at quarterback, the Buffs currently rank as follows: 113th in rushing offense (83.7 y/g). 53rd in passing offense (222.5 y/g). 108th in total offense (306.2 y/g). 91st in scoring offense (22.5). 82nd in turnover margin (-.36). 117th in sacks per game (3.9 s/g). Every statistic has come down since week five.

Not much movement on the offensive side with Hansen in the game. The Buffs are also worse in sacks given up and have turned the ball over more with Hansen in the game compared to Hawkins. As you will see below, the Buffs have fumbled 10 times with Hansen under center compared to Hawkins' stint at three. This means under Hansen, the Buffs have been more turnover prone overall than with Hawkins in the game. More sacks, more turnovers. That goes against all your intuition, I know.

The stats indicate that the Buffs have regressed offensively in production (in red zone efficiency, turnovers and sacks given up) as the season has went on, something that the coaches should be held accountable for.

		1st	Penalties		Fum	Turn	Opponent
Opponent	Pts	Downs	No.	Yards	Lost	Overs
Opponent	Pts						Win	Loss
Colorado St.(17-23)	17	13	5	60	1	2	3	8
Toledo(38-54)	38	25	9	100	1	4	5	6
Wyoming(24-0)	24	21	10	86	1	1	5	6
West Virginia(24-35)	24	21	5	29	0	3	7	3
Texas(14-38)	14	11	20	140	0	2	11	0
Kansas(34-30)	34	21	8	60	2	3	5	6
Kansas St.(6-20)	6	15	8	69	2	4	6	6
Missouri(17-36)	17	14	7	45	3	4	7	4
Texas A&M(35-34)	35	24	10	94	0	1	6	5
Iowa St.(10-17)	10	21	11	110	2	3	6	6
Oklahoma St.(28-31)	28	14	7	80	1	1	9	2
	247	200	100	873	13	28
		1st	Penalties		Fum	Turn	Opponent
Cody Hawkins - Total	117	91	49	415	3	12	31	23
Cody Hawkins - Avg.	23.4	18.2	9.8	83	0.6	2.4	6.2	4.6
Tyler Hansen - Total	130	109	51	458	10	16	39	29
Tyler Hansen - Avg.	21.7	18.2	8.5	76.3	1.7	2.7	6.5	4.8

As you can see, under Hansen, the Buffs' have amazingly averaged 2.7 turnovers per game compared to 2.4 with Hawkins. You won't win many games turning the ball over more than 2 times a contest which is a concern, regardless of quarterback. At least Hansen throws less interceptions than Hawkins but overall and once again, this team continues to regress on the offensive side of the ball in other categories. Under Hawkins, the Buffs have averaged more points per game and just look at those penalties. No big change at all. Can you say more things to hold against the coaching staff?

Many of you will probably say that Cody Hawkins played against worse teams than Hansen has. I mean, Colorado State has not won a game in the Mountain West and just lost to a win-less New Mexico team giving up over 400 yards of total offense. But once again, the numbers are pretty even with Hansen's group of teams winning an average of 6.5 games compared to Hawkins 6.2 games.

So what do we conclude from this? Not a whole lot other than the production at quarterback is still not where it needs to be and that the other ten guys need to step up especially when Hansen is at quarterback. Judging from these stats, I still think Tyler Hansen's being the starting quarterback is the best choice for this team based on his better passing efficiency stats, his two wins compared to one for Cody Hawkins and his seven less interceptions. But, overall the offense hasn't churned out more yards per game under Hansen and have scored less. Regardless of who your quarterback is, if your offense ranks in the 100's in rushing offense, penalties and sacks given up, their won't be much success, even if Colt McCoy is your quarterback. Pass protection has become worse since Hansen has taken over. The Buffs' are not going to win games, regardless of having a mobile quarterback back there if they are giving up 3 more sacks per game. The ten guys around Hansen are turning the ball over more as well which shows you as this season has continued, the Buffs' are playing worse. Their has been minimal improvement in the penalty category as well. A high number of penalties, more turnovers, more sacks as the year has gone on...paging Mike Bohn?

One thing Hansen does have help in is an upgrade at wide receiver as Markques Simas has emerged, ranking as one of the best receivers in November in the nation. More to come on Simas later in the week. Over the past three weeks, Simas has grabbed 25 passes for 353 yards and two scores. If he kept that production up over a full season, he would total 100 receptions, 1,412 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Until the offensive line is able to protect the quarterback and open up holes for the running game, this offense and it's quarterback play will struggle.

