I think CornNation is better than this post. Yes, I admit CU’s offense has been putrid, Cody Hawkins has been sub par and the Buffs’ former offensive coordinator left at a strange time. I have taken off my black and gold glasses off and will not argue that Hawkins is better than this post states or our offense is going to improve drastically because they probably aren’t but I can’t agree with pretty much anything this post states about the game of football.

First, Mark Helfrich’s offense, better said, his stay at Colorado was a “train wreck” so the departure is actually welcomed. He was not the right fit, coming to a breaking point last season when he implemented the spread with little evidence visible to support it. It’s not like Helfrich was leading top offenses – see the last three years. 2008 – 95th in total offense, 72nd in 2007 and 102nd in 2006. That is the “train wreck.” Not saying Kiesau will be any better but he can’t be any worse than what we experienced the past three seasons.

Yes, it is an awkward time to have a change at offensive coordinator but for the most part the scheme isn’t changing from spring since it was decided and well publicized before today that the Buffs would be going back to a more traditional pro-style offense. Kiesau has been here for all of Hawkins tenure and was much more involved in the offense this spring as he was promoted to assistant head coach before spring practices started. Moral of the story, it can’t get worse on offense.

Second, if people/this post thinks our offense is a better fit with the spread and not an offense that features our running backs and offensive line, well…I won’t finish. I would love to hear why CU’s offense will be more successful running the spread especially with the obvious great knowledge of our team. The spread needs multiple solid, consistent wide receivers and a quarterback who is preferably mobile. Yes, the spread can be run in many ways but you don’t exactly run the spread when your team’s strengths are running back and offensive line. The Buffs will only have six scholarship receivers on the roster, two of them true freshman…not exactly screaming spread worthy. CU has the chance to have 2 maybe three solid receivers this year but the strength on the outside is at the tight end position both in the passing game and running game which again leans toward using a pro-style offense(no our tight ends aren’t Jermaine Gresham, not made for the spread) Yeah, QB Hawkins is small and isn’t going to wow anybody at quarterback (we get it, we bow in Nebraska’s greatness) but the spread isn’t the right option. Using our offensive line’s size and speed is the right option. This posts’ statement “Cody Hawkins as a pocket passer? You have to be kidding me?” What kind of quarterback does this post want him to be? An option quarterback, Tim Tebow, Tommy Frazier? He isn’t mobile, he isn’t going to make plays with his feet. He is best suited to be in a timing-based, rhythm offense that uses progressions. Run first, pass second…get the ball out of Cody’s hands quickly and with timing.

Third, throw Lockridge out of your running back equation, he is a fourth option scat back that won’t carry the ball more than 8 times a game…that would be considered a situational back. I never knew until today that pro style offenses need 230 pound backs. This isn’t the power I, it is a pro-style offense…speed can be useful in this offense as well. Darrell Scott and Demetrius Sumler play like bigger backs and Stewart showed last year that he has the ability to be successful. A focus on the running game that puts our backs in the best position is the right way to go, not lined up 6 yards deep in the shotgun getting the ball at a stand still with Hawkins showing little threat to actually run the ball.

Love the blog but this post is, well…I like this blog (that’s me taking the high road).

for Colorado.

People tend to be overlooking the Buffs coming into this season, and I don’t think that’s quite right. I haven’t fully looked at schedules yet, but I believe they’ll be a much better team than most expect IF they can find a defensive line.

Their backs are good, and their line is good. I don’t think our Colorado counterpart would disagree with me in saying that the less plays Cody Hawkins is forced to make on his own, the better the Buffs will be.

As they come into 2009, the Buffs have a huge number of young players. They may not pick up the Big 12 North title in 2009, but they’ll darn sure mature as the season goes on, and they certainly won’t suffer the mountain of injuries they had last season… well, unless God really does hate the Buffaloes, but we’ll see what happens.

Anyway, we get them at the end of the year as both teams mature. It could fully work out that the game for the North is the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Colorado needs a little maturation still, but the talent and depth is there. While everyone admits that Cody Hawkins/Tyler Hansen will not overwhelm anyone with passing stats, Colorado certainly can be the best running team in the conference next year. Unless there is a freak occurrence-repeat of injuries that occurred in 2008, you will see Colorado absolutely demolish a handful of teams in 2009 via the run. If they are able to steal a game from Texas/Oklahoma State, the Nebraska game probably decides the North.

Kiesau is a very bright guy who will end up as a hot coaching prospect in a few years. To mock the change in offense, or to underestimate your incessant rivals from Boulder, is to “whistle past the graveyard” so to speak.