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Woelk: Colorado squanders golden opportunity
First, the realistic look: Nobody expected anything better than 3-1 after Colorado's first four games this year.
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The general consensus was that CU would win the first two and hope for a split in the West Virginia-Florida State stretch.
That's exactly what happened.
Now the bottom line: Never has a realistic perspective looked so sour.
What an opportunity the Buffaloes wasted Saturday in falling 39-21 to Florida State.
A year ago, the Buffs walked away believing they could have beaten Florida State.
Saturday, the Buffs walked away knowing they should have beaten Florida State. This was a squandered opportunity that will haunt the Buffaloes for the rest of the season-- if not longer.
Bobby Bowden's Seminoles were ripe for the picking. Even after Colorado handed FSU an early lead on a turnover, the Buffs had plenty of chances to take control. At least three different times, they had wonderful chances to take the lead.
Every time, they politelyrefused the offer.
A wide-open receiver with nothing but green grass in front of him overthrown. An interception. Another wide-open receiver and a guaranteed six -- overthrown again. A failed fourth-down conversion. A missed field goal.
Need more? How about a fumbled kickoff, a penalty and a blocked punt for a safety. Or, a kickoff return for a touchdown when the Buffs had finally managed to swing a little momentum back in their favor.
Yes, the Buffs gave one away. Meltdown is too strong a word -- but letdown isn't. Too many opportunities tossed aside and too many points left on the field.
What could have been -- make that should have been -- a huge step forward instead turned into a major step back.
Don't let the final score fool you. The 39-21 tally the nation sees this morning won't reveal the whole story.
FSU entered the game as a team waiting to collapse, a once-proud program with shaken confidence looking over its shoulder for the next sucker punch.
The Buffs could have dealt that blow -- but didn't.
As crazy as it sounds, the defense isn't to blame for this one. The Buff defenders did give up a 60-yard touchdown run, but otherwise, played well for most of the game. Good enough, anyway, to keep the Buffs in the contest until it became an impossible task.
The difference? Quarterback play and special teams.
If the Buffaloes are going to beat good teams, they need their quarterback to make plays, not mistakes.
Nobody is asking Cody Hawkins to carry the team. There are enough weapons elsewhere on CU's offense that it's not a requirement for the quarterback to be the difference maker.
But Hawkins also has to make plays when the opportunity arises -- and Saturday, he failed to make those plays.
Truth is, Hawkins has not had a good year. The youngster who showed plenty of promise down the stretch last year has struggled this season. Until Saturday, the Buffs had managed to overcome those struggles.
Their luck ran out Saturday. Three different times, Hawkins missed open receivers on plays that would have either put the Buffs in scoring position or put them in the end zone. Any one of those plays would have given CU the lead, put the Seminoles on their heels and changed the complexion of the entire game.
Instead, the mistakes gave FSU a second breath, and the Seminoles took full advantage.
Give Hawkins credit for this much: he stood up and pointed the finger at himself.
"I played poorly today," Hawkins said. "I think that loss is 110 percent my fault."
We wouldn't go that far. CU's special teams should absorb a decent share of that percentage.
Twice in four games this season, CU has allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown. That's not acceptable. Nothing squashes the momentum of a scoring drive like a kick return to the house.
Throw in the missed field goal that would have given CU a first-half lead, the blocked punt and safety, and CU's special teams were anything but.
Now back to realistic.
A good share of Buff fans will be screaming for a quarterback change this morning.
Not going to happen. It makes no sense. Young Hawkins still gives the Buffs the best chance to win -- but if he continues to play the way he played Saturday, those chances are dramatically diminished.
And, you don't make changes when you are 3-1. You don't panic. Particularly if your only option is turning to a quarterback who has never taken a meaningful snap in a Division I game.
Yes, Saturday's effort is clearly reason for concern. Dead ahead is a Texas team that is quietly establishing itself as one of the best in the nation. Then come dates with Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri.
Technically, that stretch is no different than it was when the season began and folks were dreading it. It's also no different than it was a few days ago, when CU was 3-0 and fans were optimistic.
But unless the Buffs improve their play in several key areas, and do it in a hurry, reality could be quite a comedown over the next month.
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Posted by BuffMan6236 on September 28, 2008 at 1:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We can beat Texas!
Cody has never had two bad games in a row, but to beat McCoy we need a funky new scheme in defense...like 2 men rushing, 2 LB's and 7 in cover.