Gameday Buff Bites - Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Colorado Buffaloes

irish1611 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:21:47 -0000

Sorry the site has been a little slow this past week. Something about the combination of the Colorado Buffaloes being 3 - 7 and working 12 hours a day has killed the creative juices until this point in the week. The game thread will be live tonight at 5:30 pm in time for kickoff.

Here is what is going on around the web:

Woelk: Time for Buffs to play like they have nothing to lose - Boulder Daily Camera

Rather, what the Buffs must accomplish tonight is simple: prove to themselves -- not to their fans, not the media, not the nation -- that they can go on the road and play a competitive game against a Big 12 foe.

Paige: Shanahan to CU is fun banter, but not reality - The Denver Post

A high-ranking official at CU, who would not be named, asked me: "You know Shana- han well. Would he come to CU?" I think: Shanahan wouldn't go to CU, he much prefers the NFL, and CU won't pursue him. I also believe Hawkins will be given one more season. But, if Shanahan did coach the Buffaloes instead of Buffalo, he would be elected to the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame twice.

About That Colorado Job - Inside USC with Scott Wolf

Quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates would not respond to that previously posted Internet report that said he could be a candidate at Colorado if Dan Hawkins is fired. ``I've learned being a coach's son you can't look ahead,'' Bates said. Colorado is currently 86th in the nation on third-down conversions but that is superior to USC's 100th.

Behind Enemy Lines: Colorado | OSU Cowboys Sports Blog

Brandon Chatmon: It appears Hawkins in on the hot seat. How hot is it?
Tom Kensler: Scalding. At this point, the feeling is that Colorado could win big over Oklahoma State (unlikely) and Nebraska, and that still might not be enough to save Hawkins’ job. The momentum against him seems irreversible.

Boise State fans should be pulling for Hawkins, Colorado on Thursday | Voices.IdahoStatesman.com

Oklahoma State could be the biggest obstacle to Boise State getting selected for a BCS game. The Cowboys have made just one appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, a 16-6 victory against BYU in 1974 so their fans are no doubt itching to get to a BCS game.

Robinson's backup getting reps at Oklahoma State practices - Sporting News

While there has been no official announcement about whether QB Zac Robinson will play in Saturday night's home finale against Colorado, reports have surfaced that Alex Cate has been taking most of the snaps in the Cowboys' closed practices. Robinson was knocked out of Saturday's game against Texas Tech by a nasty helmet-to-helmet hit from cornerback Jamar Wall, In addition to a suspected concussion, sources have told The Oklahoman that Robinson also is dealing with a sore throwing shoulder

Brooks: Buffs Say Focus Where It Should Be - CUBuffs.com

Dan Hawkins continues to say he has enough administrative support to return as head coach in 2010. His players continue to say they back him. "I'm with him," sophomore receiver Markques Simas said. "He and coach (Eric) Kiesau are the reasons I came to Colorado."

Buffs: Plenty of motivation - The Longmont Times-Call

"I’m playing for myself right now," said cornerback Jalil Brown, who’ll be a fifth-year senior next year. "Well, the team as well, but I look at it like I’m an athlete and I came to college to play football. "I’m trying to keep that (the coaches’ futures) in the background. I’m not trying to focus on that; that won’t help at all. We won’t know about that until after the season is over."

much more after the jump

What to watch for in the Big 12, Week 12 - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN

Colorado responds to its role as a spoiler: The Buffaloes are the only Big 12 team without any bowl hopes heading into this week's games. Dan Hawkins predicted before the season that his team would "win 10 games with no excuses." That dream has long been dashed, but can the Buffaloes ruin Oklahoma State’s BCS at-large hopes before a national television audience? In order to do so, they will have to play their best game of the season.

Weekend Forecast: Title chase takes backstage to rivalry games - USATODAY.com

No. 13 Oklahoma State vs. Colorado, 7:30 p.m. (Thursday) Zac Robinson's uncertain status leaves the Cowboys potentially inexperienced at quarterback. Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins will take any advantage as he can while he fights to save his job. Oklahoma State 26, Colorado 16.

