After last week's 4th quarter implosion and loss to Arizona State, the Colorado Buffaloes made the walk of shame back to Boulder knowing their season of high promise had denigrated to a season based on delusions of grandeur.
Chatter on the fan boards ground to a halt this week, as fans (including this writer) sought out new ways to spend their Saturdays. Ways that involve more enjoyment and less disappointment than way too many of the Saturdays of the 2017 season in Boulder.
Tomorrow's game against USC represents the last home game of the year for the Buffaloes, and the last home game ever for the seniors on the roster. Final thoughts on some of these young men:
Michael Adkins - RB
The heart goes out for Adkins. From early on in his career, he has showed flashes of brilliance. Unfortunately, the injury bug was a persistent hindrance that kept the young man from ever really reaching his potential on the gridiron.
Bryce Bobo - WR
Bobo's nickname should be "Amazing!" No Buff fan will ever forget his unforgettable one handed catch against Oregon in the 2016 season. The young man's big hands made spectacular catches seem easy during his time in Boulder. Sadly, Colorado's woes during his stay have kept Bryce largely out of the national spotlight. Fortunately for Bobo, his skill set should play well at the next level.
Shay Fields - WR
Shay earned the nickname "Big Play Shay" due to his speed and ability to get in the open from early in his Colorado career. Even when the Buffaloes were struggling during his tenure, Fields could be counted on for a number of big yardage plays every season. He also struggled at times, making fans wonder if there were some unreported physical issues hindering his play.
George Frazier - TE/DT
Frazier is one of those guys who make us older fans yearn for the olden days. He's a guy who gives his all every play he's on the field, and also a guy who plays both offense and defense. If that seems strange, it's because only a handful of FBS players play both sides of the ball in the specialized world of college football.
Jeromy Irwin - OL
Irwin has been in Boulder for longer than the typical college football player. Sadly, that extended stay was due to several severe injuries that kept him off the field despite his tenacity and talent.
The final three players listed have a special place in the writer's heart.
Derek McCartney - OLB
Anyone with any sense of history knows that Derek is the grandson of the greatest coach in Colorado history, Bill McCartney. He grew up with football in his blood. His NFL father Shannon Clavelle was an all-time great at CU. But as good as his football bloodlines are, Derek is a world class student as well. He finished his pre-med degree in three years and will earn his masters degree next month. Barring a stint in the NFL, Derek will soon take his prodigious intellectual talents to medical school.
Ryan Moeller - DB
Most people have never heard of Rifle, Colorado. That is the small town where Ryan Moeller grew up and became a Colorado high school football legend. Ryan's senior year in high school was what most players would call a career. He rushed for more than 3,000 yards and scored 50 touchdowns in one year. Really.
Despite those gaudy stats, Moeller had to walk on at Colorado instead of being given a scholarship. Back in the days when we could still watch practice, Moeller stood out to the serious football followers. Soon enough, the young man from Rifle had earned a place on the field and also earned a scholarship. Watching the young man go down to injury against Arizona State was one of the lowest points of a disappointing season. Like the last player on this list, Ryan Moeller gave his all every play during his time at Colorado. His influence will be missed.
Phillip Lindsay - RB
Lindsay was such a force of nature during practice for Colorado that he quickly earned the nickname "The Tasmanian Devil" for his intensity. Not everyone remember the roots. Phillip grew up and Colorado Buffaloes fan and surprised many when he committed to Colorado following the disastrous 1-11 season in 2012. He proclaimed that he intended to help Colorado return to winning ways.
Even during his redshirt year, Lindsay stood out and was selected scout player of the year by the Colorado coaches. Over the next four years he became one of the best to ever line up at tailback in Colorado. He is the first running back to ever run for back to back 1,000 yard seasons at CU. Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam didn't do it. And all-time leading rusher Eric Bieniemy didn't do it either. Only Lindsay can make that claim.
Sadly, Lindsay will likely fall short of the all-time rushing record. He's close, but it's a tougher row to hoe than some of his predecessors. Both Salaam and Bieniemy had a stable of future NFL offensive linemen leading their way. Lindsay never had that luxury. His yards were earned the hard way.
More important even than the numbers, however, was the leadership that Lindsay gave the team. He gave his heart and soul every play and every practice, and also on the sideline. A great coach in Colorado's past once talked about they type of player that Lindsay represents. He said those types of players were the key. Give him 20 of those guys and he could beat anyone.
I will be on hand to give these guys my final salute tomorrow. I hope that both the serious and casual fan of Colorado football will appreciate the sacrifice and dedication these young men gave to dear old CU.
Friday, November 10, 2017
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Buffs Collapse in 4th Quarter, Lose to Arizona State
Turn out the lights, the party's over. Colorado took a 10 point lead into the 4th quarter and managed to lose by 11 points, 41-30. Actually, the season was never much of a party. Maybe just a surprise party where the guest of honor was smart enough to not show up.
Although the Buffs mathematically have a chance to win another game, they won't. They make the worst rushing teams in the Pac-12 look like Barry Switzer's 1980's Oklahoma Sooners.
One could say that head coach Mike MacIntyre quit on his team by taking away their last chance for a win. The Sun Devils ran it down Colorado's throats all 2nd half, and Colorado was unable to stop them. Despite that, he choose to punt the ball back to ASU with less than three minutes left.
Most of us figured that ASU would run out the clock but Colorado failed to stop any runs and the Sun Devils scored another clinching touchdown.
The score against USC next week will be as embarrassing as the Washington and Washington State games. Mark that prediction. Whatever the line is, the Trojans will probably triple it.
Sadly, a season predicated on promised great success has turned out to be yet another lost season in Boulder. At least it's almost time to hit the slopes. Or maybe go traveling. Anything other than more wasted time.
Although the Buffs mathematically have a chance to win another game, they won't. They make the worst rushing teams in the Pac-12 look like Barry Switzer's 1980's Oklahoma Sooners.
One could say that head coach Mike MacIntyre quit on his team by taking away their last chance for a win. The Sun Devils ran it down Colorado's throats all 2nd half, and Colorado was unable to stop them. Despite that, he choose to punt the ball back to ASU with less than three minutes left.
Most of us figured that ASU would run out the clock but Colorado failed to stop any runs and the Sun Devils scored another clinching touchdown.
The score against USC next week will be as embarrassing as the Washington and Washington State games. Mark that prediction. Whatever the line is, the Trojans will probably triple it.
Sadly, a season predicated on promised great success has turned out to be yet another lost season in Boulder. At least it's almost time to hit the slopes. Or maybe go traveling. Anything other than more wasted time.
Colorado Buffaloes vs Arizona State Sun Devils: Battle for the Middle
Sun Devil Stadium is a hard place to win unless you are playing for Arizona State or playing in a bowl game against another team from outside of Tempe.
The only time that Colorado has won there was in the Fiesta Bowl following 1994 season. In Bill McCartney's last game, the Buffs put a serious whipping on Lou Holtz's Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
Colorado has never beaten Arizona State in Tempe, and hasn't had much luck against them anywhere overall. Last year's victory in Boulder was the first ever for the Buffs against the Sun Devils. Overall, Colorado is 1-7 against ASU.
The past doesn't bode well for Colorado, so the job of Mike MacIntyre and his staff is to get their team to play for the future and forget the past. The Buffaloes have won five games this year, and need a win in the last three weeks to become bowl eligible.
With Pac-12 South leader (and #17) USC coming to Boulder next week, the Buffaloes face a tough road to bowl-ville unless they can pull an upset of 4-4 Arizona State.
The Sun Devils have been up and down all year. They got spanked at home last week by USC, but beat #5 Washington (at home) and went on the road to defeat Utah in the two weeks prior. Early in the season, the Devils also lost to San Diego State and Texas Tech. It's been a tough season to watch for ASU fans.
Likewise, things have been tough in Boulder. After last year's 10 win season, fans of Colorado expected them to once again vie for the Pac-12 South title. Coaches added to the expectations when they proclaimed Colorado would have one of the best offenses in the country.
Then came the season. The Buffs went 3-0 in non-conference games but looked wholly uninspired and far from explosive on offense. After losing their first three Pac-12 games, the Buffs squeaked by Oregon State, a team which had yet to be within 28 points of an FBS team. Then came the 28-0 debacle loss to Washington State to drop the Buffs to 4-4.
The grumblings from the Peanut Gallery at Folsom Field got louder and louder during the season, and became an outright roar during the Washington State loss. The quarterback was benched, and after neither backup QB could do anything either, calls were made for the play-caller (and Co-offensive coordinator) Brian Lindgren to be fired or demoted.
Finally, in week 9, the Buffs finally showed some fire. They were explosive offensively, and cruised to a big win over California. Most fans were willing to recognize the effort and congratulate the team on a well played game. It was good to see the team having fun again.
Throughout this week, however, the facts began to sink in about the Buffs' two conference wins. They were against the two worst teams in the league this year. The Buffs have lost to the middle of the road teams in the Pac-12, and been smoked by the upper level teams.
Most fans were happy with last week's win, but are unconvinced that it will lead to more wins this year and a bowl game. But they are waiting with bated breath to see how this game goes.
If the Buffs win, they will be bowl eligible and they will have a fighting chance to finish the season 8-4 and on a four game winning streak entering bowl season.
If they lose, particularly if they lose badly (which is typical in games in Tempe against ASU), the Buffs could very well finish season 5-7 and on the outside looking in come bowl time. It's an all too familiar place to be with a decade between last year's bowl team and the last time they went bowling.
Buff fans are hoping against hope, but the emotional content from fans seems to be missing. They've had their hearts already broken this year. They are waiting for one more game before they give the Buffs their complete support.
They want their Buffs to win, and hope it comes true. The question remains whether the Buffaloes themselves are going to lay it all on the line and do whatever is necessary to win? Or will they face adversity and a tough road game and cash in their chips? Will the coaches rise to the occasion? Or will they be outcoached once again and lay the fault at the feet of their players?
Let's see who shows up. It's less than two hours until we find out.
The only time that Colorado has won there was in the Fiesta Bowl following 1994 season. In Bill McCartney's last game, the Buffs put a serious whipping on Lou Holtz's Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
Colorado has never beaten Arizona State in Tempe, and hasn't had much luck against them anywhere overall. Last year's victory in Boulder was the first ever for the Buffs against the Sun Devils. Overall, Colorado is 1-7 against ASU.
The past doesn't bode well for Colorado, so the job of Mike MacIntyre and his staff is to get their team to play for the future and forget the past. The Buffaloes have won five games this year, and need a win in the last three weeks to become bowl eligible.
With Pac-12 South leader (and #17) USC coming to Boulder next week, the Buffaloes face a tough road to bowl-ville unless they can pull an upset of 4-4 Arizona State.
The Sun Devils have been up and down all year. They got spanked at home last week by USC, but beat #5 Washington (at home) and went on the road to defeat Utah in the two weeks prior. Early in the season, the Devils also lost to San Diego State and Texas Tech. It's been a tough season to watch for ASU fans.
Likewise, things have been tough in Boulder. After last year's 10 win season, fans of Colorado expected them to once again vie for the Pac-12 South title. Coaches added to the expectations when they proclaimed Colorado would have one of the best offenses in the country.
Then came the season. The Buffs went 3-0 in non-conference games but looked wholly uninspired and far from explosive on offense. After losing their first three Pac-12 games, the Buffs squeaked by Oregon State, a team which had yet to be within 28 points of an FBS team. Then came the 28-0 debacle loss to Washington State to drop the Buffs to 4-4.
The grumblings from the Peanut Gallery at Folsom Field got louder and louder during the season, and became an outright roar during the Washington State loss. The quarterback was benched, and after neither backup QB could do anything either, calls were made for the play-caller (and Co-offensive coordinator) Brian Lindgren to be fired or demoted.
Finally, in week 9, the Buffs finally showed some fire. They were explosive offensively, and cruised to a big win over California. Most fans were willing to recognize the effort and congratulate the team on a well played game. It was good to see the team having fun again.
Throughout this week, however, the facts began to sink in about the Buffs' two conference wins. They were against the two worst teams in the league this year. The Buffs have lost to the middle of the road teams in the Pac-12, and been smoked by the upper level teams.
Most fans were happy with last week's win, but are unconvinced that it will lead to more wins this year and a bowl game. But they are waiting with bated breath to see how this game goes.
If the Buffs win, they will be bowl eligible and they will have a fighting chance to finish the season 8-4 and on a four game winning streak entering bowl season.
If they lose, particularly if they lose badly (which is typical in games in Tempe against ASU), the Buffs could very well finish season 5-7 and on the outside looking in come bowl time. It's an all too familiar place to be with a decade between last year's bowl team and the last time they went bowling.
Buff fans are hoping against hope, but the emotional content from fans seems to be missing. They've had their hearts already broken this year. They are waiting for one more game before they give the Buffs their complete support.
They want their Buffs to win, and hope it comes true. The question remains whether the Buffaloes themselves are going to lay it all on the line and do whatever is necessary to win? Or will they face adversity and a tough road game and cash in their chips? Will the coaches rise to the occasion? Or will they be outcoached once again and lay the fault at the feet of their players?
