It's Time to Remember Just How Young this Colorado Buffaloes Defense Really Is

It's two games into the 2014 CU Buff football season, and fans are starting to panic already. The feeling has even occurred to this writer. We have to remember to breathe.

It's only the 2nd season at the helm for Mike MacIntyre, and fans are already outraged that the team he inherited (the worst team in CU history) is not ready to go bowling. Is that really a surprise?

Buff fans need to remember that so much of the disappointment they feel is in their heads and their heart, and less so with the reality of the playing field. College football is a very interesting dynamic. It is the place where fans watch the growth of high school boys into college men, some of whom do well enough at their sport to move on the NFL.

With very few exceptions, young men fresh out of high school and even in their first few years of college are not ready to be dominant players at the collegiate level. We also have to remember that these young men are STUDENT athletes, who must attend to their scholastic responsibilities as well as their jobs as football players.

In most of the top tier football programs in the Power Five Conferences, a formula that has been in place for decades dictates the development of those high school boys into collegiate level football players. The best case scenario for those programs is as follows for the young men.

• Freshman Year -- Redshirt, grow their bodies, and acclimate to college life away from home.
• Redshirt Freshman Year -- Work with the scout team, grow their bodies, become better acquainted with "system" their coaches operate.
• Sophomore Year -- Grow their bodies and begin to learn from the upper classmen the nuances of collegiate football, and how to read opposing teams.
• Junior Year -- Learn, grow bodies and compete for playing time.
• Senior Year -- Be counted upon as a major contributor to the team on the field and in the locker room.

Of course, life does not unfold like that all the time. Sometimes an exceptional talent comes along and gets onto the field of play as a starter much sooner. Sometimes injuries force young men to miss time or force them into playing before they are ready when the guys on the depth chart in front of them go down. In some cases, attrition does the same thing.

In most cases, the key behind a championship caliber team is how they play on the defensive side of the ball. Teams can have all the offensive firepower in the conference or the country and still go down to defeat if their defense cannot keep the opposition out of the end zone.

College offenses are more complex and difficult to read by defensive players than ever before. It's one of the reasons why so many games have scores in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Many offenses these days are designed with the idea that they can score on ANY PLAY. The teams that are content on working the ball down the field are rarer every year.

That being the case, it is more important than ever to have the defense manned by young men who have been learning the collegiate game for at least three years before becoming starters. It's no longer enough to be big and fast. They also need to know how to read the opposing team. Having 4.4 speed doesn't help if you're running in the wrong direction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

How young is the Colorado Defense compared to their Pac-12 peers? Very young indeed.

A quick look at the defensive depth charts across the Pac-12 shows how many lower classmen are listed as starters.

• Arizona (4)
• Arizona State (4)
• California (4)
• Colorado (6)
• Oregon (1)
• Oregon State (0)
• Stanford (0)
• UCLA (3)
• USC (2)
• Utah (5)
• Washington (3)
• Washington State (3)

Not only does Colorado have more lower classmen as starters on defense, their depth chart behind the starters is even more loaded with them. Of the nineteen young men listed behind the starters on defense, 14 of them are also underclassmen (that's 74%).

It's no wonder that the Buffs have a hard time, when a majority of their defensive players have never been given the opportunity to learn the collegiate game with sufficient time.

Think of it like law school. How would it be if a month into your first semester you were being counted on to pass the bar and lead a big case?

Most people would be forgiven if the quality of their case was not the same as someone who spent three years in law school and couple of years interning as law clerks.

The same mindset should be used when dealing with the young Buffs playing defense. It is a testament to the quality of young men that MacIntyre has brought in that they are able to play at the high level they already do.

Fans should remember that they are only going to get better. In fact, in two more years, when the depth chart is rightly dominated by juniors and seniors, the quality of play from Colorado defense will seem like a night and day difference.

It won't be because they are smarter or more dedicated or faster. It will be because their brains have been given the opportunity to learn the craft of playing major college football. And, on top of that, many of them will have lots of game experience to go on as well.

