Big 12: Colorado Buffaloes
Mailbag: A&M's odds, Snyder part two, expansion
April, 23, 2010
Apr 23
4:45
PM ET
Chris in Houston asks: Why do people keep picking A&M as a dark-horse contender for the Big XII. I realize the offense will be good, but what indications are there that the defense will be able to stop anyone with a pulse?
David Ubben: A lot of it is based on potential, but the Aggies fate rests almost entirely on the defense. New defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter brings a lot of excitement to campus after coaching the No. 11 defense in college football last year.
The offense is replacing three linemen, so they’ll have to be solid for it to happen, but there’s so much talent at the skill positions, they should be at least as good as they were last season.
If the defense can’t get better, the Aggies probably won’t win many more than six games. But they’re bringing nine starters back, and by all accounts, are adjusting well to DeRuyter’s new 3-4 scheme.
The interesting thing about Texas A&M this year is how their schedule sets up. They could possibly be 8-0 heading into November, but that month will define their season. They host Oklahoma and Nebraska before finishing the season in Austin. If they can at least be 7-1 heading into that stretch, they’ll control their own destiny.
Sam in Albion, Wash., asks: Hey David, which would you bet on: Missouri scores an average of 40 points per game or more or Nebraska's opponents score an average 15 points per game or less?
DU: Interesting question, Sam. Both have plenty of questions. Nebraska’s replacing a lot everywhere, but they’ve got guys who have potential to be great, and the coaches like their chances to become great. They also have a budding star in Jared Crick on the front line of the defense.
Same with Missouri’s offense, which is replacing a big-play guy in Danario Alexander, but has a lot of talent ready for bigger roles.
But, playing percentages, only two teams in college football scored more than 40 points a game last year. Seven teams held opponents to under 15 points a game.
That would make me lean Nebraska, but the best bet is neither.
Now, if you want to say 30 points a game, one more than Missouri averaged last season, it could be pretty close.
Rhett in Boulder, Colo., asks: Hey David,I'm a student at CU in Boulder, but am a frim Nebraska fan, it's tough. My question may be from left field, but is there any way the north could come down to the Nebraska-Colorado game the day after Thanksgiving?
DU: Maybe, but the only impact it could have would be playing spoiler. Colorado’s not winning the North this year, and I don’t like their chances of winning in Lincoln with Nebraska possibly looking to clinch the division.
Matt in Dallas, Texas, asks: Look--your articles on your Big 12 blog, not unlike the Big 12 itself, take on a decidedly pro-Texas slant. So can you take the glasses off and tell us why no one in the Big 12 press is wanting to address the elephant in the room re: Big 10 expansion--that the logical and likely grab from the Big 10 won't be Missouri, but will likely be Nebraska instead? There are only three teams with any sort of national prominence in this conference--taking one away makes the Big 12 wholly irrelevant past the OU/UT tilt in October, doesn't it?
DU: There’s been plenty of talk in the Big 12 media about expansion, but at this point, there’s not much more to talk about beyond speculation. Everything is very fluid, and yes, Nebraska and Missouri are both in play, but until, like Elvis said, there’s a little less conversation and a little more action, there’s very little to talk about that isn't entirely speculation.
But you’re right. On a national stage, if Nebraska leaves, the whole conference would lean in the direction of that game.
However, we like to refer to that phenomenon as “the 2008 season.”
Brett in Kansas City asks: David, how many years do you think Bill Snyder will continue coaching and who do you think will replace him when he retires
DU: I talked to him about that same question before spring began, and as of now, there’s no real plan in place. The reason he came back was to “calm the waters,” he says. His plan is to elevate the program back to where it once was, when bowl games were commonplace. They haven’t been to one since 2006, and they were blown out by Rutgers under Ron Prince.
If Kansas State can string together a couple 8-9 win seasons, I’d expect a final ride off into the sunset for Snyder.
As for who replaces him, it’s still a little bit early, but I think the Wildcats would want a more established coach as opposed to a first-time head coach like Prince.
But that coaching search could be even five years away.
Matt in Houston/Texas asks: Ubben, I'm enjoying the blog.I'm just curious, what fanbase pesters you the most (I'm guessing Nebraska) and the least (I'm guessing Baylor or Iowa State). Also, what questions are you sick of hearing?
DU: Nobody really “pesters” me, but I certainly hear from some more than others. Most of my mail is from Nebraska and Texas fans, but I hear from Oklahoma and Texas A&M fans a lot, too. A few Nebraska people thought I was making fun of them with my all-Husker mailbag earlier this spring, but I couldn’t help but notice the change that week, and it made me laugh. It was the first week of the NCAA tournament, and mail from Texas and everyone else kind of tapered off. But if anything, I got more from Nebraska people that week than in a normal week.
I almost never hear from Baylor fans, but I’ve gotten a few notes from Iowa State people. Everyone else is kind of in the middle.
As for your second question, allow me to illustrate my point with a pair of e-mails I received early this week less than six hours apart.
Chris from Tuscon, Ariz., wrote: I know you have a huge mancrush on the Big 12 South so just come out and say it.
M. Hancock in Lubbock, Texas, wrote: After reading your postings for better than two months, I have noticed a definite bias in favor of the North Division of the Big XII.
DU: Whatever people are looking for here, they’re going to find it.