Let's see who shows up. It's less than two hours until we find out.
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Colorado Breaks Out the Enthusiasm, Wins 44-28 over Cal
Wow!
The Colorado Buffaloes finally broke out the Joie de Vivre and had a good time. As a consequence they earned a big win, 44-28 over the California Golden Bears.
Football is a game. It's supposed to be fun. But for much of this year Colorado has looked like a group of guys doing chores instead of playing a game. Against Cal, they finally looked like they were having fun.
This was the Colorado team fans had been hoping to see all season. It was exciting to see.
The question now is whether the Buffs can take the momentum created today and carry it over to the last three games. One more win and they can earn a bowl berth, which just a few days ago seemed quite unlikely.
More will be known by the end of the night. Colorado's next two opponents, Arizona State and USC, face off tonight in Tempe. The winner takes control of their own destiny for the Pac-12 South. The loser will need help.
Colorado can no longer win the South, but they can play a big part in determining who takes the crown. It can be fun to be a spoiler too, especially if it also allows CU to make it to a second consecutive bowl game.
They'll be watching tonight to scout the next two opponents. The key to winning one or both of those games is to come and play with enthusiasm. They need to keep on having fun.
Here's to hoping they do just that. Go Buffs!
The Colorado Buffaloes finally broke out the Joie de Vivre and had a good time. As a consequence they earned a big win, 44-28 over the California Golden Bears.
Football is a game. It's supposed to be fun. But for much of this year Colorado has looked like a group of guys doing chores instead of playing a game. Against Cal, they finally looked like they were having fun.
This was the Colorado team fans had been hoping to see all season. It was exciting to see.
The question now is whether the Buffs can take the momentum created today and carry it over to the last three games. One more win and they can earn a bowl berth, which just a few days ago seemed quite unlikely.
More will be known by the end of the night. Colorado's next two opponents, Arizona State and USC, face off tonight in Tempe. The winner takes control of their own destiny for the Pac-12 South. The loser will need help.
Colorado can no longer win the South, but they can play a big part in determining who takes the crown. It can be fun to be a spoiler too, especially if it also allows CU to make it to a second consecutive bowl game.
They'll be watching tonight to scout the next two opponents. The key to winning one or both of those games is to come and play with enthusiasm. They need to keep on having fun.
Here's to hoping they do just that. Go Buffs!
Friday, October 27, 2017
Colorado's Mike MacIntyre Desperate for Win vs. California
In a little over 24 hours, the Colorado Buffaloes will take to Folsom Field in the penultimate game of the 2017 season. A season which started with coaching staff promises of explosive offensive output and dominant offensive line and wide receiver play has instead turned out to be hugely disappointing as the Buffs have struggled to a 4-4 record thus far.
Even if the Buffaloes pull out a win, chances of a second consecutive bowl game are tenuous at best. That's shocking considering that Colorado won 10 games in the regular season last year. Since then, the Buffs have gone 4-6 after getting clobbered in the Pac-12 championship game and their bowl game. That's quite a fall.
Sadly, the head coach more often than not points the blame at his players. It's actually kind of shocking that the guy guaranteed to earn more than $13 MILLION over the next few years whether he stays or not is choosing to blame 18-22 year old kids for the team's shortcomings. It's hard to imagine Eisenhower or Patton blaming the loss of a battle on the privates in the infantry, but that is what MacIntyre does. Of course, Patton and Ike didn't lose many battles.
It stands out even more so this year after Oregon State head coach Gary Andersen walked away from $12 Million owed him because he thought he was under-performing. MacIntyre seems to think he's doing a great job... and that it's just those pesky players who are screwing it all up.
Talk to any sportswriter covering Colorado (or watch a press conference) and it's easy to see that coach Mickey Mac doesn't like to be criticized. Most people don't like to be criticized but MM should know that it comes with the job when you are by far the highest paid state employee.
And although Mac holds criticism of himself in great disdain, it doesn't keep him from publicly criticizing his own players. Who can forget MM saying one of his captains "Didn't know what he was talking about" for daring to point out that the team wasn't ready to play?
And who can forget Mickey Mac having an absolute meltdown on national television against Washington State. Sadly it wasn't even the first time. In 2014, he was fined by the Pac-12 for chasing the officials off the field in a loss to Oregon State. This time, he ignored his own team for several minutes while they had the ball and he was down the sideline frothing at the mouth yelling at the officials.
Already this season, MM has tried to make the case that his team was just a "couple of plays" from being 6-2. That's delusional if he believes it. The closer reality is that the Buffaloes are only a few plays away from being 2-6. Ask any CSU fan.
It's kind of fitting that the game tomorrow is Homecoming. Home is most likely where the team will be spending their holidays this year. Two of the final three games will be played on the road, and USC will be final home game. The Buffaloes have never beaten the Trojans in 11 tries.
It's been suggested that MacIntyre was hoping for another winning season so that he could be hired away by a team from Down South. He doesn't seem to like it here in Shangri-La (aka the Happiest City in America).
If that's indeed the case, he's praying for a couple more victories. Otherwise, he's stuck in Boulder and CU is stuck with him. Nobody wants a coach who follows up a 10 win season and National Coach of the Year awards with unfulfilled promises of glory and a losing season.
Colorado's administration is not about to force out a guy who's owed $13 million, and Mac's not about to walk away empty handed like Gary Andersen. It's purgatory for both sides.
If Colorado does pull out a win, going to a bowl is still a remote possibility. If they lose, however, chances are the team will end the season with only four victories.
Times are desperate for Mike MacIntyre and the Colorado Buffaloes.
Even if the Buffaloes pull out a win, chances of a second consecutive bowl game are tenuous at best. That's shocking considering that Colorado won 10 games in the regular season last year. Since then, the Buffs have gone 4-6 after getting clobbered in the Pac-12 championship game and their bowl game. That's quite a fall.
Sadly, the head coach more often than not points the blame at his players. It's actually kind of shocking that the guy guaranteed to earn more than $13 MILLION over the next few years whether he stays or not is choosing to blame 18-22 year old kids for the team's shortcomings. It's hard to imagine Eisenhower or Patton blaming the loss of a battle on the privates in the infantry, but that is what MacIntyre does. Of course, Patton and Ike didn't lose many battles.
It stands out even more so this year after Oregon State head coach Gary Andersen walked away from $12 Million owed him because he thought he was under-performing. MacIntyre seems to think he's doing a great job... and that it's just those pesky players who are screwing it all up.
Talk to any sportswriter covering Colorado (or watch a press conference) and it's easy to see that coach Mickey Mac doesn't like to be criticized. Most people don't like to be criticized but MM should know that it comes with the job when you are by far the highest paid state employee.
And although Mac holds criticism of himself in great disdain, it doesn't keep him from publicly criticizing his own players. Who can forget MM saying one of his captains "Didn't know what he was talking about" for daring to point out that the team wasn't ready to play?
And who can forget Mickey Mac having an absolute meltdown on national television against Washington State. Sadly it wasn't even the first time. In 2014, he was fined by the Pac-12 for chasing the officials off the field in a loss to Oregon State. This time, he ignored his own team for several minutes while they had the ball and he was down the sideline frothing at the mouth yelling at the officials.
Already this season, MM has tried to make the case that his team was just a "couple of plays" from being 6-2. That's delusional if he believes it. The closer reality is that the Buffaloes are only a few plays away from being 2-6. Ask any CSU fan.
It's kind of fitting that the game tomorrow is Homecoming. Home is most likely where the team will be spending their holidays this year. Two of the final three games will be played on the road, and USC will be final home game. The Buffaloes have never beaten the Trojans in 11 tries.
It's been suggested that MacIntyre was hoping for another winning season so that he could be hired away by a team from Down South. He doesn't seem to like it here in Shangri-La (aka the Happiest City in America).
If that's indeed the case, he's praying for a couple more victories. Otherwise, he's stuck in Boulder and CU is stuck with him. Nobody wants a coach who follows up a 10 win season and National Coach of the Year awards with unfulfilled promises of glory and a losing season.
Colorado's administration is not about to force out a guy who's owed $13 million, and Mac's not about to walk away empty handed like Gary Andersen. It's purgatory for both sides.
If Colorado does pull out a win, going to a bowl is still a remote possibility. If they lose, however, chances are the team will end the season with only four victories.
Times are desperate for Mike MacIntyre and the Colorado Buffaloes.
Monday, October 23, 2017
Colorado Fans Embarrassed by Coaches in 28-0 Loss to Washington State
An already ugly season for Colorado football fans got even uglier Saturday night at Washington State. It was so ugly it was embarrassing.
But don't misinterpret that as criticism of the players. That goes squarely on the coaches. Coaches prepare the players to play. Coaches call the plays. Coaches make the adjustments. Coaches make the big bucks, and players are full time students with full time jobs playing football as well.
A consistent theme this year is the claim that Colorado has no discipline, leading to numerous penalties. Discipline is a taught trait, and anyone watching head coach (and Chief Embarrassment Officer) Mike MacIntyre absolutely LOSE IT on the sidelines knows that he is incapable of passing on the trait of discipline because he has none. I've raised three kids to adulthood and none of them had the kind of temper tantrum Mac did. Sadly for Colorado football, Mac has done this before.
Another embarrassment is co-offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren because he calls the plays. Imagine if you will that the rain is coming down in buckets and the wind is gusting up to 40 miles per hour. Or, watch the tape of the game if you want to re-live the horror.
How does a smart coach get his QB and offense into a rhythm to overcome the elements? From 50 years of watching football, I can tell you that you throw SHORT passes and run the ball against the grain because it's easier for tailbacks to change direction than big defensive linemen.
What do you do to make things easier for the defense? You run straight up the middle and throw long passes either deep or to the outside. You might be able to guess which plays were called over and over by Lindgren.
In the first half, Lindgren called 17 runs up the middle. The first six totaled 10 yards, with a long of 4. That means the other five totaled six yards.
Then, thankfully, a seven yarder up the middle. The next four totaled only 6 1/2 yards. Then a 24 yarder (wow!). But then the next five totaled only 5 yards as WSU stacked the box.
How was first half play calling for passes in the horrible weather you ask? Even worse.
Passes:
1 - 40 yards outside (INCOMPLETE)
2 - 13 yards out of bounds (INCOMPLETE)
3 - 38 yards to the outside (INCOMPLETE)
4 - 15 yards outside hash (INCOMPLETE)
5 - 10 yards outside numbers (INCOMPLETE)
6 - 8 yard pass out of bounds on 4th and 10. (INCOMPLETE)
7 - 10 yard pass to the numbers (INCOMPLETE)
8 - 9 yard pass complete outside numbers
9 - Pass behind LOS after scramble (INCOMPLETE)
10 - Offensive pass interference
11 - Outside bubble screen complete for -1 (loss)
12 - 2 yard pass out of bounds (INCOMPLETE)
13 - 5 yard completed pass to sideline
14 - 7 yard completed pass to sideline to end half
Just a reminder that football fields are 53 1/3 yards WIDE. So "short" passes to the sideline often travel more than 30 yards in the air.
In the horrible weather conditions at Washington State, how many short passes to the middle of the field were called? ZERO!
The only inside pass was off a scramble to the tailback. The rest were deep or outside in high winds and rain.
So, before anyone (you know, like the head coach and QB coach) starts blaming Steven Montez for the lack of production, take a good look at the passes called in horrible conditions. And blame the guys responsible for calling the plays. That would be Lindgren and his boss.
Many fans are embarrassed that these guys get paid with our tax dollars. And we feel terribly for the players.
Several years ago, in similar windy conditions, Lindgren called the same kind of pass plays. This site responded with:
"It's the wind, stupid!"
Now, "It's the WIND and the Rain, stupid!"
Get Brian Lindgren OUT of the BOOTH so he can see what the weather is like. Or better yet, fire him. We're stuck with MacIntyre and his giant contract, but BL can go. It's been five years and he still can't see what's going on around him. It's embarrassing.
But don't misinterpret that as criticism of the players. That goes squarely on the coaches. Coaches prepare the players to play. Coaches call the plays. Coaches make the adjustments. Coaches make the big bucks, and players are full time students with full time jobs playing football as well.
A consistent theme this year is the claim that Colorado has no discipline, leading to numerous penalties. Discipline is a taught trait, and anyone watching head coach (and Chief Embarrassment Officer) Mike MacIntyre absolutely LOSE IT on the sidelines knows that he is incapable of passing on the trait of discipline because he has none. I've raised three kids to adulthood and none of them had the kind of temper tantrum Mac did. Sadly for Colorado football, Mac has done this before.
Another embarrassment is co-offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren because he calls the plays. Imagine if you will that the rain is coming down in buckets and the wind is gusting up to 40 miles per hour. Or, watch the tape of the game if you want to re-live the horror.
How does a smart coach get his QB and offense into a rhythm to overcome the elements? From 50 years of watching football, I can tell you that you throw SHORT passes and run the ball against the grain because it's easier for tailbacks to change direction than big defensive linemen.
