Last spring many fans downplayed the consistent offensive ineptitude seen in scrimmages, saying by the opening game, all would be well.Denial is a terrible thing.
After one scrimmage, improvement seems to be a real possibility in 2007.
That might all begin with the quarterback play, where redshirt freshman Cody Hawkins completed five of his seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Cha' pelle Brown and Dusty Sprague impressed as pass catchers as did running back Demetrius Sumler, who had a big grab.
The offensive line just doesn't have the numbers to be dominant thus the running game, well, what running game. Just have to learn from last season and not deny that could be a problem if come fall, some newcomers don't prove themselves ready to play and be effective.
Colorado coach Dan Hawkins did make an interesting comment, though, at cubuffs.com.
"When (Jeff) Tedford took over at Cal, I think he had four (offensive) linemen," Hawkins said. "And everything they did was kind of half-sided and one-on-one things. It's interesting because I thought it was a pretty creative way to practice."
BGT: It's but one scrimmage but you'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to recognize this is Cody Hawkins' offense to lose. Now, the coaches would nuclear to hear that and it sounds terribly unfair to incumbent Bernard Jackson and junior college transfer Nick Nelson but no one has more understanding of the offense, more confidence and leadership ability than the big, little man from Idaho. Not saying he is a lock to be the new BMOC but he is the prohibitive favorite. And if he doesn't start the season he will likely own the job before 2007 is over.
Now, before the heat arrives in my mailbox, let me share this -- Nelson's collegiate experience and winning resume gives him some serious bones in the race to lead this team. He is also the one you would assume would be least likely to make mistakes, a plus on this team, but he may not possess the play-making ability or swagger of Hawkins. Jackson, meanwhile, let's just say for all his positive demeanor and exciting athleticism, it's no secret there are doubts about the speed of him learning the nuances of quarterback play. B-Jack has more raw ability than QB on the roster but that alone will not make him the point man of the Buffs' offense.
It ain't over yet
If you're one who likes but doesn't love the speculation that Jeff Bzdelik of Air Force being the choice as the next men's head basketball coach at Colorado then you had to be encouraged by Neill Woelk's story in the Daily Camera on Saturday.
Ever since word leaked that Bzdelik has the job or some assumed the search was over some local writers have broke out with pieces questioning the sanity of such a quick decision. That includes this space, too. But let's push that aside for a moment. In Woelk's article, however, it infers no decision has been reached yet on Ricardo Patton's successor.
If true, that's good news. Not because Bzdelik is unworthy but because, regardless of the spin, not waiting to see how certain coaches work their schools through the tournament shows desperation. Bzdelik has done wonders with the Denver Nuggets, although he was later forced out and with the Falcons, two accomplishments that cannot be minimized yet there are no guarantees he is Billy Gillispie, just add water.
CU owes its' fan base a relatively patient, well thought out, thorough search. It can't get caught dragging its' feet but being impulsive and buying the first thing you see on the shelf is foolish, too.
Oklahoma once saw Bob Stoops available in football and leaped at him. That was obvious. Colorado once did the same in football, and found Rick Neuheisel, who, while not a colossal disaster, was far from the right choice. Thought it then and despite a 20-4 start to his career, still know it to be true.
The Buffs have options. Maybe this program isn't a plum opportunity but it certainly isn't a hell hole or prison either, no matter how much Patton tried to sell that notion.
CU has waited this long. One more week, or two is not too much to ask before it pulls the trigger on a critical move.
Big 12 success
Texas A & M fought off Louisville as the Aggies are showing signs of a resurgence after sloppy play down the stretch in the Big 12. Their next game, however, against the winner of Nevada and Memphis, could be extremely dangerous, as in a loss. Something is missing from the A & M team we saw earlier this season -- that same edge and defensive dominance.
Coaching notes
Butler's Todd Lickliter has his team in the Sweet 16 but his run is likely to end there as Florida is his next likely opponent. It won't matter as he will be moving on to a new school for next season. He has earned that promotion.
Jamie Dixon of Pitt faces his former boss, Ben Howland, now at UCLA, today and a win would shoot his name to a new level around the country. A Panthers' victory could happen but the pick here is the Bruins' in a close one.
Chris Lowery is working on his next job right now and a victory over Virginia Tech will have schools eating out of his hand. Regrettably for Southern Illinois, the pick here is Seth Greenberg's Virginia Tech Hokies.
Look for Indiana to take off next season in year 2 under former Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson. He was a strong hire for the Hoosiers.
If Kentucky gets blown out by Kansas, Tubby Smith might be escorted out of the Bluegrass state in short order.
UNLV can beat Wisconsin and the Badgers know it. Lon Kruger is building something powerful and without the appearance of impropriety of one-time coach Jerry Tarkanian.
If Winthrop's Gregg Marshall tops Oregon, he will be ready for a new address next season and well, will get one.
Mark Fox needs his Nevada Wolf Pack to upset Memphis to get the recognition he wants nationally.
Remember the name Kevin Stallings. Not a flashy guy but a solid teacher and program builder. And if he leads his Commodores past Georgetown into the Elite 8, he could look like a Hollywood leading man to many schools.
BGT: Want an updated list of college names for CU -- potential good fits?
