SB Nation - Daniel Dykes

Spring Recap: Defensive Backs

irish1611 — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:40:03 -0000

Anthony Perkins during football practice at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado April 13, 2009. CAMERA/Mark Leffingwell

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Pre-Spring Thoughts:

Coming into the 2008 season, the cornerback position was highlighted as a weak spot on the Buffs defense while the defensive line was supposed to be the strength. I think most CU fans would say they were more impressed with the cornerback play in '08 than they were with the defensive line. Given that the Buffs lost two starters from the 2007 team in Terrence Wheatley (NFL) and Ben Burney (5'11" 190 Sr.) (injury), that 2008 assumption was not a bad one to make. But the cornerbacks overachieved last season. CB Chapelle Brown (5'7" 170 Sr.) was arguably the story of the year in the secondary, becoming a consistent playmaker and tackler. CB Jalil Brown (6'1" 205 Jr.), CB Anthony Wright (6'0" 190 So.) and CB Jimmy Smith (6'3" 200 Jr.) all saw action in 2008 and for the most part, performed well. At safety, the 2008 team was led by seniors Daniel Dykes and Ryan Walters, who are now both gone and graduated. Not so lucky for Walters and Dykes but for the future of the Buffs program, both players had health issues during the year allowing true freshman, Patrick Mahnke (6'1" 205 So.), and red-shirt freshman, Anthony Perkins (5'10" 200 So.), to get invaluable time both as reserves and a starters.

In one of the more surprising moves of the offseason, secondary coach Greg Brown received some good news. Ray Polk, a four star running back in 2008 asked to be converted to a safety. Although Polk needed offseason surgery and still has to learn the position, Buff fans should expect to see good things from him when he gets healthy and acclimated. The remaining but useful players at safety include S Tyler Sandersfield (6'1" 205 So.), who made some nice plays last year on special teams as well as S Vince Ewing (6'0" 200 RFr.) and Bret Smith (5'11" 190 Jr.).

Although the loss of three starting defensive backs from 2008 (CB Gardner McKay, S Dykes and S Walters) could cause a bit of concern on most teams, coming into spring, I had the expectation that this year's unit would be better at all positions. The cornerback spot will definitely be improved with the emergence of Jimmy Smith and the return of Ben Burney. Smith showed well at the end of the last season. Known as the most athletic and "pro ready" player on the roster, the game clicked for Smith in 2008 as a sophomore and he was expected to gain a stranglehold on one of the starting cornerback position this spring. With 2007 starter Ben Burney, 2008 starter Cha'pelle Brown and 2008 nickel back Jalil Brown all returning, their was plenty of reasons to be optimistic for 2009.

click after the jump to read the rest of the cornerback recap...

Post Spring Thoughts:

Now that spring practice has come and gone, I am still brimming with optimism. The biggest area of concern, if applicable, was at the safety position. Although Mahnke and Perkins played last year, being a full time starter is a different story. That being said, they looked solid during my viewing (four practices and two scrimmages). The good thing for these two sophomores are the players surrounding them. The Buffs have great depth & talent at cornerback and a strong linebacker corp. They can be assignment oriented (no man beats you deep) but also feel loose enough to be able to press the line of scrimmage, something we saw Ron Collins and the Buffs defensive staff use a lot this spring. Many times, the defense would be in a 3 - 3 - 5, bringing in a nickel cornerback or safety.

The spring practices further proved that cornerback should be a strong point this season. Jimmy Smith has first round talent and Ben Burney returned to the lineup, bringing another physical corner to the defense. The first day of practice, the Buffs ran one on ones to see who would run sprints (very much a jog) at the end of practice. The offense tried to run a double move on Jimmy Smith. No luck, picked off and a defensive celebration ensued. I expect that from Smith all season. Smith is also special because he can support the run. His size also allows him to handle bigger receivers and his quickness allows him to cover the speedsters. He is the complete package that should be a treat to watch this year. I am already circling the Kansas and Oklahoma State games to see Smith go up against Dezmon Briscoe and Dez Bryant.

Cha'pelle Brown got a stomach virus that didn't allow him to participate as much as he would have liked this spring but he will surely be in a battle with Jalil Brown, Burney and Anthony Wright for the other starting job as well as the nickel spot. The Buffs also moved 2008 grey shirt, Paul Vigo, to cornerback, adding another player into the fold along with Arthur Jaffee and Jonathan Hawkins.