‘09 CU signee Moten coming aboard | All Things Colorado Sports

Good news for whoever the Colorado football coach is next season. Josh Moten, a 6-foot, 180-pound quarterback and member of Colorado’s 2009 recruiting class, told Scout.com that he finally has been accepted by the CU admissions office and expects to enroll for the spring semester. Moten starred in 2008 at Narbonne High School in Harbor City, Calif., but failed to gain admittance, reportedly over questions about his college entrance exam.

Colorado men's basketball team must get better on glass - Boulder Daily Camera

Colorado struggled with its interior defense and was out-rebounded 32-25 by Texas Southern during an otherwise impressive 88-77 victory at the Coors Events Center. "We`ve just got to rebound the basketball. We`ve got to rebound the ball so we can get out in the open court," Buffs coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "We`re playing a dangerous game right now just trying to outscore people. We have to get some stops and rebound the basketball. We have to get better in those areas."

CU hoops 3-0 after win over Texas Southern - The Longmont Times-Call

Buffs don't feel heat that falls on Hawkins - The Denver Post

In an effort to reduce penalties tonight in Colorado's Big 12 game at No. 12 Oklahoma State, CU coach Dan Hawkins had some members of the program's operations staff wear striped shirts during practices this week. Yes, they threw flags. "I think it helped," Tyler Hansen said. "But it's funny, too. They'll throw a flag and we'll say, 'What? Are you kidding me?' But then coach Hawkins makes us pay for it by making us do up-downs or run."

Getting off the fence: Time for Hawkins to go | INDenverTimes

All necessary evils for the sake of the future. Keeping Hawkins just one more year would bolster the perception of CU football that is beginning to take hold nationally: These guys are cheap, ignorant or both. Human issues aside, the performance is just not there. A warm and loving 16-31 (Hawkins’ overall record) is still 16-31.

Brooks: Patience (And More) Link Simas, Clemons - CUBuffs.com

Markques Simas has learned the value of patience; Toney Clemons still is discovering it. There will come a time - spring practice first, then August camp, then the 2010 season - when they will be in the same huddle.

Buffs QB Hansen gets an eyeful of big hit on OSU's Robinson - The Denver Post

3. Can the Buffs avoid costly penalties? Colorado is battling Big 12 colleague Texas Tech for last among the 120 major-college teams in most penalties. But at least Texas Tech, with a 6-4 record, can overcome some of them. When CU shoots itself in the foot, it needs a wheelchair.

Tulsa World: OSU football: Class act
OSU seniors, combining for 407 career starts, savor unprecedented success

Colorado says credit fraud behind hundreds of football ticket sales - KDVR

University of Colorado police say stolen credit card numbers were used to buy more than 110 tickets to the Buffaloes' season opener.

Post Game Reaction: Colorado Buffaloes Lose to Iowa State Cyclones 17 - 10

irish1611 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:20:52 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Neibergall - AP

about 1 month ago: Colorado's Tyler Hansen (9) is sacked by Iowa State's Patrick Neal during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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Once again, the Colorado Buffaloes failed to show up on the road. How many times have we used that line the last four years? But it is the best way to describe the team after yet again another poor performance and a performance that has become all too familiar.

The Buffs continue to shoot themselves in the foot when given the opportunity to excel. This team lacks a killer instinct and that starts at the top.

Whether it is getting 30 yards of penalties on first and goal from the nine yard line that resulted in zero points, kickoffs out of bounce late in the game, missing field goals or the Buffs failure to score on first and goal from the five yard line, this team continues to play poor in key situations.

Another way to gauge how well a team responds in key moments: play in the red zone and third down conversions. Today, the Buffs were 1 - 4 in the red zone, while the Iowa State Cyclones were 3 - 3. On third down, Colorado was 2 - 14. Those are absolutely pathetic numbers.

And don't forget turnovers and those mental breakdowns called penalties. Colorado turned the ball over three times today and had another turnover on downs in the red zone. In total, Colorado came up empty three times in the red zone. Add 11 penalties and 110 yards into the mix as well. Colorado ranked 117th in the nation coming into the game and that may get worse when it is all said and done. And today, the penalties were especially damaging. Two ruined a chance at points and two other ones kept Iowa State's first touchdown drive alive after the Buffs initially stopped Iowa State on third down.

