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Hawkins turns eye to Buffs' defense
Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins is a former fullback and admits to spending much of his time thinking offense.
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This spring he plans to change that.
Hawkins said he is making an effort to spend more of his time in practices focused on the defense, helping players and coaches on that side of the ball. He kept his word on the first day of spring drills Monday, spending the majority of a two-hour practice mingling with players in white jerseys on the north end of the field while the offense worked in black on the south end.
"I think a lot of reasons," Hawkins said. "It has more to do with -- and I've coached on both sides of the ball before -- what I don't want our guys thinking is, 'The head coach, he's an offensive coach.' I don't want them thinking that because you win games with defense. So I want to spend more time with those guys over there, loving 'em up and being involved with what's going on there."
Some key position battles will take place this spring and in fall camp on the defensive side, including filling two cornerback jobs and finding a pass-rushing defensive end.
Short on tight ends
With junior Riar Geer suspended and several recruits not yet on campus, the Buffs opened spring practices with little experience and few bodies at tight end.
The spring roster features just four tight ends and the most experienced man among them is Patrick Devenny, a converted quarterback who earned limited playing time last season.
Devin Shanahan, New Mexico transfer Luke Walters and new walk-on Kyle Tompane round out the group for tight ends coach Kent Riddle.
"There is always a little bit of concern there, but we'll be fine. These guys will step up," Riddle said.
Notable
Linebacker Josh Hartigan left the field with his neck in a brace after a hard hit and was taken for a precautionary magnetic resonance imaging test. ... Offensive lineman Erick Faatagi did not attend practice because of a scheduling conflict. He is expected to practice today. ... Three veterans are wearing different numbers this spring. Kai Maiava is now No. 40 after moving to fullback. Nate Solder is No. 78 and wide receiver Josh Smith is No. 1. ... Former CU coach Eddie Crowder and former cornerback Terrence Wheatley watched from the sidelines. CU tight end recruit Will Pericak of Boulder High School was also at practice.
Posted by tallisal on March 18, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How hard is it going to be for Cody to win the starting QB job????
Please....
Ballenger will get the #2 and have to hope some type of injury gets him on the field...
Posted by CaliBuff on March 18, 2008 at 7:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Probably. I'm not convinced I really want Ballanger to start from the get go. Cody has a full year of experience under his belt.
Posted by badbuff on March 18, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Go Ballenger.....With So much speed on the outside I want someone at QB that can stretch the field....
If "Rocket " Ballenger has the "O" down let's see what he can do.....
Posted by ChicagoBuffsFan on March 18, 2008 at 7:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I look forward to the competition between Hawkins and Ballenger. On one hand, I like what I saw last year with Hawkins but I like what I’ve heard about Ballenger. I hope the coach figures it out soon so I can start sleeping again at night.
Lynn and Riar, keep your heads up and everything will work out.
GO BUFFS!!!!
Posted by montanabuff on March 18, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's nice to get to read about football again.
Still, I'm more interested in finding two starting cornerbacks than worrying about the qb situation. Hawkins has already indicated that the qb battle won't be settled until August. CU was 101st in pass defense last season, and that was with All-Big 12 Wheatley at the corner. We need to hope for some glowing reports about the young corners making good impressions!
Go Buffs!
www.cuatthegame.com
Posted by MDBuff on March 18, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hope things work out for Geer - we're really thin in the TE dept.
Posted by kimolukela on March 18, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with badbuff, and Hawke knows what is at stake if he starts to play favorites. He jeopardizes all of the team unity that he has already built. Despite what all the Cody critics think, the staff will give them both a shot. Cody is probably the favorite, but only because of his playing time last year. Especially considering that he got 6 wins in his first year against one of the toughest schedules in recent memory. Let's hold off on the QB bashing until August.
Posted by buffalo_flyer on March 18, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cody will win the job. He's got a huge advantage in terms of football knowledge and specifically the CU playbook knowledge. This offense is going to blossom into a multi-headed monster that will roll through the Big-12.
If we can find some good cornerbacks then we're headed to the BCS
Posted by copcobuff on March 18, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't assume things about anyone's advantage or disadvantage. The best qb will lead us, not the smallest or biggest. As far as arm strength there's no contest, Ballenger wins hands down but there's more to it. If the battle is close I'd like to see Ballenger, because of his size and arm strength, he isn't going to get experience on the bench.
Posted by tallisal on March 18, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If Cody starts (and he will) look for another season with 450 pass attempts to the TE and RB standing 5 yards aways from him to the side..
Hard to win ball games playing one dimensional football.
Posted by nwbuff32 on March 18, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cody will not need to pass that much. The offense will be far more run oriented. The offense will more than 60% running, just wait and see.
The phrase beating a dead horse comes to mind.
Posted by BuffNut99 on March 18, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ballenger would have to have an unbelievable Spring to launch him into a neck-an-neck battle for #1QB w/ Cody. The focus has to be on developing a dominating running game - whoever lands the top QB spot will have the job of not making huge mistakes - mistakes that Cody made in the first half of the season, but I believe he has learned. Ballenger might be a stud on paper, but its a different story when you have West Virginia breathing down your neck (he has no experience).
I'm concerned about the TE position now. With Geer out for potentially the year (and with the Solder experiment), the best TEs on the roster are the two incoming freshman, who won't get here until Fall. I think they need to get Solder back to TE.
Also concerned about the secondary. A photo of Anthony Perkins nearly spraining his ankle doesn't provide much insight...
Posted by RalphieWyoWyo on March 18, 2008 at 12:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would Cody have 450 pass attempts with the line we will have plus moving Kai Maiava to fullback and a stable of horses that should be running great this fall. I still remember that pancake block during the OK game when Maiava pushed that OU linebaker and pancaked him out of bounds (only a freshman) and then got a punch and shove for his good work. Must have been humbling for that guy to get schooled by a freshman!
Ball control and getting the defense off the field is the key.
The CU pass defense was bad because we weren't able to get the needed pass rush. Look at the Broncos, without a DL, Champ and Lynch get taken anyday.
Posted by tallisal on March 18, 2008 at 12:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cody threw 470 passes last season, the majority were little screen type passes which are really running plays but count on his passing stats...
Hawkins does not have the arm Ballenger does so I predict more of the same which is a one dimentional short passing and run game..
The OC said it himself in an earlier article, Ballenger provides the deep pass threat the other two QB's don't...
But now I notice the same PR as last season..
Coach Hawkins distances himself from the offense so he can "coach defense" therefore lessening the daddyball critics somewhat...
Posted by nwbuff32 on March 18, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Like I said, beating a dead horse.
Posted by copcobuff on March 18, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We either threw outs, flats, or over the top. Why? Over the middle was a problem, we rarely went there and when we did someones helmet or arm got in the way. Arm strength and height crippled us. How did Cody get experience? Oh, that's right he played in games. That's what Ballenger needs.
I too am concerned deeply about the tightend position. One guy out for legal problems, another moving to tackle, that leaves us with two guys, Devenny and Shanahan. OUCH!
We'll be a lot better at the pass rush this year but inexperienced in db department.
Posted by BuffNut99 on March 18, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do like the uniform # changes:
Josh Smith #1
Kai #40
Nice to get a photo of Simas in there as well - always wondered what he looked like.
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