What do you do to make things easier for the defense? You run straight up the middle and throw long passes either deep or to the outside. You might be able to guess which plays were called over and over by Lindgren.
In the first half, Lindgren called 17 runs up the middle. The first six totaled 10 yards, with a long of 4. That means the other five totaled six yards.
Then, thankfully, a seven yarder up the middle. The next four totaled only 6 1/2 yards. Then a 24 yarder (wow!). But then the next five totaled only 5 yards as WSU stacked the box.
How was first half play calling for passes in the horrible weather you ask? Even worse.
Passes:
1 - 40 yards outside (INCOMPLETE)
2 - 13 yards out of bounds (INCOMPLETE)
3 - 38 yards to the outside (INCOMPLETE)
4 - 15 yards outside hash (INCOMPLETE)
5 - 10 yards outside numbers (INCOMPLETE)
6 - 8 yard pass out of bounds on 4th and 10. (INCOMPLETE)
7 - 10 yard pass to the numbers (INCOMPLETE)
8 - 9 yard pass complete outside numbers
9 - Pass behind LOS after scramble (INCOMPLETE)
10 - Offensive pass interference
11 - Outside bubble screen complete for -1 (loss)
12 - 2 yard pass out of bounds (INCOMPLETE)
13 - 5 yard completed pass to sideline
14 - 7 yard completed pass to sideline to end half
Just a reminder that football fields are 53 1/3 yards WIDE. So "short" passes to the sideline often travel more than 30 yards in the air.
In the horrible weather conditions at Washington State, how many short passes to the middle of the field were called? ZERO!
The only inside pass was off a scramble to the tailback. The rest were deep or outside in high winds and rain.
So, before anyone (you know, like the head coach and QB coach) starts blaming Steven Montez for the lack of production, take a good look at the passes called in horrible conditions. And blame the guys responsible for calling the plays. That would be Lindgren and his boss.
Many fans are embarrassed that these guys get paid with our tax dollars. And we feel terribly for the players.
Several years ago, in similar windy conditions, Lindgren called the same kind of pass plays. This site responded with:
"It's the wind, stupid!"
Now, "It's the WIND and the Rain, stupid!"
Get Brian Lindgren OUT of the BOOTH so he can see what the weather is like. Or better yet, fire him. We're stuck with MacIntyre and his giant contract, but BL can go. It's been five years and he still can't see what's going on around him. It's embarrassing.
Friday, October 20, 2017
Colorado Reaches Crossroads Against Washington State
It's been a particularly odd and peculiar year for the Colorado Buffaloes and their fans.
Last season was a remarkable run that ended with the Buffs playing in the Pac-12 Championship game after winning 10 games during the regular season. And after a decade of losing football, the wonder and joy of returning to winning form was a welcome respite from the years of disappointment.
Before this season began, excitement permeated all who had an interest in Colorado football. The coaches, the players, and fans expected the team to continue their winning ways based on the foundation built by head coach Mike MacIntyre.
Through recruiting and player development, it took Mac three years to turn a down program into a team able to compete in the Pac-12. Just looking at wins and losses, however, did not tell the whole story. Mac's teams won four, two, and then four games again in those first three years. But each year the Buffs got closer and closer to competing equally in the Pac-12.
Then, in year four, they finally started winning the close games.
And they also started to win big against some of the struggling teams. Things were finally good again in Buff land. And the Colorado faithful were excited. First a trip to the conference title game, and then a bowl for the first time in a decade. Thanksgiving weekend in 2016 left the Buffaloes with a 10-2 record and most CU fans were giving football thanks for the first time in longer than they cared to remember. Excitement for the future was sky high.
Since that weekend last November, the Buffaloes have won only four of nine games.
There not only lost, but were blown out of both the conference title game and the bowl game. And this season, the Buffs are limping along with a 4-3 record. They were 3-0 against over-matched non-conference foes Colorado State, Texas State and Northern Colorado. And even though the Buffs won those games, they looked very uninspired doing so.
Once they started Pac-12 play, things got ugly quickly. Washington came to Boulder and handed Colorado a beating that was eerily similar to the one the Huskies dealt CU in the Pac-12 title game. Fans and coaches rationalized that game by pointing out that UW was a top 10 team.
Following the Washington debacle, CU lost their next two conference games to teams that were struggling so badly that their coaches were rumored to be on the hot seats as far as job security. Both Jim Mora at UCLA and Rich Rodriguez at Arizona got much needed wins against Colorado. Those two losses left Colorado looking stunned at 3-3.
Last week, finally, the Buffaloes played a team truly struggling. In fact, things were so bad that the Oregon State head coach Gary Anderson walked away from a guaranteed $12 Million contract and resigned. The Buffs faced one of the worst teams in the country, and walked away with come-from-behind 36-33 win. More discouraging is that the 3 point win came against a team that had not been within 28 points of any FBS teams this season.
But, it has been argued, the Buffs won the on road in a Pac-12 game. They were the ONLY team in the league to win a conference game on the road last week.
It's a tough conference to begin with and winning on the road is very difficult. Last week, three Top 25 teams in the conference went on the road against Pac-12 foes and they all lost. Top 5 Washington lost at Arizona State. Top 10 Washington State was thrashed by California 37-3. And Top 25 Utah lost on the road to USC.
Utah lost to a fellow Top 25 team, but UW and Wash State lost to teams with records of .500 or worse. It's a tough league.
Now the Buffaloes reach a crossroads in their away game at #15 Washington State.
If they win, they move to within one game of qualifying for a bowl game. If they lose, they fall to .500 with a 4-4 record with giant-killers Cal and Arizona State looming before season ending games against heavyweights USC and Utah.
Will the Buffaloes play like they aspire to be in the Top 25? Or will they play like a team that loses big to every Top 25 team on their schedule? The Buffs haven't beaten a Top 25 team ranked above them anywhere since 2008 when they beat West Virginia. And they haven't beaten a Top 25 team on the road since 2002 against UCLA.
Time is running out if the Buffaloes want to make a bowl game for the second consecutive year. Are they and their coaches up to it? Will they celebrate an important victory or find more ways to rationalize another loss?
Last season was a remarkable run that ended with the Buffs playing in the Pac-12 Championship game after winning 10 games during the regular season. And after a decade of losing football, the wonder and joy of returning to winning form was a welcome respite from the years of disappointment.
Before this season began, excitement permeated all who had an interest in Colorado football. The coaches, the players, and fans expected the team to continue their winning ways based on the foundation built by head coach Mike MacIntyre.
Through recruiting and player development, it took Mac three years to turn a down program into a team able to compete in the Pac-12. Just looking at wins and losses, however, did not tell the whole story. Mac's teams won four, two, and then four games again in those first three years. But each year the Buffs got closer and closer to competing equally in the Pac-12.
Then, in year four, they finally started winning the close games.
And they also started to win big against some of the struggling teams. Things were finally good again in Buff land. And the Colorado faithful were excited. First a trip to the conference title game, and then a bowl for the first time in a decade. Thanksgiving weekend in 2016 left the Buffaloes with a 10-2 record and most CU fans were giving football thanks for the first time in longer than they cared to remember. Excitement for the future was sky high.
Since that weekend last November, the Buffaloes have won only four of nine games.
There not only lost, but were blown out of both the conference title game and the bowl game. And this season, the Buffs are limping along with a 4-3 record. They were 3-0 against over-matched non-conference foes Colorado State, Texas State and Northern Colorado. And even though the Buffs won those games, they looked very uninspired doing so.
Once they started Pac-12 play, things got ugly quickly. Washington came to Boulder and handed Colorado a beating that was eerily similar to the one the Huskies dealt CU in the Pac-12 title game. Fans and coaches rationalized that game by pointing out that UW was a top 10 team.
Following the Washington debacle, CU lost their next two conference games to teams that were struggling so badly that their coaches were rumored to be on the hot seats as far as job security. Both Jim Mora at UCLA and Rich Rodriguez at Arizona got much needed wins against Colorado. Those two losses left Colorado looking stunned at 3-3.
Last week, finally, the Buffaloes played a team truly struggling. In fact, things were so bad that the Oregon State head coach Gary Anderson walked away from a guaranteed $12 Million contract and resigned. The Buffs faced one of the worst teams in the country, and walked away with come-from-behind 36-33 win. More discouraging is that the 3 point win came against a team that had not been within 28 points of any FBS teams this season.
But, it has been argued, the Buffs won the on road in a Pac-12 game. They were the ONLY team in the league to win a conference game on the road last week.
It's a tough conference to begin with and winning on the road is very difficult. Last week, three Top 25 teams in the conference went on the road against Pac-12 foes and they all lost. Top 5 Washington lost at Arizona State. Top 10 Washington State was thrashed by California 37-3. And Top 25 Utah lost on the road to USC.
Utah lost to a fellow Top 25 team, but UW and Wash State lost to teams with records of .500 or worse. It's a tough league.
Now the Buffaloes reach a crossroads in their away game at #15 Washington State.
If they win, they move to within one game of qualifying for a bowl game. If they lose, they fall to .500 with a 4-4 record with giant-killers Cal and Arizona State looming before season ending games against heavyweights USC and Utah.
Will the Buffaloes play like they aspire to be in the Top 25? Or will they play like a team that loses big to every Top 25 team on their schedule? The Buffs haven't beaten a Top 25 team ranked above them anywhere since 2008 when they beat West Virginia. And they haven't beaten a Top 25 team on the road since 2002 against UCLA.
Time is running out if the Buffaloes want to make a bowl game for the second consecutive year. Are they and their coaches up to it? Will they celebrate an important victory or find more ways to rationalize another loss?
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Friday the 13th: The Wonderful, Crazy World of College Football
Some folks have an odd fear of Friday the 13th. Don't count me in there because I love it. Two coaches who will likely look back in dread on the day are Clemson HC Dabo Swinney and Washington State head coach Mike Leach. Both had excellent seasons hit massive road-bumps last night.
Defending national champion and current #2 Clemson traveled to Syracuse, New York and lost a close one 27-24 to the same Orange who had lost earlier in the season to Middle Tennessee State. Really.
Cal entered the game against Washington State with three losses already on their resume. But those losses were to USC, Washington, and Oregon. Nothing to be ashamed about. But most folks figured their game Washington State would be another loss to a Top 10 team.
Somebody forgot to tell the Bears, and they shellacked the #8 Cougars by a score of 37-3. It was some welcome good news to the Bay Area where wildfires have killed more than 34 with hundreds missing and more than 5000 buildings have been lost. Some fans in the stands wore masks due to the visible smoke.
There were only two FBS games last night, and the Top 10 team in both lost. Clemson was favored by 24 points. Washington State was a 17 point favorite. Oh well, now we know why they play the games.
Since these games were played on a Friday, it means that FOUR Top 10 teams have lost in the last week. Oklahoma and Michigan lost last Saturday.
Thank goodness for Friday the 13th and the wonderful, crazy world of college football.
Defending national champion and current #2 Clemson traveled to Syracuse, New York and lost a close one 27-24 to the same Orange who had lost earlier in the season to Middle Tennessee State. Really.
Cal entered the game against Washington State with three losses already on their resume. But those losses were to USC, Washington, and Oregon. Nothing to be ashamed about. But most folks figured their game Washington State would be another loss to a Top 10 team.
Somebody forgot to tell the Bears, and they shellacked the #8 Cougars by a score of 37-3. It was some welcome good news to the Bay Area where wildfires have killed more than 34 with hundreds missing and more than 5000 buildings have been lost. Some fans in the stands wore masks due to the visible smoke.
There were only two FBS games last night, and the Top 10 team in both lost. Clemson was favored by 24 points. Washington State was a 17 point favorite. Oh well, now we know why they play the games.
Since these games were played on a Friday, it means that FOUR Top 10 teams have lost in the last week. Oklahoma and Michigan lost last Saturday.
Thank goodness for Friday the 13th and the wonderful, crazy world of college football.
Monday, October 9, 2017
Are the Colorado Buffaloes Capable of a Turnaround?
Colorado had a magical season last year. They went from worst to first and played in the Pac-12 Championship game. After a decade of losing records, the 10-2 regular season looked like it represented the long sought rejuvenation of Colorado Buffaloes football.
Unfortunately, looked like and reality are quite often not the same thing. Since that time, the Buffs have gone 3-5, eerily similar to much of the last decade. And if you believe in such things, it's almost as if Mike MacIntyre made a deal with the devil but forgot to ask for something more long-lasting than just wanting to win 10 games. Since then, the devil has been in the details. And the Buffaloes have become a team which loses more often than not once again.
Strangely enough, as if cursed, CU can't seem to get a good complete game from the entire team. For most of the games this year, the D has come through and exceeded expectations. That came to a screeching halt against Arizona as an 18 year old backup quarterback rewrote the NCAA record books against Colorado.
By the same token, an offense that has woefully under-performed this year finally woke up against Arizona. Of course, coming into the game the Wildcats were a lower tier Pac-12 team whose coach was riding a seat that was getting hotter by the game. Still, it was nice to finally see the Buffs finally put some serious points on the board against Pac-12 competition.