But I think the real lesson in all this is that I’m biased against/hate every team in the Big 12 ... especially yours.
David Ubben: A lot of it is based on potential, but the Aggies fate rests almost entirely on the defense. New defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter brings a lot of excitement to campus after coaching the No. 11 defense in college football last year.
The offense is replacing three linemen, so they’ll have to be solid for it to happen, but there’s so much talent at the skill positions, they should be at least as good as they were last season.
If the defense can’t get better, the Aggies probably won’t win many more than six games. But they’re bringing nine starters back, and by all accounts, are adjusting well to DeRuyter’s new 3-4 scheme.
The interesting thing about Texas A&M this year is how their schedule sets up. They could possibly be 8-0 heading into November, but that month will define their season. They host Oklahoma and Nebraska before finishing the season in Austin. If they can at least be 7-1 heading into that stretch, they’ll control their own destiny.
Sam in Albion, Wash., asks: Hey David, which would you bet on: Missouri scores an average of 40 points per game or more or Nebraska's opponents score an average 15 points per game or less?
DU: Interesting question, Sam. Both have plenty of questions. Nebraska’s replacing a lot everywhere, but they’ve got guys who have potential to be great, and the coaches like their chances to become great. They also have a budding star in Jared Crick on the front line of the defense.
Same with Missouri’s offense, which is replacing a big-play guy in Danario Alexander, but has a lot of talent ready for bigger roles.
But, playing percentages, only two teams in college football scored more than 40 points a game last year. Seven teams held opponents to under 15 points a game.
That would make me lean Nebraska, but the best bet is neither.
Now, if you want to say 30 points a game, one more than Missouri averaged last season, it could be pretty close.
Rhett in Boulder, Colo., asks: Hey David,I'm a student at CU in Boulder, but am a frim Nebraska fan, it's tough. My question may be from left field, but is there any way the north could come down to the Nebraska-Colorado game the day after Thanksgiving?
DU: Maybe, but the only impact it could have would be playing spoiler. Colorado’s not winning the North this year, and I don’t like their chances of winning in Lincoln with Nebraska possibly looking to clinch the division.
Matt in Dallas, Texas, asks: Look--your articles on your Big 12 blog, not unlike the Big 12 itself, take on a decidedly pro-Texas slant. So can you take the glasses off and tell us why no one in the Big 12 press is wanting to address the elephant in the room re: Big 10 expansion--that the logical and likely grab from the Big 10 won't be Missouri, but will likely be Nebraska instead? There are only three teams with any sort of national prominence in this conference--taking one away makes the Big 12 wholly irrelevant past the OU/UT tilt in October, doesn't it?
DU: There’s been plenty of talk in the Big 12 media about expansion, but at this point, there’s not much more to talk about beyond speculation. Everything is very fluid, and yes, Nebraska and Missouri are both in play, but until, like Elvis said, there’s a little less conversation and a little more action, there’s very little to talk about that isn't entirely speculation.
But you’re right. On a national stage, if Nebraska leaves, the whole conference would lean in the direction of that game.
However, we like to refer to that phenomenon as “the 2008 season.”
Brett in Kansas City asks: David, how many years do you think Bill Snyder will continue coaching and who do you think will replace him when he retires
DU: I talked to him about that same question before spring began, and as of now, there’s no real plan in place. The reason he came back was to “calm the waters,” he says. His plan is to elevate the program back to where it once was, when bowl games were commonplace. They haven’t been to one since 2006, and they were blown out by Rutgers under Ron Prince.
If Kansas State can string together a couple 8-9 win seasons, I’d expect a final ride off into the sunset for Snyder.
As for who replaces him, it’s still a little bit early, but I think the Wildcats would want a more established coach as opposed to a first-time head coach like Prince.
But that coaching search could be even five years away.
Matt in Houston/Texas asks: Ubben, I'm enjoying the blog.I'm just curious, what fanbase pesters you the most (I'm guessing Nebraska) and the least (I'm guessing Baylor or Iowa State). Also, what questions are you sick of hearing?
DU: Nobody really “pesters” me, but I certainly hear from some more than others. Most of my mail is from Nebraska and Texas fans, but I hear from Oklahoma and Texas A&M fans a lot, too. A few Nebraska people thought I was making fun of them with my all-Husker mailbag earlier this spring, but I couldn’t help but notice the change that week, and it made me laugh. It was the first week of the NCAA tournament, and mail from Texas and everyone else kind of tapered off. But if anything, I got more from Nebraska people that week than in a normal week.
I almost never hear from Baylor fans, but I’ve gotten a few notes from Iowa State people. Everyone else is kind of in the middle.
As for your second question, allow me to illustrate my point with a pair of e-mails I received early this week less than six hours apart.
Chris from Tuscon, Ariz., wrote: I know you have a huge mancrush on the Big 12 South so just come out and say it.
M. Hancock in Lubbock, Texas, wrote: After reading your postings for better than two months, I have noticed a definite bias in favor of the North Division of the Big XII.
DU: Whatever people are looking for here, they’re going to find it.
But I think the real lesson in all this is that I’m biased against/hate every team in the Big 12 ... especially yours.
Lunch links: Former Husker makes amends
April, 15, 2010
Apr 15
12:30
PM ET
- Super Bowl champion and Husker alum Carl Nicks stopped by Nebraska's practice on Wednesday to make amends with Bo Pelini after Pelini banned him from Nebraska's pro day in 2007.
