SB Nation - Jeff Smart

Big 12 All Conference Teams Announced, OT Nate Solder Selected to First Team

irish1611 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:12:41 -0000

The All-Big 12 Conference football teams and individual award winners have been announced by conference officials. All selections are made by the Big 12 head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own players.

Junior offensive tackle Nate Solder received the highest award on the Buffs squad, being named first team All Big 12 at tackle, a great accomplishment for the converted tight end. Solder brings a rare combination of size and speed to the mix and is currently looked at as being one of the players with a strong chance to make it in the NFL. He still has a lot to learn about the position but the athleticism is there.

Two other Buffs, TE Riar Geer and CB Cha'pelle Brown were named second team All Big 12. Rounding out the teams, these Colorado Buffaloes were named honorable mention: Jake Behrens, FB; Jalil Brown, DB; Benjamin Burney, DB; Marquez Herrod, DL; Scotty McKnight, WR; Ryan Miller, OL; Jeff Smart, LB; Jimmy Smith, DB; Rodney Stewart, RB.

The biggest surprise is WR Scotty McKnight not being named second team All Conference. He did make honorable mention but Kansas State WR Brandon Banks was named over McKnight. Banks, a talented return man, was named first team KR/PR so this selection over McKnight is very confusing considering it wasn't a charity place for a kick returner.

Scotty McKnight was sixth in the conference with 74.42 yards per game. McKnight was tied for fifth in receptions with 76, was sixth in yards at 893 and sixth in receptions per game at 6.33. Brandon Banks ranked 10th in receiving yards per game at 58.75, 10th in yards at 705 and ninth in receptions with 56. McKnight had six touchdowns to Banks' one.

Congrats to all of those Buffs who were named to the All-Conference teams

Saturday Buff Bites - Next Weekend Should Be Interesting

irish1611 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:21:35 -0000

Woelk: Close may not be enough to change CU equation - Boulder Daily Camera

Today, however, the equation remains virtually the same as it was 24 hours ago. A head coach in his fourth season with twice as many losses as victories to his credit and a 3-8 record heading into the last game of the year. A young team with talent and promise, but one that has been unable to produce anything remotely resembling consistency as the program lurches toward its fourth consecutive losing season. As a friend of mine remarked after Thursday night's game, the Buffs played valiantly. They played with heart — but they did not play (or coach) smart. But today, a decision to retain Hawkins for another season would be a gamble that the mistakes and stumbles that became the calling card of this year's team could somehow be eliminated. That's a gamble I'm not convinced CU's administrators are willing to make — even if making a change is a decision that will cost millions. What Thursday night displayed once again is what CU fans have seen for much of this season. These Buffs are not a team bereft of talent. Whoever roams CU's sidelines next year will not be working with a bare cupboard.

Kiszla: Throw Hawkins to the Bohn fire - The Denver Post

The love is gone. There is nothing left for Dan Hawkins to do except say goodbye, and nowhere for him to go except out the door. A good man has failed as football coach of the Buffaloes. The only logical choice Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn has now? Fire Hawkins.

What We Learned: Hawkins back on the hot seat - Dave Curtis - College Football - Sporting News
Great point about the last four possessions of the game:

The buzz about Dan Hawkins getting dismissed (and bought out) at Colorado grew hot not because the Buffs lost by three on the road to a ranked team Thursday night. The bad vibes are back because of how things went down. Colorado's final four offensive possessions ended with a missed 49-yard field goal, a turnover on downs (incomplete pass on fourth-and-2 at the Oklahoma State 28), a fumble near midfield and a punt with 2:45 remaining. The Buffs either led by four or trailed by three points on each occasion yet ended with another loss, sending Hawkins' record at CU to 16-32 (and 2-20 on the road).

Regents likely to support buyout if CU fires Hawkins - Boulder Daily Camera

Several members of the Colorado Board of Regents said Friday they would be willing to approve a buyout for football coach Dan Hawkins if chancellor Phil DiStefano and athletic director Mike Bohn decide firing the fourth-year coach is the right move. Republican Regent Tom Lucero said while he wouldn`t vote against a buyout that could cost nearly $3.5 million, he believes Hawkins deserves at least one more year to build the program he envisioned when he came to CU in December of 2005 to replace former coach Gary Barnett, who was fired. "I`m a huge fan of Dan Hawkins and I am of the opinion that the guy needs at least one more year. Plain and simple," Lucero said.

Bohn mum on Hawk - The Denver Post

"Evaluation is always ongoing," Bohn said Friday, when asked about Hawkins' job status. Speculation that Hawkins is on his way out is rampant. Rumors that he has agreed to a buyout are inaccurate, Bohn said. The athletic director emphasized he has not made a decision on whether Hawkins will be retained. It would cost Colorado approximately $3.1 million to buy out Hawkins' contract. Asked if his cash- strapped athletic department can pay for that, Bohn said it was premature to address specifics of a buyout because no decision on Hawkins' future has been made. In the past, Bohn has used the words "doable but challenging" when talking in general terms about securing the resources to cover such a settlement. Bohn is scheduled to leave this morning for a flight to Hawaii, where he will join the CU men's basketball team for the Maui Invitational. He is scheduled to return to Boulder on Thanksgiving, a day before the football season finale. Bohn reiterated that no decision will be announced while he is out of town. "I can guarantee you that," he said.

CU issues no official word on Hawkins’ future - The Longmont Times-Call

Athletic director Mike Bohn said once again, following Thursday’s 31-28 loss at Oklahoma State, that no decision has been made on the coaching situation and no timeline exists for one. Bohn said he’ll leave today for Maui to watch the Buffs men’s basketball team play Monday through Wednesday. Quarterback Tyler Hansen raised some eyebrows Thursday when he said, "We always get told that coach Hawkins is solid right now. His job is pretty certain, and he’s going to be here." But Bohn declined to say anything about Hansen’s comment, only reiterating that there’s no timeline for a decision.

Big plays cost CU defense again - Boulder Daily Camera
Didn't even notice:

Wide receiver Andre Simmons made his first start but did not make a catch

Kiesau`s decision could save CU cash - Boulder Daily Camera

Athletic director Mike Bohn would have been considering two buyouts if one of Dan Hawkins` assistant coaches had made a different decision two years ago. Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau was offered one of six multi-year contracts available at the school as an enticement to remain in Boulder instead of taking a job with Oregon, sources confirmed to the Camera. Kiesau, who was wide receivers coach at the time, opted not to accept the multi-year deal because, like every other multi-year contract at the school, it contained a buyout clause requiring him to pay CU money if he wanted to leave before it expired. Kiesau said he didn`t want to comment on the subject when asked about it recently. Kiesau makes $217,776 annually, and likely would have been owed that sum times the number of years remaining on his contract if CU decided to part ways with the entire coaching staff at the end of the season.

Thumb doesn’t stop Colorado’s Hansen - The Longmont Times-Call
Considering the defense was missing two of their best players, they did a pretty good job against Oklahoma State:

CU linebackers Jeff Smart (pinched nerve in his neck) and B.J. Beatty (concussion) did not play. Beatty did not make the trip. Smart was on the sideline, but not in uniform. Stewart suffered a shoulder bruise and is probable for Nebraska. Center Keenan Stevens suffered a sprained ankle and is also probable. Hansen said he thinks he might have sprained ligaments in his right thumb, which is the same one he broke during the spring game last April. He hit it on a helmet Thursday night in the second quarter.

Who's hot and who's not across the Big 12 - Big 12 Blog - ESPN

Not: Dan Hawkins: The Colorado coach’s record is 2-19 in games played at opponent's stadiums since starting his tenure with the Buffaloes in 2006.

Colorado's Tyler Hansen: "It’s real disappointing we were that close." | NewsOK.com

→Colorado running back Brian Lockridge on his kickoff return for a touchdown "I had some great blockers, I just ran as fast as I can and made a play on the kicker. I owed one to the team and it was a pivotal time in the game, and that’s what we needed in a response to their score. I was grateful to give the team a score, but it didn’t end quite the way we wanted it to."

Mizzou-Colorado: Beyond the Box Score Preview

Bill C. — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:00:26 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Marquez Herrod: part of a surprisingly successful CU d-line.

Browse more photos »

Last year at this time, Missouri was coming off of a tough loss to OSU and a blowout loss to Texas, and they turned their season around with a ridiculously easy 58-0 win over Colorado. This season, a younger, hobbled, even-more-reeling Mizzou team makes the trip to Boulder, hungry for even a 1-point win, much less a 58-pointer. Will they get the job done?

Are you an optimist or a pessimist? Because whatever your inclinations, the stats below have something to feed them. An optimist looks at the matchups below and sees a Missouri team with significant defensive advantages, a Colorado team with no major skill-position threat, run-blocking advantages for both the Mizzou offensive and defensive lines, and such a pronounced speed advantage in the last two years that it simply cannot have all gone away now that Jeremy Maclin is catching passes from Donovan McNabb.

If you're a pessimist, however, you've got plenty of ammo as well. You've got an immobile, inaccurate quarterback facing a solid pass rush (and a backup who has not inspired a boatload of confidence), a Mizzou secondary that suffered flashback-inducing communication breakdowns a week ago, and a rushing offense that has still underachieved significantly this season. (Oh, and of course TERRIBLE COACHING PINKEL'S TOO STUBBORN OUR PASS COVERAGE IS TOO SOFT YOST AND STECKEL SUCK!!!!!1!!!!!!!!! Can't forget that.) The projections for this game have gotten tighter as Mizzou has begun to struggle, but let's be honest--without knowing how Gabbert's ankle will respond to another week of treatment, and how such a young team (did you see where Mizzou now has 36 freshmen and sophs on the two-deep????) will respond to a three-game losing streak, projections here are rather worthless. Not that that's going to stop me from diving ahead, of course...