Some might ague that Colorado's offensive explosion and game-clock dominance was misleading. Long, time-consuming drives are usually great... unless you already down by two touchdowns and your defense is completely unable to stop the other team. Taking seven minutes and 19 plays to score is great and demoralizing to the other team if you are ahead. When you are behind, all it does is shorten the time available for you to catch up. Colorado may tell themselves that they didn't really lose, but that the clock just ran out on them. Sadly, they were the ones running out the clock for the most part.
The only sadder, more under-performing team in the Pac-12 right now is Oregon State. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the two bottom dwellers meet this week to determine who really is the worst team in the conference. The odds-makers have made the Buffaloes double digit favorites, even though the game will be played in Corvallis. Let's hope they get it right this week.
Another loss for Colorado would lead to an implosion as players start (or finish) checking out emotionally and fans start getting themselves ready for ski and snowboard season. The driving snow outside right now seems to be portending which of those will happen.
The magic of a worst to first season like 2016 can be rendered unimaginable if it is followed by a first to worst season. Even more so if it's a worst-first-worst sandwich. Is it too late? Is Mike MacIntyre willing or able to make drastic changes to shake up his team? We'll see.
But folks should not get overexcited if the Buffaloes win at Oregon State. It's the last game the Buffaloes will be favored in.
Unfortunately, looked like and reality are quite often not the same thing. Since that time, the Buffs have gone 3-5, eerily similar to much of the last decade. And if you believe in such things, it's almost as if Mike MacIntyre made a deal with the devil but forgot to ask for something more long-lasting than just wanting to win 10 games. Since then, the devil has been in the details. And the Buffaloes have become a team which loses more often than not once again.
Strangely enough, as if cursed, CU can't seem to get a good complete game from the entire team. For most of the games this year, the D has come through and exceeded expectations. That came to a screeching halt against Arizona as an 18 year old backup quarterback rewrote the NCAA record books against Colorado.
By the same token, an offense that has woefully under-performed this year finally woke up against Arizona. Of course, coming into the game the Wildcats were a lower tier Pac-12 team whose coach was riding a seat that was getting hotter by the game. Still, it was nice to finally see the Buffs finally put some serious points on the board against Pac-12 competition.
Some might ague that Colorado's offensive explosion and game-clock dominance was misleading. Long, time-consuming drives are usually great... unless you already down by two touchdowns and your defense is completely unable to stop the other team. Taking seven minutes and 19 plays to score is great and demoralizing to the other team if you are ahead. When you are behind, all it does is shorten the time available for you to catch up. Colorado may tell themselves that they didn't really lose, but that the clock just ran out on them. Sadly, they were the ones running out the clock for the most part.
The only sadder, more under-performing team in the Pac-12 right now is Oregon State. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the two bottom dwellers meet this week to determine who really is the worst team in the conference. The odds-makers have made the Buffaloes double digit favorites, even though the game will be played in Corvallis. Let's hope they get it right this week.
Another loss for Colorado would lead to an implosion as players start (or finish) checking out emotionally and fans start getting themselves ready for ski and snowboard season. The driving snow outside right now seems to be portending which of those will happen.
The magic of a worst to first season like 2016 can be rendered unimaginable if it is followed by a first to worst season. Even more so if it's a worst-first-worst sandwich. Is it too late? Is Mike MacIntyre willing or able to make drastic changes to shake up his team? We'll see.
But folks should not get overexcited if the Buffaloes win at Oregon State. It's the last game the Buffaloes will be favored in.
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Arizona Preview and Commentary on Colorado Football After the UCLA Loss
It's been a busy week without the normal time available for writing, but one in which my comments were directed at other sites. What follows is some of what was written as commentary on other sites. Some people agreed with me passionately, while others took exception to my attempts at insight.
Oct. 2
Oct. 3
Stuart at CU at the Game took the prior comment as an indication that I thought MacIntyre would or should be fired if the Buffaloes lost this week to Arizona. That led to the following exchange.
Oct. 4 - Me
The Colorado Buffaloes will take the field against the Arizona Wildcats in a little over 15 hours. These are my thoughts as to the importance of this game.
Colorado and Mike MacIntyre went 10-2 last year in the regular season. It was the first winning record in a decade. Since that time, the have played in the Pac-12 Championship game, a bowl game and the first five games of this season.
Against top notch opponents to end the season last year, the Buffs were beaten handily and did not look good doing it. In the first three games this season, the Buffaloes did manage to win but looked uninspired and unimpressive in their three non-conference games.
In the first two conference games this year, the Buffaloes have been beaten handily at home by Washington and lost on the road to a reeling UCLA team with one of the worst defenses in the country. The Bruins had been giving up around 45 points per game, and the Buffaloes managed to score around half that amount.
Colorado did seem to be emotionally invested the entire game against UCLA for the first time since last season, but still lost.
Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez, like Jim Mora at UCLA, finds himself on the coaches hot-seat lists because of poor play by his team. Mora was able to inspire his team to a big win over Colorado. It remains to be seen whether RichRod can do the same thing this week with the Wildcats.
If the Buffaloes can come out and play as a team which deserves to be in the conversation for a Top 25 team and win handily at home against Arizona, it could turn around a season of struggle. A big win could set them up for better things in the second half of the season.
A win would bring them to 4-2, with a game against Pac-12 doormat Oregon State next week. Another win there and the Buffs would be one win from qualifying for a bowl.
If the Buffaloes come out flat and emotionless like most of the prior seven games, an inspired Arizona could come in and pull off the upset. If that happens, the Buffaloes would fall to 3-3 with the meat of the Pac-12 schedule still ahead of them. A loss here would put a severe hit on their desire to go to a bowl for a second consecutive year.
I described last week's tussle as a "bellwether game" with a big win or loss. The close loss put the Buffs in the position that their backs are now firmly against the wall. Only a win will get them where they want to be. A loss will relegate them to the lower levels of the Pac-12.
It's the first game of October. Will the Buffaloes rise to the occasion to save their season or not?
Oct. 2
After the loss to UCLA, head coach Mike MacIntyre once again stated that this Buffaloes team would “win a lot of games” this year. Since we’re five games in already, I’m looking for a little context on what qualifies as “a lot of games” when Mac talks.Is “a lot” 10 games? Eight games? Six games? Or What?In MacIntyre’s seven full seasons as a head coach, he’s had TWO winning seasons and FIVE losing seasons. More telling than the 2 vs 5 is the drastic differences each represents. It’s really either feast or famine.In the two winning seasons (one each at CU and San Jose State), Mac has a record of 20-6. In the five losing seasons, Mac has gone 16-46. For the fellow math geeks out there, that means the losing seasons averaged roughly 3-9 (3.2-9.2).It’s even more glaring when looking at conference games. In the two winning seasons, Mac’s teams went 13-2 during conference games. In the five losing seasons, Mac’s teams went 5-37 against conference foes.Although the Buffs still have a winning record so far this season at 3-2, they are 0-2 in the Pac-12. With arguably the two weakest teams this year on tap the next two weeks, one wonders if Mac and staff will have the guys ready to play.For most of us fans, time and games are running out if the goal is to win “a lot” of games this year.
Oct. 3
Mike MacIntyre’s future depends upon this game against Arizona perhaps more than any other since he arrived in Boulder. Arizona is a horrible Pac-12 road team the last several years. Last year they were 0-4 and outscored in the Pac on the road 192-71. In 2015 they were outscored 225-125 on road with a 1-4 record.
The last time Arizona won on the road in the Pac-12 was when they beat Colorado in 2015.
Colorado has looked pretty uninterested and uninspired this year so far. That falls on MacIntyre and the coaches. If they lose this game at home, the rest of the season will be lost. The fans and the players will stop caring.
Colorado needs to win the game and win big to get this season salvaged. If they struggle at home to a clearly inferior team, the rest of the Pac-12 schedule looks like murderer’s row in comparison.
If the Buffs lose, it will be clear that MacIntyre has lost the faith of his team, and that will not likely be restored. The countdown to reality is on.
Stuart at CU at the Game took the prior comment as an indication that I thought MacIntyre would or should be fired if the Buffaloes lost this week to Arizona. That led to the following exchange.
Oct. 4 - Me
Nobody does or should think MacIntyre will be fired. Why would he be fired? Some may be hoping that he wins enough games to be lured away back to his part of the country, and some are hoping he turns things around and gets the Buffs back in the annual bowl extravaganzas year after year.Stuart
Most fans don’t have the same warm fuzzy feelings about the offensive play-caller. BL did a good job against UCLA. But the games in which his play-calling outsmarted a good defense are pretty much non-existent. One good game doesn’t get him off the hook for the years of head-scratching play calls.
The Pac-12 is a tough league to play in, especially on the road. It’s not really a surprise that a struggling UCLA (or any other Pac-12 team) is tough to beat on their home turf.
That said, the Buffs need to take advantage of every opportunity they have. They only play 12 games (and a bowl if they earn it and yearn for it). The key to being a good team is being UP for every game, which is something they have not done this year.
Some of us are concerned that a third straight loss, especially to a horrible road team like Arizona, would portend a likely collapse this season. We are all hoping for an inspired CU team to show up and finally live up to pre-season expectations. If not, we have a mostly lost decade to look back upon and prepare us for our feelings of despair about losing football.
The truth may be that the Buffs are not as good as advertised. And since Mac won’t let anyone watch his practices, he takes the blame when he makes statements that are clearly not true about how good, prepared, and dominating his team will be.
The best coaches I have watched over too many decades had certain traits in common: They voluntarily took the blame when their players were not prepared because it’s why they get paid; and they protected their kids from having blame pushed onto them. These are not NFL players, they are college kids.
If some of us seem too critical of MacIntyre, maybe it’s because we believe that is where the blame should go. Everyone in the press knows Mac doesn’t handle criticism well… but, hey, we’re football fans, not his therapist. He can pay them to work on his feelings, and he can afford it.
“Nobody does or should think MacIntyre will be fired. Why would he be fired?”Me
Your previous post opened with … “Mike MacIntyre’s future depends upon this game against Arizona perhaps more than any other since he arrived in Boulder”.
Not sure how else to read that …
I certainly hope that Mac’s future will go many more years. The implication is that if the Buffaloes lose to Arizona it will signal a downturn from the gains the program made last year. And that if the CU goes on to have a dismal ending to the 2017 it will be hard for Mac to reclaim the faith of the fans and the players.
MacIntyre made a national name for himself last year and was rewarded with National Coach of the Year honors from numerous sources. Considering the general disregard for what Colorado would do THIS year from the media is pretty telling. So far, it seems the prognosticators were more right than MacIntyre about how good the Buffaloes would be, especially the O-line and scoring.
In football, there are watershed moments that portend the future. Before the UCLA game I wrote how a big win or loss (point wise) would be a serious indicator but that a close win or loss like they had would put the pressure on the next two games with Arizona and Oregon State to set the tone for the rest of the year.
Colorado MUST beat Arizona at Folsom if they want to salvage this season. If not, they have a good chance of ending up near the bottom of the Pac-12 yet again. If they don’t beat Arizona, even teams like Oregon State will believe that they can beat Colorado, especially playing at home.
The quote you gave of mine above covers a multi-year period since his arrival in Boulder. I’m just pointing out that trends in football tend to go on for several seasons. The Buffs went from being blown out every game to getting close but still losing. Then they finally started to win the close ones and win some big last year in Pac-12 play. If they start moving the other direction, as a pendulum always does sooner or later, it will be hard to change that momentum.
I’ve written many times in praise of MacIntyre (check my blog), but I feel that when criticism is warranted it should be given. If you want to be the highest paid state employee then you should expect folks to have high expectations. He can’t expect only accolades.
The Colorado Buffaloes will take the field against the Arizona Wildcats in a little over 15 hours. These are my thoughts as to the importance of this game.
Colorado and Mike MacIntyre went 10-2 last year in the regular season. It was the first winning record in a decade. Since that time, the have played in the Pac-12 Championship game, a bowl game and the first five games of this season.
Against top notch opponents to end the season last year, the Buffs were beaten handily and did not look good doing it. In the first three games this season, the Buffaloes did manage to win but looked uninspired and unimpressive in their three non-conference games.
In the first two conference games this year, the Buffaloes have been beaten handily at home by Washington and lost on the road to a reeling UCLA team with one of the worst defenses in the country. The Bruins had been giving up around 45 points per game, and the Buffaloes managed to score around half that amount.
Colorado did seem to be emotionally invested the entire game against UCLA for the first time since last season, but still lost.
Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez, like Jim Mora at UCLA, finds himself on the coaches hot-seat lists because of poor play by his team. Mora was able to inspire his team to a big win over Colorado. It remains to be seen whether RichRod can do the same thing this week with the Wildcats.
If the Buffaloes can come out and play as a team which deserves to be in the conversation for a Top 25 team and win handily at home against Arizona, it could turn around a season of struggle. A big win could set them up for better things in the second half of the season.
A win would bring them to 4-2, with a game against Pac-12 doormat Oregon State next week. Another win there and the Buffs would be one win from qualifying for a bowl.
