|
WR
Patrick Williams |
|
|
2006
Statistics |
Coach:
Dan Hawkins
8-17,
2 years |
2007
Record: 6-7 |
|
vs.
Colorado State |
WON
31-28 (OT) |
at
Arizona State |
LOST
14-33 |
FLORIDA
STATE |
LOST
6-16 |
MIAMI
OH |
WON
42-0 |
OKLAHOMA |
WON
27-24 |
at
Baylor |
WON
43-23 |
at
Kansas State |
LOST
20-47 |
KANSAS |
LOST
14-19 |
at
Texas Tech |
WON
31-26 |
MISSOURI |
LOST
10-55 |
at
Iowa State |
LOST
28-31 |
NEBRASKA |
WON
65-51 |
INDEPENDENCE
BOWL |
Alabama |
LOST
24-30 |
|
2007
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2008
Outlook |
Phase
one for Head Coach Dan Hawkins
was to get his feet wet playing
in a BCS conference…the
2-10 first-year result was a
wake up call that this wasn’t
going to be nearly as easy as
it was at Boise. Phase two was
for a strong foundation to be
set for rebuilding this into
a winning program…four
more wins came, including a
season-defining victory over
then-No.3 Oklahoma. But the
second phase saw several problems
on defense, troubles that led
to their last four foes gouging
the Buffaloes for 55, 31, 51,
and 30 points, respectively.
Now we see eight senior starters
on D baiting prognosticators
into predicting big things.
With a budding sophomore QB
and the top RB recruit from
this year’s class buoying
the offense, it’s hard
not to think Colorado football
may be back to it’s hallowed
levels as soon as 2008.
Phase
three seems to be a no-huddle
wrinkle, a testimonial that
coach’s son Cody Hawkins
has enough of a command that
this can be pulled off with
great impact. This isn’t
a strategy to gas opponents,
but one where CU rushes to the
line to see what the defense
reveals (alignment/scheme) and
play-calls accordingly. The
line has responded well. The
receivers have more permanent
assignments, thus allowing them
to focus on catching the rock
and not have to worry about
shifting all over and replacing
each other every other play.
Sophomore Hawkins seems like
he can take another step in
his rapid development. Expect
bigger QB Nelson to find more
reps after a great spring for
the senior proved he can lead
this team nearly as well.
The
Buffaloes continued to tinker
with the 3-4 on defense. It’s
a new look, and like on offense,
it has a way to go. But the
eight returning starters are
confident they will be able
to keep up with the better offenses
in this league due to the changes.
The outside flanks look vulnerable
with marginal DEs, new corners
and Jordan Dizon gone. Burton,
McKay, Herrod and Brown are
strong players, so the outside
isn’t at risk too much
in light of the losses. Maturity
has to mean taking less risks
and making sure tackles happen.
Dizon leaves a void of 160 tackles
(stopped 20% of foe’s
plays) – in cases of replacing
top tacklers, teams usually
come together to compensate,
and then gelled, group play
is the result. The missing corners
seem like a bigger concern.
With marginal safeties, the
secondary will likely be the
weak link.
More
than just beating the Sooners,
Colorado swept all of its games
versus Big 12 South foes, something
they’ve done only twice
before (1996 & ’98).
That signals much for making
this team’s proverbial
glass half full. But losing
to faltering teams like FSU
and Iowa State mean inconsistency
could easily rear its ugly head
at any time. Florida State and
West Virginia are ambitious
foes, and always-pesky Colorado
State means September could
produce a losing record. The
four Big 12 games that follow
will define the season for Hawkins’
bunch, but they’ll be
warmed up from the non-cons.
If this team is still over .500
at that point, the start of
phase four looks probable –
to make it look like they’ve
been winning for years via relaxed,
ingrained confidence. You know,
getting the swagger back that
has been missing since Gary
Barnett took this program’s
dignity when he left. Hawkins
is the man Barnett evidently
failed to be, showing his kids
through example after example
how to be the best person each
can. This is a team worth following,
for in this tough league, upstarts
like the Buffs will continue
to shake up the (national) results.