Cody's play was bad and he is having a sophmore jinx, but it will come around. Helfrich needs to calm him down, going back to 'Bama he manages to start almost every game with a dorky play be it an easy pick, or a fumble or something. WVU was the exception, but 'Bama, EWU and FSU are recent examples.
He needs to do some yogo before the game...?
Posted by mike3328 on September 28, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Truly a poor game by all. Young teams often have a hard time getting over the hump to success. If Cody could have made some of the most basic throws in football, this game is won easily. Cody should blame himself for this one -many things happened after the first half that were caused by his inability to make plays early. Take your lumps this week Cody, but make up for it next week. BEAT TEXAS! GO BUFFS!
Posted by oldschool88 on September 28, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is about time someone said it.
QB is the problem.
It was last year, (we left 2 wins on the table then) it will be this year (we've already left one win on the table) and frankly only the most optimistic among us thinks Cody will suddenly bloom into... well, I'm not sure what?
What do you envision? What type of player is Cody going to end up being like as he leads the Buffs as the starter... another Tebow? Unlikely.
Perhaps you envision a latter-day Detmer, Klatt or Moschetti? (notice how I didn't use names like Hagan or Stewart).
Is that the best we can hope for?
This doesn't mean the Buffs won't win some good games and go bowling with Cody. They might even bowl all four years that he's the starter. But if you're looking for a future national championship with Cody at the helm, don't hold your breath.
He's a decent player, but no where near the caliber of player CU needs at QB to compete at the TOP level of the Big 12. Not now, and it is doubtful he ever will be.
And there's no excuse for it, because there's talent out there to be recruited, signed and developed.
Coach Hawk, this one's on you.
For better or worse.
Posted by CaliBuff on September 28, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bobby Pesavento never won a game for us, yet were won the Big 12 and went to a BCS bowl game. If Cody grows up and plays better, he will be just fine. Our play calling was terrible and the lack of use of our RB's is a problem.
Posted by Saheeb on September 28, 2008 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for a frank analysis. I'm a big Cody fan and he is still young, and we have a very young line, but he is not playing well. If it continues we have to at least see if Nelson or Ballenger can do better at some point. It's field vision and/or height or arm strength or all of them...but he's got to get it going. Also, WHY are we AGAIN throwing a ball two yards on a fourth down when we need three! STOP THROWING THE BALL YARDS SHORT OF THE FIRST DOWN MARKER ON 3rd and 4th DOWNS!
Posted by fortbuff95 on September 28, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm glad to see that Cody is owning up to putting this loss on himself. However, special teams were awful!! The Buffs were still in that game until Florida State returned that kickoff for a touchdown. It also appears that Josh Smith is second guessing himself in returning kickoffs and punts (hint-don't field the ball inside the 5 yardline on punts). Hopefully Jason Espinoza that the coaches were raving about before he got hurt can give us a new spark in the return game and let Josh focus on his wide receiver duties.
Come on Buffs it's time to rally around each other and put together a complete game against the Horns!
Posted by badbuff on September 28, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I just don't think Cody is a D-1(or whatever it's called now)QB. I just haven't seen the arm that can scare the top teams DB's into playing honest.
Managing the game for the Buffs other weapons isn't going to do it.....The QB has to be a weapon...weather by arm or leg.....
I realize Cody is a red-shirt Soph and there is time to improve but I just don't see him growing into the role arm wise of a Big 12 Champ........
And it looks like we may be stuck with him for the next 2+ years.....could Dad really yank him for someone else.....???
Just not a believer in little hawk....
Posted by dsnow622 on September 28, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This was my first time to see the no-huddle offense in person. While the plays were being called in, the team looked like they had no idea what was going on. Unfortunately, that was also true a fair amount of the time AFTER the ball was snapped. Very conservative play-calling: mostly play fakes (which FSU ignored) followed by handoffs to the TB or passes (mostly off line). Cody looked more like the problam than the answer. Why did CU not have fans and misters on the sidelines (FSU did)?
