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Why I think the 2012 Buffs will be better.

BlackNGold

Club Member
Entering this season I really believe this team is going to be better - and very noticeable better. My reasoning is that we have a staff of very good FB coaches who know how to coach up players. Last year they had to focus a lot of energy on changing the culture and the cultural shift should be about 80% complete and now can focus on getting a better team performance out of this group of players. I am hoping to see the start of a killer instinct.

A quick rundown.

QB - I think we will be better here. The floor is Webb - he looks to be as good as TH was last year and with some good coaching and NO running for his life he could be very solid. If Wood or Hirshmann beat out Webb then it means we really are better.

RB - We are a little down here but not by much. Speedy was a great asset and a warrior but he was not an all=american. Will be interested to see Jones in Action. We need to average over 4 yards per attempt - hopefully closer to 5 ypa. Last years average was impacted by so many yards lost (sacks). Josh Ford showed well against Utah last year.

OL - They will be Better. The OL has had a fair amount of talent over the past several years but has not played that well as a unit. I think that changes this year. The OLINE requires more unit coordination than almost any other area. The overall talent may not be better but play as a unit will be much improved. Hopefully Harris and Munyer will be healthy.

TE - This area has to be better. Last year was a disappointment at TE. I expect that Kasa is going to be much better and will end up playing at the next level.

WR - this is an area the Buffs could be hurting in especially with Richardson injured. On the plus side, WR is a position that a true frosh can come in and contribute very early compared to other positons. Really need some people to step up. Thomas looks like he could be playing as a true Frosh. It would be nice if Dardan and or McCullogh can step forward. Nelson Spruce needs to live up to his billing...anyway this is the biggest area of concern on the offense.

PK - Will Oliver had a decent season as a PK but we did not have many FG opportunities.

Offensive coaching - I thought EB called some pretty good games late in the season especially with what CU had to work with for offensive weapons. I think this year he will be even better.

Overall offense - The keys are improved 3rd down efficiency -CU was horrible in this area which means that you have few scoring opportunities, better QB play and a good enough running game to keep the other team honest. CU has to be scoring around 27 to 28 points a game this year. This is a tall order but I believe they will do it.

Defense.

DLine - About the same - They will be more talented but some of that talent is going to be inexperienced. I think this unit is going to be very solid.

Linebackers - I am a little concerned with depth. I think overall this unit is going to be a lot better especially is Jon Major can avoid injury and Rippy is fully recovered. Major, Rippy, Webb, Daigh give this unit a solid core.

CBs - This unit is definitely going to be better. I am anxious to see who emerges out of this group. Definitely one of the true Frosh is going to see a lot of playing time. Henderson should be entrenched as solid player now that he has a year under his belt. Depth is definitely improved here. I would really like to see Moten step up. He has the ability.

Safeties - this area will be improved if for no other reason they will not have to worry about the CBs so much. Polk is ready for a big season...I think he is going to have one. Orms will play at Safety and Nickel.

P - O’Neill was okay but I am not a fan of the Rugby style kick. Need to get a few more booming kicks. But I do believe we will be improved.

Defensive coaching - With youth in the DL and CBs the coaches will be challenged to teach. But it cannot be as bad as last year when offensive players were being thrown into the fray on defense. I have a lot of confidence in coach Brown - I thought he did well with the hand he was dealt. It is hard to have a defensive game plan when your CBs don't know how to play zone coverage.

Overall defense - this unit has to improve. CU was at the bottom of turnover margin last year and forced very few fumbles. I expect that to change. Beef up the 3rd down defense and maybe they can get off the field more.

Special teams - I have always believed the success of special teams comes down in emphasis and "want to". I hope the coaches are emphasizing special teams play and developing an attitude with the players. As an example of "want to" - CU had one blocked Extra point in the Hawkins era.

Team overall - last years problems were a team effort - the offense could not convert on third down on put the defense on the field too much. The defense did not stop the opposing team enough and did not force turnovers. Special teams did not win the field position game. Improvement in all three areas could result in great improvement overall.

