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After one week of spring practices, where do you stand?

Duff Man

Club Member
Club Member
Junta Member
More optimistic, same optimism level, or less optimistic?

Put me down for the same. Did not think this team was going to be very good going into spring practices and nothing about the QB/OL situations is swaying me in a positive direction.
 
I don't see that much has happened to change anyone's opinion one way or the other. For as long as I've been following this stuff, it seems like it is almost impossible to project how a team is going to do during the season based on anything you hear or see in the spring.
 
Less, I really didn't think Hawk would have the cajones to try to get Cody back into the mix after having to put him on the bench for a second consecutive season. I do like what I've heard about Orms, Major, Rippy, Webb, Olatoye, Clemons, and Thornton, but I just can't shake the thought of Cody leading us again next season.
 
I feel better about the secondary with the reports of Orms stepping up. I feel better about the TE's with the reports of Thornton being a beast and Clark Evans transition going great.

I am concerned about the passing game with Hawkins/Hansen still splitting time and McKnight's injury; but am willing to be patient since we have a new passing game coordinator.

Very concerned about the running game, and feel that we will be relying on one of the incoming freshman to be an impact player for us to help Speedy/Lockridge.

Status quo on the OL since the reports are hard to gauge as to their progress.

Overall, put me down for "Same Optimism Level" and the final part of Spring Practice and the Spring Game could push that downward, but probably not upward due to my skepticism of Hawk.
 
I'm feeling good about the team, and I actually like that the general expectations are lower and that CU is flying under the radar in the Big 12 North predictions going on. There really is a ton of talent on the team, I like the coaching staff better than I did this time a year ago (not saying much), and I like the general attitude of the team - they are already meaner than they were at any point last season. Holding my breath for any bad news to come, I think we really need Cordary Clark to qualify.
 
What I read here from those who have attended and reported on spring practices (including myself) gives me a keener sense of optimism and a certain degree of hope over anything Talkins has ever said. Which hasn't been much latley, that way I won't be near as dissapointed if the wheels fall off again in 2010. I will always hope for the best for my Buffs while accepting the fact that, it is what it is.
 
About where I was. Heard some good, heard some bad, haven't been hit with something truly ugly.
 
About the same, however when Hawk opens his pie hole it causes me great DBT-like upsetness.
 
I am going to keep my expectations super low this year and hope to be pleasantly surprised.
 
I am going to keep my expectations super low this year and hope to be pleasantly surprised.

The old "hope for the best, expect the worst" philosophy. I'm more of an "expect the best" kind of guy.
 
They're still ****ty.
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:
major league rep coming!!!
cinema.majorleague.groundskeepers.jpg
 
Until proven otherwise I am assuming Hawk is a loser and does not know how to coach a big time program in a big time conference. I could not feel any worse about this team or the direction of the program in general
 
home schedule sets up for at least 4 wins (maybe 5). beat CSU and squeeze out a road win (i know)....and maybe 6 overall and a week before Christmas bowl. that's my sober but "optimistic" outlook.

while last year's home schedule set up to win the North (were already dead in the water so it didn't matter), this year's sets up for numbers in the win column. they are all winnable, and most should be W's no question.

not optimistic: 4-7
 
More optimistic on Defense. I worried about the loss of Greg Brown, but seems like Ambrose and the defensive unit are stepping up. Love what I'm hearing about the DBs and the LBs.

Less optimistic on Offense. Unsettled QB situation, complete lack of a consistent running game, OL growing pains, McKnight's injury, and Simas maybe/maybe not missing games for his DUI.
 