Offense

Colorado: 2009 Beyond the Box Score Preseason Offensive Preview

In the last three years against Missouri, Colorado has scored a total of 23 points. After a decent 373-yard output in 2006, the Buffs have not managed even 200 yards in either of the past two meetings. Missouri's defense is actually quite a bit better statistically than in 2008, while Colorado's offense has only incrementally improved. Plus, Missouri holds the ratings advantage in a vast majority of major "+" categories.

Colorado Offense vs Missouri Defense
Category	CU Offense	MU Defense
Close S&P+ (Rk)	90.3 (92)	112.4 (31)
Close Success Rate+ (Rk)	98.9 (70)	104.6 (43)
Close PPP+ (Rk)	78.2 (103)	124.0 (30)

Rushing S&P+	121.5 (25)	101.9 (64)
Passing S&P+	72.5 (108)	120.8 (25)

Standard Downs S&P+	95.4 (83)	114.1 (27)
Passing Downs S&P+	94.3 (85)	117.4 (32)

Red Zone S&P+	106.5 (60)	100.0 (68)

Q1 S&P+	105.5 (69)	96.1 (73)
Q2 S&P+	107.1 (57)	136.1 (18)
Q3 S&P+	83.0 (103)	120.9 (24)
Q4 S&P+	91.8 (93)	113.9 (40)

1st Down S&P+	95.8 (82)	110.9 (42)
2nd Down S&P+	89.9 (97)	114.1 (35)
3rd Down S&P+	98.3 (78)	115.5 (33)

Line Yards+	126.8 (5)	99.5 (64)
Close Sack Rate+	77.3 (97)	89.2 (75)
Standard Downs / Passing Downs Sack Rate+	61.8 (107) / 108.4 (61)	78.4 (87) / 96.0 (70)

When Colorado Has the Ball...
Colorado Rushing	Advantage: Colorado
Colorado Passing	Big Advantage: Missouri
Best Time for Colorado:	1st Quarter
Best Time for Missouri:	Anything after 1st Quarter

Analysis after the jump.

We'll once again start with where Missouri has the rankings advantage:

Close S&P+, Success Rate+, PPP+
Passing S&P+
Standard Downs S&P+, Passing Downs S&P+
Q2, Q3, Q4 S&P+
1st, 2nd, 3rd Down S&P+
Close, Standard Downs Sack Rate+

And for Colorado...

Rushing S&P+
Red Zone S&P+
Q1 S&P+
Line Yards+
Passing Downs S&P+

Obviously Missouri has significant advantages in most categories, but you do see where Colorado has a sliver of opportunity. They will likely try to establish the run in the first quarter, and even though Missouri has been improving quite a bit against the run, CU does still have the overall advantage there. If Rodney Stewart gets going and Missouri has to focus a bit more on the run, then CU might be able to exploit a Missouri pass defense that might or might not now be shaky. Until the Texas game, Missouri had been playing great pass defense--more than good enough to completely shut CU down. But some breakdowns against the Longhorns have caused some serious consternation, and until we see that everything's alright--that the sudden miscommunication is alleviated, that Carl Gettis' head is on straight--we don't know for sure that it will be.

Though Colorado does obviously have a road map to success, you could see things pretty quickly turn in Missouri's favor if Stewart isn't finding running lanes and Colorado isn't moving the ball early. The per-quarter advantage quickly turns in Mizzou's favor after the first 15 minutes, when CU's scripted plays have likely run their course and the game turns to adjustments, counters to counters, and athleticism. If Mizzou leads after Q1, they are in very good shape. As with Blaine Gabbert's ankle, we should pretty quickly be able to discern how the secondary is going to play, and if Missouri's speed advantage is going to be enough to shut Colorado down for the fourth straight year.

Quarterback

If the cast of characters surrounding Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen improves considerably, can one or both of them turn into a competent guide for the offense? Cody Hawkins earned a lot of goodwill during his redshirt freshman season in 2007, primarily because of the win over OU. Beyond that game, he didn't show a whole lot, but he was a freshman. Unfortunately, he regressed considerably in 2008, just like everybody else on the Colorado offense. Hansen was able to very briefly breathe new life into the CU offense just by offering a different style of threat--he was able to generate some offense with his legs, something Hawkins is not capable of doing.

In the end, they were both not very good, but they are still young. For better or worse, CU still has two more years of Hawkins and three of Hansen. It really wouldn't surprise me if Clark Evans were given a look if Hawkins/Hansen prove early on that they still can't get the job done, or if one or the other gets injured.

Cody Hawkins: 114-for-228 passing (50.0%), 1,208 yards (5.3 per pass), 9 TD, 11 INT
Tyler Hansen: 24-for-44 passing (54.5%), 281 yards (6.4 per pass), 1 TD, 1 INT

Last year, CU came to Columbia with uncertainty at quarterback. Cody Hawkins simply wasn't performing well at all, and Dan Hawkins tore the redshirt off of Tyler Hansen to provide some competition. This year...almost exactly the same story. Hawkins has been mostly awful once again, and after an early decision to redshirt Hansen, Dan Hawkins decided against it, bringing Don't Call Me Taylor into the Texas game and starting him against Kansas.

Hansen provided enough of a change in style that it gave CU a momentary boost. The Buffs managed just 322 yards of offense against Kansas in Hansen's first start, but they took advantage of opportunities (twice, KU handed them the ball deep in their own territory) and came away with a win. Predictably, though, the Hansen magic quickly wore off, just like it did last year. CU gained just 244 yards against K-State, with Hansen and Hawkins combining to go 17-for-37 for 184 yards (a disgusting 5.0 per pass), 0 TDs, 2 INTs and 4 sacks. Ouch.

(And that's right, Hansen's redshirt came off halfway through the season, but he's still only splitting time with Cody Hawkins.)

Hansen is elusive enough that he really might be a better option than Nolte-Hawkins (I'm not completely sure I'm not a better option than Hawkins). He is not necessarily a threat to gain a bunch of yards on the ground (he ripped off a 20-yarder against KU, but that's it), but he is constantly escaping the pocket and trying to buy time for his receivers. Of course, his receivers are terrible, so that doesn't really work. But that's not his fault.

Running Back

Beyond Darrell Scott are two guys built on misconceptions. It seems like Rodney Stewart was pretty good in 2008. Wrong. Yardage-wise, he turned out to be CU's most successful freshman last year, posting 632 yards in 132 carries before getting injured himself. Problem was, as shown by POE, most of his yards came against iffy defenses. He did well against an okay Florida State run defense (21 carries, 107 yards), but otherwise most of his yards came against West Virginia (28-for-166) and Kansas State (29-for-141), two rather awful run defenses. Against Missouri and Texas, the two best run defenses on the schedule, Stewart managed just 36 yards on 18 carries.

Rodney Stewart: 120 carries, 467 yards (3.9/carry), 6 TD; 5 catches, 28 yards (5.6/catch)
Demetrius Sumler: 29 carries, 114 yards (3.9/carry); 10 catches, 58 yards (5.8/catch)
Darrell Scott: 23 carries, 95 yards (4.1/carry), 1 TD; 4 catches, 35 yards (8.8/catch)

For the second straight year, Scott has spent a majority of the season either dinged up or out. He had arthroscopic surgery on his knee early last week and is out for another week or two. Not that his game log was fear-inducing in the first place, of course.

The main threat in the backfield, I guess, is Rodney Stewart. Stewart is once again riding a nice performance against West Virginia (21 carries, 105 yards) to prop up his numbers. In conference play, he is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry (197 yards on 61 carries), and while CU's overall rushing stats are better than last year (and therefore so are Stewart's), I want to see him do something against a fast front seven before I claim to be scared of him in any way, shape or form. He is a bit of a workhorse--until his 16-carry performance against K-State last week, he had gone over 20 carries for four straight games. Durability is a virtue, especially when you're missing your supposedly most explosive RB option (Scott), but Stewart's got to show me he can run on Missouri's defense before I believe it (last year against Mizzou: 6 carries, 9 yards). Missouri had some issues last week, but not up front.

Meanwhile, for the second straight year, I'm almost thinking that Demetrius Sumler is CU's best back.

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

[A] bad receiving corps probably got worse in terms of proven talent, but CU fans are putting a lot of hope in Markques Simas, a big-time recruit from Hawkins' first full-year recruiting class who sat out last due to (I believe) academics. With Smith, Simas could have had a nice role as the explosive #2 guy while Scotty McKnight continued to fill the "possession receiver" role, but without Smith the pressure will be on Simas to make plays from the very beginning.
Beyond Simas and McKnight (46 catches, 519 yards, 5 TDs)...oy. The seven other names I listed on the projected WR depth chart combined for...wait for it...one catch in 2008. And that one catch (from RB-turned-WR Kevin Moyd) garnered a loss of a yard. You never know when somebody will emerge out of the blue and thrive, but you certainly don't want to have to rely on that. With the level of inexperience here, the WR corps is ripe for an infusion of energy from a true freshman or two--don't be surprised if either/both Jarrod Darden (6'5, 210) and/or Terdema Ussery (6'4, 205) see the field early.

Scotty McKnight: 41 catches, 431 yards (10.5/catch), 3 TD
Jason Espinoza: 13 catches, 136 yards (10.5/catch), 1 TD
Markques Simas: 9 catches, 107 yards (11.9/catch), 1 TD
Patrick Devenny: 8 catches, 107 yards (13.4/catch), 2 TD

Riar Geer: 28 catches, 326 yards (11.6/catch), 3 TD
Ryan Deehan: 8 catches, 77 yards (11.8/catch)

I'll say this right now: when Hansen escapes the pocket and attempts to buy time, somebody better find the tight end. Not that either Riar Geer or Ryan Deehan is a threat to take a pass 50 yards or anything, but Geer appears to be the #1 safety valve option, and if somebody is going to bail Hansen (or Hawkins) out on a third-and-long, it's Geer.