- Barry Switzer, Brian Bosworth, Joe Washington and Mark Clayton will be among the Sooners legends taking part in a flag football game before the spring game on Saturday.
- Kansas coach Turner Gill is impressing local high school coaches who have been given access to the Jayhawks' practices, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.
- Nebraska's young defenders used excellent special-teams play last season as a lead-in to success on defense this spring, writes Brian Christopherson of the Lincoln Journal Star.
- Oklahoma 2011 commit Chris Barnett is having a few issues and withdrew from his current school, writes Brandon George of The Dallas Morning News.
- Bobby La Gesse of the Ames Tribune looks at Cyclones center Reggie Stephens' road to the NFL.
- Texas Tech receiver Detron Lewis isn't happy with how his injured hamstring was handled last season.
- Oklahoma State is content with the progression of its defense, writes Brandon Chatmon of The Oklahoman.
- Colorado's assistants are back on the road recruiting, writes Kyle Ringo of the Boulder Daily Camera.
- Russ Lande at The Sporting News breaks down former Texas star Sergio Kindle.
- Texas A&M defensive lineman Adren Dorsey was arrested on assault charges Tuesday morning after an incident with an ex-girlfriend.
Colorado finished its spring workouts with the annual spring game on Saturday, and Tyler Hansen sat atop the depth chart at quarterback for the Buffaloes. Hansen and Cody Hawkins suited up against each other in the spring game and both performed well, but coach Dan Hawkins remained non-committal after the game in deciding on a clear starter entering the lengthy summer break.
"You'd love to make a decision after the spring's over, but it's great for our competition and great for our guys to keep battling," Hawkins said.
But it could also be great for Hawkins' "guys" to have a clear starter and leader entering summer workouts, allowing either Hawkins or Hansen to embrace the role of "starting quarterback," and all the off-the-field effects of that role. Clearly, Hawkins prefers the former.
Hansen took over for Cody Hawkins mid-game during an Oct. 10 loss to Texas and started for the remainder of the season. During that stretch, the Buffaloes were 2-5, with wins over Kansas and Texas A&M. In Hawkins' starts, the Buffaloes went 1-4 with the lone win coming against Wyoming and losses against West Virginia, Toledo and Colorado State.
In Saturday's spring game, Hansen threw three touchdowns and completed 17 of 22 passes for 170 yards. Hawkins threw two touchdowns and completed 20 of 26 passes for 220 yards.
You can't put too much stock into it, but Hansen led the Gold team to a 37-27 win. Both have to be encouraged by completing over 75 percent of their attempts.
"I don't know why, unless you had a guy who won 10 games, would say, 'Yeah, you're the guy,'" Dan Hawkins said.
Judging by those comments, only wins will secure either quarterback a job, and the Buffaloes won't have a chance at any more for almost four months.
A few other notes from the Buffaloes spring game:
[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/David ZalubowskiIt appears the battle for the starting quarterback job between Tyler Hansen (9) and Cody Hawkins will go into fall camp.
But it could also be great for Hawkins' "guys" to have a clear starter and leader entering summer workouts, allowing either Hawkins or Hansen to embrace the role of "starting quarterback," and all the off-the-field effects of that role. Clearly, Hawkins prefers the former.
Hansen took over for Cody Hawkins mid-game during an Oct. 10 loss to Texas and started for the remainder of the season. During that stretch, the Buffaloes were 2-5, with wins over Kansas and Texas A&M. In Hawkins' starts, the Buffaloes went 1-4 with the lone win coming against Wyoming and losses against West Virginia, Toledo and Colorado State.
In Saturday's spring game, Hansen threw three touchdowns and completed 17 of 22 passes for 170 yards. Hawkins threw two touchdowns and completed 20 of 26 passes for 220 yards.
You can't put too much stock into it, but Hansen led the Gold team to a 37-27 win. Both have to be encouraged by completing over 75 percent of their attempts.
"I don't know why, unless you had a guy who won 10 games, would say, 'Yeah, you're the guy,'" Dan Hawkins said.
Judging by those comments, only wins will secure either quarterback a job, and the Buffaloes won't have a chance at any more for almost four months.
A few other notes from the Buffaloes spring game:
- Michigan transfer Toney Clemons had plenty of eyes on him all spring, and they must have liked what they saw. In the draft for the spring game, the Colorado captains selected Clemons with the first overall pick. Clemons caught four passes for 33 yards.
- The second pick in the draft, All-Big 12 offensive tackle Nate Solder, caught a touchdown pass from Hawkins on a tackle-eligible play at the goal line in the fourth quarter. "We were supposed to run it all last season," Solder said. "We finally got the chance."
- The Gold team busted out the Haka before the game, a Polynesian war dance made popular most recently by Hawaii in college football and the All Blacks, New Zealand's rugby union team.
- Freshman quarterback Nick Hirschman threw one pass in the scrimmage -- and completed it to Andre Simmons for an 83-yard touchdown. That's good enough for a quarterback rating of 1127.20.
- Among those stuck on the sidelines for the spring game: RB Rodney Stewart, WR Scotty McKnight and K Aric Goodman.
Lunch links: Jayhawks getting a new video board
April, 9, 2010
Apr 9
12:30
PM ET
Short set of links today, but I'm on my way to Nebraska to check out the Huskers.