If the Buffaloes come out flat and emotionless like most of the prior seven games, an inspired Arizona could come in and pull off the upset. If that happens, the Buffaloes would fall to 3-3 with the meat of the Pac-12 schedule still ahead of them. A loss here would put a severe hit on their desire to go to a bowl for a second consecutive year.
I described last week's tussle as a "bellwether game" with a big win or loss. The close loss put the Buffs in the position that their backs are now firmly against the wall. Only a win will get them where they want to be. A loss will relegate them to the lower levels of the Pac-12.
It's the first game of October. Will the Buffaloes rise to the occasion to save their season or not?
Saturday, September 30, 2017
2017's Bellwether Moment Arrives for Colorado Buffaloes
Although the Colorado Buffaloes sit at 3-1, one third of the way through the regular season, things seem to be amiss in the Buffaloes program. After finally having a breakthrough winning season last year, most fans expected Colorado to double down on all the hard work that had brought them from worst to first in 2016.
With one of the easiest non-conference schedules in the FBS, the Buffaloes were expected to romp in their first three games and then show the country how far they'd come in the rematch of last season's Pac-12 Championship game. Instead, Mike MacIntyre's team seemingly sleepwalked to 3-0 against over-matched opponents and then were bulldozed yet again by the Washington Huskies in a carbon copy of their beat-down last December.
Now the Buffaloes venture outside the State of Colorado for the first time this season, and travel to Pasadena to take on UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Even though the Bruins have struggled mightily this season, they are still favored to beat Colorado. How will the Buffs react to that?
Washington is a Top 5 or 6 team, so CU knew they would be the underdog. Although UCLA has some outstanding players who are destined to end up in the NFL, collectively they are not a very good team. They are ranked worse than 100th in numerous categories on defense. Yet they are still favored to beat Colorado. It will be telling to see how the CU coaches and players play out this game.
If Colorado comes out and plays a full game for the first time this season, and dominates the Bruins, they can fully expect to contend for the Pac-12 South title. This is especially true with USC having already lost this weekend.
If the Buffaloes are manhandled by UCLA like they were Washington, however, it could turn into a long and disappointing season in Boulder. Coach MacIntyre's coach of the year trophies from last year will make interesting resume topics if the Buffaloes fall back to their losing ways.
This game may very well be the most important game of the year for MacIntyre as the Buffaloes. Indeed, it will be a bellwether game for good or bad if the score isn't close.
If it's a close game win for Colorado, they can still move forward and improve their team. If it's a close loss, the Buffaloes can learn and still go bowling. But a loss of any sort or magnitude will likely take them out of the running for the Pac-12 South.
The question at hand, 90 minutes before kickoff, is whether the 2016 inspired Buffaloes finally show up and show they care or not. The next few hours will be very telling.
With one of the easiest non-conference schedules in the FBS, the Buffaloes were expected to romp in their first three games and then show the country how far they'd come in the rematch of last season's Pac-12 Championship game. Instead, Mike MacIntyre's team seemingly sleepwalked to 3-0 against over-matched opponents and then were bulldozed yet again by the Washington Huskies in a carbon copy of their beat-down last December.
Now the Buffaloes venture outside the State of Colorado for the first time this season, and travel to Pasadena to take on UCLA in the Rose Bowl. Even though the Bruins have struggled mightily this season, they are still favored to beat Colorado. How will the Buffs react to that?
Washington is a Top 5 or 6 team, so CU knew they would be the underdog. Although UCLA has some outstanding players who are destined to end up in the NFL, collectively they are not a very good team. They are ranked worse than 100th in numerous categories on defense. Yet they are still favored to beat Colorado. It will be telling to see how the CU coaches and players play out this game.
If Colorado comes out and plays a full game for the first time this season, and dominates the Bruins, they can fully expect to contend for the Pac-12 South title. This is especially true with USC having already lost this weekend.
If the Buffaloes are manhandled by UCLA like they were Washington, however, it could turn into a long and disappointing season in Boulder. Coach MacIntyre's coach of the year trophies from last year will make interesting resume topics if the Buffaloes fall back to their losing ways.
This game may very well be the most important game of the year for MacIntyre as the Buffaloes. Indeed, it will be a bellwether game for good or bad if the score isn't close.
If it's a close game win for Colorado, they can still move forward and improve their team. If it's a close loss, the Buffaloes can learn and still go bowling. But a loss of any sort or magnitude will likely take them out of the running for the Pac-12 South.
The question at hand, 90 minutes before kickoff, is whether the 2016 inspired Buffaloes finally show up and show they care or not. The next few hours will be very telling.
Friday, September 29, 2017
The Pac-12's "Moral Authority" Took a Beating This Week
Those of us who have been lifelong fans of the Pac 8-10-12 over the decades have always been pretty firm in our belief that "our" college athletics was handled in the proper manner. We believed that the primary reason for our universities was to educate, and that those attending our schools needed to be students first and athletes second. And despite this, the conference was the "Conference of Champions" in the national landscape.
We believed our blood brothers in this rightful hierarchy of academic and athletics was the Big 10. The schools in the two conferences were not only among the best in the country, but also the world. In the latest world rankings of universities for academic achievement, the two conferences tied to the Rose Bowl (The Granddaddy of them All) put a combined 16 schools among the best 100 in the entire world.
As schools from other parts of the country struggled to properly balance school with sport, we smugly patted ourselves on the back. When an investigative report on a national news program (like 60 Minutes) told us of some professional sports players filing suit against their universities because they had been pushed through and graduated to keep them eligible even though they were functionally illiterate, we shook our heads knowing that "those things" didn't happen in our parts of the country.
As college sports became Big Time and Big Money, however, the temptation for schools to win on the national stage became overwhelming. Simply allowing unqualified students to attend to help a school win seemed almost noble in comparison. Some rationalized that they would help these poor young men get the education they missed in high school, where they were also passed along to keep them eligible for sports.
Schools, particularly in basketball, went hard with handfuls (or bags full) of cash after young men who they knew would never even attend a collegiate course. They'd come in as FIVE STAR players, with cash in hand, play for one season and move on to professional basketball in the US or overseas before the NCAA caught on that they were not really students. There's even a name for them among the fans and press: The One and Done's.
It's a system which works for basketball because exceptional hardwood talents can be among the best in the country even as freshmen. It's much harder to do in football, but not totally unheard of.
When the FBI announced that they had made the first arrests of college coaches involved in high stakes bribery, and that system involved agents, financial managers, and even shoe companies, no one who follows college athletics was really surprised. Coaches were paid to advise young men who to hire as agents and advisors, and they were also directed to use money to lure young men to the "right" schools, where those with a financial stake could exercise influence over them.
That the Pac-12 had two of the first four coaches arrested was shocking to fans. Although, in reality, the USC coach was not a shock because, after all, USC has gotten in trouble before for athletes being paid. In fact, most fans in the Pac-12 refer to USC as an "Honorary SEC team" because of their predilection for running afoul of NCAA rules. The arrest of a coach at Arizona was another matter altogether.
The Wildcats were one of the Top 10 in all-time winning percentage. They had made it to the NCAA tournament every year except one in the last 32 years. They were the most consistently excellent program in the Pac-12 during those years. And now, it turns out, they've been paying players to go to Tucson. Head coach Sean Miller has not been arrested or indicted... yet. But his assistant, Emanuel "Book" Richardson was among the first arrested by the FBI. Most of us have a sneaking suspicion that the nickname "Book" has absolutely nothing to do with reading.
We were never surprised if the Louisville's or Kentucky's or Alabama's of the college landscape got caught paying players. Why would anyone willingly go to those places unless there was money involved? Isn't it amazing how certain we can be in our naivete?
The FBI claims that the first arrests were just the tip of the iceberg of a much larger, nationwide, problem of a multi-billion dollar industry being largely dependent on (officially) unpaid young athletes. How could that system possibly go wrong, right?
No matter what happens, fans from the Pac-12 have had their moral assured-ness in the propriety of their college athletics take a severe beating. They likely will never feel that way again. Overall, maybe that's a good thing. Blind faith in anything only leads to trouble.
We believed our blood brothers in this rightful hierarchy of academic and athletics was the Big 10. The schools in the two conferences were not only among the best in the country, but also the world. In the latest world rankings of universities for academic achievement, the two conferences tied to the Rose Bowl (The Granddaddy of them All) put a combined 16 schools among the best 100 in the entire world.
As schools from other parts of the country struggled to properly balance school with sport, we smugly patted ourselves on the back. When an investigative report on a national news program (like 60 Minutes) told us of some professional sports players filing suit against their universities because they had been pushed through and graduated to keep them eligible even though they were functionally illiterate, we shook our heads knowing that "those things" didn't happen in our parts of the country.
As college sports became Big Time and Big Money, however, the temptation for schools to win on the national stage became overwhelming. Simply allowing unqualified students to attend to help a school win seemed almost noble in comparison. Some rationalized that they would help these poor young men get the education they missed in high school, where they were also passed along to keep them eligible for sports.
Schools, particularly in basketball, went hard with handfuls (or bags full) of cash after young men who they knew would never even attend a collegiate course. They'd come in as FIVE STAR players, with cash in hand, play for one season and move on to professional basketball in the US or overseas before the NCAA caught on that they were not really students. There's even a name for them among the fans and press: The One and Done's.
It's a system which works for basketball because exceptional hardwood talents can be among the best in the country even as freshmen. It's much harder to do in football, but not totally unheard of.
When the FBI announced that they had made the first arrests of college coaches involved in high stakes bribery, and that system involved agents, financial managers, and even shoe companies, no one who follows college athletics was really surprised. Coaches were paid to advise young men who to hire as agents and advisors, and they were also directed to use money to lure young men to the "right" schools, where those with a financial stake could exercise influence over them.
That the Pac-12 had two of the first four coaches arrested was shocking to fans. Although, in reality, the USC coach was not a shock because, after all, USC has gotten in trouble before for athletes being paid. In fact, most fans in the Pac-12 refer to USC as an "Honorary SEC team" because of their predilection for running afoul of NCAA rules. The arrest of a coach at Arizona was another matter altogether.
The Wildcats were one of the Top 10 in all-time winning percentage. They had made it to the NCAA tournament every year except one in the last 32 years. They were the most consistently excellent program in the Pac-12 during those years. And now, it turns out, they've been paying players to go to Tucson. Head coach Sean Miller has not been arrested or indicted... yet. But his assistant, Emanuel "Book" Richardson was among the first arrested by the FBI. Most of us have a sneaking suspicion that the nickname "Book" has absolutely nothing to do with reading.
We were never surprised if the Louisville's or Kentucky's or Alabama's of the college landscape got caught paying players. Why would anyone willingly go to those places unless there was money involved? Isn't it amazing how certain we can be in our naivete?
The FBI claims that the first arrests were just the tip of the iceberg of a much larger, nationwide, problem of a multi-billion dollar industry being largely dependent on (officially) unpaid young athletes. How could that system possibly go wrong, right?
No matter what happens, fans from the Pac-12 have had their moral assured-ness in the propriety of their college athletics take a severe beating. They likely will never feel that way again. Overall, maybe that's a good thing. Blind faith in anything only leads to trouble.
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Mike MacIntyre's Proclamations About Colorado Football have been WAY OFF this Year
Although Mike MacIntyre's Colorado Buffaloes have gone 3-1 to start the 2017 season, things are not going nearly so well as last year. The Buffs are averaging just over 26 points a game this year vs. the 42 points a game at this point last season.
That's almost 2 1/2 touchdowns less per game from an offense that Mac claimed would be "one of the best in the country" this year. What makes this even more alarming is that 2016's early season schedule was considered one of the more difficult ones in the country, whereas this season's was considered one of the easiest.
Of course, one of the prices a team pays for success (like winning the Pac-12 South) is that expectations of fans and boosters (and the Administration) goes up. Last year, after a decade of losing, any and every win was celebrated as special. This year, just winning isn't enough. The Buffs are expected to win well. And scoring 16 points a game LESS against weaker competition is not winning well.
Many are also concerned about MacIntyre's proclamations before and during the season. The aforementioned claim about one of the best offenses in the country was one. The claim that the Buffs' offensive line would be one of the best in Colorado's history was another that has not panned out. Mac also claimed that the CU defense would only be a work in progress that would likely have to be "saved" by the exploits of the offense. He was wrong. It has been the defense saving the day for the Buffaloes.
While the offensive output has declined by 16 points per game, the Buffs' D has stepped it and is allowing 4 fewer points than last year's team. Fortunately, the head coach was wrong about his defense.
And the offensive line that the head coach proclaimed would be the best in more than a decade has struggled with both run and pass blocking. The 14 sacks the line has allowed are one of the worst at the FBS level. In fact, only 5 of 130 teams at the FBS level give up more sacks per game.
What's the moral of this story? Or, more accurately, what questions do these numbers raise? Mostly this: Does Mac have an accurate take on his team? Or is he just proclaiming what he hopes?