Beyond that? Blech. Scotty McKnight is performing admirably in his "possession receiver" role, for seemingly the 13th consecutive year, and being that Missouri let Nebraska's possession receiver (Niles Paul, admittedly better than McKnight) go deep on them once, he's at least a bit of a threat. But McKnight and Geer are the only two players averaging more than two receptions a game. Markques Simas is the homeless man's Malcolm Williams--we've heard hype about him for a while, and he looks good in a uniform, but he just hasn't lived up to the hype yet. That said, all nine of his receptions have come in the last four games, so he's at least working his way into the offense a bit.

Offensive Line

If there truly is hope for the Colorado offense in 2009, it probably comes from the potential of the offensive line. Ryan Miller was another big-time recruit who got thrown into the deep end last year and actually acquitted himself pretty well. Blake Behrens got a lot of early experience as well. These two, combined with incoming redshirts Bryce Givens and Ryan Dannewitz, not to mention a host of sophomores (sans guard Max Tuioti-Mariner, who has suffered approximately 26 knee injuries in his brief CU career and is out at least for 2009, if not forever), should bring very solid line play to Colorado in the future.

I can't say for sure that this will happen in 2009, mind you--the line may not congeal until 2010--but there is hope here. Injuries and extreme youth decimated the line last year, so it's impossible to say exactly how much potential is here just yet (sounds like the running back corps, no?), but again, we're just talking about hope. This will still be one of the conference's younger lines in 2009, but if things click soon, the entire offense starts to look a lot better.

Possibly the most intriguing unit-vs-unit matchup in Saturday's game comes here--CU's offensive line versus MU's defensive line. I have been very impressed with Mizzou's front seven overall in conference play. Nevada gashed them up the middle, and since then nobody's gashed them at all, aside from a long Roy Helu run after the Nebraska game had been salted away. They have overachieved their rushing rankings the last 2-3 games, and that's an encouraging trend, but the pass rush still needs to improve. They have been all-pros at almost getting to the QB, but that doesn't count for a lot.

Meanwhile, the Colorado OL has seen the same type of encouraging results. Their line yardage figures have been surprisingly great (which brings about even more question marks regarding CU's actual running backs--their line yardage is great, yet they still don't have a back averaging more than 4.1 yards per carry??), but their sack rates leave something to be desired (again, this could be why Hansen is a better QB option...then again, he was sacked four times last week, so nevermind). Strength vs strength, weakness vs weakness. No matter what happens when Missouri has the ball, the game could be determined by who wins this matchup. If Missouri wins it, how exactly is Colorado supposed to score?

---

Defense

Colorado: 2009 Beyond the Box Score Preseason Defensive Preview

Colorado Defense vs Missouri Offense
Category	CU Defense	MU Offense
Close S&P+ (Rk)	114.9 (29)	106.9 (55)
Close Success Rate+	120.4 (13)	104.4 (52)
Close PPP+	108.7 (43)	113.4 (56)

Rushing S&P+	117.7 (26)	103.4 (66)
Passing S&P+	110.9 (37)	112.5 (49)

Standard Downs S&P+	117.5 (22)	105.7 (59)
Passing Downs S&P+	97.1 (71)	115.9 (46)

Red Zone S&P+	118.3 (27)	74.4 (112)

Q1 S&P+	101.6 (58)	113.1 (58)
Q2 S&P+	120.3 (32)	99.5 (76)
Q3 S&P+	132.0 (15)	119.7 (32)
Q4 S&P+	105.9 (48)	112.4 (37)

1st Down S&P+	112.5 (34)	104.1 (64)
2nd Down S&P+	112.7 (37)	113.5 (49)
3rd Down S&P+	114.7 (36)	117.9 (35)

Line Yards+	106.4 (45)	109.5 (41)
Close Sack Rate+	168.1 (5)	161.7 (20)
Standard Downs / Passing Downs Sack Rate+	190.5 (4) / 122.1 (38)	189.8 (13) / 118.4 (51)

When Missouri Has the Ball...
Missouri Rushing	Advantage: Colorado
Missouri Passing	Advantage: Push
Best Time for Colorado:	2nd Quarter
Best Time for Missouri:	4th Quarter

Missouri's advantages:

Passing Downs S&P+
Q4 S&P+
3rd Down S&P+
Line Yards+

Colorado's advantages:

Close S&P+, Success Rate+, PPP+
Rushing, Passing S&P+
Standard Downs S&P+
Red Zone S&P+
Q2, Q3 S&P+
1st, 2nd Down S&P+
Close, Standard Downs, Passing Downs Sack Rate+

Pretty jarring to see a Missouri offense with that many disadvantages, huh? This is the world we live in. This is also why Blaine Gabbert's ankle is such a huge wildcard for the rest of this season. If Gabbert can get back to actually throwing accurate passes, then Missouri goes back to having a dangerous offense--most of the statistical regression has come in the last three games, since Donkey Kong Suh's Gabbert roll-up. Before that, Missouri had a Top 30 offense (only Top 30 instead of Top 15 because of the weakness of the non-con defenses, but better than 55th, no?). But as it stands now, CU has a majority of the advantages.

With these numbers, we can see a pretty clear picture for how both teams will succeed, if they succeed, when Missouri has the ball.

If Missouri succeeds, it will be through the improving running game (Mizzou's got the advantage in the trenches) and 3rd down passing. Anecdotally speaking, CU's safeties have been by far their weakest link, and that has led to numerous breakdowns on 3rd downs and Passing Downs. With experienced, fast route-runners like Danario Alexander and Jared Perry running around, they could wreak havoc in these situations if Gabbert can get the ball anywhere close to them.

If Colorado succeeds, you will know it quickly. Derrick Washington is stuffed on the first carry of the game, and Gabbert launches a third-down pass 17 yards over Jared Perry's head. The same thing played out in the second half of the Oklahoma State game and pretty much from the opening snap of the Texas game. If Gabbert's first pass is far off-target, it will likely be another grind-it-out performance. The good news is, Colorado's defense simply isn't as good as OSU's or Texas', but it's good enough to make stops if the running game regresses and Gabbert can't throw. Oh yeah, and CU has a solid pass rush, and they'll happily tee off if given the opportunity.

Defensive Line

Remember how I pointed out yesterday that the CU receiving corps has next to no experience whatsoever? Well they've got nothing on the CU D-line. The eight names on the [projected depth chart] combined for 27.0 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 TFL. As a reference point, Mizzou's Jacquies Smith alone had 34.0 tackles, 1 sack and 3 TFL in 2008, and he didn't really start seeing a ton of playing time until a few games into the season.

Half of the 27.0 tackles listed above (and all of the sacks) came from Herrod, who by default becomes the unquestioned veteran leader of the line. CU fans seem pretty excited about Conrad Obi, but it's all potential right now--he had exactly one tackle in 2008. If he can stay healthy, I think good things could be in store for Curtis Cunningham, but we'll see. The 7.5 tackles on his resume leave something to be desired. As we'll see, the CU LB corps and secondary have quite a bit of potential in 2009, but if the line is a sieve, it won't matter. CU had a mediocre D-line at best in 2008, and unless at least two of the people on the above list (or star recruit DE Nick Kasa) become studs, I don't see how the ranking won't fall in 2009.

DT Curtis Cunningham: 22.0 tackles, 2.0 TFL/sacks, 2 PBU, 2 3DS (3rd-Down Stop*)
DE Marquez Herrod: 18.5 tackles, 7.0 TFL/sacks, 6 QBH, 5 3DS
DT Will Pericak: 11.5 tackles, 2.0 TFL/sacks, 1 FR, 1 PBU, 4 3DS
DE Forrest West: 6.0 tackles, 1.0 TFL/sacks, 1 FF, 2 PBU, 1 QBH, 1 3DS

* I really wish other schools recorded defensive stats like CU does.

The Colorado defensive line isn't asked to do a ton, but Curtis Cunningham's tackle total is impressive for a DT. He seems like the type who is rather agile for his position but can be pushed around a bit. In all, you see these individual stats and start to conclude that most of CU's solid sack rates come from blitzing linebackers. Marquez Herrod, the aforementioned "unquestioned veteran leader of the line," has performed pretty well at end, but beyond that, this isn't a highly productive line. Nick Kasa has been slowed by injuries and has managed just 2.0 tackles (1.0 TFL) thus far.

So that brings up an interesting question. Texas aside, no team has blitzed Blaine Gabbert effectively, and even they picked and chose their spots quite well. Gabbert's instincts are not at the same level as Chase Daniel's, but he's been quite effective in seeing blitzes coming and knowing where to go with the ball. Teams who have effectively defended Missouri (without Texas' overall talent advantage) have done so by dropping as many as possible into coverage, and that doesn't appear to be Colorado's style. That could work in Missouri's favor.

Linebackers

Last year, Jeff Smart, Shaun Mohler and Brad Jones combined to make up a solid-not-spectacular LB corps; this year Jones is gone, but a host of potentially capable replacements lie in wait. Jones was the big-time playmaker in the bunch (7 sacks, 7 TFL, 2 forced fumbles), and he will be missed. While Smart and Mohler aren't big-time playmakers (they combined for just six sacks/TFLs) and Jones was (7 sacks, 7 TFL, 2 forced fumbles), every team needs a tackling machine or two, right? The trick will be getting some good blitzing from one of the potential Jones replacements.