Schedule - one of the biggest reasons for some improvement - this schedule is much better than the 13 gamer last year with a trip to the Islands (tough place to play after traveling for a full day), OSU in Columbus, no bye week. This year we have to go 3-0 in OOC and also win at least 3 road games. Add to that the number of teams we play with new coaches - that has to be a plus for CU.

I know I am optimistic but that is what this time of year is for. We are undefeated so far this year so why not be optimistic. I have been waffling between 6 and 7 wins. I believe this team is going to just play better - not more talent but just a less of mentality that has haunted it for the past several years. In 2009 and 2010 you could just feel the team let down. I don't think that will be the case in 2012. So I am going with 7.
 
here is why I think they will be better:

Beer.jpg
 
OL - we've thought this would dvelop into our greatest strength for two seasons, now going on three....I guess eventually we have to be right
 
Good write up there...anyone remember PRich making some plays his freshman year? Good point about the new WRs being able to contribute right away since it's the easiest position to do so.

This really feels like a season where CU will be better than what the naysayers have said for months. Just a feeling you know?
 
We need to be vastly improved in the trenches. The O-line in particular was awful for much of last year. I like Tony Jones a lot, but the O-line needs to give him holes to work with.

I agree that WR is a big question mark. I hope Gerald Thomas can make an immediate impact.

I expect Woodson Greer to make an impact at LB. He showed flashes in limited minutes last year.
 
OL - we've thought this would dvelop into our greatest strength for two seasons, now going on three....I guess eventually we have to be right

One thing which will make the OL better is the number and quality of the DL recruits and the emergence of better play from Pericak and Bonsu. You can't expect good OL development if there is no challenge in practice. Nobody had to move a mean and aggressive 325 lb. Tupou last year.

Back in the day of no schollie limits, it was said teams like the "dirt thieves"(OU) and the Whorns played their toughest competition during the week, so Saturday's opponent was a breeze. May the Buffs' OL have that same benefit!

Same thing with the WRs and DBs. The WRs should be better from going against actual quality DBs on a daily basis, as opposed to lining up against some converted 5'6" wide-out!
 
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Offense: The only position I expect to be better is the TE. Everything else is a "?"
Defense: Every position will be better - healthier and more talented
Special Teams: Improvement in all aspects.
Coaching: better with a year of experience
Schedule: easier

Not expecting a lot, but I do expect improvement in most, if not all, statistical categories. Major stats needing improvement: penalties, turnover ratio, running YPG.
 
I think we will be better because we can't be much worse

Sadly, this is probably the best answer.

:yeahthat:

yep, but not by much

Agreed. If we can avoid the injury bug and catch a break or two, we could be a 6-7 win team without being significantly better than last year. If we get hit with multiple injuries to starters, exposing our lack of depth, ugggh, it will be bad!
 
I appreciate your hopeful attitudes, but this is the same old pre-season Kool-Aide. Even the 3-10 team had better players. Look at the key losses: Ryan Miller, Tony Clemons, Paul Richardson, Rodney Stewart, Josh Hartigan, Tyler Hansen, Conrad Obi, Ryan Deehan, Anthony Perkins, Curtis Cunningham. Most of those guys made it into an NFL camp. You replace a guy in an NFL camp with a guy who was in high school three months ago, and you don't get better. It doesn't matter how much the local media hypes the team. This time last year, Jon Embree was comparing Tyler Mcullough to Ed McCaffrey. He said Conrad Obi would dominate. Everybody on AllBuffs was predicting 6-8 wins.
 
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Local media pimping CU? :rofl:

You get better when those players who were in high school are replacing a senior TB, a freshman TB, and a walk on WR trying to guard Robert Woods or Marquis Lee. Conrad Obi, while he got into a camp, he didn't exactly put up impressive numbers. Toney Clemons didn't come on until the end of the year and at the start he was very pedistrian, and it's the same with PRich except he started out good then got injured. Hartigan was a loss. Ryan Deehan was a massive bust. Miller was consistent but never lived up to his 5* billing. Hansen improved but couldn't throw a deep ball worth a damn consistently.

Paul Richardson will play early on as well.
 