Injuries:

OUT FOR SPRING - S Ray Polk (shoulder surgery)
WAS LIMITED - CB Cha'pelle Brown (stomach illness), CB Ben Burney (multiple injuries), CB Paul Vigo (leg injury), Anthony Wright (knee injury)

All should be ready to go in the fall with the addition of incoming commits: Deji Olatoye and Parker Orms.

Player(s) Who Emerged:

The four players who stood out this spring were Ben Burney, Jimmy Smith, Patrick Mahnke and Anthony Perkins. Basically, the guys who we needed to step up did to solidify the positions. Another person to watch out for is Tyler Sandersfield. He just seems to make plays, something the coaches have noticed. He is currently #2 on the depth chart at safety but also played in that nickel/rover spot where he adds another physical presence.

Final Assessment:

If the Buffs can generate any sort of pass rush, this group has the ability to cause a lot of turnovers and be a special unit in the Big 12. Forcing turnovers is always an emphasis in spring camp, especially so after the 2008 season when the Buffs finished 94th in the nation in turnover margin. Oklahoma finished first and you can see what bowl game they played in last year. It will all depend on the pass rush, though. If spring practice holds true throughout the season, Ron Collins won't be afraid to play three down linemen and be aggressive with the linebackers, safeties or cornerbacks. The good thing is all of the back seven or eight (plus depth) are returning players which will come in handy if the Buffs are trying to teach a very diverse defense with multiple blitz/cover/responsibility packages.

The secondary should also be aided by a few big wide receiver/quarterback combos coming off the schedule in 2009:

TEAMS WHO LOST PLAYMAKERS FROM LAST YEAR

CSU - will have another starting quarterback but return a pretty good receiver in Rashaun Greer who was ranked 19th in the nation with 1,114 yards receiving last season.
West Virginia - loses QB Pat White who was not a big passing threat but the run-pass option still made defenses nervous.
Kansas State - gone is QB Josh Freeman, the 19th pick in the NFL draft.
Missouri - the Mizzou trio who just killed the Buffs the past two seasons - QB Chase Daniel, WR Jeremy Maclin and TE Chase Coffman - all gone. Good riddance. The loss of Maclin alone accounts for 2,800+ total yards in '08 to be replaced in '09.
Nebraska - gone is QB Joe Ganz, WR Nate Swift and WR Todd Peterson. Swift and Peterson combined for 125 receptions, 1,727 yards and 14 touchdowns. TE Mike McNeill is the leading pass catcher returning...who?

TEAMS WHO RETURN MOST OF THEIR PLAYMAKERS

Texas - loses leading receiver Quan Cosby (1,123 yards) but returns WR Jordan Shipley and QB Colt McCoy. Plus its Texas, they reload.
Kansas - QB Todd Reesing (has never lost to the Buffs) and WR Dezmon Briscoe return. This combo should be dangerous again in '09.
Oklahoma State - along with Kansas and Texas, Oklahoma State returns a lot of explosiveness. TE Brandon Pettigrew is gone but the real playmakers in QB Zac Robinson, RB Kendall Hunter and WR Dez Bryant are all back.

TEAMS WHO RETURN PLAYERS BUT NOT READY TO CALL THEM PLAYMAKERS

Texas A&M - has their core of young skill players returning.
Iowa State - QB Austen Arnaud returns but who is he going to throw to?

Assessing Our Team For the Opponent

irish1611 — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:38:37 -0000

The guys over at Corn Nation, the Nebraska blog on SBNation, asked us to put together a small synopsis of the Buffs going into spring ball so that they could educate their fan base on what to hear out of camp this year. I thought it would be good to share so you can see what I am looking at going into camp.

Corn Nation: Who's Gone: (What Star Players Are Gone in 2009)

Biggest loss on Offense: Center Daniel Sanders. Right now the Buffs have three or four guys who can probably step in but not like Sanders did. He was a big performer for the Buffs and right now, no one has any experience at the position worth mentioning. Look for Mike Iltis, Blake Behrens or Evan Eastburn to battle for the starting spot this offseason with the favorite being Iltis who is recovering from an ACL injury. Other than that, the Buffs lose no one of any significant value on offense from last year's team. Same goes for next year as Colorado will only lose a starting tight end, a fullback and an offensive guard. This offense will have a lot of time to grow together.