- Kansas fans can expect to see a new video board next season.
- Nebraska's race to start at linebacker is wide open, writes Jon Nyatawa of the Omaha World-Herald.
- Kyle Ringo of the Boulder Daily Camera says Colorado is missing an identity.
- Baylor is still strong at linebacker, despite losing All-Big 12 performer Joe Pawelek, writes John Werner at the Waco Tribune.
Lunch links: Huskers' Hagg makes 'Peso' click
April, 6, 2010
Apr 6
12:30
PM ET
- As the versatile nickelback, Nebraska senior Eric Hagg is what made the "Peso" defense click in the final two games of 2009, and he's the key once again this spring, writes Steven M. Sipple of the Lincoln Journal Star.
- Aundrey Barr and Brian Duncan are separating themselves as the premier pass-rushers for the Red Raiders, reports Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
- Colorado QB Nick Hirschman is buddying up with the big guys three months into his college experience, writes B.G. Brooks at CUBuffs.com.
- Oklahoma State RB Kendall Hunter earned the Nate Fleming Award at Oklahoma State for overcoming personal obstacles on the way to academic success.
- Matt Hayes of The Sporting News puts two Big 12 players on his list of five soon-to-be household names, headlined by Missouri's Blaine Gabbert.
- Texas has picked up its 19th commitment for 2011, Quincy Russell, a defensive tackle from San Antonio.
- Mike Leach is scheduled to arrive in Stillwater and serve as a consultant to Dana Holgorsen while he installs his offense at Oklahoma State.
- Colorado is going back to the schoolyard to divvy up the teams for its spring game, writes Kyle Ringo of the Boulder Daily Camera.
Colorado
Colorado's offense struggled in its Friday scrimmage, but Michigan transfer Toney Clemons caught six passes for 37 yards and two touchdowns, both from goal-line situations. Receivers Scotty McKnight, Markques Simas and Will Jefferson did not play.
The 106-play scrimmage featured seven scores, but all came in that goal-line package late in practice. Tyler Hansen hit Clemons for both touchdowns and completed 12 of 22 passes for 102 yards. He also threw an interception. Cody Hawkins completed 10 of 22 passes for 111 yards.
Running backs Rodney Stewart and Brian Lockridge were held out of the scrimmage and the running game struggled, gaining just 61 yards on 22 carries.
But Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins said the lack of personnel wasn't to blame for the offensive struggles, instead pointing to the scrimmage's situational and segmented focus.
Texas Tech
The big news, of course, was the absence of Taylor Potts (laceration on hand) and Steven Sheffield (surgery to repair broken foot), who both are expected to miss the spring.
Sophomore Seth Doege and redshirt freshman Jacob Karam stepped in and impressed new coach Tommy Tuberville.
"I'm really proud of the young quarterbacks," Tuberville said after Friday's closed scrimmage. "They came out and threw the ball well, threw some touchdown passes. We were able to get them some work that otherwise they may not have seen. They split the reps evenly, with Doege running with the ones and Karam with the twos. We'll switch them up for Monday's practice."
Colorado's offense struggled in its Friday scrimmage, but Michigan transfer Toney Clemons caught six passes for 37 yards and two touchdowns, both from goal-line situations. Receivers Scotty McKnight, Markques Simas and Will Jefferson did not play.
The 106-play scrimmage featured seven scores, but all came in that goal-line package late in practice. Tyler Hansen hit Clemons for both touchdowns and completed 12 of 22 passes for 102 yards. He also threw an interception. Cody Hawkins completed 10 of 22 passes for 111 yards.
Running backs Rodney Stewart and Brian Lockridge were held out of the scrimmage and the running game struggled, gaining just 61 yards on 22 carries.
But Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins said the lack of personnel wasn't to blame for the offensive struggles, instead pointing to the scrimmage's situational and segmented focus.
Texas Tech
The big news, of course, was the absence of Taylor Potts (laceration on hand) and Steven Sheffield (surgery to repair broken foot), who both are expected to miss the spring.
Sophomore Seth Doege and redshirt freshman Jacob Karam stepped in and impressed new coach Tommy Tuberville.
"I'm really proud of the young quarterbacks," Tuberville said after Friday's closed scrimmage. "They came out and threw the ball well, threw some touchdown passes. We were able to get them some work that otherwise they may not have seen. They split the reps evenly, with Doege running with the ones and Karam with the twos. We'll switch them up for Monday's practice."
BOULDER, Colo.—Nate Solder watched Alabama from the sidelines on a day in December two years ago in Shreveport, La. Three months ago, he watched—on TV this time—the Crimson Tide win a national championship.
On that day two years ago, Alabama was only six points better than the Buffaloes, winning the Independence Bowl, 30-24. Last January, Alabama won its 14th game and a national title.
The gap between the two teams now is much wider, but the offensive lineman and his teammates believe, despite winning just three games in 2009, that gap could have been much narrower than 11 wins.
“I never doubted that we could play much better than we did, and we did toward the end of the season,” Solder said. “It was encouraging that we stuck together and played better toward the end of the season. We kept getting better.”
Colorado closed their season with five consecutive games against teams who finished their season in a bowl. It upset Texas A&M before losing at Iowa State by a touchdown. The Buffaloes lost a fourth-quarter lead at Oklahoma State and were within a touchdown of Big 12 North champ Nebraska in the fourth quarter.