The biggest weakness of the Colorado Buffaloes defense is youth, inexperience, and immaturity. Opposing Pac-12 coaches will do their very best to exploit that weakness while they can, because the time is coming when Colorado will be on a level playing field when it comes to the age and experience of their starters.

That one step in the wrong direction this season that leads to a first down or touchdown for the opponent, will soon be a step toward a sack, an interception or a big tackle for no gain. Now is the time to watch them learn and get better as they go. If we want to watch professionals play, the Denver Broncos are just down the road.

Can Duck Dynasty Survive in the Rarified Air of Colorado?

With all due respects to Phil Robertson and his clan, there are now TWO duck dynasties that are dominant in America. Phil started the First Duck Dynasty after walking away from football (starting in front of future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw) to focus his time and energy on his first true love, duck hunting.

Phil invented the Duck Commander duck call in 1972 and was awarded a patent for his work. Soon after, the Duck Commander Company was formed and the Robertson clan has ridden the wings of their commander ever since to fame and fortune and a hit television show on A&E.

The Second Duck Dynasty was started by current Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly. In four years in Eugene, Kelly led the Ducks to 46 wins and three straight top 4 finishes in the final AP poll. He also led them to the national championship game against Auburn, where they lost a heartbreaker by the score of 22-19.

But things were not always so Rose Bowly in Eugene. Oregon football had long been a run of the mill program at best. Head coach Rich Brooks led the Ducks to their first top 20 finish in nearly 40 years when they were ranked #11 following his last season in 1994.

Mike Bellotti then took over and  made Oregon a half and half team. Half the years they finished in the AP Top 20, and half they did not. Twice during his 14 year tenure, the Ducks won the Pac-10 Conference Title. They were consistently good... but certainly not the juggernaut they have become now.

Former Colorado Buff Offensive Coordinator Mark Helfrich took over the Duck program when Kelly flew off to the NFL, and so far the Ducks have not missed a beat. They are ranked #2 in the country behind two-time defending National Champion Alabama. Although many people think the Ducks are playing better than the Crimson Tide this year, most people will keep 'Bama #1 until they lose it on the field.

In the Ducks' last game, they scored 55 points against conference foe California to bring their record to 4-0. The 55 points was the fewest they have scored this season. One big difference this year over years past is the level of defense being played by Oregon. Instead of just outscoring everybody, the Ducks are now dominating on both sides of the ball. On top of scoring 60 points a game, the Ducks only give up around 11.

Can they keep it up when they travel to Boulder this weekend? On one hand, history says they will. Since Colorado joined the Pac-12, Oregon has outscored them in two games by 99 points (115-16). The other hand, however, points out that the last two games were under head coach Jon Embree, and monstrous losses were the norm during his tenure in Boulder.

The Colorado Buffaloes started the Mike MacIntyre era this year by winning their first two games to double the win total from 2012. New Defensive Coordinator Kent Baer has the Buffaloes playing a whole new level of D compared to years past. Some critics might even say that the Buffs are playing ANY D for the first time in several years.

But is it enough to derail the Oregon Duckernaut? The game has to be played, of course, but the Buffaloes do have a history of upsetting teams at Folsom Field in Boulder.

In 1986, the Buffs started the season very roughly by losing their first four games. This included a close loss to Oregon. They rebounded to win their next two games before the mighty (and #3 ranked) Nebraska Corncobbers came to town. Nebraska had defeated the Buffs for 20 straight years, and as usual, Folsom Field was awash in red as the Nebraska faithful did their best to cheer their team to victory.

It was not to be, however, as Bill McCartney led his Buffs to a 20-10 victory. The win was the turning point that propelled Colorado toward becoming one of the top teams in the nation over the next decade. They played for the National Championship twice (winning once), and were denied a third shot at the title when they lost in Lincoln despite having nine NFL draft picks and the Heisman Trophy winner in 1994.

In 2007, the #3 Oklahoma Sooners came into Boulder and met with a similar fate. Like Oregon this year, the Sooners were considered the top offensive team in the country. Sam Bradford would go on to win the Heisman in 2008. When they arrived in Colorado, the Sooners were averaging more than 60 points a game and giving up only 11. Sound familiar?

