SB Nation - Bryan Stengel

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

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

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

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

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

Brooks: Kiesau Embraces New Role - CUBuffs.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Markques Simas Suspended - Longmont Times

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

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

Many, many more links after the jump...

Buffs DE Kasa not looking back - Boulder Daily Camera

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

Brooks: Buffs A Closer Bunch - CUBuffs.com

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

The Buffzone Blog - A few minutes with RB Brian Lockridge

Optimistic Buffs open camp : Top Stories : Boulder Daily Camera

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

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

Coach Hawk Press Conference Transcription - CUBuffs.com

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

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

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

Scout.com: 2009 CFN Big 12 Preview

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

Young CU defense learning ropes - The Denver Post

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

Purify enjoys purity of semipro football - Colorado Springs Gazette

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

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

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

2009 - 2010 Buff Defense Class Breakdown

irish1611 — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:37:15 -0000

Here is the defensive class breakdown for the 2009 season as we stand today. Here is the offensive breakdown I posted last week. See analysis of the defensive squads after the jump...

2009 - 2010 Buff Defense Class Breakdown
2009 - 2010 Buff Defense Class Breakdown
Pos.	Senior	Junior	Sophomore	Freshman	Incoming
DT	Taj Kaynor	Eric Lawson	C Cunningham	Will Pericak	Nate Bonsu
DT	Tyler Sale*		Eugene Goree
DE		M Herrod	Lagrone Shields		Nosa Eguae
			Conrad Obi
			Tony Poremba*
			Kevin Cooney*
LB	Marcus Burton	BJ Beatty	Tyler Ahles	Lynn Katoa	None
	Shaun Mohler	Micheal Sipili	Josh Hartigen	Jon Major
	Jeff Smart	D Goldberg*	Brandon Gouin*	Doug Rippy
	Bryan Stengel*			G Sergent*
CB	C Brown	Jimmy Smith	Anthony Wright		Deji Olatoye
	Ben Burney	Jalil Brown	J Hawkins
			Lamont Smith
S		Bret Smith*	Patrick Mahnke	S Hicks	Parker Orms
			A Perkins	Vince Ewing
			T Sandersfield*	Paul Vigo***
			Matt Meyer*
P	Matt DiLallo
K		Aric Goodman	Jameson Davis
SP	J Drescher	A Bisnow*
* walk on / potential medical redshirt / * grey shirt 2008 class
Total	10	10	17	8	5
%	20.0%	20.0%	34.0%	16.0%	10.0%
Scholarship	8	7	12	7	5
Walk On	2	3	5	1	0

As you can see again, the sophomore class is, once again, extremely large compared to the other classes. Combining the offensive chart's 18 sophomore players, 35 of the total 100 players are in year number 2. If you add in incoming freshman, 63 of the total players are underclassmen. No excuses, right?

Just don't look at the defensive line spots. The Buffs seem to be in a good position on the offensive line, especially with the two new additions in the 2009 class. If they could add one more offensive lineman for depth, I feel good about that unit for the next 2 - 3 years. It is just the opposite for the defensive line. They all might be players but the fact that we haven't seen any substantial results from these guys scares me to death. Their are clearly depth issues as well. The fact that the front four were dead tired in the Nebraska game and the coaching staff refused to substitute any of these guys for a substantial period would conclude that this year could be a struggle upfront. Right now, the Buffs don't seem to be in on a ton of DL and DE which is extremely troubling. If the Buffs could get 2 - 3 JUCO players to fill this void, it would go a long way to solidifying the defense.

For as much as the defensive front might be a worry, the linebacker and corner positions must make all CU fans smile. LB coach Brian Cabral has a ton of talent to work with at the linebacker spot. The X factor of this whole unit will be Katoa and Major. If Katoa can right the ship and Major can fully recover from the ACL injury, this unit could be the best in the Big 12. If the defensive line situation does not improve, look for guys like B.J. Beatty, Marcus Burton and Michael Sipili to be a pseudo-defensive end/rush end all year. In the defensive backfield, the Buffs are young at safety but Anthony Perkins and Patrick Mahnke showed that they have some talent and stepped in pretty well as freshman last year. The Buffs will also get 2008 grey shirt S Paul Vigo in this year as well as S Steven Hicks and S Vince Ewing to add depth. You might also seem some slotted at corner back make the move back to safety (Jalil Brown would be a likey candidate to get more playmakers on the field). CU is also in on a few other safeties in the 2009 recruiting class that would provide much needed depth on both defense and special teams.

Now to the corners. This could rival the linebacker spot for the best unit on the team. Cha'pelle Brown and Ben Burney (2007 starter who was injured last year) return as well as juniors Jalil Brown and Jimmy Smith. Smith really stepped up last year and played a ton down the stretch. He looks to be piecing together the consistency that goes with playing corner as he has all of the physical attributes that you crave in a corner. The Buffs will play some good receivers next year and I expect Smith to be on all of them. If we could only generate a pass rush!

I am not going to talk about punters and kickers because we all know we need new one(s).

In summation, we can see the depth starting the build in certain spots but their are still some major concerns at a few positions: defensive line, wide receiver (could be fixed if Josh Smith progresses, Andre Simmons qualifies and Diante Jackson becomes a Buff) and can the Buffs win with their current situation at quarterback?

SB Nation - Bryan Stengel

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

2009 - 2010 Buff Defense Class Breakdown

2009 - 2010 Buff Defense Class Breakdown

DT

DE

LB

CB

S

P

SP