Posted by SuperiorBuff6236 on September 28, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dsnow622 first of all i think whether CU had fans on our sidelines or not should be the least of our worries and 2nd cu coaches didnt call that bad of game at all the defense only gave up a couple big plays it just all came down to lack of execution by the players.
the plays were there to be made we just didnt make them. (offensively especially)
and as 4 the poor special teams play i think that just comes down to the fact that FSU is faster
Posted by tdmcn on September 28, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dsnow622
I watched the game on ABC. They showed a machine Nike provided CU that has a manifold in ice with hoses that attach to a device worn under the pads/jerseys of the players. When the players come off the field and sit on the bench, the trainers hook them up. Don't know what the coolant is.
I agree with buff4life. A number of the big plays about which we're grousing were the result of overmatched speed - the blocked punt, the 60 yard run, the sacks, punt and kickoff coverage, etc. We couldn't catch them.
But we still could have won!
Posted by phxbuff on September 28, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Saheeb, I agree. Cody is a little better than everyone thinks. He is developing with his other teammates. And will break out soon.
And why do I keep hearing Cody being compared to other QBs such as Klatt, and Tebow. Whose names am i going to hear next, Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and Chase Daniel? Let Cody be Cody. He is not going for a Heisman and no one on this board realistically thinks the Buffs are going to touch a national championship in the next few years. I would be happy with a BCS bid, which probably wont happen. Look at all of the talent around us! Not only in the rest of the Big 12, but the SEC as well.
Anyway, a win over Texas would be sweet! I am just waiting for the day when the Buffs are not playing the "upset-role" all the time.
Any chance the Buffs watched the FL State/Wake Forest game and maybe, just a little bit, looked ahead to TX? I watched the game and found myself doing it on occasion.
Posted by MarquetteBuff on September 28, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hate the "should have won" expression more than any other in sports. All of the near misses Neill talks about don't prove that CU should have wone the game, they prove that CU has a mediocre quarterback and dreadful special teams. And I don't expect these problems to go away, so the coaching staff better figure out a way to improve or hide these weaknesses.
As far as Cody, he's a below average BCS conference quarterback, and with a lot of hardwork could become an above average one. But Sam Bradfords and Chase Daniels are pretty hard to comeby, and I don't believe we have that caliber of player sitting on the bench right now.
How did Gary Pinkel go from the verge of getting fired to competing for a national championship? He got Daniel, who is one of the most talented qbs in the country and suited perfectly for their offense. Hopefully either Hanson or Ballenger is that player or Hawk can recuit one in the next couple of years.
Posted by TallyBuff on September 28, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Those knuckleheads out there who carp about the play calling need to get a clue! I said it last year and after yesterday I will say it again: we FINALLY have an O-staff that will sometimes outclass coaches we are playing (witness Georgia two years ago and yesterday as the prime examples). If you watch FSU one thing you know is that few teams get players wide open behind the D. CU got it done four times yesterday, once for a TD, 3 times for INCs, and a 5th time got a player deep and open enough for a TD. The coaches are not getting their players to execute the plays they design, and that is a huge problem. But my goodness, the Xs and Os are in the Buffs favor more often than not with this staff.
I am curious why Sumler took so many snaps yesterday (esp. on passing plays). I can only assume that D Scott is making too many mental mistakes in terms of lining up and knowing his assignment to displace Sumler (case in point, D Scott ran into the TE, disrupting his own route on a play designed to go to him, and rather than see it wasn't there, Cody tossed it up anyway, and the pass was a pick--D Scott and Cody share equal blame on that INT).
And Cody is below average for a BCS QB and the best we can hope for from him is Pesavento, Moschetti, caliber play. Here's to hoping he begins his coaching career following spring ball. But I still believe Texas is beatable. Tough, touch loss yesterday, but CU football is headed in the right direction, and I am happy to be a Buff, even though that game made me ill.
Posted by Dizonrocks on September 28, 2008 at 7:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oklahoma last season proved anyone is "beatable" on Folsom Field, but I wouldn't dismiss the Longhorns' #5 ranking...it will take a near perfect game from the offense, a couple of forced turnovers by the defense and no big returns allowed by special teams...make no mistake, it will be a tall order for a young, developing team...that being said, I expect the Buffs to step up big time this week...
Posted by archalon on September 28, 2008 at 8:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cody played like dog sh**. Helfrich's play calling is a truckload of dog sh**.
Woelk wants to call out the QB, but call out the coach who is responsible for teaching him, putting him in positions to fail, calling the bad plays and insistenting on running an offense from the shotgun that does not work with the personnel on hand.