“That was due to us not being very disciplined, having a lot of dumb mistakes that could easily be correctable,” said defensive back Anthony Perkins.
That’s not acceptable for the Buffaloes, but they feel the road back to a bowl game isn’t as long as some might think.
“The biggest emphasis this year is taking care of the little things, taking care of details, being disciplined as a team, cutting down on penalties and just not doing things that beat us last year,” Perkins said. “Not beating ourselves.”
And that’s begun this spring. Its coach, Dan Hawkins, enters 2010 on the proverbial hot seat. The expectations outside the locker room are low. But hope for the Buffaloes lies in lessons learned from a less-than-ideal season.
“It was a challenge. You had to keep the faith,” Solder said of the Buffaloes’ struggles. “Rallying with the guys. Maybe the world was against you, but you’ve got to stay with the team. It’s about the guys.”
On that day two years ago, Alabama was only six points better than the Buffaloes, winning the Independence Bowl, 30-24. Last January, Alabama won its 14th game and a national title.
The gap between the two teams now is much wider, but the offensive lineman and his teammates believe, despite winning just three games in 2009, that gap could have been much narrower than 11 wins.
“I never doubted that we could play much better than we did, and we did toward the end of the season,” Solder said. “It was encouraging that we stuck together and played better toward the end of the season. We kept getting better.”
Colorado closed their season with five consecutive games against teams who finished their season in a bowl. It upset Texas A&M before losing at Iowa State by a touchdown. The Buffaloes lost a fourth-quarter lead at Oklahoma State and were within a touchdown of Big 12 North champ Nebraska in the fourth quarter.
“That was due to us not being very disciplined, having a lot of dumb mistakes that could easily be correctable,” said defensive back Anthony Perkins.
That’s not acceptable for the Buffaloes, but they feel the road back to a bowl game isn’t as long as some might think.
“The biggest emphasis this year is taking care of the little things, taking care of details, being disciplined as a team, cutting down on penalties and just not doing things that beat us last year,” Perkins said. “Not beating ourselves.”
And that’s begun this spring. Its coach, Dan Hawkins, enters 2010 on the proverbial hot seat. The expectations outside the locker room are low. But hope for the Buffaloes lies in lessons learned from a less-than-ideal season.
“It was a challenge. You had to keep the faith,” Solder said of the Buffaloes’ struggles. “Rallying with the guys. Maybe the world was against you, but you’ve got to stay with the team. It’s about the guys.”
Colorado RB Stewart taking control of backfield
April, 5, 2010
Apr 5
10:30
AM ET
BOULDER, Colo. -- Rodney Stewart’s 2009 wasn’t ideal. His team won just three games. He suffered an ankle injury against Kansas and had to miss time after a hamstring injury early in the season.
But the Colorado running back still rushed for more than 800 yards and scored nine touchdowns, both career highs. This offseason, the Buffaloes talented backfield thinned out with the departures of running backs Demetrius Sumler and Darrell Scott, who came to Colorado ranked No. 9 in the 2008 ESPNU 150 and the No. 2 running back.
“I’m the most experienced [running back], so I kind of feel like a leader,” Stewart said.
The junior known around Boulder as “Speedy” could be a key cog in the Colorado offense.
This spring, with just four running backs practicing, Stewart isn’t getting as much action as he’d want. That will change soon.
“You always want to get the ball to your playmakers, so we try, whether you want to hand it to him or throw it to him, and he’s been doing a good job in the return game, too,” said Colorado coach Dan Hawkins. “He’s good with the ball in his hands, so we’ll try to get the ball to him.”
And with Hawkins’ commitment to get him the ball, combined with Scott and Sumler freeing up 59 carries from a season ago, Stewart's 198 carries could rise.
Stewart said he was “disappointed” his friends chose to leave the program, but understood they wanted to make an impact elsewhere.
Stewart caught just 12 passes in 2009, and that number should rise, too.
“This spring I’m focused on catching the ball out of the backfield, completing all my pass blocks, whether its cutting the guy and getting him down or lighting him up,” Stewart said. “We’ve done a lot more screens in practice, and they’re getting the ball to me a lot more on spot routes. Behind the line of scrimmage and things like that.”
But the Colorado running back still rushed for more than 800 yards and scored nine touchdowns, both career highs. This offseason, the Buffaloes talented backfield thinned out with the departures of running backs Demetrius Sumler and Darrell Scott, who came to Colorado ranked No. 9 in the 2008 ESPNU 150 and the No. 2 running back.
“I’m the most experienced [running back], so I kind of feel like a leader,” Stewart said.
The junior known around Boulder as “Speedy” could be a key cog in the Colorado offense.
This spring, with just four running backs practicing, Stewart isn’t getting as much action as he’d want. That will change soon.
“You always want to get the ball to your playmakers, so we try, whether you want to hand it to him or throw it to him, and he’s been doing a good job in the return game, too,” said Colorado coach Dan Hawkins. “He’s good with the ball in his hands, so we’ll try to get the ball to him.”
And with Hawkins’ commitment to get him the ball, combined with Scott and Sumler freeing up 59 carries from a season ago, Stewart's 198 carries could rise.
Stewart said he was “disappointed” his friends chose to leave the program, but understood they wanted to make an impact elsewhere.