Biggest loss on Defense: CU lost a few significant senior starters from 2008 although many underachieved. On the underachiever side you can put DT George Hypolite, DT Brandon Nicolas, DE Maurice Lucas and S Daniel Dykes. LB Brad Jones and S Ryan Walters will be the hardest players to replace. Jones led the team in sacks last year and was the only player that could get any sort of consistent pressure. The good thing for the Buffs is that linebacker is one position we have recruited well at and have many candidates to replace him. B.J. Beatty will provide the Buffs with Jones-like pass rush skills. Beatty is one of those guys who flies around and makes plays. Also look for redshirt freshman LB Jon Major and LB Doug Rippy to see time and with the Buffs returning All Big 12 players in LB Shaun Mohler and LB Jeff Smart, linebacker should not be a concern. The only concern on defense in my mind, and it is a big one, is defensive line. Even though Hypolite, Nicolas and Lucas underachieved last year, they were the only guys we had and the only guys we saw play with any significant time. This year, we are flying blind and all positions are up for grabs. Hawkins got two big recruits in 5* DE Nick Kasa and 4* DL Edward Nuckols in 2009 but whether they will be ready to go physically is never a guarantee. Cornerback should be solid with plenty of depth and although the Buffs lose both safeties, Walters and Dykes had plenty of injuries last year giving replacements S Anthony Perkins and S Patrick Mahnke time to get a feel for the spots as freshman. Walters was a leader of the defense as well as a pretty hard nosed ball player so that will need to be filled in 2009.

Corn Nation: Who To Watch: (The best guys on your team, and maybe your quarterback if you have a new one)

see more after the jump...

Right now as Buff fans we get really optimistic before the season starts about a lot of players, we always do that! Here are a few:

Offense:

RB Darrell Scott - has dropped all the excess weight he had carried last year as a freshman, down to his high school weight of 205 pounds (was at 225), is said to be healty again, running a 4.4 forty, got mentioned in a recent interview with our strength and conditioning coach saying he was the hardest working player this offseason and really made a point to show everyone that he is ready to break out in 2009. I have no doubt that 2008 will be a distant memory after this season.

RB Rodney Stewart - hard not to have him on this list even though I think Darrell Scott will replace him as the starting back. Although he broke his leg late in the season, he worked hard this offseason and tested out as the strongest player pound for pound on the team. No questioning what he did last season was pretty amazing for a freshman (can't you tell that we had a lot of freshman playing last season...it makes me sick typing this). This running back combo could be special for years to come.

WR Markques Simas - was ineligible last season but is said to have a strong GPA this year. He was a four star commit in 2007 and should be the top play maker on the edge in 2009. It has been reported that no one is even close to his talent level at wide receiver and he just torched the defensive starters last year playing on the scout team.

OT's Ryan Miller and Nate Solder - they will anchor this line, a line that if healthy, has the talent to be a top 3 or 4 squad in the conference. Both of these guys have the build (6'9" 300+) and the athleticism (Solder ran a sub 5.0 forty this offseason) to be pro prospects.

QB Tyler Hansen - because we need a change. The offseason should do wonders for him learning the playbook and gaining confidence controlling the offense. People forget that last year he was strictly the scout team quarterback until about two weeks before the Kansas State game. Basically, he had to learn the Colorado playbook in a few short days. He is taller, has better feet and a better arm than Cody Hawkins. The only thing that we need to see is his ability to grasp the offense and the leadership that goes along with being the starting Q.

WR Josh Smith - was third in the Big 12 last year in all purpose yards and ninth in the nation. Need a more consistent performance from him but if he dedicates himself, he has already shown that he can be explosive and a game changer.

Defense:

LB Shaun Mohler: impressive last year in his first season as a JUCO transfer. Became a starter after the second game and never gave it up. I expect second team All Big 12 or better this year for Mohler. Was honorable mention last year. He plays down hill and is my pick for CU's defensive player of the year.

LB Jeff Smart: Second team All Big 12 linebacker last year. He isn't the most gifted linebacker the Buffs have but he is the most productive. He might get pushed by some of the younger, bigger guys this year but I expect another strong season from him.