There really is a nice mix here between experience (Smart, Mohler, Burton) and guys with high ceilings (Beatty, Rippy, Major), but while I think the high-ceiling guys could be quite strong in 2010, I'm not sure where they lie for 2009. I'm going to say that this unit has a pretty good chance to remain ranked somewhere in the 30s, but I'm not going to call for significant improvement until next year.

Jeff Smart: 59.0 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FF, 2 FR, 3 PBU, 2 QBH, 6 3DS
Marcus Burton: 28.5 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 1 FF, 1 PBU, 2 QBH, 4 3DS
Shaun Mohler: 15.0 tackles, 1 PBU, 1 QBH, 2 3DS
B.J. Beatty: 14.0 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 PBU, 3 QBH, 2 3DS
Tyler Ahles: 10.5 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 1 QBH, 1 3DS
Michael Sipili: 10.0 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 2 QBH, 1 3DS
Bryan Stengal: 5.0 tackles, 1 3DS

So far in 2009, it's been a mix of the experienced and high-ceiling guys getting the job done. Jeff Smart has pretty much collected one of everything--INT, FF, FR, TFL, etc.--but is mostly the prototypical tackling machine. The worrisome guys to me are Burton (experienced) and Beatty (high-upside). They are more disruptive types than Smart is, and even though I encourage teams to blitz Gabbert--it usually works out well for Mizzou--if Colorado is going to make a game-turning play on defense, it's as likely to be from Burton and Beatty as anybody else on the team. Also look out for Ahles, who had a pretty good game against K-State. Overall, this is likely CU's best overall defensive unit.

As a whole, CU's tackle-splits (by that, I mean how many tackles each unit has made, and what kind of tackles) point to a defense similar to Nevada's--lots of tackles for loss, lots of big pass plays allowed. Granted, Gabbert had two healthy ankles against Nevada, but I'd much prefer to see that type of defense again, especially if Mizzou's running game has started to improve.

Secondary

The strength of Colorado's defense in 2008, the Buffalo secondary returns a wealth of experience at cornerback...and a wealth of unknowns at safety. If Anthony Perkins and Patrick Mahnke (or anybody else) can do well in the "last line of defense" role, the depth at corner should serve them well. Cha'pelle Brown (71.5 tackles, 1 sack, 5 TFL, 10 pass breakups, 1 FF) was quietly strong last year, and either Jimmy Smith, Benjamin Burney or Jalil Brown should serve as a solid #2 CB. But really, the performance of this unit will come down to the safeties. I wasn't just amazed by the now-graduated Ryan Walters last year, and I think he is replaceable. This isn't the biggest secondary, but it should still remain the strength of the defense and remain ranked somewhere in the teens, if not a smidge higher.

CB Cha'pelle Brown: 40.5 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 1 PBU, 2 QBH, 8 3DS
CB Jimmy Smith: 39.5 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1 FR, 6 PBU, 4 3DS
S Anthony Perkins: 28.0 tackles, 1 PBU
CB Jalil Brown: 26.5 tackles, 2 INT, 2 FR, 6 PBU, 6 3DS
CB Benjamin Burney: 25.5 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1 INT, 2 FF, 3 PBU, 1 QBH, 3 3DS
S Ray Polk: 22.0 tackles, 1.0 TFL, 2 QBH, 2 3DS
S Patrick Mahnke: 9.0 tackles, 1 PBU

Last year Colorado had a Top 20 Passing S&P+ defense, and they returned pretty much all cornerbacks who contributed to that unit. They also, however, lost both starting safeties. Against Toledo, this cost them dearly. Colorado simply didn't have the secondary speed to cope when Toledo's skill position players got to the second level of the defense. Since then, things have improved a bit, but this unit is still a big question mark. If Gabbert is throwing reasonably accurate passes, then a hungry Mizzou receiving corps should be just fast enough to give the CU pass defense fits.

Of course, if he's spraying the ball like he has been recently, the secondary is more than good enough to thank him for the charity and make some plays.

Special Teams

I didn't even know Colorado was allowed to have a bad place-kicker. I just assumed that when Mason Crosby left, his replacement would be just as good. Nope. Last year, Aric Goodman was...well, we'll politely call him "iffy." I mean, 5-for-14? Really? ... He MUST improve if Colorado wants to duplicate its strong close-game record from a year ago. They got lucky that he wasn't more of a liability last year. Meanwhile, punting was only a hair better. Matt DiLallo returns, and like Goodman, he must improve. Seriously, how did Colorado not find somebody better than at least Goodman, if not Goodman and DiLallo?

Punt Returns Rank: 115th (Jason Espinoza: 19 returns, 3.2 average)
Net Punting Rank: 109th (Matt DiLallo: 34.6 Net Avg)
Kickoff Returns Rank: 21st (Darrell Scott: 21 returns, 26.9 average; Brian Lockridge: 13 returns, 24.9 average)
Opponents' Kickoff Returns Rank: 12th

Field Goals: 6-for-10 (Long: 54)
PATs: 19-for-20

Well, the good news is, there have been improvements in some areas. Scott (who is out) and Lockridge (who is not) have combined for solid kick returning, and they have covered very well on their own kickoffs. Plus, while Colorado is still one of the worst in the country at field goals (60% is tied for 101st in the country), 60% is certainly an improvement over last year's 36%, right?

Of course, there's also the matter of the atrocious punting and non-existent punt returns threat (I guess Espinoza is the only player on the team who can reliably catch a punt?). Without a series of terrible bounces, Jake Harry should have little trouble flipping the field on punts, and assuming Carl Gettis' ankle is good to go, he could get a couple of decent return opportunities against a team that has already allowed two punt return touchdowns this year.

---

Three Keys to the Game

Field Position

For three quarters against Kansas, Colorado was almost completely listless. They were outscored in Q's 1, 3, and 4 by a combined 23-10. But in Q2, they exploded for 24 points, in part because Todd Reesing almost literally handed them the ball at the KU 3 on one possession (leading to a one-play TD drive), then later was picked off by Jalil Brown, who returned the pick to the 1 (leading to a two-play TD drive). Two drives, three plays, four yards...14 points. That's how you give a desperate team confidence. That's also how a team that manages just 322 yards for the entire game managed to score 34 points. Without easy scoring drives, this team does not score big points. They just don't.

Colorado's Scoring Drives and Sustained Drives

vs Colorado State

Sustained drives of 40 yards or more: 3
Scoring drives of 30 yards or less: 1

vs Toledo

Sustained drives of 40 yards or more: 6
Scoring drives of 30 yards or less: 1

vs Wyoming

Sustained drives of 40 yards or more: 4
Scoring drives of 30 yards or less: 1

vs West Virginia

Sustained drives of 40 yards or more: 4
Scoring drives of 30 yards or less: 1

vs Texas

Sustained drives of 40 yards or more: 1
Scoring drives of 30 yards or less: 1

vs Kansas

Sustained drives of 40 yards or more: 3
Scoring drives of 30 yards or less: 2

vs Kansas State

Sustained drives of 40 yards or more: 2
Scoring drives of 30 yards or less: 0

In conference play, they have averaged just two sustained drives per game, but they have been handed three scores on short fields. Get rid of the short fields, caused mostly by turnovers and special teams mishaps, and you only have to score about 17 points to beat them. Of course, that's easier said than done for Missouri. Coinciding perfectly with Gabbert's injury, Missouri has averaged a -9.8 turnover points differential per game in conference play. Plus, Mizzou has gotten murdered in the field position battle the last two weeks (partially due to turnovers). Hand Colorado 10 points and good field position, and they can absolutely beat you. Turnovers are always key, but never more than against Colorado.

Missouri's defensive line

Simply put, a) Colorado's running backs aren't good enough to create good rushes on their own, and b) Colorado's quarterbacks aren't good enough to make big plays with under pressure. If the Missouri defensive line wins its battles versus the Colorado offensive line, Colorado simply cannot score enough to win, even with a handicapped Missouri offense.

Derrick Washington, Kendial Lawrence, De'Vion Moore

I listed them as keys to the Oklahoma State game as well, and while they performed relatively well, they didn't make enough of a difference to swing the game in Missouri's favor. This one is also quite cut-and-dried: if Missouri can move the ball on the ground and give Blaine Gabbert as little to do as possible, Missouri will score enough points to win the game, barring major mishaps in Key #1 above. If Gabbert is throwing an accurate ball, Mizzou could kill Colorado. If he's not, Mizzou could still win if these three keys are clicking.

Prediction

As I've mentioned time and time again, I always go with what my numbers project here (even last week, when I had the distinct impression that the numbers were full of hooey). The projections say Mizzou by 3.4, so we'll go with Mizzou 24, Colorado 21. That said, I think the best odds are on one of two scenarios: Mizzou's offense finds a rhythm against a much less fast defense, and they win by 17-20 (at least), or Mizzou turns the ball over too much and loses by about 7-10.

I realize I just spent a couple of thousand words talking about Colorado above, but really this game is about Missouri. Colorado is good enough to beat a team playing poorly and bad enough to get killed by a team playing well; therefore it's up to Missouri to play well and move to 5-3. As Gary Pinkel said earlier this week, Mizzou's out of time. It's time for the senior leaders--Sean Weatherspoon, Danario Alexander, Jaron Baston, Jared Perry, Kurtis Gregory--to take over, and it's time for the younger guys--Aldon Smith, De'Vion Moore, Wes Kemp, Jasper Simmons, Will Ebner, Dominique Hamilton, Dan Hoch, Elvis Fisher, Andrew Freaking Jones--to not only make some good plays here and there, but to take over a game.