Stewart caught just 12 passes in 2009, and that number should rise, too.
“This spring I’m focused on catching the ball out of the backfield, completing all my pass blocks, whether its cutting the guy and getting him down or lighting him up,” Stewart said. “We’ve done a lot more screens in practice, and they’re getting the ball to me a lot more on spot routes. Behind the line of scrimmage and things like that.”
BOULDER, Colo. -- Cody Hawkins doesn’t need to ask Dan Hawkins for an update on where he stands in the quarterback competition. Neither does fellow candidate Tyler Hansen, and he’s not asking offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau either, who said the competition will likely last until fall.
They don’t need to. All either needs to do is take a glance at The Chart—the one keeping track of every single throw they make at any point during a practice.
“They have everything charted out, from Practice One to the first scrimmage,” Cody Hawkins said. “You can go down and if you want to review the whole practice, they have guys who that’s specifically their job, they’re charting us.”
The chart is essentially a glorified quarterback rating, reflecting each quarterback’s completion percentage, touchdown passes, touchdown drive percentage and a handful of other stats—most importantly, interceptions.
“You’ve got statistics in front of you that say, ‘Hey, this guy’s doing better than you’ on this day, but tomorrow I’m going to come out here and I’m going to do a lot better,” Hansen said. “It definitely adds a lot more competition to it.”
The Buffaloes only used the chart for scrimmages last season. Now, every time a live ball leaves a quarterback’s hands, it goes into each player’s bank. With Hawkins challenging to regain his status at starter, its importance is obvious.
“This is unbelievable,” Hansen said. “We weigh every rep.”
Said Hawkins: “It gives you the opportunity to really compete yourself and gauge yourself. When you’re out there on the field, you don’t get a great chance because you’re so caught up in your own competition and your own job, just to see exactly what it looks like from an outsider’s perspective, you know exactly where you need to improve.”
With only a handful of bystanders to watch each practice instead of tens of thousands cheering them on inside Folsom Field, each practice now feels a little more like game day. Scrimmage time or a flown-in opponent not necessary.
“You’ve definitely gotta go into practice saying, ‘Every play matters,’” Hansen said. “You’ve got to be 100 percent focused on every play, because every rep goes into your official score. It definitely makes you focus a lot more.”
Both quarterbacks are chasing a completion percentage of 70 and hopes of marching into the end zone each time they take control of the offense during a scrimmage.
But both says they have plenty to improve that won’t show up on any chart. For Hansen, it’s stepping into a role as vocal leader. For Hawkins, it’s trusting his teammates and playing within himself.
“Because I was here a bit longer than a lot of guys and I played since I was a freshman, that I probably put too much of a burden on myself and tried to make things happen, just because we had younger guys who were just getting the hang of things around me,” Hawkins said. “But now I’ve got to realize that I’ve got some experienced guys around me and if I play within myself, then I think this the time when I can just go out and do what I do and if it turns out I’m the best guy, I’m the best guy.”
But who knows who’ll end up being the best guy when the spring ends? To find out, start with the chart.
They don’t need to. All either needs to do is take a glance at The Chart—the one keeping track of every single throw they make at any point during a practice.
“They have everything charted out, from Practice One to the first scrimmage,” Cody Hawkins said. “You can go down and if you want to review the whole practice, they have guys who that’s specifically their job, they’re charting us.”
The chart is essentially a glorified quarterback rating, reflecting each quarterback’s completion percentage, touchdown passes, touchdown drive percentage and a handful of other stats—most importantly, interceptions.
“You’ve got statistics in front of you that say, ‘Hey, this guy’s doing better than you’ on this day, but tomorrow I’m going to come out here and I’m going to do a lot better,” Hansen said. “It definitely adds a lot more competition to it.”
The Buffaloes only used the chart for scrimmages last season. Now, every time a live ball leaves a quarterback’s hands, it goes into each player’s bank. With Hawkins challenging to regain his status at starter, its importance is obvious.
“This is unbelievable,” Hansen said. “We weigh every rep.”
Said Hawkins: “It gives you the opportunity to really compete yourself and gauge yourself. When you’re out there on the field, you don’t get a great chance because you’re so caught up in your own competition and your own job, just to see exactly what it looks like from an outsider’s perspective, you know exactly where you need to improve.”
With only a handful of bystanders to watch each practice instead of tens of thousands cheering them on inside Folsom Field, each practice now feels a little more like game day. Scrimmage time or a flown-in opponent not necessary.
“You’ve definitely gotta go into practice saying, ‘Every play matters,’” Hansen said. “You’ve got to be 100 percent focused on every play, because every rep goes into your official score. It definitely makes you focus a lot more.”
Both quarterbacks are chasing a completion percentage of 70 and hopes of marching into the end zone each time they take control of the offense during a scrimmage.
But both says they have plenty to improve that won’t show up on any chart. For Hansen, it’s stepping into a role as vocal leader. For Hawkins, it’s trusting his teammates and playing within himself.
“Because I was here a bit longer than a lot of guys and I played since I was a freshman, that I probably put too much of a burden on myself and tried to make things happen, just because we had younger guys who were just getting the hang of things around me,” Hawkins said. “But now I’ve got to realize that I’ve got some experienced guys around me and if I play within myself, then I think this the time when I can just go out and do what I do and if it turns out I’m the best guy, I’m the best guy.”