Projected
2008 record: 7-5
|
|
|
DB
Daniel Dykes |
COLORADO
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3 |
DL
- 4 |
RB
- 3 |
LB
- 3.5 |
WR
- 3.5 |
DB
- 3.5 |
OL
- 3.5 |
.. |
|
COLORADO
2007 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
68 |
8 |
Passing: |
54 |
10 |
Total
Off: |
72 |
10 |
Sacks
Allow: |
17 |
4 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
31 |
5 |
Passing: |
103 |
9 |
Total
Def: |
64 |
6 |
Sacks: |
95 |
10 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Cody Hawkins, 239-424-15, 2693
yds., 19 TD
Rushing: Demetrius Sumler,
100 att., 335 yds., 4 TD
Receiving: Scotty McKnight,
43 rec., 488 yds., 4 TD
Scoring: Demetrius Sumler,
5 TD, 30 pts.
Punting: Matt DiLallo,
61 punts, 40.1 avg.
Kicking: None
Tackles: Daniel Dykes,
83 tot., 60 solo
Sacks: George Hypolite,
6 sacks
Interceptions: Cha'pelle
Brown, George Hypolite, Daniel
Dykes, Ryan Walters - 1 each
Kickoff Returns: Scotty
McKnight, 1 ret., 21.0 avg.,
0 TD
Punt Returns: Daniel Dykes,
1 ret., 7.0 avg., 0 TD
|
|
|
|
|
COLORADO |
|
|
OFFENSE
- 8 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 8 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Byron Ellis-TB, Hugh Charles-TB,
Stephone Robinson-WR, Dusty Sprague-WR,
Tyson DeVree-TE, Tyler Polumbus-OT,
Edwin Harrison-OT, Wes Palazzi-OG
(transferred), Kai Maiava-FB |
DEFENSE:
Alonzo
Barrett-DE, Jordon Dizon-WLB,
Terrence Wheatley-CB, Lionel Harris-FS |
|
|
2008
OFFENSE |
QUARTERBACK
The next level for this offense looks
like a no-huddle dimension. This was
seen during the spring scrimmages,
and it reveals how comfortable the
QBs must feel if this is being tried.
The funniest part is how, even with
this comfort factor, a year under
center hasn’t solidified anything
status-wise for Cody Hawkins. It isn’t
a knock on Hawkins as much as it is
a compliment for senior Nick Nelson’s
possible claim on the starting spot.
Nelson ran a no-huddle variation in
2006 at Saddleback College and feels
more comfortable now that he’s
in his second year in Mark Helfrich’s
system. Nelson is harder to bring
down, but Hawkins is still the coach’s
son and the incumbent after taking
almost every snap last year. Hawkins
had a stellar completion percentage
in prep, and if he can continue to
grow into playing better at this level,
his numbers will keep him in the game.
These two will find out which is starting
by the start of summer – usually
this guarded Buffalo information isn’t
learned until the last week before
the opener – so the first team
can get in sync with the flow of the
new looks.
RUNNING
BACK
The ground game took a hit last year,
losing nearly 30 yards per game from
2006. It looks pretty interesting
with the arrival of the No.1 running
back in this year’s national
class – Darrell Scott –
arriving by June. Sizable Demetrius
Sumler is the back likely to be displaced
since he could only muster 3.4 yards
per carry in his 100 tries last year.
As the top guy after spring, Sumler
beat out Brian Lockridge, a scat-back
who seems to be a situational guy
instead of an every-down type of player
in the staff’s mind. Corey Nabors
led the state in prep rushing twice,
and he finally got a scholarship to
keep his name in the hat for reps.
But, c’mon, the spot is Scott’s
to lose since there isn’t that
one guy like Charles anymore to command
the position. Scott had nearly 3,200
yards and 45 total TDs as a prep junior;
big and fast, coaches project his
impact as immediate and as helping
the overall ground dimension. Maurice
Cantrell could help the proceedings
with his sprinters speed, and Nebraska’s
Gatorade Player of the Year Jake Behrens
is already a trusted member of the
“carry club” to show the
fullback(s) can have identity beyond
blocking.
