Ping: TroyF

[Chief Rum]

Hey, i wanted to get your thoughts on CU football next year. I would have posted this in the College Football forum, but I didn't know if you would look.

BRO (Bruin Report Online) is doing a team-by-team feature, looking at our nonconference opponents next year. The writer they got to do it posted his assessment--here it is:

http://ucla.theinsiders.com/2/116783.html

Then some guy who claims to be a writer covering CU football (I don't know if he is, but I have no reason to doubt him), came up with this response in BRO's free forums...

http://insiders7.ezboard.com/fbroreadersfrm2.showMessage?topicID=15563.topic

I was just wondering where you felt the truth of it lies. I think the BRO writer was overstating some of CU's deficiencies, and I think it will be a very tough game in Boulder, but this guy propping CU seems a bit like a flamer. :) So I'm not sure if I can buy his act either.

Chief Rum

[Chief Rum]

bump

[TroyF]

Sorry Chief, never saw this one. :)

OK, first my take on the UCLA article:

"There are major question marks at QB, OL and the kicking game.

I laughed out loud at the kicking game one and QB lines. There is no possible way either could be worse than last year. Hodge was horrible outside of two games (weren't you lucky enough to be involved in one of em?) Our kicking game was horrible. Even if they are terrible this year, it'll be considered an upgrade. OL does have MAJOR questions.

In general, the D dominated the O in almost every practice during spring, which is not a pattern coaches like; they prefer to see the two sides alternate good days/bad days over the course of spring ball.

This isn't shocking at all. Two of the projected starting OL didn't play in the spring. (recovering from injuries) 2 QB's who have 0 college snaps between them ran the offense and Purify was banged up for most of the spring. On the other side, there has been a ton of talent and speed brought into the D the past couple of years. The D should have been light years ahead of the offense and it was.

The race for QB is between Joel Klatt (SO), Eric Greenberg (SO) and James Cox (RS FR). As BuffsInsider is quick to note, "At this point last season, Klatt was playing minor-league baseball and Cox was still in high school. Thanks a lot Craig Ochs."

The race for QB won't be decided until fall. Freshman Bernard Jackson will compete for the starting spot right off the bat. My guess is Klatt wins it.

The Buffs don't have Pac-10 caliber WRs, but one TE to keep an ear open about is Joe Klopfenstein, 6-5, 240, good speed, great hands. He's an especially favorite target of Greenberg. He could be murder on bootleg action...

Klop will be a good player. I'd be careful abou the Pac-10 calibur WR statement though. McCoy is a good possession WR. Hackett is a great player who should have a big year. There are 3 WR who were ranked 4star and above by Rivals last year who will be SO this year and another couple of good ones brought in this year. (Mackey who had offers from Arizona State and Oregan, Littlehoffs who had an offer from Florida are the most noteable ones from last year, Stephon Robinson who had an offer from Oregan this year)

The kicking game last year was a debacle: CU only made 11 of 26 FG attempts. Yikes. I sense the typical Buff fan hairdo last year was a mullet with two round bald spots just above the ears. Kinda an inverse Bozo the Clown look

Exactly. How can this get worse?

The Buffs have a large but relatively unheralded recruiting class coming in. The biggest name is probably Dominique Brooks, S from TX, 6-2, 200, 4.4 40. There doesn't appear to be many if any high-impact players that could alter the equation.

I'd guess that 5-6 of the freshmen will see time on the field right away. (mainly DB's, where we play 5 and we had a terrific class) The two JUCO linemen will see action early. How good are they? Your guess is as good as mine.

There will also be quite a few SO. that I doubt this writer is aware of playing a ton of time next year. A couple to keep your eye on beyond the WR are Lawrence Vickers (FB), Thadeus Washington (LB), JJ Billingsly (DB), Sammy Joeseph (CB), and Brian Iwuh (S)

TroyF

[TroyF]

Now for the CU guy: (I can tell you right now I don't like the guy, whoever he is)

The part he wrote on the recruits is mostly spot on. CU had a pretty good class last year. They grabbed many 3 star players who look like they should have been rated higher. (This is just personal opinion, mind you)

Funny thing is, we had injuries on the line last year that created that problem. 2 guys who played in that game against you, Drew Shader and Karl Allis, were victims of that injury bug. They'll be back and in uniform com September.

He's right on one thing. CU did have a ton of OL injuries when we played you. There should be 3 guys who played a lot in the game last year who'll be back. He's off base in his confidence though, because the two losses were HUGE. The OLine will be a major concern, especially early in the season.

It wasn't your AVERAGE spring where the QBs are barely touched and thus put up gaudy statistics. Out of all of that, Klatt emerged from the spring with a 64% completion rating, no interceptions, 7 TD passes, and NO SACKS.

Mostly accurate. This wasn't an average spring for the offense. The CU coaches wanted a more aggressive defense and put the young QB's through hell. Klatt played well for the most part. Still, I'm not ready to put him in the college hall of fame quite yet. I'm just hoping for someone who can get the ball downfield a bit better.

His WR analysis is right on as well. Bloom will be back and is a huge weapon in the return game. He put on some muscle and should be better from the slot this year. (talk about a mismatch if he catches a short crossing route on an LB)

-------------------------------------------------

Still, I don't have his confidence of a pounding of UCLA. I do think CU should win the game. The defense will be better and we will know more about the offense from the CSU game. If CU gets ANYTHING out of the QB position, the other weapons on offense are there. (as noted, the OLine will take a few weeks to gel, there isn't any doubt about that)

CU will be putting a lot of energy into the CSU game this year. They do not want another defeat at the hands of the Rams. Will getting up so high for CSU cause a letdown?

I'm just hoping CU gets out of the non-conference schedule at 2-2 this year. (Wash St, UCLA, CSU and at Florida State) Anything more than that is gravy.

TroyF