CB Jimmy Smith: he will be the first cornerback selected out of the Big 12 in 2010's NFL draft. He has great size (6'3" 200 pounds) and is by far and away the most athletic player on CU's roster. Husker fans should remember Smith after last year's game.

CB Cha'pelle Brown: an All Big 12 player last year. What he lacks in size, he offsets with consistent play. With the return of 2007 starter Ben Burney from injury as well as the emergence of backups Jalil Brown and Anthony Wright, Cha'pelle will have his hands full but I expect him to be the day one starter based on last season.

Corn Nation: Under the Radar players who might make an impact this season:

OL Bryce Givens - a former Nebraska commit, Givens has added 25 pounds this offseason to go along with his great athleticism. He should push for a starting spot if he can stay healthy.

LB's Doug Rippy and Jon Major - part of the big 2008 LB recruiting trio, look for Rippy (who is physically ready to play at the college level) and Jon Major to push for time. Unfortunately, the cream of the crop in 2008, LB Lynn Katoa, is struggling both on and off the field and it wouldn't be a surprise if he never suited up for the Buffs.

DL Conrad Obi - honestly, we have no idea who is going to make up three or even all of our starting defensive line spots. I can't even make an educated guess but Obi is said to have all the physical talent but now it is time for the sophomore to turn it into production. CU is very young on the D-line.

DL Curtis Cunningham - he saw the most action of any player as a backup last year which was pretty amazing considering he was a 260 pound true freshman. If I had to put my money on one player starting next year on the defensive line, it would be him. He showed in limited action that he can make plays.

Best of 2008 #8: Buff Linebacker Shaun Mohler

irish1611 — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 18:31:12 -0000

25 hours of course work in six months in order to become academically eligible to play at CU.

That is what linebacker Shaun Mohler did at Orange Coast College this spring and summer to just have a chance to come to the University of Colorado. He passed all seven of those classes and still had to wait for the NCAA Clearinghouse to tell him he was eligible.

What LB Shaun Mohler did was truly amazing. One thing that hampers the Buffs especially in recruiting junior college players, is the admission standards that comes with playing in Boulder. No, its not Stanford or Notre Dame but it is close. That is why he was the only junior college transfer to become a Buff last year. Let's just say what happened at Kansas State last year with 19 JUCO's signing would never happen at the University of Colorado. That total might not happen over the next 10 years!

Mohler, a one time Nebraska commit, would have coasted easily into Nebraska but after Bill Callahan got fired, he wanted out of Lincoln and visited Colorado. The rest is history.

Shaun Mohler has always been a favorite of The Ralphie Report. Fans want players to immerse themselves into their respective universities as much they do. We want to believe that every player bleeds the colors of the university. Shaun Mohler made us feel that way. When he was taking 25 hours of course work, he still found the time and motivation to work out to be in top shape when he arrived in Boulder. Some other big time recruits had to take one class and couldn't find the time. So it is easy to make Shaun Mohler a favorite.

He wasn't just a feel good story either. The Buffs knew they were getting a player out of Orange Coast College. Rivals.com ranked Shaun as the best Junior College outside linebacker prospect in last year's recruiting class. Mohler was named Orange Coast's most valuable player both of his seasons, he was first-team All-American, All-State and All-Mission Conference, earning the league Player of the Year last year. His highlight film showed why he received all of the accolades.

Mohler saw playing time from day one with the Buffs. A reserve at first, the coaches couldn't keep him off the field. Once he was on the field, he become one of the Buffs most consistent defenders.

Opponent	Solo	Assisted	Total	Ints	TFL	Sack
Colorado St.	3	-	3	1	1	-
Eastern Wash.	5	4	9	-	-	-
West Virginia	6	1	7	-	-	-
+ Florida St.	5	2	7	-	1	-
3 Texas	7	4	11	-	1	-
@ Kansas	7	3	10	-	1	-
Kansas St.	6	3	9	-	-	-
@ 19 Missouri	5	4	9	-	2	-
@ Texas A&M	3	5	8	-	2	1
Iowa St.	1	-	1	-	-	-
14 Oklahoma St.	7	5	12	1	-	-
@ Nebraska	5	6	11	-	-	-
Totals	60	37	97	2	8	1

Against Colorado State, Mohler did not start and in the Iowa State game, he was hurt. Other than those two games, he was a very consistent defender. The best part is Mohler got better as the year went on. To his own admission, he had a tough time adjusting to the speed of the game. Looking at these stats, I think he adjusted pretty well.