Tyler Hansen finished the game 18 - 38 for 258 yards, one touchdown, one interception. Anyone who listened to the Buffs' broadcast heard the word "flushed" more than any other word spoken today. He was rushed all day and continued to get harassed as the offensive line continues to be a major disappointment in 2009. Rodney Stewart has had better days as well. He ran the ball 19 times for 85 yards but fumbled twice, once in the red zone. Markques Simas and Scotty McKnight both had over 100 yards receiving but the Buffs only attempted two passes to Markques Simas in the first half, something that had to be confusing to Colorado fans as he continues to be a big threat.

The Buffs have now lost 11 games straight on the road and are officially eliminated from postseason play for the third time in four years. Under Dan Hawkins, the Colorado Buffaloes have not beaten a Big 12 North team on the road. They are now 0 - 10. His team continues to make the mental mistakes that will prohibit them from ever excelling as a football team. They continue to show that they haven't progressed and have not shown that they can be counted on to play with any consistency.

Colorado will play at Oklahoma State next Thursday on a short week. I can hear the excuses now about the scheduling from Dan Hawkins. Instead I think we should hear from him that his team's play in key situations and his team's propensity to commit mental mistakes is inexcusable. His team has not executed for four years.

Bottom line, this team isn't getting better and they aren't fixing anything that continues to make them an unsuccessful squad.

Five Questions - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Iowa State Cyclones

irish1611 — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:11:56 -0000

More photos » by JACK DEMPSEY - AP

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Usually, we take the approach of discussing the keys to the game but today, the Colorado Buffaloes have to answer. Questions immediately start to swirl when the Buffs leave the state to play on the road. And they aren't necessarily football questions but questions about the makeup of this team. It is time for the Buffs to take the first step and answer those questions about their mentality, their toughness and their dedication to football. Today, a road win against a 5 - 5 Iowa State team in Ames where the Buffs have lost the last two games in heartbreak fashion would be a first step in the right direction.

1) Who is the player(s) in that locker room who will step up and lead today?

It has become clear that the coaching staff has not been able to motivate and prepare this team on the road. It is now time for the players or a player to lead this team and to me, the best leader in this situation is one who gets it going on the field. The Buffs need their big three - Tyler Hansen, Markques Simas or Rodney Stewart - to get things established early and lead the way.

The Buffs also need players to emerge as team leaders and get everyone focused before the game. No more excuses about energy today. No more excuses about not being ready on the road. Someone needs to step up and fix it.

2) Has the Offensive Line taken the criticism to heart and plays with a fire today?

Cut the sack total anyway you want, whether you think it is the running backs' fault or the quarterback's fault, the first line of defense is the offensive line. If they have pride today, they will take that blame, not divide it up among anyone else and play their best game of the year. They need to attack an undersized defensive line and establish dominance on the first snap of the game. Again, watch the first series, is Iowa State getting a push or are the Buffs getting after it up front. We will know very early if this unit is playing with motivation today.

To help the offensive line, the Buffs need to challenge the middle of the field where the linebackers reside. Using the tight end Riar Geer early will soften linebackers and take the multiple looks away from the Cyclones. Challenge the heart of the defense all day long.

3) How tough is the Colorado Buffalo defense?

Iowa State isn't flashy on offense, they aren't a big play team. What they are is a team with a good offensive line who has one of the better running games in the Big 12 while protecting the quarterback extremely well. They try to play "pound it" football while limiting mistakes. Can the Buffs answer the call up front against an Iowa State team who wants to run the ball? If Colorado can styme the running game and get pressure on Austen Arnaud when he passes, he has shown the propensity to turn the ball over and has been less than efficient this year.

It really is a game where the team who plays the best in the trenches should win. Are the Buffs's physically up to the challenge?

4) Are the Buffs focused enough to limit the mental mistakes?

The issues with special teams play, turnovers and piling up penalties have been well publicized this year. On the road, Colorado has averaged 10.5 penalties a game. The Buffs are 117th in the nation in penalties this year. Colorado is minus-4 on the road this year in turnover margin. At Austin, Colorado gave up 21 non defensive points (two special teams touchdowns and one interception for a score) while committing 20 penalties. At Morgantown, the Buffs' defense forced four turnovers, only for the Buffaloes' offense to give West Virginia the ball back three times. They also missed three field goals in that game. Against Toledo, Colorado turned the ball over four times and missed a field goal. In Manhattan, the Buffs missed an extra point and turned the ball over four times.

Simply put, the issues on the road are easily defined by turnovers, poor special teams play and an abundance of penalties.

5) Do the coaches feel the urgency of winning on the road and come out with one of their best game plans in the past four years?

