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CU offense eager to show its progress
Last year Buffs struggled in their spring game
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Last year fans needed blankets for Colorado’s spring game.
And pillows.
If not for Mason Crosby’s right leg, there wouldn’t have been anything to cheer — or stay awake for — as the Buffs’ offense struggled as much to get out of its own way as it did against the defense.
Dan Hawkins hopes to share the progress he believes the offense has made in his second spring as head coach during Saturday’s 1 p.m. spring game at Folsom Field.
“Certainly we didn’t have a lot of offensive production last year. That’s good defensively but not so good offensively,” Hawkins said after Thursday night’s practice. “We’d like to see some of that. ... I think we’re way different. I think we’ll have a whole different complexion. So we’ll see.”
The quarterback situation is a lot more promising at CU right now than it was during the 2-10 misery that was the Buffs’ 2006 season.
Bernard Jackson, last year’s surprise starter, is now third on the depth chart and expected to be used mainly as a receiver. Junior college transfer Nick Nelson and redshirt freshman Cody Hawkins have upgraded the position and are expected to compete for the starting job throughout fall camp.
The Buffs could use some touchdowns — no matter who throws them — to end the 15-practice spring session with some confidence.
“I think it’s just important for the whole offense, because ever since the end of last season we’ve really been focusing on getting a lot better,” Cody Hawkins said. “We’ve done that. We’ve accomplished our goals and made huge strides. Now we want to go out and show what we can do. To have some success and have fun doing it would be a huge thing for us.”
Dan Hawkins isn’t ready predict a shootout victory over Oklahoma like Boise State’s one shining BCS moment at the Fiesta Bowl. But the chains should be on the move a lot more when CU’s offense is on the field this fall.
“I think their efficacy has helped the rest of the club too,” Dan Hawkins said. “I think both those guys have done a decent job. We’ll see.”
Cody Hawkins’ roommate is wide receiver Scotty McKnight, who was a high school teammate of Nelson’s. So as soon as the competition arrived on campus the coach’s son was ready.
“Anybody who is friends with Scotty has got to be a good kid. And Nick came out with a great attitude and wanted to work and he really wanted to be at Colorado,” Cody Hawkins said. “He didn’t have an attitude at all. He came in and put his nose to the grindstone and had fun doing it. Just being around him made me better and made me work harder. It’s a pleasure to have him on the team.”
Crosby, who is expected to be taken on the first day of the NFL draft later this month, will have his jersey honored in a special ceremony at halftime. The two-time All-American will be the 25th player to have his name and number on the Fred Casotti Press Box facade inside Folsom Field.
Notable
Offensive lineman Erick Faatagi and defensive end Drew Hudgins are not expected to play on Saturday due to injuries. ... Dan Hawkins said he cringed when a player was injured during Oklahoma’s televised spring game. “No. 1, I don’t want to see anybody get hurt,” he said. ... The scheduled sale of CU authentic-game-worn athletic gear will be moved into Balch Fieldhouse beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday due to the weather. ... The annual Healthy Kids Day event is still scheduled from 10:30 a.m. to noon on the Folsom Field stadium floor.
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Posted by buffsoulja on April 13, 2007 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
highly doubtful with a crybaby qb and weak running game welcome back to the bottom of the north where you overrrated chumps belong. cally the clown gonna be job searching after this season.
Posted by impag10 on April 13, 2007 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm pretty sure any advantage the huskers offense has will be offset 2fold by Watson
Posted by buffsoulja on April 13, 2007 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
how dare you say that!!!!!!! you know that every player and coach that represents the red and white are all-world, best of the best coaches and players. you have to be to beat ONLY the buffs 2 years in a row. how tall were the receivers in those games v texas tech77, colorado62 and kansas??? could have used those "x-men" v OU and auburn. i love how buffblunder and tommy boy bring meaningless "garble" in here and i guess it is suppose to terrify us. no one fears the bugeaters anymore. who is on the preseason schedule this year, omaha city college, kearney school of mines and scottsbluff communtity college? gota build that confidence up ladies!! i think we play csu, asu and fsu. "preseason" creampuffs are a husker tradition thanx to that coward osbourne. BREAKING NEWS- they just found erin crouch's right thumb buried deep under the 30 yard line at folsom. they have almost recovered all his "parts" after being mangled and dismembered one november afternoon in 2001.