This game will define Missouri's season. We knew from the start that the NU-OSU-UT swing of games represented probably three of Mizzou's four most losable games, and Mizzou lost all three. The next four games are exceedingly winnable, but it starts with Colorado. If Mizzou wins on Saturday, a 9-3 record and third straight North title is not only conceivable, but quite realistic. If they lose, however, then the rest of this season will instead be defined by scrounging around for another couple of wins and a bowl bid. The North title and a true "eff you" to critics who predicted a major downfall in 2009 will go out the window. It's a damn shame that Gabbert got hurt when he did--if he hadn't, Mizzou might be as good as 5-1 and ranked in the teens right now. But he did, and it's time for everybody else on the team to carry him to a win the way he carried them in St. Louis and Reno. Show us what you've got, Mizzou.

Early Morning Gameday Buff Bites - Colorado Buffaloes vs. Kansas Jayhawks

irish1611 — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:00:29 -0000

"3 Questions: Kansas at Colorado" by Going Into Overtime | KUsports.com

Colorado's problem could be its offensive line. Junior left tackle Nate Solder is the Buffaloes' lone upperclassman up front. Perhaps because of the line's inexperience, Colorado has surrendered a quarterback sack on approximately six percent of its drop-back pass plays. Compare that to KU's mark of approximately three percent. One has to imagine the same ineffectiveness might be rubbing off on the Colorado run game. If the Jayhawks contain Stewart on first and second downs and put Colorado in unfavorable down-and-distance situations, the Buffaloes' young quarterback could have a tough time generating first downs.

KU receiving duo faces tougher foe in Colorado - Kansas City Star

Well, it appears that Kansas wide receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier don’t deserve all the credit for their big day Saturday against Iowa State. Note to Big 12 defensive coordinators: Don’t do what the Cyclones did. "Iowa State came in and played their base defense and didn’t double-team either one of us," Briscoe said.

No. 17 Kansas at Colorado | Kansas Jayhawks | Wichita Eagle
Gotta hope for this right:

3. The Buffaloes have lost three straight to KU. They have never lost four straight.

Brooks: Burney Eyes Texas Loss, Future - CUBuffs.com
The Andre Simmons watch continues:

THE ANDRE WATCH: It's Week 6 . . . anybody seen Andre Simmons? Not to worry. Simmons believes he's about ready to be seen - perhaps soon. "As the games go by, I gain more confidence with the playbook and the quarterback," he said. "Day by day, I'm getting more momentum and getting more involved . . . hopefully, I can be more productive. Sooner or later everything will fall in place."

Buffs letting Stewart run free - The Longmont Times-Call

Darian Hagan said Rodney Stewart received more carries than Darrell Scott last week against Texas because Rodney was "so damn hot." Now I agree that Rodney Stewart is probably our best back right now but if "so damn hot" equates to 40 yards on 21 carries, then well, we can expect to be the 112th ranked rushing team this year.

The plan last Saturday at Texas, said Colorado running back coach Darian Hagan, was to get more carries for Darrell Scott. It didn’t happen. Why? "Speedy (Rodney Stewart) starts out the game and he gets so damn hot," Hagan said. "And then Texas clogs up the box and Speedy can find those holes. He’s so small that guys are missing him and they overrun him and he can find the back door."

CU’s Smith welcomes spotlight at corner - The Longmont Times-Call
CB Jimmy Smith will have his hands full on Saturday trying to contain Jayhawk receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier.

Phil Steele - 2009 Big 12 Mid Season All Conference Teams
Phil Steele named his mid season All Conference team for the Big 12. WR Scotty McKnight, TE Riar Geer and CB Cha'pelle Brown were named to the second team. Nate Solder and Jeff Smart were put on the third team.

Big 12 predictions, Week 7 - Big 12 - ESPN

Kansas 31, Colorado 28: The Jayhawks showed a leaky defense last week against Iowa State and could get a sterner test from the Buffaloes than you might expect. The Jayhawks have the conference’s foremost pitch-and-catch trio in Todd Reesing, Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier. And their offense could be even more potent and balanced if and when Jake Sharp returns to the lineup. New Colorado starting quarterback Tyler Hansen will try to pump some life into a struggling lineup that was limited to 127 yards last week by Texas. The Buffaloes should find things a little smoother against the Jayhawks, who have allowed an average of 32 points in their last two games.

Kansas' Reesing has always been a little big man against CU - The Denver Post

CU Buffs sophomore becoming veteran on CU`s D-line - Colorado Daily
Kyle Ringo has a story on DL Curtis Cunningham, who has been a solid performer for the Buffs this year.

CU Men's Basketball Media Day Quotes - CUBuffs.com
Quotes from Colorado head coach Jeff Bzdelik and players from media days. Great details from coach Bzdelik on the newcomers in his quotes. I am very excited for Alec Burks and Marcus Relphorde.

Bzdelik says all CU hoop newcomers to contribute | All Things Colorado Sports

Alec Burks, 6-6 freshman guard, Grandview (Mo.) HS – "Alec grew a couple of inches since we signed him. He’s very long, very athletic. He’s talented. Extremely talented. He can go make a play in a variety of ways. As soon as he understands the physicalness and intensity level at which this game is played at this level, I’ll go out on the limb to say this … he has a chance to be really special."

Brooks: Buffs Hope Relphorde Can Provide 'Wow' Factor - CUBuffs.com

In fact, when Bzdelik thumbed down his list of Buffaloes newcomers, he led off with the 6-foot-7 Relphorde and called him "the one I expect the most out of." Meantime, Relphorde was seated in the back of the room, soaking in the high expectations. And he was fine with it. "It's not really putting me on the spot," he said, grinning. "A lot of the things he said up there, he's told me (privately). I know he has high expectations for me, and I welcome that. I mean, I feel like setting the bar high is good, because I have high expectations for myself as well."

CU Buffs freshman Hornbuckle prefers Bzdelik`s offense - Boulder Daily Camera

"Keegan is a smart kid. He definitely did his homework before he committed to Colorado," Terry Kelly, Hornbuckle`s high school coach, told the Los Angeles Times last fall. "In reality, the system is perfect for him. He had plenty of options, but I think he made the right choice. ... "We are talking about a kid who will have the opportunity to play right away, in a very tough conference, no less. He`s not going to shy away from competition at the next level. He can step in and make an impact, there`s no question about it."

A Statistical Look: Colorado Buffaloes vs. West Virginia Mountaineers

irish1611 — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:00:23 -0000

Back by popular demand, here is a statistical look at the upcoming game against West Virginia. Not pretty!

Advantage

	National	Conf	Actual	Category	Actual	Conf	National
	Rank	Rank	Actual	Category	Actual	Rank	Rank
West Virginia	111	11	91.67	Rushing Offense	192.33	2	34
West Virginia	37	8	251	Passing Offense	293	2	15
West Virginia	103	12	105.75	Passing Efficiency	148.33	4	33
West Virginia	84	12	342.67	Total Offense	485.33	1	10
West Virginia	69	10	26.33	Scoring Offense	32.67	4	35
West Virginia	103	12	183	Rushing Defense	83.67	3	14
Colorado	77	9	227	Pass Defense	228.33	5	81
West Virginia	100	12	144.32	Pass Efficiency Defense	119.2	4	56
West Virginia	101	12	410	Total Defense	312	4	35
Colorado	77	12	25.67	Scoring Defense	27	7	83
Colorado	38	7	37.4	Net Punting	36.38	6	51
West Virginia	97	12	4.29	Punt Returns	9.43	3	60
Colorado	35	5	24.87	Kickoff Returns	22.2	5	54
Colorado	89	12	-0.67	Turnover Margin	-2.33	8	116
West Virginia	40	8	2.33	Sacks	3	3	12
West Virginia	T-79	10	5	Tackles For Loss	7	4	25
West Virginia	96	12	2.67	Sacks Allowed	1	3	24

Colorado under Dan Hawkins is 2 - 2 after a bye. West Virginia is 5 - 2 after a bye since 2006. Colorado is 1 - 5 on road at night since Hawkins arrival while West Virginia is 5 - 2 at home at night since 2006. West Virginia's overall home record since 2006 is 18 - 3.

West Virginia, as expected, has the advantage on paper. A few glimmers of hope are attached to the turnover margin and scoring defense. Aided by the Wyoming shut out last week, Colorado's scoring defense improved drastically from a few weeks ago. West Virginia's defense has given up 27 points a game - 20 to Liberty, 20 to Eastern Carolina and 41 to Auburn. This defense has been scored on this year.

The final piece of hope just looking at the stats is the turnover margin. Last week, West Virginia turned the ball over six times to an opportunistic Auburn team. If the Buffs want to win their first road game in two years and the third total since Dan Hawkins has been head coach, Colorado's defense needs to play aggressive and force turnovers. West Virginia has protected Jarrett Brown well, only giving up one sack on average a game. That being said, Colorado will have to walk the fine line of committing extra players for a pass rush while avoiding the big play from RB Noel Devine and Brown. If Colorado's defense contains the West Virginia offense tomorrow, it will be because the secondary. Defensive coordinator Ron Collins needs to feel confident that he can allow the linebackers to roam around the line of scrimmage to stop Devine and pressure Brown. That means leaving the safeties and corners on an island, keeping big plays to a minimum. This would be a great time to see Jimmy Smith, Cha'pelle Brown, Jalil Brown, Ben Burney, Patrick Mahnke and Anthony Perkins to make big plays, force a few turnovers and be consistent.

Any strong play from the defensive line is a bonus but I expect West Virginia to try and get them on skates early with a heavy dose of Devine. It will be key for the defensive line fill the gaps and play strong assignment football. A big part of being successful against the zone-read is to occupy your gaps and fill areas so the linebackers can make plays at the point of attack. If the defensive line plays out of position tomorrow it could be a very long day.