- Kruger, UNLV -- done it over and over at the college level
- Stallings, Vandy -- successful at two schools, including an SEC one
- Lowery, SIU -- one of best young coaches in the land
- Anthony Grant, Virginia Commonwealth -- Billy Donovan disciple, won big this season
- Marshall, Winthrop -- incredible consistency and record
- Lickliter, Butler -- rock-solid candidate
- Jeff Bzdelik, Air Force -- tough-minded, big winner at service academy, NBA success
- Fox, Nevada -- intense and a riser in the coaching ranks
- Greenberg, Virginia Tech -- a football school until now
- Tony Bennett, Washington State -- he is going to be a big-time coach
- Mark Turgeon, Wichita State -- recruiting the only question mark on him
- Mark Few, Gonzaga -- would sell tickets immediately, may not be interested
- Dixon, Pitt -- unlikely to make the move but would be a great hire
- Smith, Kentucky -- too expensive but would bring instant credibility
- Tom Crean, Marquette -- unlikely and not best choice but would be an improvement
- Dana Altman, Creighton -- unlikely but built a solid program in the MVC
A look ahead
Sunday, Kansas is going to kick Kentucky to the curb and its' going to be easy while conference neighbor Texas is going to find a way to eliminate Southern California.
To recruit or not to recruit
Recruiting is known to be the lifeblood of a program, either football and basketball and the voice here couldn't agree more but to say that good coaching can't overcome many deficiencies in that area would be inaccurate.
A short bit by Mike DeCourcy in the Sporting News talks about Boston College basketball coach Al Skinner's success without All-Americans littering his roster. We all can agree the Eagles are a rock-solid program, right? No, they aren't national title contenders in any year but they are winning, consistently.
Did you know that Skinner is getting results from players considered mid-major-plus talents when they left high school, and that three of them are now averaging over 14 points-per-game?
BGT: So what does it all mean? Maybe that coaching does matter and maybe, as Scout.com recruiting analyst Dave Telep says, "they evaluate so well that they are able to identify diamonds in the rough."
O.K., you ask next, "how does this affect me, Truth? Just get to the point!"
Thought you'd never ask.
This is how the next CU basketball coach can supplement the better talent he will be expected to get, by evaluating players not being asked to prom, the ones that will work, will accept teaching and grow. This is also what football coach Dan Hawkins was noted for at some potato school out West and is now implementing in Boulder -- find clay to mold and then turn it into something great. Not all outstanding players come ready-made.
There's more than one way to skin a cat, you know?
Running the football in a different way
In another article in the Sporting News that was flashing red as I approached it, Tom Dienhart writes of West Virginia's spread offense and how the Mountaineers have used it on the field to go 47-16 in the last five years with four New Year's day bowl trips.
West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, one of the better offensive minds around, decided running out the spread was the way to go and look what he found.
"I liked the big splits in this offense and thought: Why not try to run out of this thing and do something that no one else is doing?"
BGT: The spread -- not just your passing offense. Get those defenders spaced out, making holes easier to create and then get your playmakers (gotta have playmakers) into space, where they can build up momentum before encountering the bad guys. Make one or two miss, turn on the jets, as quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton do for the Mountaineers, and you get a little something we like to call big plays.
Calling running back recruit P.T. Gates -- are you getting into school? Keep working those books. Fellow back Hugh Charles would also be dynamite in such an offense. So would quarterback Bernard Jackson but only if he is going to supplement his athletic gifts with some much needed classroom work. His cognitive skills need to catch up to his arm, legs and feet.
Side Roads
The next purported Kevin Durant is still a ways away from the college game -- Renardo Sidney, a California guy I've been hearing about for over a year. Big at 6-foot-9 and skilled as the Texas freshman currently casting a spell over the nation, the scouts are in love with Sidney.
But you have to wait to see him as he's only a sophomore in high school.
Maybe I'm immature (o.k., I am) but former Texas standout and Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams, a hedonist and flake if there ever was one, banned from the NFL for now because of his recreations, is living currently in Grass Valley, Calif. You supply the punch line.
Local Side Roads
The Denver Nuggets, a psychological head case, ripped Phoenix 131-107 on Saturday. Guard Allen Iverson put on an elite performance with 44 points and 15 rebounds. For all the talk of whether Iverson was a team player, The Answer has been just that. He has subjugated his game when necessary to win, only the Nuggets haven't done so much since his arrival. The problems on that team are not in the slightest on the one who everyone was waiting to blame.
Saw a note on former Denver Broncos' running back Clinton Portis the other day and it made me wonder -- does Portis regret forcing a trade to Washington? Did Bobby Humphrey feel the same after getting a ticket to Miami? Both got paid and Portis received a king's ransom from the Redskins but neither was the same player elsewhere that they were as a Bronco. Not even close.
Speaking of the local pro football team, here are some thoughts to chew on today. The deal for cornerback Dre' Bly with Detroit was partly done because the last time Denver needed a cornerback unexpectedly, it forced a pick on Cal's Deltha O'Neal, who had an up-and-down time with the coaches, before doing his better work in Cincinnati. Broncos' coach Mike Shanahan did not want to be forced into selecting anyone this time around. Next, remember the name Tyrone Moss come draft day. The squatty Miami Hurricanes' running back will get a lot of attention on day 2 of the talent flea market because of the success that another injured Cane -- Frank Gore -- has had in San Francisco. Couple that with the fact that Denver needs depth in the backfield and you could have a match.
The early prediction for the team's draft moves in round one, and this is subject to change, is a trade up for a defensive end, such as Clemson's Gaines Adams or Arkansas' Jamal Anderson. The addition of free agents Travis Henry (RB), Daniel Graham (TE) and Patrick Ramsey (QB) whittled the Broncos' offensive needs down to offensive linemen and maybe another wide receiver. Cal running back Marshawn Lynch is no longer a possibility.
Dayn Perry of FoxSports.com continues his countdown of the top 100 prospects in baseball and he keeps naming those in the Colorado Rockies' organization. His latest picks are catcher Chris Iannetta (#30) and shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (#26). It says here both players have the potential to be plus-talents.
No comments:
Post a Comment