I don't think much commentary is needed. Backs are against the wall, how will coaches prepare this team for a very winnable road game? Do they resort back to the past or is a change made today?

Go Buffs!

Week 11: 5 Questions With Ralphie Report

Mark Kieffer — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:47:46 -0000

As part of a preview for the game tomorrow, we asked each other questions about our respective teams. Below are Ralphie Report's answers to my questions about Colorado. For my answers to their questions, check out their site.

1. With no intent on trashing a student athlete, Colorado played some inspired football last weekend after Scott left the program. Has this team rallied around this adversity, or was this something else?

I think a few things contributed to the win last week:

First, I don't think Darrell Scott was holding this team back at all but I do think that Scott (or any player) leaving the team may have added to the Buffs playing a little better last week. Their is something to be said for the mentality of uniting when someone leaves the team and I know players rally around each other because they are out to prove they don't need players that leave the program to be successful, if that makes sense.

Second, I also think the players rallied around the student led demonstration of wearing powder blue shirts to display their displeasure of the coaching staff and the results on the field. The players took that as a shot against them as well.

Third, it was Tyler Hansen's fourth game as a starting quarterback this year and you could see that he is gaining confidence in the offense. Also, we saw the emergence of WR Markques Simas being featured in this offense. The Buffs added two playmakers to this offense, something that has been missing.

Finally, Texas A&M's defense is not very good which helps.

2. The past two weeks, Hansen has been sacked 8 times each, which is quite a bit. Are there serious pass protection issues, or is Hansen holding onto the ball too long?

Let's say that the pass protection has gotten so bad that the offensive line coach has counted the number of sacks the o-line is responsible for and the number of sacks the tight ends & running backs are responsible for. Of course, Hansen's mobility can sometimes lead to a sack here and there but nowhere near eight as it has been in the last two games. Part of the issue is the Buffs', until last last week, failed to put on film a downfield threat. That led teams to load the box against the run and attack the Buffs' offense from all angles. Hopefully that stops in subsequent weeks as Hansen and Simas developed a nice connection that led to big plays against A&M.

That being said, the offensive line has been a huge disappointment this year. Not only have they given up a lot of sacks, 36 in total, but the Colorado offense ranks 113th in the nation in rushing yards. They are missing blitz reads, are getting beat to the point of attack and at times, just look outmatched. If that wasn't enough, Colorado has been one of the most penalized teams in the nation. A bulk of those penalties stem from the offensive line. It's really a sad deal as we are starting to see players form (Hansen, Simas, Stewart, Geer) on the offensive side of the ball but Tyler Hansen is getting harrassed most of the game.

3. While the season has been a disappointment, is there anything that can salvage this season in the minds of the fans? Also, what is the biggest reason why CU has regressed (or at least remained the same) compared to last year?

Why CU has regressed from a year ago? Their is no great short answer to this question but I think you have to look at coaching in year four and the lack of player development. It is hard for Buff fans to name players who have gotten better under this coaching regime. It's a sad fact but the player's performance as a whole has been mediocre at best the past four years. Against Texas A&M, we saw some glimpses, against Kansas their was some signs but the fact that the coaches can't prepare this team to play consistently week in and week out is a major problem. Colorado continues to falter on the mental side of the game as well. They are once again at the bottom of the Big 12 in total penalties and turnovers, two categories that have a direct relationship to wins and losses. Bottom line, I believe this team is not very well prepared to play football week in and week out. I think that is very evident by the results on the field.

Anything we can salvage? Since the West Virginia game, the Buffs' defense has played pretty well, forcing turnovers and limiting the big plays. Sometimes they do play "bend but don't break" defense but for the most part, and considering the poor offensive play this year, CU's defense has done decent. Colorado returns all but two starters next year so I look for them to get better in 2010 as well. Offensively, we are seeing glimpses of Tyler Hansen progressing as a quarterback. Rodney Stewart is a solid running back and Markques Simas showed signs last week but we need to see more consistency. That doesn't look like it will happen unless the offensive line starts playing better.

4. What's your biggest concern about this game?

The fact that Colorado is playing on the road and Iowa State will be a motivated team. The Buffs under Dan Hawkins is 2 - 18 away from the state of Colorado, including a loss two years ago in Ames after the Buffs had a 21 - 0 lead in the first half. Players and coaches have cited multiple times that the Buffs' lose focus on the road and lack the required energy to win. I put that squarely on the coaches not keeping the team focused. It is embarrassing that the players aren't ready to play and many fans wonder why this "lack of energy" isn't getting fixed. It has been ten games since CU has last won on the road and this continues to be an excuse. Fix it!