Pac-12 play is now on for the rest of the year. The first conference game was a repeat of last year's disaster in the Pac-12 Championship game. The Buffs lost just as bad even though they were playing at home and had been pointing at the game for more than nine months as a chance to get revenge or at least redeem themselves. "Same as it ever was" must be ringing in their ears for what turned out to be nearly "an identical twin" to last December's game.
More concerning was that the game against Washington was the 6th straight game that the Buffaloes had struggled to play a full game since winning 10 of 12 in the 2016 regular season. Since that time, the Buffs have lost three of six. They got beaten handily (by roughly 4 touchdowns a game) in their three losses and have looked uninspired in their three wins against markedly weaker competition.
This week, the Buffs travel to Los Angeles to take on UCLA at the Rose Bowl. Watch for the next post to look back on how Jim Mora and the Bruins emotionally exposed Colorado and Mike MacIntyre last season. The Buffs won, but it was ugly, ugly, ugly.
Along with the misreadings of Mac, followers of CU have been bothered by the lack of offensive imagination. Many fans have pointed out (loudly) that Colorado's offensive play caller Brian Lindgren has been out-coached on game day more often than not since he came aboard with MacIntyre for the 2013 season.
He doesn't seem to adjust well to what defensive scheme his team is facing. When going against very bad teams against the run, Lindgren seems to forget that and go pass heavy. When teams stack the box with seven defenders to take away the run, Lindgren calls running plays up the middle. Fans have found it very infuriating.
In the first three years that Lindgren called the plays, opposing coaches knew CU didn't have the players on the field to compete. They could just line up and win. No special schemes needed. Since Colorado has developed their on-field talent to be the equal of the other Pac-12 teams, the opposing coaches have gone after the tendencies of the coaches calling the plays.
On offense, that's Brian Lindgren. He and Mac must have a very special relationship, because Mac fired the defensive coordinator before Jim Leavitt for bad coaching. When will Mac hold Lindgren accountable? Lindgren doesn't have to be fired, but maybe he needs to get back on the field and work during games with his young quarterbacks instead of sitting up in the booth. Face to face coaching and encouragement is much better than phone contact, especially when things are not going well.
Where does the buck finally stop, Mr. MacIntyre?
That's almost 2 1/2 touchdowns less per game from an offense that Mac claimed would be "one of the best in the country" this year. What makes this even more alarming is that 2016's early season schedule was considered one of the more difficult ones in the country, whereas this season's was considered one of the easiest.
Of course, one of the prices a team pays for success (like winning the Pac-12 South) is that expectations of fans and boosters (and the Administration) goes up. Last year, after a decade of losing, any and every win was celebrated as special. This year, just winning isn't enough. The Buffs are expected to win well. And scoring 16 points a game LESS against weaker competition is not winning well.
Many are also concerned about MacIntyre's proclamations before and during the season. The aforementioned claim about one of the best offenses in the country was one. The claim that the Buffs' offensive line would be one of the best in Colorado's history was another that has not panned out. Mac also claimed that the CU defense would only be a work in progress that would likely have to be "saved" by the exploits of the offense. He was wrong. It has been the defense saving the day for the Buffaloes.
While the offensive output has declined by 16 points per game, the Buffs' D has stepped it and is allowing 4 fewer points than last year's team. Fortunately, the head coach was wrong about his defense.
And the offensive line that the head coach proclaimed would be the best in more than a decade has struggled with both run and pass blocking. The 14 sacks the line has allowed are one of the worst at the FBS level. In fact, only 5 of 130 teams at the FBS level give up more sacks per game.
What's the moral of this story? Or, more accurately, what questions do these numbers raise? Mostly this: Does Mac have an accurate take on his team? Or is he just proclaiming what he hopes?
Pac-12 play is now on for the rest of the year. The first conference game was a repeat of last year's disaster in the Pac-12 Championship game. The Buffs lost just as bad even though they were playing at home and had been pointing at the game for more than nine months as a chance to get revenge or at least redeem themselves. "Same as it ever was" must be ringing in their ears for what turned out to be nearly "an identical twin" to last December's game.
More concerning was that the game against Washington was the 6th straight game that the Buffaloes had struggled to play a full game since winning 10 of 12 in the 2016 regular season. Since that time, the Buffs have lost three of six. They got beaten handily (by roughly 4 touchdowns a game) in their three losses and have looked uninspired in their three wins against markedly weaker competition.
This week, the Buffs travel to Los Angeles to take on UCLA at the Rose Bowl. Watch for the next post to look back on how Jim Mora and the Bruins emotionally exposed Colorado and Mike MacIntyre last season. The Buffs won, but it was ugly, ugly, ugly.
Along with the misreadings of Mac, followers of CU have been bothered by the lack of offensive imagination. Many fans have pointed out (loudly) that Colorado's offensive play caller Brian Lindgren has been out-coached on game day more often than not since he came aboard with MacIntyre for the 2013 season.
He doesn't seem to adjust well to what defensive scheme his team is facing. When going against very bad teams against the run, Lindgren seems to forget that and go pass heavy. When teams stack the box with seven defenders to take away the run, Lindgren calls running plays up the middle. Fans have found it very infuriating.
In the first three years that Lindgren called the plays, opposing coaches knew CU didn't have the players on the field to compete. They could just line up and win. No special schemes needed. Since Colorado has developed their on-field talent to be the equal of the other Pac-12 teams, the opposing coaches have gone after the tendencies of the coaches calling the plays.
On offense, that's Brian Lindgren. He and Mac must have a very special relationship, because Mac fired the defensive coordinator before Jim Leavitt for bad coaching. When will Mac hold Lindgren accountable? Lindgren doesn't have to be fired, but maybe he needs to get back on the field and work during games with his young quarterbacks instead of sitting up in the booth. Face to face coaching and encouragement is much better than phone contact, especially when things are not going well.
Where does the buck finally stop, Mr. MacIntyre?
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Day of Reckoning Arrives for Colorado Buffaloes vs Washington Huskies
Last year at this time, the Colorado Buffaloes were three weeks in to what would turn out to be a magical rebirth after 10 straight seasons without a winning record.
After starting the season with two straight wins, the Buffs traveled to Ann Arbor to take on the Top 10 Michigan Wolverines in the Big House, one of the most storied venues in college football. After a decade of losing football, the crowds in Boulder had dropped to less than 40,000 people for a typical game. At Michigan, the Buffs played in front of 110,042.
Some expected the Buffaloes to come out wide-eyed and intimidated, but Colorado came out swinging. Just over 3 minutes into the game, the Buffaloes held a 14-0 lead in front of a stunned crowd. Those Buffaloes were not the same team that had been routinely routed for a growing number of years.
Although Michigan would come back to win 45-28, the Buffs learned they could play with anyone in any location. It was an important lesson that the Buffs carried through the turnaround regular season. The Buffs had a 10-2 record, and their only other loss was also on the road to USC, and they became Pac-12 South Champions after finishing last each year since they joined the Conference of Champions.
The magical run was rudely interrupted once the post season had begun. In the conference championship game, Washington used Colorado as little more than a speed bump on their way to the College Football Playoffs in a rousing 41-10 beat-down. That poor play continued into the bowl game as Oklahoma State shut down the Buffs 38-8 in the Alamo Bowl.
Maybe it was the higher level of competition, but the Buffs were severely over-matched against the Top 10 Huskies and Cowboys. Although Colorado had moved into the Top 10 at the end of the regular season, those two games showed they were not quite yet an elite team.
Fast forward to 2017, and Colorado was ready to show they were back for good. Season ticket sales rose again and the Buff faithful were growing in numbers and enthusiasm.
The Buffaloes have started the year 3-0 for only the second time this century... but their uninspiring play so far against over-matched opponents has left Buff fans wondering if last season was a sign of better things to come or just an anomaly.
Head coach Mike MacIntyre has steadfastly maintained through spring practices and summer camp that the Buffaloes would be VERY good. He said the offense would be one of the best in the country and the offensive line would be the best in Boulder in more than a decade, and maybe one Colorado's best ever. What is it they say about famous last words?
Three games in, the offensive line has provided sporadic play at best. QB Steven Montez has taken a beating against teams Colorado should have handled easily. The Buffs did win their games, but they looked pretty unimpressive doing so.
Now Washington comes to town riding high after their Top 10 finish last year and three solid wins to begin the season. Their top players at QB and tailback have spent lots of time on the bench after putting up gaudy numbers and letting the backups finish the game. They come into the game rested and playing very well.
By comparison, the Buffs had to keep their starters in all game to finish the win against FCS Northern Colorado. And they needed a big second half surge against Texas State, last season's consensus choice as the worst team in the FBS. Their performances have not inspired much confidence, as they have routinely played down to the level of their opponents.
Players and coaches alike have been pointing to this game since the big loss in the Pac-12 Championship as a chance to redeem themselves. All the while, their lackadaisical play and typically horrendous and predictable play-calling have most CU fans unable to fathom a win, even at home.
Some might find it strange that so soon after ANY win was cause for celebration, the Buffaloes now find themselves being criticized for not winning well enough. Such is the price of success.
Now arrives the day the players have been talking about since early December last year. Today is the day the Buffaloes can prove they belong among the elite of the Pac-12 and the country. Or they can continue a string of five games where they were uninspiring in victory AND defeat.
It's been 294 days since Colorado last played Washington. As the bells ring out each hour until game time, Colorado knows their day of reckoning has arrived.
They need not
"Send to know
For whom the bell tolls;
It Tolls for Thee..."
John Donne
Meditation 17
Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions
After starting the season with two straight wins, the Buffs traveled to Ann Arbor to take on the Top 10 Michigan Wolverines in the Big House, one of the most storied venues in college football. After a decade of losing football, the crowds in Boulder had dropped to less than 40,000 people for a typical game. At Michigan, the Buffs played in front of 110,042.
Some expected the Buffaloes to come out wide-eyed and intimidated, but Colorado came out swinging. Just over 3 minutes into the game, the Buffaloes held a 14-0 lead in front of a stunned crowd. Those Buffaloes were not the same team that had been routinely routed for a growing number of years.
Although Michigan would come back to win 45-28, the Buffs learned they could play with anyone in any location. It was an important lesson that the Buffs carried through the turnaround regular season. The Buffs had a 10-2 record, and their only other loss was also on the road to USC, and they became Pac-12 South Champions after finishing last each year since they joined the Conference of Champions.
The magical run was rudely interrupted once the post season had begun. In the conference championship game, Washington used Colorado as little more than a speed bump on their way to the College Football Playoffs in a rousing 41-10 beat-down. That poor play continued into the bowl game as Oklahoma State shut down the Buffs 38-8 in the Alamo Bowl.
Maybe it was the higher level of competition, but the Buffs were severely over-matched against the Top 10 Huskies and Cowboys. Although Colorado had moved into the Top 10 at the end of the regular season, those two games showed they were not quite yet an elite team.
Fast forward to 2017, and Colorado was ready to show they were back for good. Season ticket sales rose again and the Buff faithful were growing in numbers and enthusiasm.
The Buffaloes have started the year 3-0 for only the second time this century... but their uninspiring play so far against over-matched opponents has left Buff fans wondering if last season was a sign of better things to come or just an anomaly.
Head coach Mike MacIntyre has steadfastly maintained through spring practices and summer camp that the Buffaloes would be VERY good. He said the offense would be one of the best in the country and the offensive line would be the best in Boulder in more than a decade, and maybe one Colorado's best ever. What is it they say about famous last words?
Three games in, the offensive line has provided sporadic play at best. QB Steven Montez has taken a beating against teams Colorado should have handled easily. The Buffs did win their games, but they looked pretty unimpressive doing so.
Now Washington comes to town riding high after their Top 10 finish last year and three solid wins to begin the season. Their top players at QB and tailback have spent lots of time on the bench after putting up gaudy numbers and letting the backups finish the game. They come into the game rested and playing very well.
By comparison, the Buffs had to keep their starters in all game to finish the win against FCS Northern Colorado. And they needed a big second half surge against Texas State, last season's consensus choice as the worst team in the FBS. Their performances have not inspired much confidence, as they have routinely played down to the level of their opponents.
Players and coaches alike have been pointing to this game since the big loss in the Pac-12 Championship as a chance to redeem themselves. All the while, their lackadaisical play and typically horrendous and predictable play-calling have most CU fans unable to fathom a win, even at home.
Some might find it strange that so soon after ANY win was cause for celebration, the Buffaloes now find themselves being criticized for not winning well enough. Such is the price of success.
Now arrives the day the players have been talking about since early December last year. Today is the day the Buffaloes can prove they belong among the elite of the Pac-12 and the country. Or they can continue a string of five games where they were uninspiring in victory AND defeat.
It's been 294 days since Colorado last played Washington. As the bells ring out each hour until game time, Colorado knows their day of reckoning has arrived.
They need not
"Send to know
For whom the bell tolls;
It Tolls for Thee..."
John Donne
Meditation 17
Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions
Saturday, September 16, 2017
Buffs Move to 3-0 with Win, Concerns Remain With Pac-12 Play Ahead
Sadly, it could be reasonably stated the University of Colorado Buffaloes survived their game against Northern Colorado, the little teacher's college up in Greeley. The final score was 41-21.
