Buff Notes on Neuheisel, USC, Patriots

Buffs not alone in ineptitude

Colorado is not the only team around the country having offensive difficulties.

Even Hollywood has issues.

USC, for all its' talent and success, isn't quite clicking either, according to a Matt Hayes article in the Sporting News.

"An AFC scout recently broke down Southern California's struggles on offense: 'The receivers aren't getting open and the quarterback doesn't have patience.' Translation: QB John David Booty is locking on primary receivers and not going through progressions, and the passing game won't improve until WRs Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith are completely healthy."

Booty was an elite recruit and has played well replacing Trojans' legend Matt Leinart but even Booty will look less-than-stellar if his boys on the outside can't free in the secondary.

What is interesting is, despite the injuries USC has at receiver, the backups, also highly touted, aren't good enough yet to get open.

Pity poor Buffs quarterback Bernard Jackson and his scatter-shot arm. He doesn't quite have the ability to quickly read defenses, or defenses at all at this point, nor does he have at his disposal, electric pass catchers.

Add that up -- the arm, illiterate as a reader of defenses and generic receivers and you have, well, what we've seen all season, one of the worst offenses in school history, a B-movie, a nightmare of reality television to endure.

Point deux

Also in the Sporting News, Paul Attner notices how the New England Patriots just keep getting it done.

"Bill Belichick and his staff are doing another superb coaching job in New England. The Patriots don't really have any potent downfield passing attack, so they score points off of dinks and dumps, and quick releases and now, a revised run game. Another example of how Belichick adopts to his talent instead of forcing his talent to do it his way."

Remember what former Buff Christian Fauria told us about the Patriots' organization? It reminded him of CU, because it was comprised of a bunch of smart guys who played hard.

Belichick obviously knows what he is doing. All that hardware on the shelfs says it all. He is flexible and doesn't try to fit a square peg in a round hole.

The Buffs, it says here, have not used the same approach on offense this season, as they have instead tried to groom quarterback Bernard Jackson into something he's not. No, you can't entirely change your offense in the fall and hope to be effective, but you can try simple adjustments to maximize what Jackson and this offense can do well.

The running game failed miserably against Oklahoma, in large part to Jackson and the offense not being able to slow the rush with quick completions. There was nothing in the game plan that worked. The coaching staff was as much to blame in this game as the players, and I haven't thought that much this season.

Neuheisel gaining support

Former Buff coach Rick Neuheisel, now an assistant with the Baltimore Ravens is making an a strong impression with his team.

The raft rides and guitar jams will begin again any day now.

Dan Pompei of the Sporting News says that recently-departed offensive coordinator Jim Fassel was demoted before leaving for many reasons, but one being Neuheisel was more popular.

"One of the problems that led to Fassel's dismissal was he and Neuheisel butted heads and others on the staff sided with Neuheisel."

Skippy is going to get another head coaching job if the Ravens' offense, now being led by head coach Brian Billick plays well. That new post will be in the college ranks where Neuheisel longs to return. Expect that move to come in the next year or two, about the same time another CU coach returns to the sideline, Gary Barnett. Will make for interesting theater.