How I feel so far:
COACHES = unchanged optimism as a whole
Head Coach is the same = less optimistic
WR Coach / Passing Game Coordinator is new = More optimistic! The fact he has NFL experience, is an actual WR coach, isn’t trying to also be the head coach and know what he is doing is great. Plus he has more talent to work with than we have had in 3 years!
RB Coach is the same = unchanged optimism
TE Coach is the same = unchanged optimism
OL Coach / running game coordinator is the same = still trying to figure this one out. Our o-line has so much talent but performed so poorly last year I am sort of wait and see.
Offensive Coordinator / QB Coach is the same = more optimistic as long as he had a good learning experience from all his mistakes last year. If he repeats his play calling style from last year then god help us (He seemed to force the run early, and abandon it once the team was behind. I am looking for better overall play calling this year) Also, if he is designing an offense more for TH than I will grow much more optimistic.
Special Teams Coach is the same = lack of optimism is almost comical. I expect Cody to take over kick return duties at some point this year
D-line Coach is the same = unchanged optimism
LB Coach is the same = more optimism the longer Cabrel is here!
DB Coach is new = unchanged optimism. I thought Greg Brown did great and I think Ambrose can carry on that level of coaching
Defensive Coordinator is the same = unchanged optimism
DEFENSE = More optimistic as a unit
D-Line = more optimistic. After graduation 0 players, gaining experience/size/strength I think the unit will improve over 2009 easily. If we have all healthy players (Bonsu back and Kasa for a whole year) they could be a true strength for the defense
LB = more optimistic. Even though we graduated 3 seniors (2 starters) I feel they are being replaced by more talent guys. The other thing I like is the guys that are replacing them aren’t rs freshmen or true freshmen. They have been with Cabrel for a couple years which will help.
DB = more optimistic. I thought we might decline a little here with the loss of Burney, Cha’p, & Greg Brown, but I like the reports coming out about the unit so far. I think we got lucky having Ambrose on the staff to fill the DB coaching spot so easily, and I like the competition occurring at the positions.
OFFENSE = Unchanged optimism as a unit
RB = unchanged optimism. We are still relying on Speedy, have little depth, and lack a short yardage back (which hasn’t changed in over a year).
WR = more optimistic. With Simas off suspension, Prince as the full time WR coach (who knows what he is doing) and Clemmons turning heads things seem like they are getting better. I would like to hear more good things about Simmons, Cleistine, & Darden, and I we need Scotty’s leg to heal, but as a group I am becoming more optimistic.
TE = more optimistic. I thought we would definitely have a drop in TE play from 09 to 10, and I had no idea how Evans would do at TE. So far the TE’s seem to be doing quite well.
OL = slightly less optimistic. Last year I was really high on our o-line (as most Buff fans were) and they ended up being a big let down. As long as they keep jumping off-sides, holding, and giving up sacks they could be a burden on the offense. I like the fact there is a lot of competition, and with Miller out (as long as he is healthy by July) more guys will be getting chances in the interior. Last year they switched people around in order to have the best players on the field, this year I want to see the best unit on the field regardless of talent/star ranking.
QB = one big f***ing ?! Cody is a practice all-star. We all know that. Without a pass rush, or chance of contact, he knows where the receivers are going to be and can get them the ball. It looks good to coaches, but doesn’t transfer over to game day results (as he develops happy feet and throws duck off his back foot). Tyler is a game day QB. He does everything he can to win. If Tyler can show he is better in practice than Cody by hitting the receivers in stride on pass plays, and having good communication with the WR, he has a great chance of having that translate into wins on the field. If he is unable to do that in practice, and makes it look like Cody and he are neck & neck, then we might be in for more erratic play from the QB spot this year.
OVERALL FELLING = More Optimistic (but that is probably due to the fact I am a natural optimist)
 
My how we have fallen. It didnt use to be whether we could squeeze by CSU. It was how much were we gonna **** them up by.
 
A few springs ago (or was it a fall scrimmage?), we had Espy running wild with short passes and big YAC. Boy, that didn't translate. Since our guys are playing against our guys, put me down for unchanged until I see them play CSU.

Here's what I noticed that makes me optimistic:
Depth at most positions, pushing guys who have started in the past.
Young guys we haven't seen much (or at all) before stepping up as playmakers. (Orms, Evans, Cefalo, WillJeff, Major, Kasa, Webb, Harris, Rippy, West, Olatyoye....)
Grossnickle is the new FG kicker (4 for 4 including a nice adjustment on a muffed hold). He also showed some really nice hang time, but inconsistencies. Still, a major upgrade already. This is huge.

So - optimistic on the "individual stuff".

The offense looked horrible, but maybe that's on the Defense? Maybe 2 or 3 practices in pads since November isn't enough? Maybe our O-line hasn't improved?

Maybe it's unfair to judge the offense this early as it takes precise coordination and timing?