5. Predictions. What does CU have to do to win, what does ISU have to do to win, and what do you think happens?

I think these two teams are pretty similar. To me their are three factors that will determine this game:

-The play in the trenches. Who wins the battle up front will go a long way in deciding this one.
-Win the turnover battle.
-Get ahead early. Both of these offenses are not explosive and both want to run the ball. Whoever can force the other team to play catchup football will be in good shape.

I want to pick the Buffs to win. This is a very winnable game but I have been fooled by winning performances before and I have to remember, this Colorado team has not proven they can win on the road or play with any consistency. Until they show me and show Buff nation that they are ready to grow up as a team and take the next step, it is only logical to say that Colorado will come up on the short end when they travel:

Iowa State 17, Colorado 14

Thanks again, and look forward to the game!

Thursday Buff Bites - Kasa's Medical Redshirt Up in the Air

irish1611 — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:49:13 -0000

ISU football: Buffaloes will gladly take game on road | desmoinesregister.com | The Des Moines Register
Tyler Hansen thinks getting away from the Colorado fans who wore powder blue last week will be a good thing. Think whatever you want Tyler, as long as it motivates the team against Iowa State:

"Some of our fans are against us," quarterback Tyler Hansen said. "Because of everything that's gone on, we really won't mind going on the road. "In a way, it'll be good to get away." Even with an 11-game losing streak away from home, Hansen said going on the road for a game significant to bowl hopes of both teams won't be all that bad. Upset with the direction of the program, including losing six of the first eight games this season, some fans wore the same powder blue that Colorado football teams wore while winning 10 games in four seasons between 1981 and 1984. "A group of fans chose to wear blue to disrespect the players and to protest the coaching staff and the program as a whole," Hansen said. "It ticked us off."

Buffaloes try to fix road woes -- again - The Longmont Times-Call

KASA UPDATE: CU reported Wednesday the chances are not good for freshman defensive end Nick Kasa to receive a medical hardship in 2009, and the extra year of eligibility that accompanies it. He meets one of the criteria players must meet to receive the hardship year. He played in a maximum of 30 percent of the games, four of 12. Rounding up is allowed. Kasa does not meet the second piece of criteria. Kasa played in game No. 7, at Kansas State on Oct. 24. The injury or illness that ends the player’s year must occur in the first half of the season. Game 7 occurred in the second half of CU’s season.

Brooks: O-Line LooksTo Refocus - CUBuffs.com

At Iowa State Saturday (noon MST, no TV), CU expects to encounter a defense that has featured four down linemen and zone blitzes, with pressure brought off the edges. Linebacker Jesse Smith averages a conference-best 11.0 tackles a game (56 solo, 54 assists), but the Cyclones are last in the league in sacks (12 in 10 games)

09 week 11 picks - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN

Iowa State 24, Colorado 21: The Cyclones are playing for a bowl berth and Colorado is trying to keep its flickering bowl hopes and North title aspirations alive. ISU’s key will be to get its running game going and let Austen Arnaud have some success throwing play-action passes. The home team has claimed the victory in this series in each of the past five seasons. I’m looking for that streak to hit six.

Under Armour All-American RB Jordon James picks UCLA - ESPN
Here is another reason UCLA doesn't want to accept Darrell Scott's transfer:

After narrowing his choices to Arizona, Cal and UCLA, Under Armour All-American running back Jordon James (Corona, Calif./Corona) announced on ESPNU Thursday night that he'll play for the Bruins. James, who's earned a four-star rating, is ranked 19th in the ESPNU 150 and is the fourth-ranked running back in the country

MBB to Begin Season Friday - CUBuffs.com

ABOUT ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF: Head Coach George Ivory enters his second season (13-18 last year) and the Lions return all five starters from a year ago. The Lions won 11 SWAC games and finished fourth overall. Point-guard Terrance Calvin (12.0 ppg., 5.5 rpg., 3.6 apg) and power forward Tyree Glass (8.3 ppg., 4.4 rpg.) top the team in returners. CU defeated Ark.-Pine Bluff in the season opener for both schools last year, 76-56. In that game, returning forward Lebaron Weathers (7.3 ppg., 5.5 rpg.) recorded 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Cabral pleased with Major's development - The Denver Post

