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The Bite Size Rise
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The theme for the 2016 season at Colorado was “The Rise”.
For 2017, one of the themes has been “Never Stop Rising”.
With a 41-21 victory over Northern Colorado, the Buffs moved their 2017 record to 3-0. It’s the best start for CU since 2008, and only the third 3-0 start to a season for CU in the 21st century.
Yet, with each game, the CU coaching staff and players find themselves spending more time explaining than celebrating. The Rise is continuing, but not at a pace which is satisfying to many of the Buff faithful.
Call it … The Bite Size Rise.
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Very often, how well Colorado plays in its opener sets the tone for the year.
In 78 seasons CU has won its first game of the season, the Buffs have gone on to post winning records 61 times (78.2%). In 44 seasons CU has lost its first game, the Buffs have gone on to post winning records only 19 times (43.2%).
In 2016, the opening game of CU’s season truly set the tone for the 2016 campaign.
The Buffs demolished Colorado State last Labor Day weekend, racing out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, never looking back in a 44-7 rout. The Buffs went on to post a worst-to-first, ten-win, Pac-12 South championship season.
This fall, the opening game of CU’s season may have also set the tone for its campaign.
Colorado defeated Colorado State, 17-3, but was criticized for the victory. The Buffs held a Ram offense which had put up 58 points against Oregon State the week before (and was averaging over 40 points per game over its past eight games) to a single field goal. Yet the post-game celebration was muted by criticism of the officials, who flagged the Rams for three offensive pass interference penalties.
In Game Two, the Buffs put away Texas State, 37-3, but was only ahead, 14-0, at halftime, with one of CU’s two touchdowns coming by way of a fluke fumble/punt return for a touchdown by wide receiver Laviska Shenault.
The Buffs won by 34 points, but again were relegated in the post-game interviews to explaining why the offense hadn’t performed better.
Against the Northern Colorado Bears in the final non-conference tune-up, the Buffs allowed the Bears to score on their first possession of the game, then again on the first possession of the second half to pull within a touchdown, at 28-21. The Buffs finally pulled away for a 41-21 win, but again, the Buff coaches and players were left to rationalize and explain.
“We need to improve everywhere”, said CU head coach Mike MacIntyre in his post-game press conference. “You always want to clean everything up. In sports, nothing goes perfectly very often. You have to learn how to adapt and how to handle adversity and handle situations and keep playing”.
Sound like a coach who just posted the first 3-0 start of his 28-year career as a coach, college or pro?
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It wasn’t all that long ago that Buff fans were excited about the prospects for the 2017. The optimism has been tempered, however, as CU’s victories in non-conference play have been less than stellar.
At the risk of being mocked/criticized, let’s look back at “Return to Relevance II“, which I posted in August. I posted ten reasons for Buff fans to be excited about the 2017 season:
1. Steven Montez is the real deal … The Buffs’ starting quarterback may only have three starts under his belt, but he also has three years in the Colorado system …
… and now … Montez set career highs for attempts (41), completions (29), passing yards (357) and touchdowns (4) against Northern Colorado. Montez has had moments in non-conference play, however, when he has been indecisive, missed open receivers, and made bad decisions … He is also 5-1 as a starter. Give the sophomore time.
2. The CU wide receiver corps is not only one of the best in the Pac-12, it is one of the best in the country … Athlon has the Buff receivers ranked as the No. 5 unit in the country, with Lindy’s stating, “One of the very best wide-receiver corps in the nation resides in Boulder” …
… and now … CU is the only school in the nation with three receivers – Shay Fields, Bryce Bobo and Devin Ross – with over 100 career catches. There have been positive moments in the first three games, but not the dominance CU fans were expecting.
3. The offensive line is a strength, not a weakness … The Buffs lose only one starter along the offensive line. The projected replacement for Alex Kelley at center, Jonathan Huckins, started three games last year, and has 13 career starts …
… and now … This was a complete whiff. The offensive line has been a huge disappointment. Offensive tackle Jeromy Irwin and blocking tight end George Frazier were suspended for the first two games, but their return for the Northern Colorado game did not render dramatic improvement. Center Jonathan Huckins missed the UNC game with an injury, but the unit is out of excuses. If the offensive line doesn’t get its act together, the Pac-12 conference season will be long indeed.