But who knows who’ll end up being the best guy when the spring ends? To find out, start with the chart.
- Mitch Sherman at the Omaha World-Herald gives a look at Rex Burkhead 2.0.
- Texas Tech is looking for some depth in its secondary, writes Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
- Tom Kensler at the Denver Post says don't forget: Colorado's depth at running back will double when fall arrives.
- Kansas players are trying to learn the lingo of Turner Gill's program, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.
- Cyclones cornerback Leonard Johnson is fine-tuning his game, relying on more than athleticism in hopes of a big 2010, writes Bobby La Gesse of the Ames Tribune.
Lunch links: Huskers safety ready to step in
March, 31, 2010
Mar 31
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- Austin Cassidy wants to follow his mentor at safety, Matt O'Hanlon, writes Rich Kaipust of the Omaha World-Herald.
- Rodderick Muckelroy is trying to be the second Longhorns linebacker in the past 15 years to be drafted, reports Suzanne Halliburton of the Austin American-Statesman.
- Jake Trotter of The Oklahoman reviews practices 4-7 for the Sooners.
- B.G. Brooks at CUBuffs.com says the Colorado defensive line is improving quickly.
- Isaiah Anderson should benefit from Dana Holgorsen's new offense, writes Brandon Chatmon of The Oklahoman.
- Kansas is set to slip on the pads, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.
Here, we'll take a look at a couple of key players going, staying and coming for each team in the Big 12.
Going:
Cha'pelle Brown, DB: Brown led the Buffaloes in tackles as a senior with 96 stops and was tabbed as an All-Big 12 performer.
Riar Geer, TE: Geer caught 36 passes for 402 yards and four touchdowns in 2009, his best season ever. Raw youngster DaVaughn Thornton could step in to replace the tight end.
Staying:
Rodney Stewart, RB: Stewart led the Buffaloes in rushing and dominated in touches with talented backs Darrell Scott and Demetrius Sumler still on the roster. Without either on the team, those touches should just go up, unless one of the handful of freshmen running backs coming to campus in the fall excels early. With limited numbers in the spring, though, he's not playing the role of workhorse right now, but he could be during the season.
Scotty McKnight, WR: His spring is done, but the sprain and chipped bone shouldn't limit him in the offseason or preseason camp. McKnight caught 76 balls for 895 yards and six touchdowns last season, and another big year could help Tyler Hansen or Cody Hawkins provide some consistency and stability at quarterback.
Coming:
Nick Hirschman, QB: Hirschman has enrolled early and comes to Colorado as the No. 26 quarterback in America. The 6-foot-3, 216-pounder's arrival could mean the graduation of Cody Hawkins won't end the competition at quarterback.
Harold Mobley, WR: At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Mobley is built more like a tight end. With a 39-inch vertical and 4.55 40-yard dash time, he'll hardly play like one. In the Big 12, size and athleticism don't always translate to success, and the earlier Mobley sees that, the greater his chances for success.
More Revolving Door:
Going:
Cha'pelle Brown, DB: Brown led the Buffaloes in tackles as a senior with 96 stops and was tabbed as an All-Big 12 performer.
Riar Geer, TE: Geer caught 36 passes for 402 yards and four touchdowns in 2009, his best season ever. Raw youngster DaVaughn Thornton could step in to replace the tight end.
Staying:
Rodney Stewart, RB: Stewart led the Buffaloes in rushing and dominated in touches with talented backs Darrell Scott and Demetrius Sumler still on the roster. Without either on the team, those touches should just go up, unless one of the handful of freshmen running backs coming to campus in the fall excels early. With limited numbers in the spring, though, he's not playing the role of workhorse right now, but he could be during the season.
Scotty McKnight, WR: His spring is done, but the sprain and chipped bone shouldn't limit him in the offseason or preseason camp. McKnight caught 76 balls for 895 yards and six touchdowns last season, and another big year could help Tyler Hansen or Cody Hawkins provide some consistency and stability at quarterback.
Coming:
Nick Hirschman, QB: Hirschman has enrolled early and comes to Colorado as the No. 26 quarterback in America. The 6-foot-3, 216-pounder's arrival could mean the graduation of Cody Hawkins won't end the competition at quarterback.
Harold Mobley, WR: At 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, Mobley is built more like a tight end. With a 39-inch vertical and 4.55 40-yard dash time, he'll hardly play like one. In the Big 12, size and athleticism don't always translate to success, and the earlier Mobley sees that, the greater his chances for success.
More Revolving Door:
Got back to Dallas yesterday, but not much time to rest. I'm headed to Austin today to get an early look at the Longhorns, the last team in the South on my checklist.
But first, a few thoughts on my trip to Boulder:
But first, a few thoughts on my trip to Boulder:
- Most of the players were pretty upbeat, but that's what you'd expect coming back from a nice 10-day spring break in the middle of practice. Even Scotty McKnight, who I got a chance to visit with briefly after practice, seemed in good spirits. His sprain and a chipped bone are welcome news after there was speculation that he had broken his leg. McKnight told me he could play through the pain if he needed to, but the Buffaloes didn't want to take any chances.
