Little can play big at college level

Colorado's offense just needs playmakers. It doesn't matter what size, shape, form, whatever they come in -- they just need to get things done.

So forget for a moment about Cha'pelle Brown's size (5-foot-7) or that he was a defensive back a season ago because receivers' coach Eric Kiesau likes him -- a lot.

At the college game, little guys can be big talents and if Brown is fast, if he's quick, if he can find seems with his routes and catch the ball consistently, the Buffs will have another piece, another dimension for their offense.

Brown might, one day, turn out to be lightning for the team's return game and as a high-energy jolt in the slot. Maybe, and yes, this is a stretch, he can become a poor-man's Santana Moss.

And how sweet that would be for coach Dan Hawkins and offensive boss Mark Helfrich. CU has to make something out of scratch for the time being. All-Americans are not busting down the door to get into Boulder like USC or Texas.

Now, Brown is a player to watch but if the Buffs are going to make things happen on offense this season, the offensive line is going to be have to be healthy and prove itself capable of run and pass blocking, the quarterback is going to have to prove himself capable of making the right decision, quickly and consistently and the receivers are going to have to look Big-12 quality, and that means Dusty Sprague becomes a 40-50 catch down-the-field guy, that tight end Riar Geer becomes the same in the intermediate routes, that the touted freshman take our breath away and maybe one other pass catcher emerges.

The running backs look like a solid-enough collection of talent to balance it all out.

To wrap it up, this nugget from Kyle Ringo of the Daily Camera, from the mouth of Hawkins.

"We're definitely getting a lot better," Hawkins said. "We're doing a lot of little things way better. The kids came in and watched the film afterward, and they were texting me going, 'Coach, man we are so much better than we were last year. I'm psyched.' That's the beauty of it, just being able to master the little things and we are making strides."

This is to be expected after everyone has been in the system for a year. What is exciting is that the players are seeing it as much as the coaches.

Hawkins class

Dan Hawkins is unique, everyone knows that by this point.

Patrick Ridgell of the Daily Times-Call wrote of Hawkins' having his team lie on the ground after practice, closing their eyes and visualizing success.

Sure Bear Bryant did that, too.

Point is there are many ways to build a successful team and Hawkins knows it all starts upstairs in the head. Personally, I like his creative approach, giving most of these players something fresh to use, not only on the field but in the rest of their lives.

No genius required

Illinois State moved quietly but its' actions will likely speak loudly in the next five years.

Needing a new coach for its' basketball program, it hired an under-the-radar leader that should to prove to be a wise choice.

What's interesting is Colorado State didn't know of him. Will be interesting to see if they make a better, stronger play on someone else now or settle for table scraps.

Local Side Roads

Former Air Force coach Joe Scott is back in Colorado, this time to coach Denver University. Scott did not do well at Princeton and the feeling is the school is happy to see him go.

The Pioneers get a coach who could provide structure and do a much better job than Terry Carroll did but seeing Scott's struggles at Princeton makes one wonder if DU looked hard enough for a better alternative. And honestly, how do you successfully sell Scott to your fan base after what he did with the Tigers?

The Denver Broncos sign wide receiver Brandon Stokely in hopes he can be the elusive third or fourth receiver that they have long searched for but never found. It says here that if Stokely can get healthy, they found a significant piece for their offense. Stokely is an ideal fit in that he is not flashy but just a producer on the football field. He will make plays and fans will love him. The Broncos have done a fine job in free agency and if, and it's a big if but if Denver can draft well, not a given with this organization, it will give itself a chance at again being a team that can win in the postseason.

The Broncos also signed defensive lineman Alvin McKinley for depth and he should be a contributor if nothing more.

Patrick Kerney was a pass rusher Denver coveted. He ended up in Seattle. Now reports are out that a rape happened at his home. He isn't a suspect. After the deaths of two players in the offseason and the trade of Jake Plummer, its' a good thing that the organization doesn't also have a police investigation to deal with now. Officials are saying, "whewwwwwww!"

The Nuggets won at New Jersey with defense. Yes, Vince Carter again beat Denver up but no one else did and with Carmelo Anthony lighting it up for 30 points, the Nuggets have themselves their fifth-straight victory. Not getting overly aroused about it all but it is encouraging. We'll see how this psychological experiment evolves.