4. Phillip Lindsay, a/k/a The Tasmanian Devil … There have been many popular players at Colorado over the years, but Phillip Lindsay may leave Boulder as one of the most popular ever. A colorful and feisty spokesman for the Buffs during the hard times, Lindsay may get to enjoy the fruits of his labor this fall.
… and now … Lindsay has 376 yards rushing in three games, and has done his part. If the offensive line was doing its part, who knows how good of a season Lindsay could be having.
5. The defensive line will surprise … The Colorado 2017 defensive line starters will have to prove themselves, but Leo Jackson (who has played in 26 games in his CU career, with 11 starts) will lead a unit which has more experience than it is given credit for.
… and now … While not a dominant force, the defensive line has held its own. The Buff defense has given up 27 points in three games, the fewest for a CU defense since 1978. The defensive line has done its part.
6. Isaiah Oliver – All-Pac-12 in 2017; All-American in 2018? … Colorado had three defensive backs drafted into the NFL in April, but the Buffs’ shut down corner this fall may be better than those three.
… and now … Oliver is all that, and a bag of chips. Two interceptions in the first three games, including a highlight reel pick against Texas State.
7. The new defensive coaches are working out just fine … Colorado has three new defensive assistants – D.J. Eliot, ShaDon Brown, and Ross Els – and none of them are named “Jim Leavitt”. It remains to be seen if the 2016 Buff defense was an anomaly – and a product of mastermind Leavitt – or the natural progression of better recruiting and overall player development.
… and now … See above. A total of 27 points in three games. Do the Buffs need a better pass rush? Better deep coverage? More consistent play overall? Sure. But until or unless the Huskies dominate the Buffs, these coaches get the benefit of the doubt. The play of the defense has not been CU’s problem.
8. Depth is not a four-letter word … Only a handful of especially gifted freshmen will see the playing field this fall, while most of the talented members from the CU Recruiting Class of 2017 will watch this fall, hitting the books and the weight room, waiting for their turn to become stars at Folsom.
… and now … A number of true freshmen have seen action: linebacker Jacob Callier; linebacker Nate Landman; wide receiver K.D. Nixon; tight end Jared Poplawski; wide receiver Laviska Shenault; linebacker Dante Sparaco; and kicker James Stefanou. Those who have played have, for the most part, played well. The majority of players from the Recruiting Class of 2017 are waiting, watching, and learning.
9. Buffs still have a “chip on their shoulder” … The final two games of the 2016 season – embarrassing losses to Washington and Oklahoma State – are providing fuel to the Buffs’ fire. Disrespect – actual and perceived – have left the Buffs knowing that there remains some unfinished business in 2017.
… and now … If the Buffs have a chip on their shoulders, they have been holding back on their use of that motivator. The Buffs have played well enough to win their non-conference games, but have not come out looking like a team which wants to show the nation that it is an elite team. Quite the contrary … the Buffs are giving fuel to the naysayers that the Buffs were one-hit wonders in 2017, and will revert to mediocrity (or worse) once Pac-12 play begins.
10. The schedule works in CU’s favor … If the Buffs can get past Colorado State in the opener (and yes, that remains an “if”), Colorado will coast to a 3-0 non-conference record. That will give the Buffs two extra weeks to prepare for their rematch against Washington, which will be a sellout between two undefeated teams …
… and now … nothing has changed. The Buffs, are, as expected, 3-0 heading into the Washington game. The schedule has been kind to Colorado, but now it’s time to put up or shut up. If the Buffs have been lacking in motivation against the last two opponents, saving themselves for the Huskies … fine. The proof is in the pudding.
If Colorado upsets Washington next weekend, all will be forgiven. The Buffs will be 4-0 and nationally ranked.
