Black & Gold Media Roundtable

Back for more, another look inside the Buffs with some of the best minds closest to the team.

This week on the Black and Gold Media Roundtable are B.G. Brooks of the Rocky Mountain News, Kyle Ringo of the Daily Camera and Patrick Ridgell of the Daily Times-Call.

BGB: CU is competing hard on the field but with poor results. How talented a recruiting class (questions drawn up before Ryan Miller's verbal) can the Buffs expect, no matter the inspirational personality of Dan Hawkins?

Brooks: I believe CU will field a very competent 2007 class. Hawk is a tireless salesman and he sets that kind of tone for his staff. It would surprise me greatly if he fizzles with a class that he's focused on for a full year. That said, I've always maintained that immediately grading a full recruiting class is folly. Anyone in his right mind knows it can't be done for 2-3 years, but folks try and apparently make a living of doing it.

Ringo: One thing this program has going for it -- coaches can offer playing time right away. However, it's a different thing for different kids. Some kids definitely want to be in a comfortable situation and other kids will want the challenge of building something. There are also definitely cases of guys, no matter what you say, they are inclined to go elsewhere, out of state, but that works the other way, too.

Ridgell: I think the recruiting class will be solid, probably top 25. Ryan Miller's commitment may be the vote of confidence other top recruits need to see in CU before they commit. CU is on on several highly-ranked kids, as it is in most years, who could sign up and expect to be in the mix from the first day they set foot on campus. I think that chance to play, combined with Hawkins' pitch, will be enough to sway some of the best.

BGB: Has Colorado used the best scheme, maybe the only scheme that works with Bernard Jackson's talent or was the offense not adjusted to what he does best?

Brooks: Other than perhaps going to the wishbone -- probably not a viable option (no pun intended) -- or the single wing, with him at tailback, what else could be done to best utilize B-Jax? Unlike a swarm of internet posters (is B.G. talking about me!), my hat's off to (offensive coordinator Mark) Helfrich for turning B-Jax into at least a functional quarterback for a season.

The big question, to me, is how does James Cox slip from no. 1 to a nowhere man so fast? There have been games when I was certain Cox would at least get a look, but it never happened. Now, at Kansas, we're told he might be part of a two-QB system. As they say, seeing is believing.

Ringo: I think they have completely adjusted the offense to who he is; the coaches are going above and beyond to put Bernard Jackson in the most comfortable positions possible.

Ridgell: Jackson remains a project with much to learn, but he gives CU a better chance to win than any other quarterback on the roster. That reflects upon the coaching and recruiting in the program the previous three years. As Jackson develops, the coaches will find more ways to use his skills. But Jackson's throwing must improve, and his confidence and comfort need to grow.

BGB: What are the realistic expectations for the Buffs going into games the rest of the season, in the won-loss column?

Brooks: The two home games -- K-State, Iowa State -- appear very winnable. The KU game should be winnable simply because the Jayhawks haven't been able to put any team away for the past four weeks, but then those teams packed little offensive punch). The Nebraska game, well, you'd like to think because it is Nebraska, CU will be competitive -- no matter what happens in the three preceding games. This season, I don't know.

If, for some reason, the Huskers have to close it out with a win to claim their first north-division title under Bill Callahan, CU could be stepping into a world of hurt in stinkin' Lincoln.

Ringo: People forget this was an offense (against Texas Tech) that was pretty good. I wouldn't be all surprised if this offense doesn't have success moving the ball the last four games of the year. I think last week it was more a case of CU running into the best defense its' played all season, even better than Georgia.

Ridgell: CU's next three games are winnable, and CU should take one or two of them. But the Buffs should continue to focus on development and recruiting. The expectation should be to complete a top-level recruiting class.