Posted by buffsoulja on April 13, 2007 at 12:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
keller's new records: most tantrums in a season, most calls home to "mommy" after being yelled at in practice, and getting the most hugs and "it's okay's" from the coaching staff after interceptions. can't wait for dizon to have that baby thinking he's batman after pummeling that sissy deep into folsom next to that previous busker punk crouch. you got your trust in whiny pouty crybaby that "QUIT" when the going got tuff. of course him being YOUR hero makes perfect sense. "moma's" boy or dady's boy----YOU DECIDE??
Posted by mccaincu on April 13, 2007 at 12:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Antiquated stadium? DrTom, you do realize that your precious Memorial stadium is slightly less attractive than a parking garage, right? Then again, maybe the husker faithful have a shared fetish for unending stretches of bland, gray concrete... I suppose it would match the scenery around lincoln...
Posted by buffsoulja on April 13, 2007 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yea i heard cally the clown tried to get out of the USC game but USC would not turn down a "sure thing". nebraska is a "creampuff" on usc schedule and totally messes up their national title chances. wow cally is 1-0 versus hawk, sign him to a long term deal today!!!, oh wait he can't beat OU, UT or a big 12 title. it's sad and funny when busker fans and csu lam fans sound the same. "WE BEAT THE BUFFS!!!! WE BEAT THE BUFFS!!!!! who cares about the rest of the season WE BEAT THE BUFFS!!!! WE BEAT THE BUFFS!!!!!! heck they even named their stadium after sonny for beating the buffs.. maybe they can name one of those 9,000 practice fields after cally the clown for his 1-0 record versus the buffs. 10 years of sorryazz football and you are in here bragging about gold plated weight rooms, tall receivers and 1-0 record of cally v hawk. sad and pathetic. maybe your "dribble" gets you props in husker chat rooms but we just think you are silly and delusional. just stop bothering us until you have something "meaningful" to brag about.
Posted by buffsoulja on April 13, 2007 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
don't forget all those purdy nebraska state trees errrrr telephone poles that surrond that eyesore. and gray is a wonderful color for an institution, ask students at csu pueblo.
Posted by OUBuff on April 13, 2007 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NurseTom... I am sure you remember those Lincoln stadium improvements of the past; the ones where they sand off the numbers from the wooden bench seats then brand the numbers closer together. Great way for more seating, but it is tough on the normal sized people given all the extra space those Husker Winter Girls require. Of course, most of those "Winter Girls" are Bug Eater cheerleaders relegated to the sidelines. You probably have never attended a game in Lincoln (except maybe high school powderpuff) so I am sure you don't believe the wooden seat thing. I assure you when you say riding the pine in Lincoln you are talking about the fans, not just the NU players that manage staying out of jail.
Posted by buffsoulja on April 13, 2007 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
keep "chirpn" on your "program making" victories v the BUFFS. whatever you gotta tell yourself to avoid the sad truth that your "glory" days are forever OVER. no more big 12 titles, no more bcs games, no more heismans, no more wins over UT and OU, no top ten errrrr top 20 rankings, so called blackshirts are now pink shirts. and when we smash you punks in boulder and take back what is rightfully OURS(NORTH) then you come in here and talk smack about how you have baseball and we don't or how terrible it is to live in colorado and any other of your silly nonsense. how about how your offensive lineman can bench press 2 john deeres at once. BUFF FANS BRAVE THE ELEMENTS AND CU TOMORROW AT 1PM. I B DA 1 NDA KOY DETMER JERSEY. GO BUFFS!!!!!! SHULDA2SHULDA!!!!!!
Posted by dabuffs50 on April 13, 2007 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whens football season, I am sick of this practice s___t and Baseball sucks
Posted by extrapoint on April 13, 2007 at 7:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
ditto on the "boys of slumber." Right now, the Stamley cup playoffs just began. No Avs of course, but root for the Flames. Colorado Springs kid named David Hale plays defense for them.
Dont like hockey?
put some skates on and get down to the rec center. If you dont wimp out before you learn you will be hooked. There are plenty of beer leagues for every age and talent level.
Posted by woody_rash on April 14, 2007 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
God you NE guys are lame. If not for the sheer humor I feel picturing your sitting in your trailer eating co-co puffs and spending time on OUR site, your blogs are not worth responding to.
Posted by buff4ever on April 14, 2007 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, I have been watching the spring game and our offense looks incredible. Amazing what two years removed from Watson can do for a team. We know that will be at least three more years for Nebraska. Boise State over Oklahoma, who embarrased Nebraska all over again! CU is coming, can you here us Nebraska, your stint as a pathetic one time Big 12 North winner the past 7 years is over.