Those who think Colorado redshirt freshman linebacker Jon Major has been a disappointment this season do not see his potential, CU linebackers coach Brian Cabral said. Although Major, a former Ponderosa High standout and 2007 Parade All-American, has played in just four games, Cabral said he is "very pleased with where Jon is at and very excited about his future." Cabral said Major is still playing catch-up. The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder missed the 2008 season after undergoing knee surgery for a torn ACL. He sat out 2009 spring drills and was held out of some contact work early in August camp. "Early this season, it was just a matter of Jon getting physically healthy and getting more confidence in that leg," Cabral said. "Now, it's a matter of getting experience."

CU's McKnight doesn`t fit typical wide receiver mold - Boulder Daily Camera
Heart, mental fortitude make up for CU junior`s size

Hirschman Named Kelly-Moore Paints HS Player of the Week
Buffs' commit Nick Hirschman has been given an award by the San Francisco 49ers.com

What to watch in the Big 12, Week 11 - College Football Nation Blog - ESPN

8. Can Iowa State get its running game back against Colorado? The Cyclones were leading the league in rushing before producing a season-low 54 yards against Oklahoma State last week. They shouldn’t be as challenged against a Colorado defense that ranks 72nd nationally and ninth in the conference against the run. The Cyclones desperately need to get Alexander Robinson involved early to help boost a struggling offense that has produced only three touchdowns in its last 13 quarters. Bowl hopes might be riding on it.

Higgins & Thorne Named Captains - CUBuffs.com

University of Colorado men's basketball head coach Jeff Bzdelik announced Wednesday that senior Dwight Thorne II and junior Cory Higgins were named captains for the upcoming 2009-10 season. Both earned the honor for the second straight year.

Four-star viewers guide for Saturday's games - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

Colorado at Iowa State (1 p.m.): Something has to give in this game. Iowa State needs a victory to become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2005. Colorado needs a victory to keep its flickering championship and bowl hopes alive. A Buffalo loss ends all of that. The Buffaloes looked like they got a spark in the passing game with Tyler Hansen throwing to Markques Simas, they might be able to thrive against the smallish Cyclone secondary. But the Cyclones will be looking to dominate the clock with their running game, which struggled last week.

Wednesday Buff Bites - UCLA Tells Scott "No Thanks", O-Line Only Takes Accountability for 19.5 Out of 36 Sacks

irish1611 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:30:04 -0000

Stan Hasiak leaves Bruins for indefinite amount of time -- latimes.com

UCLA officials have told running back Darrell Scott, who is leaving Colorado, that they were not interested in having him play for the Bruins

No quick fix for Buffs' sack woes - Boulder Daily Camera

Only 19½ of the Buffs` 36 sacks allowed this season have been allowed by offensive linemen, according to the latest offensive line grades released Tuesday. Offensive line coach Denver Johnson is not happy with any sacks, but he is also careful not to beat up his guys for mistakes they didn`t make.

ISU Football: Cyclones look to plug gaps in their rush defense | desmoinesregister.com | The Des Moines Register

The Cyclones have surrendered 69 points, yielded 974 yards and watched opponents convert 16-of-25 third downs in beatdowns by Texas A&M and Oklahoma State. Especially troubling has been an ineffectiveness against the run, with the Aggies piling up 267 rushing yards in a 35-10 win and the Cowboys following with 331 in Saturday's 34-8 victory.

The Longmont Times-Call

Iowa State (5-5, 2-4) has scored only 27 points in its past three games after opening its Big 12 schedule with 23 in a one-point loss to Kansas State and 36 in a five-point loss to Kansas. Over their past 13 quarters, the Cyclones have three touchdowns. Iowa State entered last weekend’s game against Oklahoma State leading the league in rushing but finished with only 54 yards against the Cowboys. Oklahoma State had been allowing 200.3 per game.

ISU needs help in all areas | GazetteOnline.com

ISU (5-5, 2-4 Big 12) struggled to move the ball against Oklahoma State. Tailback Alexander Robinson, the conference’s leading rusher coming in, finished with 51 yards on 16 carries. Quarterback Austen Arnaud, who had missed the previous two games because of a bruised right hand, was 14 of 27 passing for 188 yards and three interceptions.

