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CU makes plans for Black in red zone
Walk-on quarterback Kyle Black sure is getting a lot of snaps in Colorado spring football practices.
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When the Buffs hit the gridiron two weeks ago to kickoff preparations for the 2008 season, one of the primary questions on the minds of fans and observers was whether incumbent starter Cody Hawkins could hold on to his job and fend off redshirt freshman Matt Ballenger.
With five practices complete, it is now clear whoever starts will give way to another player on occasion next season. And that player is Black.
Coach Dan Hawkins said coaches hope to use Black at times in the red zone next season because he is a threat to run or throw. The transfer from Air Force, who sat out 2007, would be used in the same way coaches hoped to use Bernard Jackson last year before the senior became academically ineligible.
"We'd like to use him in situations next year," Hawkins said. "We want to be able to have some packages for him and be able to insert him because I think when you get in certain situations, particularly down in the red zone, that's one more guy. You're basically playing 12-on-11 that way. You've got a ball carrier and everybody else is blocking."
Black was the Rocky Mountain News prep player of the year in 2005 when he rushed and threw for more than 1,000 yards as quarterback at ThunderRidge High School. He left Air Force and joined the CU program last spring and sat out last season because of NCAA transfer rules.
Black, who attended Air Force under former coach Fisher DeBerry, walked into the quarterbacks meeting room and did a double take Thursday. The entire Air Force coaching staff was at CU to watch practices and meetings and participate in the annual coaches clinic.
Black said he is excited about the opportunities that might come his way in Boulder in the future.
"It should be interesting," he said. "It depends on how much they use me and where and when. If things go good, it will be pretty exciting to watch I think."
Mentor for
the missing
Linebackers Michael Sipili and Marcus Burton have missed several practices this spring as both try to come back from redshirt years last season.
Hawkins did not elaborate on why the two haven't been on the field, opting instead to say he is mentoring the young men. Burton was academically ineligible in the fall and Sipili was suspended. Both need this spring to work themselves back into the picture at linebacker and learn the defense.
"It hurts them," Hawkins said. "But in the long run, it will help them."
Notable
When asked about Nate Solder's conversion from tight end to tackle, Hawkins said, "He's doing pretty good. He really is. He's catching on fast." Solder appears to be working with what seems to be a starting offensive line consisting of Daniel Sanders at center, Erick Faatagi and Mike Iltis at guards and Ryan Miller at left tackle. ... Speaking of the tight end position, with Solder's move and Riar Geer's suspension, the only experienced player there this spring is Patrick Devenny, who played sparingly last season. "We went from a bevy to a dearth," Hawkins said.
Posted by kimolukela on April 4, 2008 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's go Ballenger! Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it to Boulder to watch the scrimmage, but I'm sure my fellow Buffs will keep me informed.
Posted by rodrigo on April 4, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Black in the redzone is a pretty intriguing notion. He might not be an every-down college qb but as senior at state-champion TRHS he was 83-of-151 for 1,547 yards, 15 touchdowns and five INTs passing and ran 140 times for 1,171 yards (8.4 yards per carry) and 12 tds. He's got wheels... Nebraska, Stanford and Oregon also recruited him out of high school.
Weird trivia: his grandfather was an All-American linebacker at KU.
Posted by extrapoint on April 4, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tallisall may slip into a coma. Black is only 5-11
Posted by Ldjbuff on April 4, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just another weapon Coach Hawk and staff put in the offense to give the opposing Defenses more to think about. Option plays,direct snaps,etc..
Posted by MinnesotaBuff on April 4, 2008 at 8:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Has anyone heard how the pass rushers are looking this year?
I'm really hoping that Hudgins can stay healthy and be a contributer. A guy like Obi could burst onto the scene as well.
Posted by BuffNut99 on April 4, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Burton and Sipili, what is going on? The wait is over to get back on the field and you can't even take care of your business? We really need these guys to play alot and contribute this year.
Posted by NorCalLovesDaBuffs on April 4, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is getting ridiculous. I don't remember Hawkins having any of these issues at Boise. Hawkins better keep getting top 15 classes if half the players are ineligible every year.
Posted by extrapoint on April 4, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ditto Minnesotabuff
Getting pressure on the qb is our greatest need. I was hoping Pericak could come in and be a rush end, but now the tight end position calls instead
Posted by mgmtgrad on April 5, 2008 at 12:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NorCal...
First of all, I not smashing Boise State when I say CU and Boise State are different, they just are; notice to Boise State’s fans: I didn't say better or worse, I just said different.
Within five years Boise State went from a division II team to a Cinderella Division I team that won the Fiesta Bowl in one of the most exciting games in college football history. They accomplished this feat against Oklahoma University, a top ranked BCS team with a long history and tradition of winning.
Every big program has problems with some recruits and I’m sure the bigger Boise State’s program became, the bigger the “day to day” business of managing the whole program became. Hawkins had to deal with the challenges of growing the team, the program and the facilities along with the “day to day business” that is typical of any competitive team.
The best part is, he not only learned from his experience, he ran it while it was happening.
The business part of what he accomplished is only a small portion of what he consummate in Boise. Think how huge that was; from recruits, to the facilities upgrades and fan base growth to division changes and etc.
Don’t think he didn’t have problems that he encountered as the team and program ascended through the ranks and grew, but I’m sure (as I pointed out above) he learned from it all, we just didn’t hear about in CO or Nationally because it wasn’t a BCS conference.
The long term plan is working out pretty well. As for the few recruits that struggle to make admissions or the team after LOI day, well most Division I schools deal with those same issues,
Marcus J
Posted by archalon on April 6, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope the coaches arent trying to do TOO much with these different looks. Will Helfrich have a brain freeze on 3rd and goal from the 1yd line if he has to decide between: Scott behind Maiava, Polk on a sweep, Black on a QB option, Hawkins throwing to a 6'5" TE or a slant to Simas\Clestine\et.al. ?
nice to have options, as long as coaches dont overthink it. On the bright side, so nice to be away from Watson's predictability.
Posted by Dr_VinniGoombatz on April 6, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I’m encouraged with this latest news concerning Black. When Dan, then Cody came on the scene I was concerned that a nepotism problem may hurt the teams recruiting AND field performance, but this latest news, and previous indications lead me to believe that Dan is handling it as well as possible, i.e. one can’t help favor your own; that’s what Dad’s do. I’m waiting to see how Black performs; go Dan on the road to the best head coach in CUs history, and go Cody; make your fathers faith a reality ;-)
Posted by Realist on April 7, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Archalon....Watson has done a good job at Nebraska. The offense averaged 468.2 Yds./game, 11th in the nation, in 2007. Offense was not the Huskers problem, defense was. It is hard to believe that the Huskers would score 51 points against Colorado and Lose the game. That's poor defense, not offense. Bo Pelini will fix that very soon. The Huskers will be back in the thick of the national picture in the not to distant future.
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