Offense unplugged, Buffs fall to CSU, now 0-2

Colorado goes down to in-state rival Colorado State 14-10 Saturday at Invesco after another abysmal offensive performance.

New Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins' reputation while leading Boise State was that of a creative, successful, well-regarded offensive leader but his first Colorado team is struggling to not only put points on the board, tallying a total of only 20 in back-to-back losses to open the season, but move the ball.

After being punked in their own backyard by Division 1-AA Montana State in a stunner talked about around the country, the Buffaloes aren't much better on offense against the Rams, totaling but 118 net yards, once a quarter's worth of work for the program.

Bernard Jackson takes over for last week's starter, James Cox, at quarterback and shows flashes of athleticism but finishes the day with just 70 yards passing and 30 rushing. Last year's leading rusher for the school, Hugh Charles, continues to play the role of invisible man, getting just two carries for 10 yards. Transfer coming if this continues.

Colorado State, meanwhile, is efficient enough to get past a rugged CU defense. Quarterback Caleb Hannie is a near-perfect, connecting on 20 of 23 passes for 233 yards despite significant heat applied in the pocket, as the Buffs record six sacks, three by defensive lineman Abraham Wright, who got his name written in some pro scouts notebooks today and two by linebacker Jordan Dizon, who might upstage fellow 'backer Thaddaeus Washington as top dog on the unit. Hannie runs for a score and throws for another. Hey, didn't CU used to have guys like that under center?

TheTruth...the ineffectiveness of the offense is not surprising. Or, it shouldn't be to most. The Buffs lost one of the most productive quarterbacks in school history in Joel Klatt to graduation and all his experience. Two big-play tight ends in Joe Klopfenstein and Quinn Sypniewski, who now receive their mail in the NFL are also gone. A physical presence and emotional leader at "V-back" in Lawrence Vickers also calls the NFL home. And last I checked, CU doesn't have stacks of former prep All-Americans running over Ralphie to get on the field to replace them. To doubt or rip Hawkins and his staff for this lack of resources is unreasonable. Forget being fair as fair doesn't matter. What does is this...making lemonade out of lemons is a pithy little statement but it doesn't work in major college football or sports, period.

Jackson gets to play, finally. That is something many fans have long desired, enamored of his physical gifts. That the offense was grade-school predictable says more about the concerns regarding Jackson's ability to implement a more creative approach than it does of the coaching staff's capabilities. It strongly appears like the staff has already lost confidence in Cox, doubts Brian White almost as much and put Jackson in only because of the hopes he could bring the big play with him, even if that meant they could only run a limited attack.

Charles can't be an intriguing player on the rise one season then a mutt the next. He's one guy who can bring explosiveness to the offense yet he's an afterthought. Maybe he's not the next Brian Calhoun, who only needed to get out of Boulder to become a star but if he jumps ship get ready to see another little back making big plays for another school, plays that could have been made in black and gold.

The wide receivers? Is CU playing people at that position? No, really? Have you actually seen these people you speak of?

Mark Fenton. Brian Daniels. How can a line with two players such as these be so poor in execution?

Defensively, the Buffs weren't perfect but they were impressive, slamming the door on the CSU running game, and getting to the quarterback, something CU hasn't been good at for a while. How Hannie looked like Tom Brady against the Buffs, nonetheless, is the topic for your homework assignment this week. Your papers are due Tuesday morning. Bring the wood.

The Rams found ways to fight through that CU defense and make enough plays, score enough points, to win the game. Sonny Lubick is getting all the love this next week and maybe for the season. And you know Lubick takes great satisfaction in beating the Buffs.

MoreTruth...where do the Buffs go from here? Arizona State is next on the schedule and 10 points against the Sun Devils is going to keep you in the game for about a quarter and a half. ASU quarterback Rudy Carpenter is so good he forced a stud in Sam Keller to transfer. He also threw five touchdown strikes Saturday in a 52-21 trouncing of Nevada. If Hannie, never to be confused with Joe Montana, looked like a professional against CU, what is Carpenter going to do? The Sun Devils also boast a future pro at tight end in Zach Miller.

Bad day, bad start to the season, bad year coming. Not the end of the world. Hawkins shouldn't be judged until it is known how he recruits, coaches those players and produces with them.

This year, contrary to the former regime's loyalists, is more on Gary Barnett and his staff's recruiting shortcomings than the new kids in town.

Here's a little something for you for dropping by, courtesy of Shira Springer of The Boston Globe. She wrote a story regarding the induction ceremony for the Basketball Hall of Fame. When Charles Barkley spoke he said the following, talking about basketball, but it goes for much of sports.

"The game comes down to talent. Ain't no great coaches unless they got great players. Larry Brown is a great coach, but not with that [expletive] he had this year. Phil Jackson is a great coach, but the Lakers were the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. The game comes down to players," Barkely said.

Hawkins has proven he's a good coach. Not in Boulder but in college athletics. Right now he looks like Brown did with the New York Knicks. Not comparing Hawkins to Brown in any other vein than to say look at how awful Brown looked coaching that questionable Knicks collection of players.