Cody is responsible for his play on the field and he better buck up and straighten it out. But Helfrich is a severe liability. Dont call 4-yd. ins on 3rd and 7; Dont run a delayed handoff in the shotgun on 2nd and 6 ( 3 games in a row in the red zone he has called this); Dont ask a pedestrain QB to to dodge oncoming DL because your stupid play-calling has the OL on their heels; dont fail to throw downfield after the first quarter; and for crying out loud, pull your head out of your a** - you have talent at RB you are wasting and linemen that are more road graters than ballerinas.
Quit the complicated, confusing, no-huddle, on your heels play-calling, line up and hit someone in the mouth.
Posted by archalon on September 28, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tally - your ignorance is apparent. Play is a result of coaching more than raw talent. If Helfrich were worth anything, he'd coach to his talent instead of putting them in position to fail. He's the one trusted and paid to do so and he is failing as much throughout the week in preparing them as on game day.
He calls a decent game in the first quarter; after that, even his own players look around like "WTF are we running THAT for ?"
Posted by WhosYourDaddy on September 28, 2008 at 8:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Cody is:
- too small
- too slow
- too weak-armed
- too inaccuarte
- and he doesn't know the playbook any better than anyone else.
Get Cody a headset!
Posted by extrapoint on September 28, 2008 at 9:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
wow
If I didnt know better I would have thought this was a husker board.
Lose one game and the world has collapsed.
Chances are we are going to lose the next one as well. Hopefully we will play a little better brand of football anyway.
The play calling wasnt nearly as bad as Barnett's last couple of years. The O did suck, however. We will have to come up with some different schemes next week. Not much time to implement them.
I will echo the complaints of 2yd passes for a 3yd first down. And the next coach or armchair coach that says "we will take what the defense gives us" needs to be b*tch slapped.
Posted by donintucson on September 28, 2008 at 9:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hawk said his offense was "Pound it, Launch it, and bring the Funk." I guess this was the Funk??? NOT pretty, Hawkins.
No consistency, and they are still making the same mistakes they made two years ago. Hawkins does NOT understand that big boy football is a game of field position, it is critical at this level of play. Texas and Missouri will kill them if they play that way, the next 3 weeks.
Go Buffs!!!
Posted by Dizonrocks on September 28, 2008 at 10:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WhosYourDaddy...where have you been during the first three wins? not that you've been missed...but it's hilarious, or should I say pathetic, how you suddenly choose to show up when Cody has a lousy game...all I know is, Cody's 9-8 as a starter, leading a very inexperienced offense, behind an inexperienced OLine...he makes his share of mistakes, like any QB does, but he's also proven he can help win games in the Big 12...based on your evaluation of the kid, you'd think they were 0-17 with him leading the way...22 TD, 1 INT in the Red Zone, not too shabby for any QB...
Posted by Dizonrocks on September 28, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As I predicted, even had the Buffs won that one yesterday, the piss and moaners would show up with the same warnings, "they better clean it up for Texas or else yada,yada,yada"...seriously, if they somehow take down #5 Texas, but don't play the PERFECT GAME, it will be the same, worn out crap, "Mizzu will tear us up if we can't shut down the passing game better than that"...I get the impression a perfect season won't be good enough for some of you brainiacs...
Posted by ybul on September 28, 2008 at 10:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Go easy, Hawkins is a good man, Cody is average for a QB in D1 (but better than a freshman).
Quit the complaining as Hawkins seems to be a good fit for CU and had said last week that 3 years is a long time to coach a D1 team. I would prefer that he stayed 15-20 years (though I am not sure that would happen).
Peace
Posted by phxbuff on September 28, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Armchair's comment above is right-on. He nailed it. I will second Dizon's as well.
Archalon and Whosyourdaddy, lighten up. No need to have an ulcer over Cody's play, Helfrich and Hawkins calls on one game.
Posted by phxbuff on September 28, 2008 at 10:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Extrapoint, Sorry bout that, i was referring to your comment. I have no idea where I came up with armchair. My mistake.
Posted by TallyBuff on September 28, 2008 at 10:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whatever Archalong, yap away from your perch of omniscience. You and I agree about Cody's play (generally and against FSU). But what you fail to appreciate is that coaching involves several things, one of which is designing plays based on what another coaching staff is doing. There were at least four plays last night where the FSU defense was caught completely unprepared. Getting one such play is a pretty big deal (since those plays generally produce 6 points!). Getting four is unheard of. That Cody failed to deliver the ball to wide open receivers on 3 of 4 plays is unconscionable (am I the only one out there who is reminded of Mark Hatcher?).