Do the Buffs have what it takes to bring down the high flying Ducks? Grab your Duck Commander and your shotgun. It's time to go duck hunting. One can only hope the Ducks do as well in the altitude as the Eagles did when they visited the Denver Broncos at Mile High last week. What was that score again? Oh yeah, Broncos 52 and Eagles 20.

Go Buffs!

----------------------------------

To see video and write-ups of these upsets, see our good friends from:

CU at the Game -- Oklahoma Upset

CU at the Game -- Nebraska Upset

Mike MacIntyre Era at Colorado Begins with Monster Win over CSU in the Rocky Mountain Showdown

The Colorado Buffaloes took care of business at the Rocky Mountain Showdown and downed the CSU Rams 41-27 at the Broncos' Sponsor of the year at Mile High Stadium. (Yes, I know who the sponsor is. I am not going to give them a plug because everyone knows where I am talking about and I don't think the game should be played in Denver.)

Coach Mike MacIntyre started what (hopefully) will be a long era at CU with a win. Not a big win. Not a very big win. But a monstrously huge and important win. After seven straight losing seasons and coming off the worst season in Colorado football history last season, this win was absolutely needed for the mental well-being of the Buff players.

Colorado had lost eight straight games since their miracle last win against Washington State last year. Some may balk at the "miracle" designation, but with the worst and most disorganized coaching staff in the country last year, winning that one game on the last play after coming from way back in the last half of the fourth quarter had providence written all over it. Mike Leach must be wondering if he is cursed when it comes to CU, because his teams have lost many games to the Buffs that his teams were "supposed" to win.

When MacIntyre was hired as head coach of the Buffs, his biggest challenge was getting inside the heads of his new team. Their confidence was gone. Their game plans were a shambles. In reality, their coaches were in way over their heads and had no idea how to lead a team.

Thus, Mac and staff had to get in and get everyone started from ground zero. They got every player moving in a coordinated effort to improve every aspect of their CU experience. And the coaches only judged them on what they were doing now, this year. And the coaches gave them the opportunity to earn a good place on the depth chart based on the now, and forgetting the past.

MacIntyre and his band of brothers worked hard to rebuild the commitment that each player must have for one another. It was a tough task, and some of the players chose to leave instead of living up to higher expectations. But many of those who decided to stay have been swung over by the enthusiasm and organization that the new coaching staff brought in.

Any holdouts on the team that were still reluctant to buy in whole-heartedly to the new program have now been born again. Seeing the joy on the faces of the young men as they made their way to the student section to sing the CU fight song was a sight to behold.

Seeing the tears in the eyes of MacIntyre as he talked about his father, and the pride and happiness he felt for his players was breathtaking. Mac obviously loves coaching and teaching his team. His commitment is obvious. And his commitment, and that of his staff is contagious and spreading quickly among the players.

After losing a lead due to two long returns, the Buffs had the chance to fold. Last year, it was almost a weekly occurrence due to the lack of leadership. But this year, when their backs were against the wall, they came out swinging and dominated the fourth quarter. We can thank the new coaching staff for instilling the pride again.

I have watched the rise of enthusiasm of the Buff players during fall practice, but that enthusiasm will now be sky high, looming over the flatirons that tower over their practice fields. Those young men now KNOW that they can believe in what their coaches are trying to teach them. Many of them had started to buy in to the new program, and it showed in the win against CSU. But that belief is now becoming FAITH in themselves and each other and their coaches. They have turned the corner to becoming a team in the finest sense of the word.

This team will make the Buff faithful proud. They may not win every game, but their hearts and souls will be committed every step of the way. They will not give up and they will not back down. And every team they play will KNOW they've been in a fight. And every Buff fan should join them, standing shoulder to shoulder, and never giving in, as the Colorado Buffaloes fight for victory.

***********************************
Look for the upcoming post about the players and the game.

Just Say No to Denver Hosting the Rocky Mountain Showdown

In just about 48 hours, the University of Colorado Buffaloes will take the field against Colorado State at the home of the Denver Broncos, known this year as Sports Authority Field at Mile High. It is a beautiful venue and a wonderful place to watch Colorado's favorite team. But that team is neither the CU Buffs nor the CSU Rams, it is the Broncos. Period.