Looking at the overall defensive team stats for the Buffs this year, Mohler excelled.

	Tackles			Tackles For Loss				Sacks				Int Ret.
Name	Solo	Ast	Ttl	Solo	Ast	Ttl	Yds	Solo	Ast	Ttl	Yds	No	Yds	TD
Name	Solo	Ast	Ttl	Solo	Ast	Ttl	Yds	Solo	Ast	Ttl	Yds	No	Yds	TD
Smart	57	52	109	3	0	3	7	1	0	1	4
Mohler	60	37	97	7	1	7.5	45	0	1	1	7	2	36	0
Walters	50	31	81	2	1	2.5	18	1	1	2	14	2	37	0
Brown	56	17	73	4	1	4.5	11			0		2	27	1
Jones	46	22	68	11	1	12	46	6	0	6	36
Dykes	32	15	47	3	0	3	16	1	0	1	10	1	0	0
Lucas	27	20	47	4	2	5	14	1	1	2	10
Hypolite	23	20	43	6	1	6.5	26	3	1	4	19
McKay	29	13	42	4	0	4	10			0
Brown	32	9	41	3	1	3.5	4			0		1	57	0
Nicolas	18	17	35	6	1	6.5	20	2	1	3	13
Perkins	22	13	35			0				0
Smith	26	9	35			0				0

If Shaun starts against CSU and doesn't get hurt against Iowa State, he is probably the team's leading tackler this year. Finishing second on the team in both tackles (97) and tackles for loss (7.5) right out of junior college is an amazing feat. Mohler was rewarded for his play today as he was named by the AP, Honorable Mention All Big 12. He also might be the overall best story of the year in the Big 12.

Great find by Hawkins, Cabral and the staff on this one. An offseason of aggressive training and lifting will also do wonders for Mohler. Next year, he will once again be a stud and with Jeff Smart, B.J. Beatty, Jon Major, Doug Rippy and Lynn Katoa back, linebacker is one position the Buffs don't have to worry about.

Shaun Mohler is a player that makes you feel good to root for the Buffs!

see the best of and worst of list so far after the jump...

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

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

Poll

Going into the 2009 season, what position are you least worried about?

Linebackers: Smart, Mohler, Major, Rippy, Beatty, Katoa, Sipili, Burton and Hartigen

34 votes

Defensive Backfield: Cha'pelle Brown, Jalil Brown, Burney, Smith, Wright, Mahnke, Perkins and Sandersfeld

4 votes

Runningback: Scott, Polk, Stewart, Sumler, Lockridge, Moyd and Nabors

18 votes

Offensive Line: Miller, Tuioti-Mariner, Behrens, Head, Solder, Givens, Harris, Bahr, Tau and Iltis

4 votes

60 votes | Poll has closed

Best of 2008 #9: The Iowa State Second Half

irish1611 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:18:08 -0000

VS.

The game was dubbed the "basement battle": two teams with losing records struggling to find an identity. The Buffs had seven rather highly touted recruits in town: 3*/4* LB Michael Clay, 4* DT Latu Heimuli, 3* OT/DE Nik Abele, 4* DE Nick Kasa, 4* Bradley McDougald, DB Deji Olatoye and 4* WR Diante Jackson. Saying it was a big recruiting weekend would be an understatement. Most of these guys would be major gets on the national scene. CU had just come off a bad loss against Texas A&M at Kyle Field for what should have been win number five in the all important race to six. The Iowa State game was supposed to be the clinching game for a bowl bid. That got me and a ton of Buff fans worried about the motivation this team would have for Iowa State with seemingly two losses remaining on the schedule (Oklahoma State and Nebraska). Many were wondering what would come that Monday morning if Colorado actually lost to Iowa State, all but guaranteeing a four-win season. The difference between five and four isn't huge at first glance but losing to Iowa State and A&M back to back and only winning one conference game in the down Big 12 North would have been devastating. You thought recruiting was hard now, think about if we lost to Iowa State? Surely WR Diante Jackson wouldn't be considering us now, Olatoye may not have committed, McDougald wouldn't be a high interest guy and you always have to wonder about a guy like Abele who is getting big interest from a lot of programs right now.

for more on the 9th best moment of 2008, see after the jump...