- McKnight's absence could accelerate the growth of receiver Toney Clemons, who's fall debut should be much-anticipated. Monday was my first chance to get a close look at Clemons, and while he's far from a world-beater just yet, physically, he's every bit of 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds. Great size and great athleticism. By the end of the spring game, quarterbacks Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen should know just how much they can count on the Michigan transfer once season arrives.
- Said Hawkins of Clemons: "The best thing about Toney is not what he does on the field. I think it’s the presence that he has around the guys in the locker room and in the weight room. He’s a guy who really encourages a lot of competition. He’s very, very confident, but he’s not cocky. He’s somebody who’s very approachable to all the guys. He’s a great leader for everybody on our team, and I think he’s really helped our wide receiver group find an identity and play with a little bit of swagger. He’s brought a lot of personality out of everyone on the team."
- Speaking of Hawkins, he returned from spring break relaxed and ready to get back to competing with Hansen for the starting job. Hawkins visited his sister in Oregon before heading to Boise to pay his brother Drew a visit. He also spent some time with other family in Idaho. "I personally feel really rejuvenated. Some people spend spring break going crazy and come back needing a break. But I got to sit back, relax a little bit and get ready to roll for spring ball again," he said. "Having a break is nice, but I think everybody’s chomping at the bit to get going again." As for Hansen, he stuck around Boulder during his break.
- Colorado coach Dan Hawkins visited a couple schools during the break, but played it coy when pressed to reveal which schools.
- Hawkins has brought in referees to throw flags even during drills, just part of his campaign to eliminate the self-inflicted problems that kept Colorado from winning more than three games a season ago. "This spring we’re real focused on penalties, Coach Hawkins is really on the penalties, the small details," said safety Anthony Perkins. "Just really the small details we haven’t been good at taking care of so far."
- Nate Solder is big.
- I'll have plenty more on Colorado next week.
- Jeremy Smith is back in camp at Oklahoma State, ending speculation he left the program, reports Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World.
- Nebraska coach Bo Pelini doesn't quite have a feel for how his linebacking corps will shake out, writes Rich Kaipust of the Omaha World-Herald.
- Kansas coach Turner Gill is in no hurry to fill his depth chart, writes Matt Tait of the Lawrence Journal-World.
- A collection of quotes from just about everyone about Sam Bradford's workout on Monday from The Oklahoman staff. Did you say something about Sam Bradford yesterday? It's probably on here.
- Robert Cessna of the Bryan-College Station Eagle reviews the Aggies first scrimmage of the spring.
- Colorado fans can submit questions for coach Dan Hawkins, who agreed to participate in the Denver Post feature, "Fan Mail."
BOULDER, Colo.-- Scotty McKnight was at Colorado's practice on Monday afternoon, but he watched in street clothes, his No. 21 jersey missing the shoulder pads the rest of his teammates donned.
McKnight's suffered a left leg injury in a scrimmage before the team took its spring break, but the latest diagnosis classified the injury as a sprain. McKnight said he also suffered a chipped bone, a much less severe diagnosis than was originally feared. McKnight likely won't practice again this spring, or play in the Buffaloes spring game on April 10.
"Originally I thought it was a fractured fibula, but it's not.
"The bone's the part they want to heal the most," McKnight said. "If there was a game on Saturday, I'd be playing. Tape it up, take something, some Advil or something, and get ready to go."
McKnight's left foot was still in a boot 10 days after the injury, and the receiver told coach Dan Hawkins he planned to be out at practice on Monday. The training staff had other plans.
McKnight said he wants to participate in spring practice in some capacity, but he's got some convincing to do to make that happen.
"I would love that," McKnight said, when asked if he could participate in controlled drills with no tackling. "That's maybe something we'll look at. I know they said 100 percent that I couldn't go this week, so I'm begging up there. We'll see. They said I won't go this week, but if I can maybe bounce back and maybe do some things next week, that'd be great. But I probably won't be going live just so we let it heal all the way and it doesn't take any time away from this offseason."
McKnight caught 76 passes for 895 yards and six touchdowns last season.
McKnight's suffered a left leg injury in a scrimmage before the team took its spring break, but the latest diagnosis classified the injury as a sprain. McKnight said he also suffered a chipped bone, a much less severe diagnosis than was originally feared. McKnight likely won't practice again this spring, or play in the Buffaloes spring game on April 10.
"Originally I thought it was a fractured fibula, but it's not.
"The bone's the part they want to heal the most," McKnight said. "If there was a game on Saturday, I'd be playing. Tape it up, take something, some Advil or something, and get ready to go."
McKnight's left foot was still in a boot 10 days after the injury, and the receiver told coach Dan Hawkins he planned to be out at practice on Monday. The training staff had other plans.
McKnight said he wants to participate in spring practice in some capacity, but he's got some convincing to do to make that happen.
"I would love that," McKnight said, when asked if he could participate in controlled drills with no tackling. "That's maybe something we'll look at. I know they said 100 percent that I couldn't go this week, so I'm begging up there. We'll see. They said I won't go this week, but if I can maybe bounce back and maybe do some things next week, that'd be great. But I probably won't be going live just so we let it heal all the way and it doesn't take any time away from this offseason."
McKnight caught 76 passes for 895 yards and six touchdowns last season.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
David Ubben
Ubben joined ESPN.com in March 2010 after covering Big 12 football for two seasons at the Columbia Missourian and The Oklahoman. Ubben, a native of Springdale, Ark., lives in Dallas.