If Hawkins doesn't see it coming together on the O-Line by the spring game, he MUST fire DJ there and then. Really. It all starts and ends there. The fact they grabbed a JC guy tells me they felt they needed a talent upgrade. We've got about 10 Junior O-Linemen and we add another? This O-Line should be damn good by now. Does anyone remember the 2008 opener vs. CSU? Our Oline controlled that game with 2 true freshmen at guard, and Solder (stickman) starting his first game at Tackle. On paper, we are twice as good. Miller is 2 years older. Solder has 2 seasons behind him now. MTM was a freshmen starter then and could be a force if healthy by fall. A bunch of other guys that have had some time to prove themselves. Jack Harris looks way ready to play to me. Any way you look at it, we have about 13 guys this Spring competing when we had 4 the spring of '07 and we had about the same with some freshmen bumping into each other in '08. IF DJ can't have them mauling by the spring game, he will never.

I am willing to chalk it up to the "every team in the country's offense is behind the defense at this point". But this is not a long leash.

I will withhold my vote until we see the O-Line production later this spring. Nothing else really matters imo. We will go as the O-Line goes. And let's hope it's too early to tell!

P.S. Wil Pericek has become the beast of the D-Line. He absolutely was on fire by year end and I think he is going to surprise some folks. The guy still moves like he did as a Boulder LB, but he is HUGE and MEAN.
 
CSU had one legit win after the beat us last year. They were handed a home victory against Weber State. I was there. Weber State fumbled on like the 10 yard line as they were lining up the winning field goal in the final minute. They were moving the ball to a better position to make it a straighter kick.

They beat Nevada at home.

They then lost 8 straight and looked increasingly worst as the season went on.

They peaked in week 1. Their coaching is nothing to write home about.
 
I have slightly more optimism based on the fact that I *think* our special teams will be better this year. Grossnickle is going to help a lot. Better punts, fewer missed field goals, better kickoffs all translate to better field position and more scoring chances. That's good.

I'm of the opinion that the kicker is probably the most underrated player on the team. A solid kicker can do so much for a team. He gives a team options that it wouldn't have if it's kicker is not very good. You don't have to go for it on the opponent's 35 yard line anymore. You can line up a FG attempt, make it, and then pin the opponent back on the 20 or inside the 20. That's a HUGE part of the game that we've been missing since Crosby left.
 
If Hawkins doesn't see it coming together on the O-Line by the spring game, he MUST fire DJ there and then. Really. It all starts and ends there. The fact they grabbed a JC guy tells me they felt they needed a talent upgrade. We've got about 10 Junior O-Linemen and we add another? This O-Line should be damn good by now. Does anyone remember the 2008 opener vs. CSU? Our Oline controlled that game with 2 true freshmen at guard, and Solder (stickman) starting his first game at Tackle. On paper, we are twice as good. Miller is 2 years older. Solder has 2 seasons behind him now. MTM was a freshmen starter then and could be a force if healthy by fall. A bunch of other guys that have had some time to prove themselves. Jack Harris looks way ready to play to me. Any way you look at it, we have about 13 guys this Spring competing when we had 4 the spring of '07 and we had about the same with some freshmen bumping into each other in '08. IF DJ can't have them mauling by the spring game, he will never.

The only way firing DJ after the Spring game is at all possible is if Bedell gets the job. Otherwise, you might as well write off the entire season because we are going to be talking about transfers and the like IMO. As poorly as the OL has played over the last few years, we cannot keep changing coaches every other year.

I do agree DJ deserves to feel a lot of heat right now.
 
Less optimistic. With Cody getting the majority of reps in the first scrimmage, it only reinforces my belief that Hawk is sticking with his flawed approach and isn't committed to changing for the better.
 
I feel less optimistic if cody is starting. I think we have good wr's and we SHOULD have a good OL and DL. Very concerned at qb and questions at rb as far as depth and also depth at the cb and safety positions.

The thing that trumps everything is hawk, I have no faith that he'll make the right decisions and play the right people. His "soft" approach has become a disease to this team. We need to have this team be pissed when they lose,especially at home to csu, not ho-hum it and act like 3 plays will automatically show up next week.

Theres always hope that things "pop", but we'll know soon enough where this team and hawk are headed.
 
Same

Don´t give 2 ****s about practice where according to the coaching even a one legged crimp could look like a world beater.

The only chance this team and coaching staff has with me if it wins come September.
 
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