It was another momumental day for one RB Darrell Scott. It was his first start as a Buff. Something we thought we would have seen a few more times before the 10th game of the season. True freshman QB Tyler Hansen also got his first start. Both debuts did not start well. It was a tale of two halfs. The offense, to nobody's surprise, was awful. Scoring zero points and went into halftime down 10 - 0. QB Tyler Hansen only completed 4 - 12 passes for 48 yards and an interception. The running game never really got going. And the special teams, oh the special teams. They were so bad that day that it sent me into a tizzy. The rap sheet looked like this:

-2 missed chip shot field goals in the first half
-1 blocked extra point that was a looming problem when looking at the scoreboard for most of the game
-2 consecutive roughing the punter penalties
-1 kickoff out of bounds in the fourth quarter
-2 kickoff returns to the 35 yard line +, especially the one on Iowa State's last drive that gave them a short field.

I sit in section 104 at Folsom field which is literally right next to the visiting section. Nothing was more embarrassing than to hear Iowa State "fan" chuckling and saying "I can't believe we are winning." You could tell hardly any of them followed the team but they were transplants and decided to go to the game expecting to get beat of course. But then something happened for CU: Urgency and QB Cody Hawkins.

Now we have been hearing about this spread offense since spring ball. The way the Buffs run it, we look like a team that just doesn't want to walk back to the huddle but will take the maximum amount of time off the clock. We watch Oklahoma and it is like a fast break offense. But urgency clicked in and the Buffs, for the first time, ran the fast break spread offense to perfection. QB Cody Hawkins administrated the offense extremely well. And you know what happened to that Iowa State defensive line? They got tired, really tired and it was easy pickins in the fourth quarter. Darrell Scott got rolling on the first drive of the second half including a rumbling 37 yard carry down the sideline that next year he will take the house. He finished with 19 carries and 87 yards; a career high for the highly touted freshman from California. QB Cody Hawkins looked, well, like he did in 2007 at times, certainly nothing we have seen in 2008. He finised 20 of 29 for 226 yards and 4 touchdowns. Not many professional quarterbacks have a half like that especially when spotting the opposition 10 points. Hawkins led scoring drives of 81, 80 and 84 yards. The Buffs had just five drives of 80 yards or more the whole season prior to that Saturday. The CU offense totaled over 400 yards for the only time this season and would go on to score 28 points in one half which was the most totaled in one half all year. The offensive explosion was enough to make this one of the best moments of 2008.

But the real reason to celebrate was the excitement in Folsom Field on the last drive of the game. Because this happened:

Iowa State at 1:30
1st and 10 at ISU 39	Austen Arnaud pass complete to Houston Jones for 11 yards to the 50 yard line
1st and 10 at COL 50	Austen Arnaud pass complete to Marquis Hamilton for 9 yards to the Colo 41
2nd and 1 at COL 41	Alexander Robinson rush for 27 yards to the Colo 14
1st and 10 at COL 14	Timeout Iowa State, clock 00:40.
1st and 10 at COL 14	Austen Arnaud pass complete to Houston Jones for 8 yards to the Colo 6
2nd and 2 at COL 6	Austen Arnaud rush for 1 yard to the Colo 5
3rd and 1 at COL 5	Timeout Iowa State, clock 00:14.
3rd and 1 at COL 5	Austen Arnaud pass incomplete to R.J. Sumrall.
4th and 1 at COL 5	Austen Arnaud pass complete to Darius Darks for 4 yards to the Colo 1 for a 1ST down.
1st and Goal at COL 1	Team pass incomplete.
2nd and Goal at COL 1	Alexander Robinson rush for a loss of 2 yards to the Colo 3
	End of 4th Quarter

After poor kickoff coverage and a 27 yard run, the Cyclones were down to the 14 yard line with plenty of time to score. But poor play calling, bad clock management and a big tackle by DE Maurice Lucas gave the home team a chance at the end of the game. Iowa State and their big 6'4" quarterback in QB Austen Arnaud were at the one yard line with one last chance to win. If you asked the fans at Folsom Field, half of them probably couldn't bare to watch. That scary thought came back into play: what if the Buffs actually lost to Iowa State? Luckily, Iowa State showed why they are a two win team. Inside the one yard line, Iowa State runs wide instead of straight at a "less than powerful" defensive line. By wide run, I mean an option to the short side of the field that was gobbled up by CB Jimmy Smith and S Daniel Dykes. It was one of the more bizarre halfs of football I have ever seen. The Buffs have had two wins in come from behind fashion. The other one was against another weaker opponent in FBS school Eastern Washington. The Buffs won that day on a CB Cha'pelle Brown interception returned for a touchdown.