RECEIVER
/ TIGHT END
Pat Devenny has stepped up big-time
to help the holes left at tight end.
Riar Geer is currently suspended,
so ex-QB Devenny brings his all-around
game to wherever needed. But Devenny
is a snarler, not a blocker, as is
Walters. Devin Shanahan is a bigger
option, but knee rehab has his prospects
still unknown. Lots of capably handed
TEs will help McKnight, Williams and
Smith to get open. The way the WRs
were interchangeably played last year,
no one got used to being in for long,
and the positions/roles each played
were never set or established. Shuffling
occurred too often, but that isn’t
the concern now with the no-huddle
in practice. “We can’t
change guys as often,” says
receivers coach Eric Kiesau, “so
you just have to get a group out there
and let them play and they have to
kind of run the whole series. With
the thin air, guys are going to get
tired naturally. We'll get a whole
new group out kind of like hockey
players when they just jump over the
wall and are ready to play."
Josh Smith is slowly getting the nuances
of the no-huddle, so he becomes the
third receiver and an outside option
that will continue to stretch the
field. Patrick Williams is the consistent
guy who leads by quiet example and
who may have to branch out from his
role underneath since he now starts.
But it’s former walk-on Scotty
McKnight who keeps wowing them in
practice. The top Buffalo snarler,
this smallish over-achiever seems
to be the option inside for the multiple
receiver sets. Kendrick Celestine
seems to be that burner needed to
distract foes. His speed cannot be
ignored, or else.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
The line has to replace its two tackles,
with the left side the evident concern.
Ex-TE Nick Solder is just not big
enough to assure that he can do it
all, so freshman Ethan Atkins seems
to have hope for reps. Solder will
probably be a tackle-eligible on goal
line plays, so foes have now been
warned of his soft hands. In-state
Gatorade POTY Ryan Miller seems set
for the right side; the former No.2
tackle prospect was starting there
by mid-season last year due to improved
pass protecting, not his strength
coming into the season out of prep.
Sanders has started since his freshman
campaign, including every game since
the second week of ’06. Devin
Head seemed a bit overwhelmed, thus
he lost his starting spot inside half
way through last season. But Head
held off bulging Erick Faatagi, a
JUCO hotshot we’ve rarely seen
since knee troubles and then classroom
issues kept him out last year. Kai
Maiava was yanked from the line, then
he decided he wasn’t happy at
fullback and decided to leave the
team, and the hole that now needs
filling is the reason a freshman is
being tapped. Matthew Bahr isn’t
a lock, but he does have a hold on
the LG slot. Max Tuioti-Mariner is
the No.7 guard prospect; he and Shawn
Daniels look like the next in line
if Barh doesn’t pass. Injuries
to the starters along the line would
hurt production since the inexperience
behind them isn’t ready to start
in the Big 12.
The
targets and backs seem ready to make
Colorado one of the major offenses
in the league. The way the no-huddle
comes together will tell if Hawkins
has an advantage with this tactic
or just something that will distract
his players more than the other team’s
guys. This will be the difference
between finishing above or below .500.
