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Speedy set for big year

Buffnik

Real name isn't Nik
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Junta Member
http://www.timescall.com/sports-college/sportscollege-story.asp?ID=23010

New article today in the Longmont Times Call (welcome to Brian Howell, our new Buffs beat writer) on the film study and adjustments that Speedy has done with Hagan since last season.

Looking at film, they agreed that he left about 400 rushing yards on the field last year from over-running the blocking, making the wrong cut or read, or making too many cuts in the open field instead of running straight for daylight when he got a seam. Speedy's also gotten a lot stronger by putting in the work with Pitman. Expect a big year from him.

Here's a good section from the article:

Hagan pointed to one run in particular. It was late in the season against Texas A&M, and Stewart had busted through the line and into the clear.

“He starts zigzagging down the field,” Hagan said. “I almost ran to the Buffalo in the middle of the field to meet him. I’m like, ‘Just run! You run a 4.35 (seconds in the 40-yard dash), but you run a 4.8 running side to side. Run vertical and go score a touchdown.’”
 
Speedy runs a 4.35? I hope he's right, but I always thought he was a great stop on a dime, change direction guy, moreso than an out-run you in the open field type guy. I hope Speedy stays healthy and has a great year, lot's of unproven guys behind him so we need him to have a big year.
 
Speedy has a great first 3 gears, but he is missing that 4th gear. Plus, that 40 time in bull****. No offense to speedy. I do hope he puts up 1200+ this year. In fact, he almost needs to in order for this offense to work.
 
It is easy to anylize on film what could have been done better. But when the ball is snapped, instinct takes over. Now, I'm sure they will also be working on those things in practice, so maybe his instincts will be "altered" in practice.
 
I'm projecting speedy to have 6 games with over 100 yards rushing, over 1,000 on the season, and 12 TD's.

The key factors are 1) staying healthy, and 2) not falling a few scores behind the opponent early in the game. 3) A legitimate deep threat at WR.

The blocking should be there. And maybe these WR's will live up to the hype.
 
I wish he would run like JaQuizz or whatever the hell his name is. That dude is little but he gets downhill. They are almost identical size wise too. Ill put more stock into 40 times when they wear pads doing it. Speedy dont have breakaway speed but him being so quick will get him an extra step or two making one cut and getting downhill. We gotta get a consistent oline before that happens. Also, having a deep threat will help. If we could get from 150 to 180 on the ground a game, Id be a happy man. I mean that number after sacks btw.
 
I don't see him getting much past 800 yards this (or any) season. He does leave alot of yards on the field (I recall a couple of missed big gainers against West VA and Okie State), but he's also not a 20 carry a game guy (durability). I want to see a 'herd' backfield with one of the young, bigger backs stepping up to provide a change of pace to Speedy/Lockridge.
 
It is easy to anylize on film what could have been done better. But when the ball is snapped, instinct takes over. Now, I'm sure they will also be working on those things in practice, so maybe his instincts will be "altered" in practice.
I think his instincts took over because he had hardly any running lanes. If thats the case, kinda like boxing. Meaning, everybody has a gameplan until u get smacked in the mouth. If we get consistent oline play, Speedy will produce.
 
it would be nice if there was a nice hole and Speedy could get to the second level and then try to make people miss. Instead of dodge 4 people in the backfield and work your way back to the line of scrimmage.
 
I think his instincts took over because he had hardly any running lanes. If thats the case, kinda like boxing. Meaning, everybody has a gameplan until u get smacked in the mouth. If we get consistent oline play, Speedy will produce.

I completely agree with what you wrote. If he gets some decent run blocking he should produce. He's had to make something out of nothing too much in his career.
 
The biggest problem, to me, is who is gonna play up front. Looks like Solder, Miller, and Stevens so far. Best 5 need to go and stay going all year unless they get hurt. I get mixing and matching, oline is not where u wanna do that. Figure the best 5 and get them as many reps as you can. It all ends and begins up front and I dont care what kind of offense u run. Giants beat the Patriots because their dline dominated for the most part.
 
I don't see him getting much past 800 yards this (or any) season. He does leave alot of yards on the field (I recall a couple of missed big gainers against West VA and Okie State), but he's also not a 20 carry a game guy (durability). I want to see a 'herd' backfield with one of the young, bigger backs stepping up to provide a change of pace to Speedy/Lockridge.

You could be right. Based on prior years trend, you have good reason to project an other 800 or below season.

Here's why I'm bullish on Speedy in 2010.
1) No Sumler & no Darrell Scott this year. The controversy is over. It's his backfield to lose. He's a 3rd year starter under Hagan. Hagan did okay coaching up Hugh Charles. Speedy is going to respond to Hagan's coaching of technical skills, like Charles did.
2) More experienced O-line and continuity under Denver Johnson. This is the best front of the Hawkins era.
3) With coach Prince working what looks to be the best WR squad of the Hawkins era, fewer teams can afford to stack the box. This should help give Speedy some more daylight.
4) This offense under Hansen should do better than 21 points a game. That will allow CU to have more running plays. CU has not been in a position to milk the clock except for Wyoming. I'm expecting that CU will have more than one or two games where they'll be in a close game and have a balanced attack late into the game or have a good lead and use speedy to run some time off the clock.
 
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He gets 800 when we play like ass up front, give him some push, he might rack up some yards. Football is an inside out game. All so called skill positions dont work unless we get some time.
 
I agree with this. Speedy is best when he's dodging people like a pinball. He is not fast enough to run away from the secondary. His steps are too choppy. Just look at his career long rush... like 36 yards or so. That is almost hard to believe considering his high number of carries. Even big backs tend to rip off a long rumble every once in awhile.

I hope he's right, but I always thought he was a great stop on a dime, change direction guy, moreso than an out-run you in the open field type guy.
 
I agree with this. Speedy is best when he's dodging people like a pinball. He is not fast enough to run away from the secondary. His steps are too choppy. Just look at his career long rush... like 36 yards or so. That is almost hard to believe considering his high number of carries. Even big backs tend to rip off a long rumble every once in awhile.

That's very true... Thinking back to B-Lock's kick return against WVU, you could really see that last gear kick in and him pull away from people, but he doesn't have the lateral quickness speedy does.
 
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