If the defense can get Brown and the West Virginia offense off the field the first few series and all the Buffs' running game to get in a rhythm, who knows what can happen. Colorado needs to play a perfect game on the road, get turnovers and find a way to have more big plays than West Virginia.

Players stats after the jump. Check back later for more discussion on the offense and the keys to the game.

Conf	National	Actual	Player	Category	Player	Actual	National	Conf
Rank	Rank	Actual	Player	Category	Player	Actual	Rank	Rank
		85.5	Rodney Stewart	Rushing	Noel Devine	106.67	16	2
12		105.74	Cody Hawkins	Passing Efficiency (Min. 15 Att./Game)	Jarrett Brown	151.16	28	4
7	T-49	229.33	Cody Hawkins	Total Offense	Jarrett Brown	335.33	6	1
5	T-22	6.67	Scotty McKnight	Receptions Per Game	Jock Sanders	9.67	3	1
9	48	75.67	Scotty McKnight	Receiving Yards Per Game	Jock Sanders	103	T-16	3
T-5	T-72	0.33	Benjamin Burney	Interceptions	Robert Sands	0.33	T-72	T-6
12	71	4.29	Jason Espinoza	Punt Returns (Min. 1.2 Ret./Game)	Jock Sanders	14.75	22	1
		26.3	Darrell Scott	Kickoff Returns (Min. 1.2 Ret./Game)	Mark Rodgers	26.6	32	3
21		6.33	Aric Goodman	Scoring	Noel Devine	10	T-21	3
23		76.33	Scotty McKnight	All-Purpose Runners	Noel Devine	142	32	2
T-10	T-58	0.67	B.J. Beatty	Sacks	Julian Miller	0.83	T-27	4
T-7	T-61	8.67	Jeff Smart	Tackles	Jt Thomas	7.33		6
		6.33	Cha'pelle Brown		Brandon Hogan	6.67		10
		6	Jimmy Smith		Pat Lazear	5		T-25
T-16		1	B.J. Beatty	Tackles For Loss	Jt Thomas	1.5	T-27	3
					Julian Miller	1.33	T-52	5
					Pat Lazear	1.17	T-73	8

Wednesday Buff Bites - Former Buff LB Lynn Katoa In Trouble Again

irish1611 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:36:34 -0000

Arrest warrant issued for former CU-Boulder linebacker Lynn Katoa - Colorado Daily
Former Buff Lynn Katoa continues to have problems with the law:

A judge issued an arrest warrant for former Buffs linebacker Lynn Katoa this morning after the once-promising University of Colorado football prospect failed to appear in court for a hearing. Katoa, 20, was scheduled for a sentence revocation hearing Wednesday morning after prosecutors alleged that he violated the terms of his three-year deferred sentence stemming from a 2008 incident in which he struck a man in the head with a rock at an off-campus party in Boulder. They claim Katoa has not undergone substance abuse monitoring and treatment since the beginning of the year -- violating the conditions of his sentence. Boulder District Judge D.D. Mallard set bond for Katoa at $10,000.

Just too bad that all of that talent is going to waste. Hopefully, Katoa can right the ship and get things figured out in his life.

Woelk: A little early for doomsday scenarios - Boulder Daily Camera
Neill Woelk wonders if maybe we should give the Buffs a second chance this season.

Offense seeks fast fix - Longmont Times

Coach Kiesau talks about some of the offensive deficiencies from week one. First he starts off by saying they had to abandon the run because they were down 17 points. Then he breaks the "no excuses" rule for 2009 by saying his team is still very young and finally, apparently Scotty McKnight's absence in the game made it difficult for coach Kiesau to get the plays to Cody Hawkins during the game. I guess since Scotty McKnight was out of the game, Kiesau needed to give special instructions to his replacement. Boy, I hope McKnight doesn't need a breather ever in a game again because the Buffs offense can't properly function without him in there. Glad we have practice!

more after the jump...

Charlie Weis, NBC contract among reasons fans hate Notre Dame - Stewart Mandel - SI.com
Stewart Mandel explores an avenue we haven't discussed very much. Could CSU actually just be really good?

Since you like to try your hand at prognosticating -- when will Al Groh be fired? Will he make it to the end of the season, or will UVA go all Clemson/Tommy Bowden on him? -- David, Washington D.C. Ah yes, the Week 1 hot seat. With the obvious exception of Oregon (and possibly Illinois), no one delivered a more discouraging opening-week performance than Colorado. Hawkins pledged this would be the year the Buffs turned the corner, but they seem plagued by the same things as last year -- shoddy quarterbacking, lack of playmakers and an offensive line that got physically dominated. As bad as it looked, however, I'm not giving up on Colorado just yet. For one thing, Colorado State may turn out to be pretty darn good. Steve Fairchild did a heck of a job in his first season, improving the Rams from 3-9 to 7-6, capped by a bowl win over Fresno State. Last season, Colorado State lost by less than a touchdown to both TCU and BYU. You could be looking at a Mountain West contender, in which case the Buffs' loss might not seem so incriminating down the road.

Scout.com: Scout Watch: Colorado at Toledo
Scout.com has confirmed that a few NFL scouts will be at this Friday's matchup. They think Toledo safety Barry Church is the main prize.

Scout.com has confirmed that representatives from the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be in Toledo, Ohio on Friday night to scout the Colorado Buffaloes and Toledo Rockets. There’s only one player in this game that’s highly regarded at his position and that’s Toledo safety Barry Church. At 6-foot-1, 219 pounds, Church has transformed his game from a playmaker to a steady defender who’s solid against the run. He’s an intelligent player that positions himself to consistently make plays and gives maximum effort down after down. He’s disciplined in his approach and keeps the action in front of him. He shows good awareness in the secondary, provides help over the top in coverage and has the physical mentality to clear the opposition out of the play cleanly. He’s an outstanding leader and a player that others look up to.

Other players of interest to the NFL scouts according to the article are Toledo QB Aaron Opelt, WR Stephen Williams and RB DaJaune Collins. The article names TE Riar Geer, OT Nate Solder and LB Jeff Smart for the Buffs. You have to think CB Jimmy Smith and OL Ryan Miller will get some looks as well.

CU’s Kiesau regrets fourth-down call : All Things Colorado Sports Colorado
"I wish I would have called a different play," Kiesau said. "I even said it right when I did it, I should have called something else."

CU tailback Scott wants more carries - The Denver Post
We've already discussed this article ad nauseum but once again, GIVE DARRELL THE BALL! "After meetings (Monday) it was like, 'We're going to try to work you in,' " Scott said. "That kind of reassured me on everything. (Getting carries) is what I was recruited for. We'll see on Friday. There's really not much I can say right now."

Markques Simas Would Not Have Played Against CSU Due to Injury - The Longmont Times-Call

Markques Simas, who’s suspended for Friday but also suffering from a leg injury that Cody Hawkins said would have kept him out Sunday, is expected to be OK for Wyoming on Sept. 15.

Newsradio 850 KOA - Toledo vs. Colorado Preview
Mark Johnson and Andy Lindahl preview the CU-Toledo Matchup

Monday Buff Bites - QB's Hansen, Evans to Redshirt; Coach Hagan Says Scott Not Hurt, Needs Carries

irish1611 — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 03:06:08 -0000

Drew Litton - InDenverTimes

View full size photo »

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of those who showed up for the live game thread on Sunday night. It was by far our most successful live thread with over 1,000 comments. It would have been easy for everyone to bail but we wanted to say thanks and appreciate you stopping by our site every day, every other day or whenever you get a chance. I wish it would have turned out better against Colorado State but we will still be here, we love college football and we love to talk about it...hope you continue to join us!

Hansen Ticketed For Redshirt; Scott For More Touches - CUBuffs.com
Coach Darian Hagan talks about the need to get Darrell Scott more involved in the offense, citing the lack of use last night due to being down 14 points or more throughout the game. Personally, I think they went away from the run too early, something Hagan would probably tell you behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, running backs coach Darian Hagan said Scott's lack of playing time against CSU was not because of injury (Scott tweaked a hamstring in camp), but rather because of "just how the game was going . . . he's not hurt at all. "We had to throw the ball and go away from our game plan. But in order for us to be successful, that guy's got to get the ball." Scott, who signed with CU two winters ago and was viewed as the nation's top tailback prospect by most recruiting services, carried once for a yard and ran for 14 yards after making a one-handed catch of a Hawkins screen pass. However, Scott returned five kickoffs for 138 yards, giving him a game-high total (153) in all-purpose yardage. Hagan said it wasn't necessary to have a postgame conversation with Scott, but added, "We just made eye contact and I knew what that meant." What? Said Hagan: "Give me the ball . . . let me help out." Scott "definitely" had a more prominent role in the game plan had the Buffs been able to stick to it, Hagan said. But CSU fashioned a 20-3 halftime lead, forcing CU into a catch-up mode after intermission. "We had a lot of stuff for him . . . it was just the way the game was dictated," Hagan said. "We can't allow ourselves to just be a running team when we're playing against the clock."

CU QBs Hansen, Evans plan to redshirt - Boulder Daily Camera
Backup QB Tyler Hansen has wisely asked to use a redshirt this year after Cody Hawkins was named starter for the first game against Colorado State. After wasting a year of eligibility in 2008 on a limited number of series, Hansen has to protect his future as a college football player as well. If Hawkins suffers a major injury, Hansen would probably have to come in but in minor injury situations, you should expect true freshman walk-on quarterback Seth Lobato.