The Buffs stretch of 8 straight quarters without giving up a touchdown ended quickly. The Buffs went "three and out" to start the game and punted. UNC got the ball and marched down the field for a touchdown to go up 7-0. The Bears averaged more than 10 yards a play on the drive and their offensive line seemed to push around the Buffaloes. That can't be good with defending Pac-12 Champion Washington coming to Boulder next week.
Just a reminder, the Buffs were whipped by UW 41-10 in the conference title game last December. That game demonstrated that the rejuvenated Buffs were not really top 10 material even though they had just risen to #9 in the polls. The #4 Huskies dominated the game (as did Oklahoma State in the bowl game later in December).
In 2017, the Buffaloes have yet to be ranked. Washington, however is firmly entrenched near the top of the college football world at #6. If the Buffaloes play next week like they have played so far this season, that 41-10 beat-down will seem like a fond memory.
Numerous and dumb penalties, bad blocking and sketchy tackling (in addition to typically puzzling play calling by Brian Lindgren) make Colorado's chances against Washington appear pretty slim. The line hasn't been set yet, but expect it to be in the 17 point range. And if the Buffs don't improve A LOT this week, it won't be that close.
The Buffaloes need three more wins to be bowl eligible. Fortunately, some of the teams on the schedule seem to be really down this year, so that should be do-able. Right now, though, return trip to the Pac-12 Championship game looks like a pipe dream.
The Buffs stretch of 8 straight quarters without giving up a touchdown ended quickly. The Buffs went "three and out" to start the game and punted. UNC got the ball and marched down the field for a touchdown to go up 7-0. The Bears averaged more than 10 yards a play on the drive and their offensive line seemed to push around the Buffaloes. That can't be good with defending Pac-12 Champion Washington coming to Boulder next week.
Just a reminder, the Buffs were whipped by UW 41-10 in the conference title game last December. That game demonstrated that the rejuvenated Buffs were not really top 10 material even though they had just risen to #9 in the polls. The #4 Huskies dominated the game (as did Oklahoma State in the bowl game later in December).
In 2017, the Buffaloes have yet to be ranked. Washington, however is firmly entrenched near the top of the college football world at #6. If the Buffaloes play next week like they have played so far this season, that 41-10 beat-down will seem like a fond memory.
Numerous and dumb penalties, bad blocking and sketchy tackling (in addition to typically puzzling play calling by Brian Lindgren) make Colorado's chances against Washington appear pretty slim. The line hasn't been set yet, but expect it to be in the 17 point range. And if the Buffs don't improve A LOT this week, it won't be that close.
The Buffaloes need three more wins to be bowl eligible. Fortunately, some of the teams on the schedule seem to be really down this year, so that should be do-able. Right now, though, return trip to the Pac-12 Championship game looks like a pipe dream.
Saturday, September 9, 2017
Colorado vs Texas State: In-Game Updates
First Quarter
It's time for Colorado Buffaloes fans to be worried. With five minutes left in the opening stanza, the Colorado Buffaloes look more like the team from 2012 than last year's Pac-12 South Champions.
Horrible blocking has led to Steven Montez being sacked repeatedly. The blocking has been so bad that it looks like to the QB did something horrible and the line is refusing to block.
If things continue this way, Mike MacIntyre will find himself on the hot seat two games after winning national coach of the year last season. And Co-offensive coordinator and play caller Brian Lindgren has shown that he is still the worst at his job in the Pac-12.
Update:
Special teams saved the quarter for Colorado, but it was bittersweet. Isaiah Oliver fumbled a punt return, but the ball was scooped up by teammate Laviska Shenault Jr., who turned on the speed and took the ball to the house.
Colorado 7 - Texas State 0
Update:
Colorado goes 96 yards for a TD. Long passes to Shay Fields and Bryce Bobo are the big plays. Both passes, however, were close to being sacks by Texas State. And the Bobo catch was highlight reel.
CU 14 - Tex St 0
Halftime update: Colorado 14, Texas State 0
Colorado failed to produce anything during the two minute drill. And they wasted an opportunity to score again after the D shut down the Bobcats and forced a punt. To add insult to injury, Colorado had a very good punt return negated by lining up offsides on the punt.
Mac was interviewed on the way off the field and said the team "was making mistakes on the little things" and that they would work on them. Some of us are wondering if blocking is one of those little things?
Colorado was favored in this game by 36 points. The way they have played has been embarrassing. Even if they put up 40 more points in the 2nd half, this team looks to be seriously at risk of not making a bowl game.
Third Quarter
Lindgren strikes again with his patented call for a one yard pass on third and six. No chance for a first down, so the Buffs wasted an opportunity in the red zone to put six on the board.
Buffs 17 - Bobcats 0
Update
Buffs defense collapsed when they chose to have defensive end/ outside linebacker Derek McCartney cover a running back on a deep route. McCartney was not within 15 yards of the back when he caught the ball. But the Buffs got lucky when the Bobcat tripped after catching the ball. Instead of a TD, they had to settle for a field goal.
Buffs 17 - Bobcats 3
Update
Isaiah Oliver shows why he is one of the best in the country with an amazing one handed interception followed by an excellent return to get the Buff the ball in Bobcat territory.
After averaging a paltry 2 yards per carry, the Buffs managed to run it in from the 7 to take a 24-3 lead.
Update
Buffs finally put together an excellent drive by abandoning the long ball and hitting quick short passes. The drive ends with an 11 yard TD pass to Bryce Bobo.
End of 3rd quarter: Colorado 31 - Tex St. 3
Another drive stalls, but the new kicker nails a 40 yard field goal.
Buffs 34 - Bobcats 3
Update
Another turnover for the the Bobcats. Buffs go nowhere but kick another field goal to up lead to 37-3. Most impressive is that Colorado chooses to let backup QB Sam Noyer get into the game while a smiling Montez watches from the sidelines. It's good to get some reps to the RS freshman Noyer. Also, it's nice to finally have a QB who doesn't have a tizzy-fit on the sidelines if coaches try to take him out.
Buffs 37 - Bobcats 3
Buffs and Bobcats trade possessions to run out the clock. Noyer shows some skills, but also shows some freshman mistakes. Good to get some reps.
Final score: Colorado 37 -- Texas State 3
It's time for Colorado Buffaloes fans to be worried. With five minutes left in the opening stanza, the Colorado Buffaloes look more like the team from 2012 than last year's Pac-12 South Champions.
Horrible blocking has led to Steven Montez being sacked repeatedly. The blocking has been so bad that it looks like to the QB did something horrible and the line is refusing to block.
If things continue this way, Mike MacIntyre will find himself on the hot seat two games after winning national coach of the year last season. And Co-offensive coordinator and play caller Brian Lindgren has shown that he is still the worst at his job in the Pac-12.
Update:
Special teams saved the quarter for Colorado, but it was bittersweet. Isaiah Oliver fumbled a punt return, but the ball was scooped up by teammate Laviska Shenault Jr., who turned on the speed and took the ball to the house.
Colorado 7 - Texas State 0
Update:
Colorado goes 96 yards for a TD. Long passes to Shay Fields and Bryce Bobo are the big plays. Both passes, however, were close to being sacks by Texas State. And the Bobo catch was highlight reel.
CU 14 - Tex St 0
Halftime update: Colorado 14, Texas State 0
Colorado failed to produce anything during the two minute drill. And they wasted an opportunity to score again after the D shut down the Bobcats and forced a punt. To add insult to injury, Colorado had a very good punt return negated by lining up offsides on the punt.
Mac was interviewed on the way off the field and said the team "was making mistakes on the little things" and that they would work on them. Some of us are wondering if blocking is one of those little things?
Colorado was favored in this game by 36 points. The way they have played has been embarrassing. Even if they put up 40 more points in the 2nd half, this team looks to be seriously at risk of not making a bowl game.
Third Quarter
Lindgren strikes again with his patented call for a one yard pass on third and six. No chance for a first down, so the Buffs wasted an opportunity in the red zone to put six on the board.
Buffs 17 - Bobcats 0
Update
Buffs defense collapsed when they chose to have defensive end/ outside linebacker Derek McCartney cover a running back on a deep route. McCartney was not within 15 yards of the back when he caught the ball. But the Buffs got lucky when the Bobcat tripped after catching the ball. Instead of a TD, they had to settle for a field goal.
Buffs 17 - Bobcats 3
Update
Isaiah Oliver shows why he is one of the best in the country with an amazing one handed interception followed by an excellent return to get the Buff the ball in Bobcat territory.
After averaging a paltry 2 yards per carry, the Buffs managed to run it in from the 7 to take a 24-3 lead.
Update
Buffs finally put together an excellent drive by abandoning the long ball and hitting quick short passes. The drive ends with an 11 yard TD pass to Bryce Bobo.
End of 3rd quarter: Colorado 31 - Tex St. 3
Another drive stalls, but the new kicker nails a 40 yard field goal.
Buffs 34 - Bobcats 3
Update
Another turnover for the the Bobcats. Buffs go nowhere but kick another field goal to up lead to 37-3. Most impressive is that Colorado chooses to let backup QB Sam Noyer get into the game while a smiling Montez watches from the sidelines. It's good to get some reps to the RS freshman Noyer. Also, it's nice to finally have a QB who doesn't have a tizzy-fit on the sidelines if coaches try to take him out.
Buffs 37 - Bobcats 3
Buffs and Bobcats trade possessions to run out the clock. Noyer shows some skills, but also shows some freshman mistakes. Good to get some reps.
Final score: Colorado 37 -- Texas State 3
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
How Do the Power Five Conferences Perform Academically According to the World University Rankings?
How do the Power Five Conferences perform academically?
Football season has begun with a bang, and once again fans from around the country are in heated debate as to which schools and conferences are the best in the land.Of course, most of those debates are centered around football. Especially down in SEC country, where football is much more important than academics.
The World University Rankings were released today and this article will look at where Power Five Conference schools landed on the Top 100 of the charts.
This is a tough ranking because the Power Five schools are competing not only with each other but also other top universities from around the world.
In Grand Countdown Fashion, the list of Power Five Conferences from Worst to First.
#5 -- The Southeastern Conference (SEC) -- ZERO
The SEC landed a big fat ZERO for schools on the "Wonderful One Hundred" list of top universities in the world. The closest to making the Top 100 was Vanderbilt at #105.
#4 -- The Big 12 Conference -- ONE
The Big 12 beat the SEC by one by landing the University of Texas on the Top 100. The Longhorns came in at #49 worldwide.
#3 -- The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) -- FOUR
The ACC landed FOUR schools on the "Wonderful One Hundred" that was released today. Those schools were:
-- #17 - Duke University
-- #33 - Georgia Tech University
-- #56 - North Carolina University
-- #100 - University of Pittsburgh
#2 -- The Pac-12 Conference -- SIX
The Pac-12 landed SIX schools on the Worldwide Top 100, including four on the ultra prestigious Top 25. Those four were more than any other Power 5 conference.
-- #3 - Stanford
-- #15 - UCLA
-- #18 - California
-- #25 - Washington
-- #66 - USC
-- #100 - Colorado (tied with ACC's Pittsburgh)
#1 -- The Big Ten Conference -- TEN
The overall academic excellence award surely goes to the Big Ten, which placed 10 of their conference schools on the Worldwide Top 100. The Pac-12 may have had a few higher up in the rankings, but the Big Ten pounded the rankings like no other conference.
-- #20 - Northwestern
-- #21 - Michigan
-- #37 - Illinois
-- #43 - Wisconsin
-- #56 - Minnesota
-- #60 - Purdue
-- #69 - Maryland
-- #70 - Ohio State
-- #77 - Penn State
-- #83 - Michigan State
The verdict is in and three of the Power Five conferences put a total of 20 schools on the Top 100 worldwide. Those were the Big Ten with 10, the Pac-12 with six, and the ACC with four. The SEC, the self-proclaimed kings of college football had a total of zero.
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Looking Forward after Colorado Shackles Colorado State 17-3
Going into the Rocky Mountain Showdown, all the experts talked about the offensive shootout that would dominate the game. They were wrong.
The experts also said the Colorado defense would be the weakest link on the team and that they would have to depend on the high powered Buffs' offense to keep them in the games. Wrong again, on several accounts.
The CU defense, built by Jim Leavitt and Mike MacIntyre, continues to be the heart of the Buffaloes. Colorado State came into the game having averaged 50+ points a game over their last half a dozen games. In the last two RMS games, the Rams have scored a grand total of 10 points compared to the Buffaloes' 61. I guess they don't play D like this in the Mountain West.
CSU fans were riding high after the Rams scored 58 points on Oregon State. But OSU almost lost to Portland State at home in their second game, so maybe the win was not as impressive as it looked.
Some fans are wondering if the Buffs purposely took their foot off the gas after taking a 17 point lead early. The D was dominating the Rams, who never really got going on all cylinders. After all, why give Washington good film on the Colorado offense? The next two games are against teams that are severely over-matched, so the 'Dubs can't really learn anything.