CU Buffs' offense finally showing some good signs - The Denver Post
Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau talks about the offensive performance last week. Still the major issue on that side of the ball is the offensive line.

Now the Buffs hope their offense has turned a corner. Their 166 yards rushing against the Aggies were a season high. And wide receiver Markques Simas' 135 yards in receptions were a single-game high for a CU player this season. "We really just have to keep on getting better," Kiesau said. "Offensively we were doing OK, and we had a good game, but we can't start jumping off to Dal Ward and saying we're one of the top offenses in the country. We've got to continue to work on our run game and counter that with our pass game and just continue to get better. Because yes, (Saturday) was a very good game, and I'm fired up for our offense to do well, but we have to consistently do that every week. We can't just be a one-hit wonder."

Bzdelik holding out for junior college players - Boulder Daily Camera

The future of Colorado men`s basketball is already on campus. Jeff Bzdelik does not plan to sign any recruits today -- the first day members of the class of 2010-11 can fax in letters of intent -- and said his coaching staff will focus on filling the two scholarships it has to give during the spring signing period. "We`re looking more towards junior college kind of players who have some maturity behind them," Bzdelik said after Tuesday`s practice. "We`ve got enough youth. Historically, those kind of players sign late."

Cyclones just a win shy of bowl eligibility

Truthfully, most of Iowa State's pressure comes from within at the moment. The Cyclones (5-5) are desperate to end a bowl drought that dates back to 2005, but have little margin for error. With two regular-season games remaining, Iowa State may need to win out to assure itself a postseason appearance. According to NCAA statistics, there are currently 48 bowl-eligible teams nationally. Twenty-two more teams, including Iowa State, have five wins and several more have four with no fewer than two regular-season games remaining. There are 34 bowl games this season, meaning only 68 FBS teams will get to experience the postseason. Iowa State, a largely inexperienced program, could sorely use the roughly 15 additional practices a bowl game allows for.

Coach Hawkins Press Luncheon Quotes - CUBuffs.com—Official Athletics Web site of the University of Colorado
Coach Hawkins talks about the typical "combination of things" in regards to not being able to protect the quarterback:

On Protecting the Quarterback "We just have to keep emphasizing and keep working on it and again part of that is physical, part of it is mental, part of it is communication, it is something we are well aware of and also getting Tyler tied into that as well and getting all those guys on the same page. "It's a problem when you give up as many sacks as we have in the past two weeks, that's a problem. But it can be a combination of many things, it can be a vision thing, a communication thing, a physical thing, it can be a combination of all those things so we just have to continue to work on all of that and clean it up."

Buffs can't stand repeat of '07 finish vs. Iowa State - The Denver Post

Sophomore Jason Espinoza will be back to work this week at wide receiver and punt returner, Hawkins said.

Halftime: Are college football's high-paid staffs really worth it? - Game on - USATODAY.com

Ringo: Leadership can help teams win on road - Boulder Daily Camera

Speaking of winning on the road. The Buffs haven`t done so in more than two years now and are not-so-proud owners of the longest road-losing streak in the Big 12. It`s a streak that began in Ames and has spanned nine games now (10 if you count a 2008 neutral site game at Florida State).It`s a problem with which Iowa State is familiar. The Cyclones won on the road for the first time in four seasons earlier this season at Kent State and then won again at Nebraska for the first time since the late 1970s.

The Longmont Times-Call - CU’s O-line taken aback by numerous sacks

"When it’s a run or pass, it takes 11," Johnson said. "But whenever there is a sack, it falls back on to the offensive line, and oftentimes, that’s where it belongs. But certainly not every time.

CU Buffs' coach Dan Hawkins: 'You just have to bring more to the table' - Boulder Daily Camera

"You just have to bring more to the table," Hawkins said of what his team has learned from its previous four road trips this season. "You just have to have more concentration, more intensity, more enthusiasm, more focus. When you go on the road, there is just too many things distracting you, and you can't get caught up in the travel and all the other stuff. There has to be a heightened sense of focus and energy."

Colorado eyeing ... The Cyclones - The Denver Post

Key stat: ISU has allowed nine sacks this season — tied with Air Force for 10th in the nation — for just 47 yards lost.

Basketball Season Tip Off Highlights This Week At CU - CUBuffs.com
The Colorado men's and women's baskeball teams open their 2009-10 schedules, highlighting a busy home weekend for the Buffaloes.