Ringo says defense will win the game Saturday

We caught up with Daily Camera reporter Kyle Ringo on his way to Columbia to cover Colorado playing Missouri in the Big-12 opener. He says this will be another close game, with the winner likely to win by being offensive on the defense.

Black and Gold Breakdown: Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich wants your help Saturday. You're calling plays. Whats your game plan out of the gate and as the game unfolds?

Ringo: You're putting me on the spot. I don't pretend to know all the answers. I think (CU) will be dedicated to running the football. I also think they will have some crafty play designs for Bernard (Jackson) and Hugh Charles to get them into open space.

In the passing game, I think they will design fairly simple things. I don't think they are going to have a lot of time to throw the ball.

BGB: How are you, or can you, get the wide receivers involved and making plays?

Ringo: One thing CU has been good at so far is bootlegging and waggling with Bernard to get him out into open space where he can have a few seconds to see downfield. It's a good idea to open the field and let him see things more clearly.

I think right now it's a combination of the wide receivers are either not open, Bernard is not seeing them or they're dropping balls. We might see some wide receiver screens or short stuff, like Colorado State ran against them.

I should point out that that Helfrich said after the Georgia game that he thought Bernard made a step forward. After his first read, he had been pulling the ball down and running. Last week he would get to his second read before pulling down the ball and becoming an athlete.

BGB: Interesting article you did on Mizzou's Chase Daniel this week. What do you think of getting Cody Hawkins some spot action this year, either in the case of Jackson being ineffective or God forbid, getting hurt? I realize that (former Tiger quarterback) Brad Smith was a senior last year and Jackson is only a junior with two years to start, but is this a good idea or something that could happen? What do you think about it?

Ringo: If Jackson gets hurt or is ineffective, they will go back to James Cox. They are not going to burn Cody's redshirt unless it's an emergency situation.

We asked (Dan Hawkins) about (running back) Thomas Perez, who has been making plays in practice, if he might play him but coach Hawkins' philosophy is he is not going to burn a redshirt year for one or two wins this year. If he's patient, he feels it will pay off with many more wins next season. I promise you Cody Hawkins is not going to play this year.

BGB: Matthew Stafford was an all american as a prep and everyone wanted him but he was a true freshman starting for Georgia. Joe Cox had not played much, although he did in the Buffs. How is CU, and can CU, make (sophomore) Chase Daniel ineffective or is he, with Tony Temple and his receiving corps going to put it on the Buffs?

Ringo: In defense of Matthew Stafford, last week a lot of balls were dropped. Then Joe Cox comes in and they catch everything. Receivers can make one guy look horrible and the another one like Joe Montana.

I think what you want to do if you're Colorado is stop the run and make Chase Daniel make all the plays and beat you. CU will probably have some blitzes that they haven't shown that they will unleash.

Missouri is definitely going to be able to move the ball but I think the Buffs can make enough plays defensively to win the game.

BGB: Speaking of the defense, what about defensive lineman George Hypolite? Was that who can be, the monster he was last week at Georgia?

Ringo: He can absolutely be a monster. People forget he played fullback in high school. He's an offensive-minded player. He's probably going to be a three-year starter. He can be a very-good player by his senior season.

BGB: Hypolite, Jordan Dizon, Abe Wright, Thaddaeus Washington, just the whole CU defense, are they better than most of us thought they would and will be or will they start to give up more points as the season progresses?

Ringo: I think Wright and (Walter) Boye-Doe and the guys on the end are as good as we thought they were going to be. The surprise has been on the interior with Hypolite, (Brandon) Nicolas and Jason Brace. I know the defensive tackles have played well but there has to be comfort for them having Thaddaeus Washington and Jordan Dizon behind them.

BGB: O.K., you're on the spot Kyle; who makes plays this weekend, on both teams?

Ringo: Bernard Jackson and Hugh Charles for the Buffs and maybe an under-the-radar guy like Cody Crawford. For Mizzou, Chase Daniel, Tony Temple and Will Franklin.

I think someone on one of these defenses makes a play to win the game.

And if you don't include a kicker like Mason Crosby in this, you're out of your mind.

BGB: Will it be that close, Kyle, where a field goal will matter?

Ringo: I think it will be. I'm picking a one-point game but with CU having to wait until next week to get that first win.