I have been a long time fan of both the NFL and NCAA football. I have seen every Super Bowl. I attended my first college football game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ back when it held only 41,000 people. Hint: It was way back in the 1960s. I was raised on college football.

I moved to Colorado in 1983, and started to attend CU Buff games in 1985. I had season tickets for many years and followed the Buffs on the road several times, most notably to the National Championship game at the Orange Bowl in 1990, and to the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe in 1995. I am willing to travel to see the Buffs play ball.

When I was living overseas, I had my son Skype me the games by turning his computer toward the TV. This meant watching games in the wee hours of the morning. I go out of my way to watch my alma mater play.

That said, I am NOT willing to go to Denver to watch the Rocky Mountain Showdown. Yes, of course, I will watch on TV and enjoy the game immensely. But I will not go to the Broncos field to watch the game, and here are the reasons:

• The stadium is too big. If everyone who attends games at CU and CSU attended the RMS, the stadium would still look like no one was there.
• If the people who put the RMS together want a raucous crowd, the need to put them in the LOWER LEVEL.
• IF they want casual fans to attend the game, they cannot price the tickets as if it was an NFL game. The Broncos tickets are at a premium, since there has been a waiting list to get them for decades. By contrast, the Buffs sell out several games a year in a stadium which hold 25,000 fewer people, and the Rams generally draw fewer fans than Texas high school games. (As an aside, why is CSU spending so much money to build a new, bigger stadium when they can't even fill the tiny one they already have?)
• $20-30 for parking? Are you freaking kidding me?
• Numerous press releases telling folks to behave themselves, and warning people of the great number of regular and plain clothes police that will be on hand to be certain that no one has too much fun. I don't remember this many warnings when the Broncos play in front of a lot more people.
• The Denver media, particularly the Denver Post, have made it perfectly clear that they could not care less about CU or CSU. The only reason they want this game in Denver is so they do not have to drive to Boulder or Fort Collins.
  

  • PS - It really pisses me off that the media in Denver are willing participants in the extortion attempt this game presents. No, I do not care any less for the Buffs because I am not willing to spend an exorbitant  amount of money to see them in Denver.

   
• Rivalry games belong on campus, or at least in the city where the campus is located. There are no CU or CSU banners strung around Denver. College football is just a diversion for Broncomania.
• Folks running the RMS need to understand that we live in a capitalist society, where the concepts of supply and demand dictate the going market rate for anything. They have WAY more tickets than customers, yet they price their commodity as if it was in short supply.
• I have a good chuckle on a daily basis watching Craigslist and StubHub and Ticketmaster. The closer we get to the game, the lower the prices for tickets seem to go. By the time kickoff arrives, they will probably be GIVING them away for practically nothing outside the stadium. It reminds me of the CU game at the Orange Bowl. Even though the Buffs and Notre Dame were playing with a National Championship on the line, tickets outside were going for $5-10 apiece because there were no teams from Florida playing.
• I know the folks at CSU like playing in Denver. Of course they do, who wants to stay home to play in front of 18,000 people? Maybe they should start scheduling the CSU vs. Air Force game in Denver. Similar drive for both sets of fans and it gets the Ram fans a chance to get out of town. Of course, it has been a long time since CSU beat Air Force anywhere.

For some ungodly reason, this game is scheduled to be played in Denver through 2019. Somebody somewhere is apparently making good money off this. Unfortunately, I do not think it is either CU or CSU. Their fans are paying the freight, though. This game being played in Denver should be ended as soon as possible. The vigorish paid by the schools and fans is too great.

For those of you going to the game in Denver, I wish you a great time. I am going to save my money for a game out of town which will actually get me out of town. Looking forward to maybe a return trip to Sun Devil Stadium against Arizona State on October 12^th. The Phoenix Craigslist has tickets offered to the ASU vs. CU game for as little as $20. They money saved by not going to the Rocky Mountain Showdown will just about pay for my gas to get down to Tempe.