|
|
C
Daniel Sanders
|
|
|
COLORADO
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Cody
Hawkins-So (5-11, 190) |
Nick
Nelson-Sr (6-1, 230) |
FB |
Maurice
Cantrell-Sr (6-0, 240) |
Jake
Behrens-Jr (6-0, 230) |
TB |
Demetrius
Sumler-So (5-10, 215) |
Kevin
Moyd-Jr (5-7, 185)
Brian Lockridge-So (5-7, 175) |
WR |
Patrick
Williams-Sr (6-2, 205) |
Josh
Smith-So (6-0, 180) |
WR |
Scotty
McKnight-So (5-11, 180) |
Cody
Crawford-Sr (5-11, 175) |
TE |
Patrick
Devenny-Jr (6-3, 240) |
Luke
Walters-Jr (6-3, 235)
Riar Geer-Jr (6-4,
250) (susp.) |
OT |
Nate
Solder-So (6-8, 280) |
Ethan
Adkins-Fr (6-4, 295) |
OG |
Matthew
Bahr-Fr (6-4, 280) |
Shawn
Daniels-Fr (6-3, 280) |
C |
Daniel
Sanders-Sr (6-3, 325) |
Keenan
Stevens-So (6-2, 280) |
OG |
Devin
Head-Jr (6-4, 295) |
Erick
Faatagi-Sr (6-2, 310) |
OT |
Ryan
Miller-So (6-7, 315) |
Sione
Tau-Fr (6-5, 320) |
K |
Jameson
Davis-Fr (5-10, 195) |
Aric
Goodman-So (5-10, 180) |
|
|
2008
DEFENSE |
There
were statistical slips from the prior
season (2-10) that seemed to be divided
into two categories – before
the Kansas game, and then after the
Buffs lost 19-14 to their North Division
rivals. Prior to and including that
pivotal eighth game, CU allowed 190
points. In the five games that followed,
193 points were allowed. Now, we are
not insinuating that the D was at
fault for excessive losses; Colorado
went 4-4 and then 2-3, so the defense
was only as complicit as any of the
other important phases of team play
for why the record wasn’t better.
But in explaining the dimensions of
what just happened and how that leads
to what is about to happen, we take
note of this trend that saw so much
scoring at year’s end. Really,
the job that the secondary did in
bending-but-not-breaking against Texas
Tech (allowed 431 yards but only three
TDs and had four INTs) to seal that
31-26 win obviously isn’t the
beginning of any slide, but a thing
of beauty versus the country’s
top passing team. The part to point
out is how the run stopping has been
deteriorating for two years.
DEFENSIVE
LINE
Third-year coordinator Ron Collins
got a few sparkling examples (in those
scoring onslaughts against Kansas
State, Missouri and Nebraska) of how
linemen at the BCS level are more
volatile due to seeing top competition
every week. CU lost 16 yards per game
on the ground and (therefore) gained
seven points per game from their 2006
averages. Three senior linemen (returning
starters) mean improvements are near,
especially with George Hypolite and
Brandon Nicolas occupying the middle.
All-American Hypolite’s 34 solo
tackles were part of the top Buffalo
lineman’s stat line, as were
his team leading six sacks. Not bad
for a converted running back (his
recruited position) that hasn’t
lost a step. Nicolas was off and on
during spring, but his 28 solo tackles
(the next top DL tackler) compliment
his 10 third-down stops. Both of these
guys act like glorified ends. Kaynor
is the same ex-DE, while Goree is
the biggest DT on the roster at 295lbs
and was seen with the 1s while Hypolite
and/or Nicolas sat during spring.
If the inside is so stout, we feel
the ends – with significantly
less tackles than their counterparts
– are a big reason the run stopping
has slipped. Maurice Lucas has yet
to surpass his freshman campaign’s
impact, which is a bit disappointing
considering his physical package.
Marquez Herrod looks like he’ll
stand up better at the point of attack,
and his plight is a great story of
overcoming the odds. Jason Brace has
played inside and out, a benefit for
the three-man sets soon to be seen.
On that note, the qualities of the
tackles make them more great interchangeable
parts for 3-4 and 3-3-5 looks.
LINEBACKER
The linebackers are also a part of
that slipping run defense, and losing
Dizon’s 120 solo tackles mean
those stops have to go to someone.
Meet replacement Marcus Burton, a
big, fast, instinctual pursuer who
has led the team in tackles for the
final spring scrimmage twice in a
row now. Burton missed ’07 due
to academics, and much of ’06
was a struggle due to a broken leg.