Losing to Iowa State would have been disastrous to this program. Fortunately for the Buffs, it turned out to be one of the more entertaining games of the year. To relive the moment, go here to BuffTV and search for the Iowa State game.

Box Score of the Iowa State Game
The Ralphie Report's Post-Game Review

Best of 2008 List
10) The Victory Against CSU at Mile High
9) The Iowa State Second Half

Poll

Do you think Cody Hawkins can be the quarterback he was in the second half of the Iowa State game more consistently next year?

Yes, he had a banged up offensive line and a bunch of slow WR's around him.

20 votes

No, he is too physically limited. Great kid but we would be better suited with Hansen, Ballenger or Evans.

20 votes

40 votes | Poll has closed

Colorado Buffaloes vs. Missouri Tigers - A Statistical Look

irish1611 — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 01:59:04 -0000

Mizzou week. Most fans circled this game as the most difficult challenge that faced the Buffs this year on the schedule. After two loses and a #1 Texas team, that thought process has been changed...sort of. Although I am officially off the Chase Daniel and Missouri bandwagon for the "not focused enough for the matchup with the #1 team" excuse they have been throwing out there with this new 5:30 mantra, it doesnt make this week any easier for the Colorado Buffaloes.

Read more after the jump...



National	Big 12	Actual	Category	Actual	Big 12	National
Rank	Rank	Actual	Category	Actual	Rank	Rank
70	9	133.71	Rushing Offense	151.43	5	58
92	12	182.57	Passing Offense	369.43	3	4
96	12	316.29	Total Offense	520.86	3	5
87	12	21.29	Scoring Offense	45.86	4	T-5
80	9	160	Rushing Defense	123.14	6	45
47	4	116.75	Pass Efficiency Defense	136.63	10	95
66	7	361	Total Defense	410.86	10	100
65	7	25	Scoring Defense	26.29	8	71
68	6	34.71	Net Punting	36.89	4	32
60	7	9.19	Punt Returns	8.94	8	63
33	7	22.97	Kickoff Returns	22.26	8	41
74	9	-0.29	Turnover Margin	0.43	7	42
54	1	201	Pass Defense	287.71	12	114
79	12	115.28	Passing Efficiency	171.7	4	5
65	9	1.71	Sacks	2.29	4	34
T-81	7	5.14	Tackles For Loss	8.14	2	7
T-85	10	2.29	Sacks Allowed	0.86	4	8

The Buffs are 22 point underdogs and although the Buffs' defense has been playing relatively well the past couple of weeks, CU only scored 14 points against the 111th ranked defense last week at home. Fourteen points isn't going to get it done in this league, not against the Colt McCoy's, Sam Bradford's or Chase Daniel's of the world. Even though the nation is down on Mizzou after the last two weeks, this Tiger team is still very talented with Daniel, WR Jeremy Maclin and TE Chase Coffman on the offensive side of the ball. And all Buffs fans remember the 45 - 0 onslaught the two Chase's put on Colorado in Boulder last year after the leading 10 - 7 in the second quarter.

That being said, the blue print to beat Missouri has been laid by Oklahoma State and Texas. The Buffs might not have the talent to pull it off but improving on the 55 - 10 shellacking last year is possible and a must. First of all, the Missouri defense is ranked 10th in the Big 12 and 100th in the nation giving up 287 yards/game through the air, not much better than the Kansas State Wildcats. The problem for the Buffs offense is that they are deficient especially in the passing game, ranked dead last in the Big 12. With new freshman quarterback Tyler Hansen clearly operating on a limited playbook, the Buffs might not be able to expose the secondary. Missouri is middle of the road against the rushing attack but Mizzou has shown they are vulnerable the last two weeks against the run:

Missouri Defense	Rushing				Passing						Total Off.
Missouri Defense	Rushing				Passing						Total Off.
Opponent	No	Net	Avg	TD	Att	Comp	Int	Yds	Avg	TD	Plays	Yds
Opponent	No	Net	Avg	TD	Att	Comp	Int	Yds	Avg	TD	Plays	Yds
Illinois(52-42)	35	81	2.3	-	42	26	2	451	11	5	77	532
SE Mo. St.(52-3)	28	84	3.0	-	53	26	1	250	5	-	81	334
Nevada(69-17)	44	182	4.1	1	40	21	1	180	5	1	84	362
Buffalo(42-21)	35	49	1.4	-	40	22	1	237	6	2	75	286
Nebraska(52-17)	34	76	2.2	-	39	27	1	293	8	2	73	369
Oklahoma St.(23-28)	44	187	4.3	2	28	19	1	215	8	2	72	402
Texas(31-56)	40	203	5.1	5	33	30	-	388	12	3	73	591
Total	260	862	3.3	8	275	171	7	2,014	7	15	535	2,876

Are the Buffs as talented as OSU or Texas? Certainly not but Mizzou's defense isn't Texas, Florida State or even Kansas. This is the game where playing a tough schedule pays off. The Buffs offensive line has seen a lot and been through a lot of top talent so they shouldn't be surprised by anything Missouri throws at them. Controlling the line of scrimmage would be one way for the Buffs to stay in the game. And Coach Hawk needs to let the kid throw the ball this week. The Buffs had a great game plan against Kansas State last week. Against Missouri, the Buffs can't be conservative. They need to let Hansen throw it around. CU has nothing to lose. Establishing the run is first priority, getting the ball in Josh Smith's and Scotty McKnight is number two. The Buffs have totally forgotten the screen pass game and the quick hitters. Having Hansen in the game should enhance and improve those two facets of the game with his stronger arm and ability to scramble. Honestly the Buffs aren't supposed to win this game and probably won't but might as well take a shot.

On defense, the blueprint is to flat out get pressure on Chase Daniel from snap one without having to bring eight defenders. Yes, I know, duh, but CU has to get pressure on Daniel like they did with Freeman last week. The corner backs need to keep playing the way they have played all year. The player that scares me most in this game is TE Chase Coffman. I fear him more than WR Jeremy Maclin in that I don't know who the Buffs can put on Coffman. I don't like the way S Daniel Dykes or S Ryan Walters match up against him. Maybe S Anthony Perkins will have a bigger role as I think he would offer the best match up at the safety position. The Buffs would hate to put LB Brad Jones on him because he is needed for the pass rush. This is a glaring problem not only for the Buffs but the whole nation. Ask Texas how hard Coffman is to cover on his way to 12 catches for 140 yards. The Buffs can't lose him off the line of scrimmage.

Again the key for the defense is pressure and forcing turnovers. Hey if the Buffs can get a few turnovers and score early, you never know. Missouri's offense has shown the propensity to abandon the run in tough situations as shown below in the Missouri offensive game stats:

Missouri Offense	Rushing				Passing
Opponent	No	Net	Avg	TD	Att	Comp	Int	Yds	Avg	TD
Opponent	No	Net	Avg	TD	Att	Comp	Int	Yds	Avg	TD
Illinois(52-42)	37	226	6.1	2	45	26	1	323	7.2	3
Southeast Mo. St.(52-3)	36	256	7.1	3	33	26	0	336	10.2	3
Nevada(69-17)	29	132	4.6	3	36	27	0	519	14.4	5
Buffalo(42-21)	29	151	5.2	3	45	36	0	439	9.8	2
Nebraska(52-17)	34	201	5.9	3	24	19	0	261	10.9	3
Oklahoma St.(23-28)	18	64	3.6	2	52	39	3	390	7.5	1
Texas(31-56)	19	30	1.6	2	41	31	1	318	7.8	2
	202	1060	5.2	18	276	204	5	2586	9.4	19

Poll

What is the biggest key to the game if the Buffs want to challenge for the upset of Missouri this weekend?

Getting Pressue on Chase Daniel

17 votes

Getting a Lead Early and Making Missouri One Dimensional

5 votes

Establishing a Running Game on Offense

8 votes

Opening Up the Offense and Letting The Kid Throw the Ball Downfield

6 votes

Win the Turnover Battle...By A Lot

7 votes

43 votes | Poll has closed