I appreciate your hopeful attitudes, but this is the same old pre-season Kool-Aide. Even the 3-10 team had better players. Look at the key losses: Ryan Miller, Tony Clemons, Paul Richardson, Rodney Stewart, Josh Hartigan, Tyler Hansen, Conrad Obi, Ryan Deehan, Anthony Perkins, Curtis Cunningham. Most of those guys made it into an NFL camp. You replace a guy in an NFL camp with a guy who was in high school three months ago, and you don't get better. It doesn't matter how much the local media hypes the team. This time last year, Jon Embree was comparing Tyler Mcullough to Ed McCaffrey. He said Conrad Obi would dominate. Everybody on AllBuffs was predicting 6-8 wins.

At least those new freshmen will not be playing the meatgrinder schedule of last season. CSU, Sac State, and Frenso State...very winnable games and good exprience for the frosh players.
 
I appreciate your hopeful attitudes, but this is the same old pre-season Kool-Aide. Even the 3-10 team had better players. Look at the key losses: Ryan Miller, Tony Clemons, Paul Richardson, Rodney Stewart, Josh Hartigan, Tyler Hansen, Conrad Obi, Ryan Deehan, Anthony Perkins, Curtis Cunningham. Most of those guys made it into an NFL camp. You replace a guy in an NFL camp with a guy who was in high school three months ago, and you don't get better. It doesn't matter how much the local media hypes the team. This time last year, Jon Embree was comparing Tyler Mcullough to Ed McCaffrey. He said Conrad Obi would dominate. Everybody on AllBuffs was predicting 6-8 wins.

Fair opinion even if I think it's too harsh. I believe we'll make significant strides this year.

Do you see a breakthrough in 2013 when we'll probably have 18 or 19 starters return (plus all specialists)?
 
Fair opinion even if I think it's too harsh. I believe we'll make significant strides this year.

Do you see a breakthrough in 2013 when we'll probably have 18 or 19 starters return (plus all specialists)?
Who won't we return in 2013 that is going to see serious playing time in 2012? Rippy, Polk, Pericak, and maybe Dannewitz? That's going to be a great season.
 
When I watch practice footage on the web, the guys don't really pass the eyeball test for this level of football. Lots of weird, awkward bodies. The practices don't look right. Also, having a panty sniffer like Mike Bohn prancing around the locker room is a major liability. CU football will return to glory when the alums put an end to amateur hour in the administration. Benson, DiStefano, and Bohn could not even get jobs as bathroom attendants in Silicon Valley.
 
When I watch practice footage on the web, the guys don't really pass the eyeball test for this level of football. Lots of weird, awkward bodies. The practices look completely wrong. Also, having a panty sniffer like Mike Bohn prancing around the locker room is a major liability. CU football will return to glory when the alums put an end to amateur hour in the administration. Benson, DiStefano, and Bohn could not even get jobs as bathroom attendants in Silicon Valley.

While I feel like you're trolling, I will say that I can't agree about the practice observations. They look much better to me based on the limited video. The physicality seems improved.
 
When I watch practice footage on the web, the guys don't really pass the eyeball test for this level of football. Lots of weird, awkward bodies. The practices don't look right. Also, having a panty sniffer like Mike Bohn prancing around the locker room is a major liability. CU football will return to glory when the alums put an end to amateur hour in the administration. Benson, DiStefano, and Bohn could not even get jobs as bathroom attendants in Silicon Valley.

You have an amazingly perceptive eye for watching what amounts to an MTV video. I'm not saying we will be beasts this year (would be delighted to squeak in to a bowl game), but you are setting the bar way too low, IMO.
 
When I watch practice footage on the web, the guys don't really pass the eyeball test for this level of football. Lots of weird, awkward bodies. The practices don't look right. Also, having a panty sniffer like Mike Bohn prancing around the locker room is a major liability. CU football will return to glory when the alums put an end to amateur hour in the administration. Benson, DiStefano, and Bohn could not even get jobs as bathroom attendants in Silicon Valley.
:rolling_eyes:

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Please tell us how those are weird, awkward bodies that don't pass the eye ball test.
 
Well, I personally feel that Mike Bohn and Jon Embree have a false sense of who they are. Put in Mark Wetmore or Chauncey Billups as the AD.
 
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