If the Buffs WERE trying to score 50 and nothing in the playbook was off limits, Buff fans deserve to be concerned. A sordid history of questionable play-calling is still fresh in the minds of the Colorado faithful. And little from the play calling on display at the RMS eased that concern.
Oh well. The Colorado Buffaloes are 1-0 and that's all that really matters. They will go into the game with Washington at 3-0. The Huskies also have two "gimmies" coming up and will also arrive in Boulder 3-0. It's fitting that the rematch from last season's Pac-12 Championship game will feature two teams that are undefeated.
Buff fans (and Husky fans) should enjoy the big wins coming their way in the next couple weeks. Both teams will find out a great deal on September 23rd at Folsom Field. By then, either Colorado or Washington will be a game up on a primary division rival, since USC and Stanford play next week.
Go Buffs!
The experts also said the Colorado defense would be the weakest link on the team and that they would have to depend on the high powered Buffs' offense to keep them in the games. Wrong again, on several accounts.
The CU defense, built by Jim Leavitt and Mike MacIntyre, continues to be the heart of the Buffaloes. Colorado State came into the game having averaged 50+ points a game over their last half a dozen games. In the last two RMS games, the Rams have scored a grand total of 10 points compared to the Buffaloes' 61. I guess they don't play D like this in the Mountain West.
CSU fans were riding high after the Rams scored 58 points on Oregon State. But OSU almost lost to Portland State at home in their second game, so maybe the win was not as impressive as it looked.
Some fans are wondering if the Buffs purposely took their foot off the gas after taking a 17 point lead early. The D was dominating the Rams, who never really got going on all cylinders. After all, why give Washington good film on the Colorado offense? The next two games are against teams that are severely over-matched, so the 'Dubs can't really learn anything.
If the Buffs WERE trying to score 50 and nothing in the playbook was off limits, Buff fans deserve to be concerned. A sordid history of questionable play-calling is still fresh in the minds of the Colorado faithful. And little from the play calling on display at the RMS eased that concern.
Oh well. The Colorado Buffaloes are 1-0 and that's all that really matters. They will go into the game with Washington at 3-0. The Huskies also have two "gimmies" coming up and will also arrive in Boulder 3-0. It's fitting that the rematch from last season's Pac-12 Championship game will feature two teams that are undefeated.
Buff fans (and Husky fans) should enjoy the big wins coming their way in the next couple weeks. Both teams will find out a great deal on September 23rd at Folsom Field. By then, either Colorado or Washington will be a game up on a primary division rival, since USC and Stanford play next week.
Go Buffs!
Thursday, August 31, 2017
CU Offense: Who to Watch in the RMS
The 2017 version of the Rocky Mountain Showdown is quickly approaching. Tomorrow can't get here soon enough. There are lots of players I want to see, because I expect them to perform well.
This young man has all the skills needed to help him become one of the best to ever play for Colorado. He has Phillip "T.D." Lindsay behind him and one of the best collection of wide receivers in the country. And, he has a solid line in front of him. Look out.
RB Phillip "T.D." Lindsay
The Tasmanian Devil is looking to become the first Buff to run for more than 1000 yards in consecutive seasons. Barring injury, count on that happening. The fireball is the emotional heartbeat of this team and fans can fully expect great things from him.
The Wide Outs -- Fields, Bobo, Ross & MacIntyre
Co- OC Darrin Chiaverini must be champing on the bit to get his position group into the game. His group is one of the best in the country, and has to give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares. What makes it even scarier is that the second team group (Winfree, Ento, Nixon and Walker) might well be as good as the first team.
The Offensive Line -- Irwin, Kough, Huckins, Lynott & Haigler
Coach Klayton Adams took over coaching the offensive line last year and the team won 10 games. Another year with Adams at the head of this group promises even better blocking and unity. These guys are the horses that the skill position players will ride and these young men are ready for the challenge.
Newcomers to Watch --
Juwann Winfree - WR
Before he was injured in the spring of 2016, this young man was earning raves as possibly the best and most talented guy in a phenomenal group of wide receivers. If fully healthy, he could become a star for the offense.
Sam Noyer - QB
Fans are hoping that Mike MacIntyre and Brian Lindgren learned a valuable lesson last year and will give Noyer a chance to play some meaningful snaps if the Buffs get out to big leads. Over the last several years, they left Sefo Liufau in WAY too long in big wins and paid the price when he went down to injury in big games throughout his career.
Noyer has been turning heads since he arrived on campus, and could provide solid backup to Montez.
Beau Bisharat - RB
This 4-Star back arrived last season and did outstanding work on special teams. This year, he'll give the Buffs a BIG back option on short yardage situations for the first time in what seems like forever.
Michael Adkins - RB
Adkins isn't a newcomer, but has had numerous injuries to deal with in his career. We're hoping his senior year can be injury free and he can finally fulfill the promise he's shown when healthy.
Offense
QB Steven MontezThis young man has all the skills needed to help him become one of the best to ever play for Colorado. He has Phillip "T.D." Lindsay behind him and one of the best collection of wide receivers in the country. And, he has a solid line in front of him. Look out.
RB Phillip "T.D." Lindsay
The Tasmanian Devil is looking to become the first Buff to run for more than 1000 yards in consecutive seasons. Barring injury, count on that happening. The fireball is the emotional heartbeat of this team and fans can fully expect great things from him.
The Wide Outs -- Fields, Bobo, Ross & MacIntyre
Co- OC Darrin Chiaverini must be champing on the bit to get his position group into the game. His group is one of the best in the country, and has to give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares. What makes it even scarier is that the second team group (Winfree, Ento, Nixon and Walker) might well be as good as the first team.
The Offensive Line -- Irwin, Kough, Huckins, Lynott & Haigler
Coach Klayton Adams took over coaching the offensive line last year and the team won 10 games. Another year with Adams at the head of this group promises even better blocking and unity. These guys are the horses that the skill position players will ride and these young men are ready for the challenge.
Newcomers to Watch --
Juwann Winfree - WR
Before he was injured in the spring of 2016, this young man was earning raves as possibly the best and most talented guy in a phenomenal group of wide receivers. If fully healthy, he could become a star for the offense.
Sam Noyer - QB
Fans are hoping that Mike MacIntyre and Brian Lindgren learned a valuable lesson last year and will give Noyer a chance to play some meaningful snaps if the Buffs get out to big leads. Over the last several years, they left Sefo Liufau in WAY too long in big wins and paid the price when he went down to injury in big games throughout his career.
Noyer has been turning heads since he arrived on campus, and could provide solid backup to Montez.
Beau Bisharat - RB
This 4-Star back arrived last season and did outstanding work on special teams. This year, he'll give the Buffs a BIG back option on short yardage situations for the first time in what seems like forever.
Michael Adkins - RB
Adkins isn't a newcomer, but has had numerous injuries to deal with in his career. We're hoping his senior year can be injury free and he can finally fulfill the promise he's shown when healthy.
GO BUFFS!
Monday, August 28, 2017
Finally, it's TIME for some 2017 Colorado Buffaloes FOOTBALL!
It's almost September. That means it's time for some Colorado Buffaloes football. Getting ready for Friday's Rocky Mountain Showdown, here are some random and not so random thoughts that have been pondered since the Buffs last played.
Don't get me wrong. Head coach Mike MacIntyre is important as well. But no one on the staff spends as much time with the players as Wilson, and he has done a phenomenal job of turning the CU players into Top 25 caliber players. Under his tutelage, they've come to know what kind of commitment it takes off the field to be a star on the field.
There's too much talent for the team not to excel when they have the ball. Montez is a much better passer than the graduated QB. He's a better runner too, but the offensive coordinators should steer clear of running Montez too much. They have one of the best WR units in the country and a Tasmanian Devil in Phillip Lindsay at running back. Let those other guys do their jobs and let Montez do his and avoid any unnecessary hits the QB has to take.
Everybody from the media on down (maybe that should be up, right?) is of the opinion that the Buffaloes will not be able to recover from losing so many players from their dominant D from last year. Really? Isn't last year's defense the one that all the experts prognosticated would lead the Buffs to finishing 12th in the Pac-12? Yes, it is.
The reason that the Buffs were so much better last season on defense was NOT because of specific players. Strength training and conditioning is what led to the Buffs starting to manhandle folks for the first time in a decade. They had a brilliant defensive coordinator in Jim Leavitt too. His impact here in Boulder will go on for years to come even though he has moved on.
What the Buffs did last year was a big first step. They beat the teams that they were supposed to beat.
Against teams that did not end up in pre-bowl Top 25, Colorado went 9-0 last year. The Buffs outscored those teams 362-154. That's an average of around 40-17.
Against teams that did end up in the pre-bowl Top 25, the Buffaloes won only one of five games. They were outscored by those teams 150-73. That's an average of 30-14.
I can't imagine the Buffs will go back to losing to FCS teams, so the next step is winning half the time against Top 25 teams. The next step after that is to win the majority of games against ranked teams.
It's great that the Buffs have a really talented QB in Steven Montez, but they could have done a much better job of getting him prepared last year to play. Even though he was only a freshman backing up the starter, he rarely got to play unless the starter was injured.
Way too often, even with big leads against out-manned opponents, Brian Lindgren chose to pad Sefo's stats instead of getting playing time for the #2 QB. If the Buffs get a big lead, they should let the backups in to get some reps actually running the Colorado offense. That doesn't mean handing off to the third string running back or taking a knee. The point of getting the backups reps is to be ready to go when the game is on the line.
Bad teams try to pad the stats of their players. Good teams know the only stat that matters is wins and losses. Get a big lead, and let the backups get on the field. It keeps them motivated and prepares them for when they are the starters.
Anyone who has read this blog knows that I do not support playing the RMS in Denver. I watch the game but will not EVER go to it in Denver. It takes away from the college feel and would be much better in Boulder and Fort Collins. Denver doesn't care about either team anyways, so why give them money to host the game? And the Denver media only want it in Denver so they don't have to drive.
The most important guy not wearing a uniform for Colorado might very well be strength and conditioning guru Drew Wilson.
Don't get me wrong. Head coach Mike MacIntyre is important as well. But no one on the staff spends as much time with the players as Wilson, and he has done a phenomenal job of turning the CU players into Top 25 caliber players. Under his tutelage, they've come to know what kind of commitment it takes off the field to be a star on the field.
The Buffaloes will be a much more dangerous offensive team this year.
There's too much talent for the team not to excel when they have the ball. Montez is a much better passer than the graduated QB. He's a better runner too, but the offensive coordinators should steer clear of running Montez too much. They have one of the best WR units in the country and a Tasmanian Devil in Phillip Lindsay at running back. Let those other guys do their jobs and let Montez do his and avoid any unnecessary hits the QB has to take.
The DEFENSE will be much better this year than everyone expects.
Everybody from the media on down (maybe that should be up, right?) is of the opinion that the Buffaloes will not be able to recover from losing so many players from their dominant D from last year. Really? Isn't last year's defense the one that all the experts prognosticated would lead the Buffs to finishing 12th in the Pac-12? Yes, it is.
The reason that the Buffs were so much better last season on defense was NOT because of specific players. Strength training and conditioning is what led to the Buffs starting to manhandle folks for the first time in a decade. They had a brilliant defensive coordinator in Jim Leavitt too. His impact here in Boulder will go on for years to come even though he has moved on.
The Colorado Buffaloes are NOT a top 10 team just yet, but they're on their way even if it will take poll voters a couple years to figure it out.
What the Buffs did last year was a big first step. They beat the teams that they were supposed to beat.
Against teams that did not end up in pre-bowl Top 25, Colorado went 9-0 last year. The Buffs outscored those teams 362-154. That's an average of around 40-17.
Against teams that did end up in the pre-bowl Top 25, the Buffaloes won only one of five games. They were outscored by those teams 150-73. That's an average of 30-14.
I can't imagine the Buffs will go back to losing to FCS teams, so the next step is winning half the time against Top 25 teams. The next step after that is to win the majority of games against ranked teams.
The CU offensive COACHES need to do a better job with their game day decisions.
It's great that the Buffs have a really talented QB in Steven Montez, but they could have done a much better job of getting him prepared last year to play. Even though he was only a freshman backing up the starter, he rarely got to play unless the starter was injured.
Way too often, even with big leads against out-manned opponents, Brian Lindgren chose to pad Sefo's stats instead of getting playing time for the #2 QB. If the Buffs get a big lead, they should let the backups in to get some reps actually running the Colorado offense. That doesn't mean handing off to the third string running back or taking a knee. The point of getting the backups reps is to be ready to go when the game is on the line.
Bad teams try to pad the stats of their players. Good teams know the only stat that matters is wins and losses. Get a big lead, and let the backups get on the field. It keeps them motivated and prepares them for when they are the starters.
The only Colorado team that should be playing in Denver is the Broncos.
Anyone who has read this blog knows that I do not support playing the RMS in Denver. I watch the game but will not EVER go to it in Denver. It takes away from the college feel and would be much better in Boulder and Fort Collins. Denver doesn't care about either team anyways, so why give them money to host the game? And the Denver media only want it in Denver so they don't have to drive.
Let the Games Begin!
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