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CU's new offense brings defense up to speed, too
Hurry-up approach testing young DBs
The offense definitely had its way with the defense in the first scrimmage of Colorado spring football practices on Saturday, using a hurry-up attack to rack up more than 300 yards in both rushing and passing.
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Share and Enjoy The hurry-up approach -- something defensive backs coach Greg Brown refers to as "fast-break football" -- would seem to be a nightmare for defensive coaches who are teaching a herd of young defensive backs. The truth is those coaches really like it.
"It's awesome," defensive coordinator Ron Collins said. "It's so good for us to get out there and have to face that every day because we're going to see a lot of it during the season."
The Big 12 has become a league dominated by passing teams and spread offenses in recent years. Not all those teams run without a huddle, but a trend started by Missouri seems to be headed in that direc-tion.
Missouri and Kansas both used the hurry-up last season with their offenses rarely huddling and looking to the sideline for play calls delivered via hand signals and flash cards. Those teams also found themselves playing in one of the biggest regular-season games of the year in November in Arrowhead Stadium with the Big 12 North Division championship on the line.
Colorado fared well against Kansas last season, playing the Jayhawks close and finding ways to lose the game. Missouri walloped the Buffs in a game that wasn't competitive after halftime. Missouri simply had too many weapons, too much speed and an offense that made substituting extremely difficult. Practicing against that approach every day might cut down on the need for those substitutions next season.
"I think it's helping us," CU cornerback Cha'pelle Brown said. "Any team that runs a speed offense we'll be ready for it and in shape, but, really, most teams don't. So that means we'll be in shape for whatever comes to us."
Greg Brown is trying to teach and critique a group of seven cornerbacks this spring in search of two new starters, and sometimes he hardly has enough time between plays to blurt out a few words before the offense is at the line ready for the next snap.
Brown said none of his young cornerbacks has clearly established himself as a player he can count on through the first eight practices. He said each player has had some good and bad days. But the number of plays being run by the offense is giving them more opportunities to get it right.
"It's the best possible conditions to force you to grow up in a hurry because, hey, let's face it. It's hard enough if you go against a standard, slower-paced offense where they huddle up and you have time to think about it," Brown said. "You get your assignment in the huddle and you go out and you execute it.
"That's hard enough to do when you're young and struggling and trying to figure out your place in the system. Now compound that by going 100 miles an hour without the huddle. It's extra hard and it's forcing guys to sink or swim."
Notable
Monday's practice was the first this spring in which the entire team was present and accounted for, aside from suspended linebacker Lynn Katoa and suspended tight end Riar Geer. ...This Saturday's scrimmage will begin at 10 a.m.
Posted by BuffMan6236 on April 8, 2008 at 12:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a difference two years makes. Offense then couldn't connect a call, much less on a play.
So offense is humming, but defense has got to turn it up a notch. We got scorched several times last year; Missouri, Nebraska and K-State (ugh) and that can't happen this year.
Running the ball with authority will help that tremendously, but more pressure up the middle is going to be key to keeping other teams from throwing the ball all day on us. Scott, Polk and Hypolite have big roles to fill in 2008!
GO Buffs!
Posted by kimolukela on April 8, 2008 at 6:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Our D-Backs are going to be tested all year long. The Big 12 is going to be as competitive as last year if not more so. As the saying goes, "Offense wins games but Defense wins Championships!" Anyone live in the DC or MD area?
Posted by dcbuffs on April 8, 2008 at 6:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kimolukela - go to dcbuffs.org for information for CU Alumni and Buff fans in DC/MD/VA
Posted by kimolukela on April 8, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, I'm moving to the area, so I'll definitely check it out!
Posted by DCBuff on April 8, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
kimolukela - I live in Arlington, VA and work in DC. We have a pretty good alumni base out here as well.
I'm going to be in Boulder this weekend. I read somewhere that saturday's scrimmage was at 1 pm and now this article has it at 10 am. Can someone confirm or let me know which one is the correct time. Thanks.
Posted by MDBuff on April 8, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is there a MD or DC sports bar the carries the games?
Posted by montanabuff on April 8, 2008 at 8:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
DC Buff - yes, it is 10 a.m. - www.cubuffs.com
I hope that Greg Brown can find two CB's this spring who stand out above the rest. The Buffs have ranked in the 100's in pass defense the last few seasons(and that was with All-Big 12 CB Terrence Wheatley). If we can't put up a good pash rush, and can't stop the deep ball, we are going to have to put up 30+ per game on offense just to stay competitive. Go Buffs!
www.cuatthegame.com
Posted by mikegetto on April 8, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good to hear that Sipili, Burton, Beatty, et. al. are back in pads and out on the field. These linebackers are talented and will have two intensive weeks in the spring to develop and get better going into summer conditioning.
I believe Sipili has an opportunity to be an all-conference perfomer by the time he is through in Boulder.
Posted by kimolukela on April 8, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Regardless of who starts, our corners are going to to be picked on all season. Brown is going to need some good Blitz packages to keep the pressure on.
Posted by MinnesotaBuff on April 8, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The pass rush has to be drastically improved from last year. Our corner backs just aren't good enough to cover elite wideouts for an extended period of time.
I hope guys like Obi and Hudgins can break through this year.
Do any of you who went to the scrimmage see any breakout performers among the D-Line?
Posted by DCBuff on April 8, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks MontanaBuff!
Posted by jimmylBuff on April 8, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If we run the spread offense over 50% of the time what sense does it make to move a freshman All-American to fullback? I don't see the point in only playing Maiva at best in 50% of our offensive plays at fullback instead of 100% at guard.
Screw the Huskers!
Posted by LAbuffAlum on April 8, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MontanaBuff - here is another good site for buff related items, www.allbuffs.com
kimolukela- there are a number of DC area CU fans on that site as well.
Posted by montanabuff on April 8, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks, LAbuffAlum www.allbuffs.com looks great.
It's hard to believe (especially when we can't sell out a 54,000 seat stadium but once or twice a year) that there are so many die hard Buff fans out there. Go Buffs!
Posted by LAbuffAlum on April 8, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Too many of us live out of state, if I Lived in CO it be at every game but getting there from here is expensive.
Posted by rodrigo on April 8, 2008 at 6:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ditto that.
Posted by montanabuff on April 8, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I feel your pain. I have a 1,400 mile roundtrip to make to home games (ever driven through eastern Wyoming?). Still a season ticket holder, though, and I make to three or four home games/year (other tickets go to Buff fans, don't worry). Would like to make more, but, as you say, it's getting more and more expensive.
Go Buffs!
www.cuatthegame.com
Posted by phibuffa on April 9, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I live in L.A. now but I intend to keep my season tickets until they pry them from my cold, dead hands.
I kind of like the Maivaia move the more I think about it. With more people going towards the fancy, no-huddle spread offenses, their defenses might not be as prepared to face a 270 lb fullback and a power offense that just pummels them and sets them up for the long ball. We'll see how effective it is, but teams that start their own trends seem to stay ahead of teams that follow them.
Posted by NCHusker on April 10, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Errr...you guys want Josh Williams back?
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