Woelk: No excuses for Buffs` performance - Buffzone
Neill Woelk and Mark Kiszla had a few choice words for Dan Hawkins and his football program this morning, first up is Neill:

Maybe now we know why the media and fans were prevented from seeing the last couple of Colorado scrimmages. CU`s coaches were apparently afraid the truth might get out. But they couldn`t keep the secret safe forever. Sooner or later, the Buffs had to play in front of the public, and their effort left CU fans slackjawed Sunday night at a stunned Folsom Field. Simply, Dan Hawkins` Buffs were seemingly uninspired, definitely unprepared and certainly unable to do anything to stop underdog Colorado State on Sunday night.

Kiszla: Hawk deserves heat for bad stew - The Denver Post

You mean to tell me Dan Hawkins is going to risk his job as CU football coach with his son playing quarterback and ballyhooed recruit Darrell Scott sitting on the bench? That's madness. When time expired on Colorado State's 23-17 victory against the Buffaloes, Hawkins officially went on the clock.

Tick, tick, tick.

Big 12 Weekly Report Cards - ESPN
Tim Griffin of ESPN hands out week one grades for all the Big 12 teams and he appropriately gave the Buffs an F. As one of the few media members to mention the Buffs this offseason as a darkhorse of the Big 12 North, Griffin is right to be critical of the Buffs:

Colorado: F. Where do I begin? The Buffaloes were supposed to have a physical, dominating offensive line with heralded running back Darrell Scott as the key to their running game. After one carry against Colorado State, wonder if Scott is regretting he didn’t go to Texas? The Buffs looked slow and unorganized on offense and were repeatedly blistered by big plays on defense. Toss in a dropped TD pass and some late-game charity and the Buffaloes could have been beaten Sunday night by 20 points. And it won’t get any easier considering their short work week heading into the Toledo game.

more links after the jump...

Drew Litton: CSU Baffles Buffs | INDenverTimes - ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR PICTURE

On my grill for Labor Day. CROW. I was a very outspoken 2 years ago when CSU hired Steve Fairchild. It wasn’t necessarily about him, but more about the way that CSU pushed Sonny Lubick out the door. Regardless, I will be eating crow today. Lots of it. CSU, out-classed, out-played, out-coached, out-executed, out-ran, out-hit and clearly out-recruited the Colorado Buffaloes on Sunday night. Dan Hawkins, not one time, ever looked as if he even knew there was a game being played on Sunday night, and his son, Cody, wasn’t much better. But Cody can’t be blamed for a team that exhibited a complete lack of preparation. CU didn’t play at all like stoic Buffaloes but instead cowered more like deer in headlights. Please feel free to comment away about the game. For, me I apologize to those fans of Ram nation. Clearly I was wrong as to who made the better hire as their head coach. Now, does crow go OK with Tabasco sauce?

The Longmont Times-Call - Patrick Ridgell
Patrick Ridgell has a some quotes from the players after last night's game:

While Hawkins and his son, quarterback Cody, touched on some youth and injuries slowing the offense, they didn’t fling excuses out there like maybe we’d expect. Except for on one item. And here’s what a couple of players said: "I felt like we were focused in the locker room," tight end Riar Geer said. "As soon as we got out on the field, we let our nerves get the best of us. We lost focus in that sense. "As soon as they hit with that long pass, that really hurt us. Everybody’s confidence went down after that." And this, from Jeff Smart, about why CSU was able to run for 127 yards at better than five yards a carry in the first half: "It’s just on us," he said. "We did not put out the way we need to. We did not come out with the intensity we needed to. "They just wanted to line up and play smash-mouth football and that’s what they did." Asked why CU did not come out with intensity, Smart said, "I don’t know; that’s hard to say."

Scout.com: Colorado Thunders into the Glass Bowl
The Toledo Rockets scout.com site previews the Buffaloes after their game with the Colorado St. Rams and even they take a shot at Colorado's supposed vaunted rushing attack:

This year, the offensive scheme is designed to feature the run. First-year offensive coordinator Eric Kiseau plans to pound defenses early and often with Sumler and Scott running behind a mammoth offensive line. That should allow the Garrett Wolfe-sized Stewart and Lockridge some opportunities to make some big plays later in games. Here’s your combination of thunder and lightning . . . a combination that CSU young linebackers and defensive linemen turned into a drip system.

Big 12 'hot and not' from Week 1 - Big 12 - ESPN
Tim Griffin give his "who's hot, who's not" in the Big 12 after week one...the Buffs usually end up on the "not" side of these things anyways so I am not surprised. It's like a weekly repeat continuing from last season:

Not: Colorado’s offense. The Buffaloes had trouble with the play clock all night long and produced only 29 rushing yards on 21 carries. And that’s from a Buffalo offense that was thought to have one of the Big 12 North’s most potent running games. It was the worst rushing performance for the Buffaloes since producing minus-27 yards against Florida State in 2007.

Steve Fairchild Was Right, The Colorado Buffaloes Look Silly

irish1611 — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:29:14 -0000

More photos » by Jack Dempsey - AP

3 months ago: Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins reacts to a call during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State in Boulder, Colo. on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Browse more photos »

I fell for the propaganda and for that I apologize to the loyal group of Colorado Buffaloes' fans who grace this site. I fell for the "doctored" information that was coming out of the "closed practice" regime's information department and believed a change was a coming. I failed to look behind the plethora of one word distasteful answers from Dan Hawkins to the media because too many secrets were being let out on blogs like the Ralphie Report for opponents to see.

I glazed over the facts: Quarterback has not improved. The coaching staff has not proven to us in the past or yesterday that they know how to effectively utilize play makers (all the indication we needed was Josh Smith transferring). This group of coaches has made excuses during the season and promised the world in the offseason in the past. In the ultimate definition of dealing with adversity and being a successful team, I overlooked the fact that Colorado has won only twice on the road in Dan Hawkins' term. The defensive line is young and weak. The offensive line is all potential with the belief they might be good but with no prior history of results. At wide receiver, the Buffs have one player who has done anything in a division one game. I believed that a change in the offense would bring the smash mouth back to Colorado football but realized after a sweep wide on 4th and one that no offensive scheme can teach will, toughness and desire to get something accomplished but rather something that you have inside. Too many times we have seen lackadaisical performances, little energy and no response to sudden change during a game.

Shame on me, shame on me.

I never thought I would feel this stupid after a football game.

The best part about this post is I am not going to bring up one statistic. All I needed to hear after the game was one quote from one player to provide all of the ammunition as to why the Colorado football program is failing and quickly becoming the laughing stock of the Big 12.

After this comment by our team captain, I am plain dumbfounded and angered by what is considered acceptable in Boulder:

"I think we kind of might have overlooked CSU a little bit," Riar Geer said. "We were pretty confident going into this game and they came out and played great. They came out and hit us in the mouth those first few drives. You`ve got to take your hat off to them."

Overlooked?

I am stuck pondering the answer to this question: How can a team captain allow HIS team to overlook the first game, a rivalry nonetheless, of "a change in Boulder season where the goal is 10 wins, no excuses." But maybe Riar Geer, Marcus Burton or Jeff Smart don't feel it is "their team." Anytime you hear that quote, you know you have a problem in leadership and at the top of the program.

Apparently, this team isn't that hungry after a 5 - 7 season. Apparently this team thinks it is good enough to just show up and look ahead to who? Toledo? Wyoming? Or to the party on the Hill?

I quote a corny movie moment from "Remember the Titans" that is very applicable in this situation: "Attitude reflects leadership, captain." Leadership; the most underrated quality in life and in sports. The Buffs don't have any and if they do, it has fallen on deaf ears.

The high and mighty 5 - 7 worst offense in the Big 12, "10 wins, no excuses" Colorado Buffaloes "overlooked" the lowly 7 - 6 bowl winning Colorado State Rams team under second year head coach Steve Fairchild, who did something we all thought of as crazy this offseason and something we haven't heard at Colorado in a long time.

He criticized a player to the media, he expected more from his team, more from his quarterback and until he got that performance, he wasn't going to let up or be satisfied. He told Dan Hawkins in an indirect message to his team that if we practice like this, we are going to lose to Colorado. He mocked Dan Hawkins and the Colorado program by calling them "silly" for moving the game to Boulder and he mocked Colorado's decision to not name a starter between their two very talented quarterbacks until game day by nonchalantly telling the media when Grant Stucker was walking off the practice field that he was going to be the quarterback for Colorado State. Steve Fairchild has a little competitiveness, a little attitude, a little bully, a little underdog role in him and it is cleary reflected in his players. And the best thing is he wants that and expects that. He has expectations for his players and they know it.

What sort of traits have we seen from Dan Hawkins that we should expect to be reflected in the Buffs that make a difference on the football field, not supposedly in life 10 years down the line?

I don't know and that is a tough thing to realize.

But who am I to question anything to do with the high and mighty Colorado football program who have been so successful the past four years that they can overlook the Colorado State Rams at home in Boulder. I am just internet scum who doesn't know anything about anything.

Call me anything you want but today, the program looks "silly" just like Steve Fairchild said a few months ago. Think about it. Who do they think they are? They overlook the Rams, shut down practices to the fanbase, give the media one word answers, not allow folks like Kyle Ringo and Tom Kensler to opportunity to do their jobs and report on the Buffs, call a fan base the scum of the world, call former Buff and current broadcaster Joel Klatt out for criticizing the team's spread offense last year because he has not coached before, not name a quarterback for deception, move the game from Denver to Boulder to strong arm the Rams...heck, we high and mightily referenced ten wins! Boy, the Colorado football program looks "silly" this morning. I for one am sick of looking silly.

The worst part is the Colorado State fans ran onto Folsom and I don't even know if the program cared. There was no Tim Tebow speech from anybody in the Colorado program last night and as much as you dislike Tim Tebow, he gets this statement: "Attitude reflects leadership, captain." He also wins games. He wins national championships.