Back at full strength (jarring hits
all spring) and more mature for everything
he’s recently been through,
a healthy Burton means Dizon can be
replaced. Appropriately named Jeff
Smart reflects his All-Academic status
with savvy play in the middle, but
he seems too small to be effective
at the line versus Big 12 foes. Sipili
was a Freshman All-American and poised
to start last year before a fight
and subsequent suspension cost him
his ’07 season (but no eligibility),
and we think he’s the guy for
the MLB spot. B.J. Beatty (most improved
lineman this spring) should be the
main pick as the fourth linebacker
with his rush end tendencies in the
3-4. Jones started every game, so
he’s not going to be displaced
by Beatty. But Jones has to be careful
if Beatty keeps flooring like he did
all spring. JUCO OLB Shaun Mohler
looks like he could shake up the depth
chart, too. "The bottom line
for us is we're going to try to find
the best 11 guys to get on the field,"
defensive coordinator Ron Collins
said. "I don't care who those
guys are but that's what we're trying
to get accomplished. I don't care
if it's six linebackers, five, four…
it doesn't matter." Interesting.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
Replacing Dizon is one thing, but
replacing Wheatley - and probably
Burney, too - looks like it won’t
be done as easily. Multiple off-season
surgeries (both wrists as well as
both shoulders, already had right
knee done) have Burney redshirting
(99% sure). Luckily, Cha’pelle
Brown has one of the vacancies sewn
up. Brown had 10 third-down stops
as a starting nickel back, and his
12 pass break-ups led the team. At
5’7, Brown plays much bigger
and can handle big WRs with superior
technique. Gardner McKay has the size
Brown lacks and just as much speed.
McKay can be an excellent cover guy,
but not much has been developed behind
these two, so they have to stay healthy.
Smith isn’t bad, but he has
been burnt at critical times. Senior
safeties Dykes and Walters have to
seal the deep middle better. Both
had big stakes in the excessive points
let in last year. Idaho-transfer Walter’s
absence this spring meant psycho Anthony
Perkins (most improved DB this spring)
showed his wares with the first team
and made his case for a starting nod.
Limon standout Sandersfeld will also
get a long look, but he needs some
weight to be a BCS safety. Putting
more of the back seven on the field
at once is a smart goal in this day
of needing speed to keep up with being
spread out. It is also a good way
for the Buffs to keep the play in
front of them, thus mimicking the
way they schemed Oklahoma and Texas
Tech for those big wins.
|
|
DT
George Hypolite
|
|
|
COLORADO
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Maurice
Lucas-Sr (6-4, 260) |
Lagrone
Shields-Fr (6-2, 250) |
DT |
George
Hypolite-Sr (6-1, 285) |
Taj
Kaynor-Jr (6-5, 265) |
NT |
Brandon
Nicolas-Sr (6-3, 290) |
Eugene
Goree-Fr (6-1, 295) |
DE |
Marquez
Herrod-So (6-2, 270) |
Jason
Brace-Jr (6-4, 250) |
SLB |
Brad
Jones-Sr (6-3, 225) |
B.J.
Beatty-So (6-2, 220) |
MLB |
Jeff
Smart-Jr (6-0, 210) |
Michael
Sipili-So (6-1, 255) |
WLB |
Marcus
Burton-Jr (6-0, 255) |
Bryan
Stengel-Jr (6-2, 225) |
CB |
Gardner
McKay-Sr (5-11, 165) |
Jimmy
Smith-So (6-2, 195) |
CB |
Benjamin
Burney-Sr (5-11, 190) |
Cha'pelle
Brown-Jr (5-7, 180) |
SS |
Daniel
Dykes-Sr (6-2, 210) |
Travis
Sandersfeld-Fr (6-0, 190) |
FS |
Ryan
Walters-Sr (6-0, 200) |
Anthony
Perkins-Fr (5-10, 190) |
P |
Matt
DiLallo-Jr (6-1, 190) |
Tom
Suazo-Sr (5-10, 185) |
|
|
|
2008
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Matt
DiLallo and the coverage team produce pretty
straight-forward results, but the one thing
that seems of concern is how so many kicks
were blocked all spring. Coach Hawkins thinks
this is a positive that speaks of their
kick-blocking prowess, but what it means
will only be told in real game scenarios.
The PK candidates both transferred here
from north and west – Davis from Idaho
and Goodman from Wyoming. Goodman knows
the ropes as a Freshman All-American (10-for-16),
but it was Davis who won the starting nod.
The receiving trio of Williams, McKnight
and Smith look like a decent return unit,
but the speed on this team means guys like
Espinoza will get their shots.
|
|