You argue that coaches need to put players in situations where they can be successful. Let me ask you this: which of those four plays was a poor call? And had they produced the 14 points they should have (on one drive we scored despite Cody's folly), would you still be griping about the miserable play calling? Play calling was miserable during the Barnett era, and Neuheisel's offense was too complex for his CU players to execute. If you want to argue that Helfrich's offense is too complex, then you at least have a reasonable argument, though I will disagree.
As far as I can tell you are one of those idiots who measures success by whether or not a play gains yards. By that approach why bother to grade film? The approach of folks like you boils down this: if the team got a first down, the coach is OK. If it didn't didn't, the coach sucks. Nice. Please do continue to share your brilliance--we all await enlightenment.
Posted by Dizonrocks on September 28, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Did Cody Hawkins take responsibility for his poor play yesterday? He sure did. But that isn't good enough for the piss and moan crowd. The kid was completing 70% of his passes prior to yesterday, remains at 64%, but he misses some game changing passes and the friggin' sky is falling...he remains 4th in the Big 12 in Passing, completing roughly 22 passes per game...I'd love to see the average yards per completion rise, but they've got at least 8 games to go, hopefully 9, so let's see if that can improve...I'm just wondering where tally and whosyourdaddy were when this group was 3-0...or was I simply missing their brilliant contributions here...
Posted by earmuffs on September 29, 2008 at 5:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The problem that I have with Cody is that I have yet to see an improvement from last year. He remains the same style QB and with the same level of talent. I will say that he appeared to get a bit better at checking off his receivers on Saturday but otherwise it was a dreadful performance. You simply can not have a QB who misses so many open targets. We are talking of 14 or 21 points left off the board because of Cody's major gaffes.
I think Coach Hawkins needs to at least open up the QB position again and if Cody remains the best option, than so be it. If Nelson or Ballenger is better and Hawkins still plays his son than we have bigger issues to deal with.
Losing that game on Saturday was simply unacceptable.
On a side note, I find it kind of ironic that Mr. Woelk says that we shouldn't put a QB in there who hasn't had a meaningful D1 snap in his career, yet that is exactly what happened with Cody.
Posted by extrapoint on September 29, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tucson is awfully close to Scottsdale.
Whos isnt the only one to come out after a bad game.
Anyone else remember how "ugly" it was going to get with WV?
And of course we finish off our predictions of doom with.....
"Go Buffs"
Posted by WhosYourDaddy on September 29, 2008 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was at Folsom for the EWU game and heard the crowd openly booing Cody. Yelling "Cody, you suck!"
Posted by archalon on September 29, 2008 at 7:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Tally,
Yes, I would still have an issue with Helfrich even if Cody had not overthrown those plays. I have been a critic of his for more than a year, good plays and bad. The simple fact is that the offense sputters at crucial times, like 1st down at the opponents 12 yd. line. 3 weeks in a row Helfrich has called the same delayed handoff from shotgun in side the opponents 15 yd line on 2nd 5-8. The result each time is a loss or no gain. So his tendencies are too apparent to opposing teams. Helrich seems to think yds. after catch will get it done, but the 4 yd. routes on 3rd and 7 are way too conservative.
Second, he doesn't set things up well; motion Cody for a direct snap was run 2-3 times, but it didn't set anything up off of it. The WR end around and bubble screens haven't set up anything either and Cody in an option spread is no threat as we know he wont run. The no-huddle creates as many if not more problems for the offense in executing as it has for oppsing defenses, so that argument is a wash.
Overall, Helfrich is not game managing or coaching to his talent. Insult me all you want, but I do understand football and my experience as a college player informs my criticism of predictable and inefficient play calling. The team has far too many misses than successes on offense and that is on Helfrich; its what he gets paid to teach and correct, so far, he isnt doing a decent job of either.
I hope the Buffs can continue to win inspite of his play calling and failure to teach Cody.
Posted by oldschool88 on September 29, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dizon, at any point you feel like coming down off that cross...please go right ahead.
Sheesh.
The purpose of the board is the free exchange of ideas and comments, many of which will be negative after a loss- particularly one to FSU which almost everyone agrees did NOT have happen.