Steve Fairchild, like the rest of the Big 12 and Colorado State fans, must really be enjoying themselves this morning. Colorado State surely didn't overlook the Buffs. And it showed.

"Attitude reflects leadership, captain." "Attitude reflects leadership, coach." It all starts at the top.

Wednesday Buff Bites - Experts Pick Buffs, Toledo's Top RB Suspended

irish1611 — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 02:40:46 -0000

Scout.com: 2009 CFN Big 12 Expert Picks, Schedules, More
College Football News' "experts" pick the Big 12 games for week one and all but one believe the Buffs will cover 11 points.

Rockets' Williams suspended - Top rusher out 2 games; 2 others also punished
Sophomore running back Morgan Williams, the Rockets' leading rusher last season, will sit out the first two games of the season, while senior linebacker Daris Quinn and senior safety Chris Faison will miss the season opener at Purdue on Saturday. Hat tip to CleBuffs for finding this.

The View From Dan Hawkins Office - Endzone's Painted...Anyone Else Ready???

Woelk: Financial sense trumps tradition for Buffs, Rams - Boulder Daily Camera
Neill Woelk of the BDC wishes college games were always played on campus but he also realizes that playing in Denver "could mean as much as an extra $10 million for CU over the lifetime of the deal."

Ranking the Big 12's defenses - Big 12 - ESPN
Tim Griffin of ESPN ranked the Buffs' offense 8th yesterday and he has a better feeling about the defense: 6. Colorado:

The Buffaloes are faster this season and that should help them cope with the high-powered offenses in the Big 12. The linebackers are deep with Shaun Mohler and Jeff Smart as the prime producers. And I really like the secondary, with Jimmy Smith and Cha’pelle Brown among the best pair of cornerbacks in the conference. The biggest concern is along the defensive line, particularly after the injury of heralded freshman Nick Kasa that may idle him for the season. One area to note will be at right defensive end, where sophomore Lagrone Shields and freshman Forrest West are in the two-deep. Shields has played four snaps in his career.

Oregon-Boise State: Travel squad - no Jackson - Behind The Ducks Beat
Former Buff commit, current Oregon wide receiver Diante Jackson is not on the travel list for the Oregon's first game against Boise State. The Ducks are bringing nine wide receivers excluding Diante. Boy, anyone have any doubt that Diante wouldn't be playing this week for the Buffs? In fairness to Jackson, he has been injured most of fall camp.

2009 Commit QB/Ath Josh Moten Officially Listed as a Non Qualifier in the CU Notes

The Longmont Times-Call - Effort, smarts earn CU’s Cunningham spot as top tackle

Starting Guard for the Rams "Day to Day"- The Denver Post
The Rams starting offensive guard Shelley Smith was held out of practice Tuesday due to a sprained ankle and his status is unknown for the game. Shelley is a fifth-year senior post- season honors candidate.

CU Stewart turns corner, gets back up to speed - The Denver Post

It's been nearly three weeks since Colorado running back Rodney "Speedy" Stewart has felt like himself on the field. But Tuesday, the CU sophomore said he's turned the corner. Stewart participated in his most extensive practice since injuring his left hamstring Aug. 13 and came out of it all smiles. "It's getting better, it's definitely getting stronger," Stewart said. "The issue with it last week was it's kind of weak, so they didn't want me practicing. But now I can make my cuts. It might hurt a little bit, but I can finish strong." At this point, Stewart says he's about 80 percent healthy. By the time Sunday's game against Colorado State rolls around, Stewart says he expects to be about 90 percent.

CU Buffs' Darrell Scott seeks redemption - Colorado Daily

Saturday Buff Bites - CSU Announces Starting Quarterback, 8 Days Away From Opener

irish1611 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:01:02 -0000

Stucker to start at QB for Rams | The Coloradoan
Steve Fairchild has named his starter for the showdown. Grant Stucker, the 6-foot-2, 203-pound quarterback, will start his first game for the Rams. "Stucker played in four games last fall, completing 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards in a loss at Utah and running four times in the other three games for 43 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown run in the New Mexico Bowl."

Stucker has the opportunity to be successful this year with two strong receivers and an offensive line that returns a lot of experience. The running backs are a question mark but if they get anything out of them and Stucker, this could be a decent offense.

Buffs get one more chance to impress - Boulder Daily Camera
Kyle Ringo highlights many positions that will be decided in tonight's final scrimmage going into the Colorado State game, including quarterback.

Cody Hawkins or Tyler Hansen? The Colorado coaching staff is expected to determine which player will be the starting quarterback this season after tonight`s final scrimmage at Folsom Field. And then Dan Hawkins will try to keep the decision a secret until the Buffs kick off the 2009 campaign against Colorado State on Sept. 6.

Big 12 mailbag: Why I flip-flopped to Kansas this week - Big 12 - ESPN

Tim Griffin of ESPN thinks WR Markques Simas will be one of two surprise players in the Big 12 once he returns from his suspension and believes Andre Simmons is a great addition to the Buffs team, saying all he has done at the high school and junior college level is win. Definitely a good synopsis of Simmons.

Jones, Lions make an early statement - The Denver Post
CU Buffs 2010 commit, RB Mister Jones, had a nice start to his senior season, going for 115 yards on 11 carries including a 61 yard score in the third quarter.

Jeff Bzdelik prepared for the tough road ahead with Colorado Buffaloes - ESPN
Andy Katz of ESPN has a good read diagnosing Jeff Bzdelik and the Colorado Buffaloes basketball program.

Hawkins won't name Colorado starting QB until day of CSU game - Boulder Daily Camera
Two position updates: It is believed that the quarterback position will be decided tonight but not announced until gametime agains the Rams. G Ethan Adkins has won the other starting guard spot and will see his first collegiate action against Colorado St.

Watch for these freshmen across the Big 12 - College Football Nation - ESPN

Colorado: Freshman defensive end Forrest West is mature enough physically to compete for playing time immediately from early in the season. Coaches rave about his quick learning abilities and his physical skill. They think he can position himself into the rotation early in the season.

Many more links after the jump...

Fall Camp: Special (Teams) Delivery? - CUBuffs.com
Coach Kent Riddle describes the last three's as bad, average and bad when referring to the play of his special teams units. I would say last year was horrific, but that is me. Riddle believes that the increased depth will make this year's performance much stronger.

The Longmont Times-Call - Game day a test for CU O-line
Patrick Ridgell of the Longmont Times points out that while the Buffs offensive line is considered a strength due to the talent on the team, the downside is many of the offensive lineman will be playing their first games at the collegiate level:

There are some other facts that aren’t so comforting. Starting center Mike Iltis and right tackle Bryce Givens will take their first collegiate snaps Sept. 6. Left guard Ethan Adkins has participated in 41 plays over three games. Right guard Ryan Miller has 11 starts, including the first four of 2008 before a broken fibula ended his season. He received a medical hardship last year and remains a sophomore in eligibility. The graybeard is left tackle Nate Solder, a fourth-year junior and converted tight end who was in on all 843 offensive snaps in 2008. Miller, Iltis and Adkins are sophomores; Givens is a redshirt freshman.

CU's Smart embraces another role - Boulder Daily Camera

There are a lot of good stories on any football team. Brian Cabral's favorite from the 2009 Buffs is probably Jeff Smart's. "I think it's awesome," Colorado's legendary linebackers coach said. "For a walk-on to become a captain ... that says volumes about him."

Brooks: Receivers Are 'Hands-On' - CUBuffs.com
Colorado's receiving corps is a work in progress -- with the emphasis being on hard work and precision.

Week 1 Pick 'Em: Great matchups right away Week 1 Pick 'Em - CBS Sports

Colorado State at Colorado (Sept. 6, 7 p.m.) Outside of Colorado, this game might go unnoticed if it were not on a Sunday in primetime. During the Bill McCartney/Rick Neuheisel/Sonny Lubick days, the Colorado/Colorado State rivalry was an event that drew national attention. Now that both programs continue to rebuild under Dan Hawkins (Colorado) and Steve Fairchild (Colorado State), the game has lost some of its luster. We can't promise this game is going to be one for the ages since both programs are unsettled at quarterback and many other positions. Colorado won this game in 2008 (38-17) and hold the all-time record (59-19-2). Hurc's breakdown: Can I choose the flip-a-coin method? Even if Colorado has to use Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen at quarterback, they still are in a little better situation heading into the season.

Colorado State making a home out of Central Florida's recruiting hotbed -- OrlandoSentinel.com

Simmons has Buffs' opener in his sights - The Denver Post
Anthony Wright, who converted from cornerback to wide receiver this past week, was asked how the move was going and what the biggest difference was:

The biggest difference between playing cornerback and wide receiver? Sophomore Anthony Wright pointed to the bulging spiral binder tucked under his arm. Wright said he was "kind of like joking, but being serious" when asking Hawkins on Saturday if he could get a tryout at wideout. "Man, (wide receivers) have a big playbook," Wright said Wednesday. "It's a whole different language. I walk around with it all day. I don't look at it during class, though."

Evans, Lobato ahead in battle for No. 3 QB : All Things Colorado Sports Colorado

The Longmont Times-Call - Geer, Burton overcome adversity to earn spots

New punter ready for CSU opener

Pete Kontodiakos, a true freshman out of Tarpon Springs, Fla., was named to high school All-American teams by USA Today, EA Sports/ESPN.com and MaxPreps.com and was rated the top punting prospect in the nation by Ray Guy's ProKicker.com. So far, CSU coaches said, he's lived up to the billing. Although he shanked his first kick in his first scrimmage at Hughes Stadium nearly three weeks ago, every one of his punts during scrimmages since then have gone at least 40 yards, and Thursday night, he booted back-to-back 55-yarders, both with tremendous hang time.