Hawkins to the mountain to speak again

Boss Hawkins was back talking Tuesday, holding his weekly press conference.

Here's a little of what he said.

On team effort

"I think the effort has been good, I've never really questioned the effort. I don't think that's a problem. You would like to think there might be a little more confidence offensively."

Have to admit, I find that interesting. First of all, it's usually not the players who have a problem believing in themselves, it's the coaches. Yet Hawkins believes the offense doesn't have the necessary confidence in itself and thus, is struggling. Of course, it helps to have positive reinforcement, as in success, to build that confidence. The Buffs haven't had enough success to be confident and I promise you the opposing defenses are letting them hear all about it.

On opposing defenses blitzing

"I've said this before, our mentality has been "you blitz, we score." That has been one of our mottos." So if people are allowed to play 11 guys on the line of scrimmage they are about to pressure you without a fear of getting hurt down field."

That's been the problem. Colorado has not hurt the defense, and hasn't shown the ability to punish teams, and mercilessly, for getting up in its' face, taunting the offense to bust them. Once CU finds that quarterback who can make the read and make the play quickly to the wide receiver, who also recognizes the tactic and can shake his man and get open, defenses will again start playing the Buffs straight.

On Patrick Devenny playing quarterback

"He has decent arm strength and can make the throws he has to make. I don't know if (him playing) is exactly our plan, but you never know. A guy might come in and go 25-for-30 for 300 yards and you go "Why isn't that guy playing quarterback?"

Amazing to me that Devenny, a traditional-style quarterback leaves Hawkins doubting him yet Bernard Jackson, despite his wondrous athletic skill level, is someone the coach has no qualms about despite his questionable improvement from the beginning of the season to now. Not saying Jackson can't or won't get better but the progress has been so slow it appears to be negligible.

On whether he will play younger players more

"No, I don't do that. Next season will take care of itself. There is something to be said for teaching a group of people to finish."

Not so sure I agree with this line of thinking. Coaches complain about not enough practices in the spring so why not get those players time now, then the spring, and fine tune it all next fall. Look, CU is dead in the water, going nowhere fast in 2006. You're building a program, not a team. If redshirt freshman or sophomores are in the mix for next year, give them some time. You don't have to take the upperclassmen to the alter and make a sacrifice, just don't leave yourself with too much work in the spring and fall, you know?