Your zealous fandom notwithstanding, a voracious defense of all-things Cody and Buff football might be a bit more credible if you'd at least acknowledge the fact that Cody's play has not improved measurably since last year.
Nine wins in 17 starts isn't what ANYONE had in mind when they named him the starter (with NO college experience). If Hawk put him in there presumably as the best player on a team with a roster full of college players then we have every right to expect that he was superior.
And so here we are. A 3rd year player (RS-Soph) who still routinely misses wide open receivers (not just against FSU mind you- that happened against CSU EWU and WVU), doesn't present a credible scrambling threat (as was pointed out earlier) and has not shown marked improvement in his read progressions (did you see how on that four and short toss that failed he missed a wide open receiver?)
These points don't make it a bash session or a bash wall. You should feel just as frustrated as the rest of us. That doesn't make us less than committed fans. Heck, at least we care.
Cody's a GOOD player but even when the Buffs were 3-0 anyone honestly watching could point out his limitations.
Here's the point. You're right when you say Cody's not the ONLY problem. Special teams have been atrocious, play calling inexplicable at times and yes, we're young across the board.
But many of the criticism on this board are valid and I dare say even acknowleged by coaches and players privately. They may not say it in this forum, but believe me when they watched the game film on Sunday they were poppin Tums like chicklets.
Posted by earmuffs on September 29, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dizon - it has nothing to do with a perfect season. I don't really think anyone expected a perfect season from this team or even a one or two loss season, particularly in light of the team's youth and the schedule. I would be quite happy going 9-3 on the year.
The point is that we need to put the best team on the field every week and the problem with Cody, as many have stated, and as OldSchool so well put, is that there is a lack of improvement over last year.
He continues to make the same errors and I don't think that he puts us in a great position to win.
We witnessed that with EWU and WVU as well, not just this last weekend. His errors are costly and, although we have managed to sneak out wins, losses will be begin to mount if improvements are not made.
I think at this point, particularly following the FSU loss, Coach Hawkins has to consider giving the other QBs reps with the 1st team offense. He owes it to his team and the fans.
Posted by archalon on September 29, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can we stop using the inexperience\youth as an excuse ? Sophs or or not, Cody, Miller, Mcknight, etc. have 15+ starts. Many seniors at other programs dont have that many starts by their 4th yr.
Posted by donintucson on September 29, 2008 at 8:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
extrapoint,
Hey genius, you keep watching the "Funk" and drinking the Hawkins Kool-aid with the rest of them; you apparently think losing 39-21 is good.
I am waiting for consistent play, good old fashion field position football, crisp tackling, blocking, kick coverage; I will let you know when I see it, because you obviously don't know what those things look like; you like what you are watching, and I don't accept this kind of play at the three year mark; plus the problems with the players: the defections, injuries, and academic issues. Not good signs!
Don't question my loyalty to the Buffs, this is a free country, and I don't like what I am seeing on the field, and I can say so right here, period; and there are NO signs that Hawkins is going to really get this team to a Big 12 championship, unless you are a koolaid drinker!
Just for you, extrapoint
Go Buffs!!!
Posted by BuffTime on September 29, 2008 at 11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Arch, the difference between a Senior who has 15 starts or less and a sophomore who has 15 starts is that the Senior has still had 2 extra years of college level coaching and 2nd team practicing (3 if they redshirted). You can't under value that experience. Coaches always talk about the best part of going bowling at the end of the year is the extra practices they get and how that benefits the coming year. Extra time with coaches and practicing is huge! By the time this bunch of guys are juniors/seniors they will have no excuses for sure, but for now it is still legitimate.
Your other points are well taken though.
Posted by roamingbuff on September 30, 2008 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the Buffs need to figure out how to spread it around a bit on offense. Seems to me that when things are working, all the play-makers are involved. Scotty McKnight - Patrick Deveny - Patrick Williams - Cody Crawford - Riar Geer. Get 'em all in the mix. I'd like to see more of Scott, but compared to Stewart - he seems slow and hestitant. But mix it up. When things are clickin' and we're utilizing everybody - other teams are off guard and don't know where the next strike will come from. Seems we get locked into Stewart, Stewart, Stewart, Smith, Stewart, Stewart.
Maybe some of that is Cody for not seeing the
open guy and geting him the ball. Maybe its the play call. But when we mix it up - things click.