If Colorado lays an egg against Washington next weekend, the boo-birds will be out in full force. The Rise hit a wall in the Pac-12 championship game last season.
The Bite Size Rise the Buffs have put together so far in 2017 is now on the clock …
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Stuart
Continue reading...
The Bite Size Rise
—
The theme for the 2016 season at Colorado was “The Rise”.
For 2017, one of the themes has been “Never Stop Rising”.
With a 41-21 victory over Northern Colorado, the Buffs moved their 2017 record to 3-0. It’s the best start for CU since 2008, and only the third 3-0 start to a season for CU in the 21st century.
Yet, with each game, the CU coaching staff and players find themselves spending more time explaining than celebrating. The Rise is continuing, but not at a pace which is satisfying to many of the Buff faithful.
Call it … The Bite Size Rise.
—
Very often, how well Colorado plays in its opener sets the tone for the year.
In 78 seasons CU has won its first game of the season, the Buffs have gone on to post winning records 61 times (78.2%). In 44 seasons CU has lost its first game, the Buffs have gone on to post winning records only 19 times (43.2%).
In 2016, the opening game of CU’s season truly set the tone for the 2016 campaign.
The Buffs demolished Colorado State last Labor Day weekend, racing out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, never looking back in a 44-7 rout. The Buffs went on to post a worst-to-first, ten-win, Pac-12 South championship season.
This fall, the opening game of CU’s season may have also set the tone for its campaign.
Colorado defeated Colorado State, 17-3, but was criticized for the victory. The Buffs held a Ram offense which had put up 58 points against Oregon State the week before (and was averaging over 40 points per game over its past eight games) to a single field goal. Yet the post-game celebration was muted by criticism of the officials, who flagged the Rams for three offensive pass interference penalties.
In Game Two, the Buffs put away Texas State, 37-3, but was only ahead, 14-0, at halftime, with one of CU’s two touchdowns coming by way of a fluke fumble/punt return for a touchdown by wide receiver Laviska Shenault.
The Buffs won by 34 points, but again were relegated in the post-game interviews to explaining why the offense hadn’t performed better.
Against the Northern Colorado Bears in the final non-conference tune-up, the Buffs allowed the Bears to score on their first possession of the game, then again on the first possession of the second half to pull within a touchdown, at 28-21. The Buffs finally pulled away for a 41-21 win, but again, the Buff coaches and players were left to rationalize and explain.
“We need to improve everywhere”, said CU head coach Mike MacIntyre in his post-game press conference. “You always want to clean everything up. In sports, nothing goes perfectly very often. You have to learn how to adapt and how to handle adversity and handle situations and keep playing”.
Sound like a coach who just posted the first 3-0 start of his 28-year career as a coach, college or pro?
—
It wasn’t all that long ago that Buff fans were excited about the prospects for the 2017. The optimism has been tempered, however, as CU’s victories in non-conference play have been less than stellar.
At the risk of being mocked/criticized, let’s look back at “Return to Relevance II“, which I posted in August. I posted ten reasons for Buff fans to be excited about the 2017 season:
1. Steven Montez is the real deal … The Buffs’ starting quarterback may only have three starts under his belt, but he also has three years in the Colorado system …
… and now … Montez set career highs for attempts (41), completions (29), passing yards (357) and touchdowns (4) against Northern Colorado. Montez has had moments in non-conference play, however, when he has been indecisive, missed open receivers, and made bad decisions … He is also 5-1 as a starter. Give the sophomore time.
2. The CU wide receiver corps is not only one of the best in the Pac-12, it is one of the best in the country … Athlon has the Buff receivers ranked as the No. 5 unit in the country, with Lindy’s stating, “One of the very best wide-receiver corps in the nation resides in Boulder” …
… and now … CU is the only school in the nation with three receivers – Shay Fields, Bryce Bobo and Devin Ross – with over 100 career catches. There have been positive moments in the first three games, but not the dominance CU fans were expecting.
3. The offensive line is a strength, not a weakness … The Buffs lose only one starter along the offensive line. The projected replacement for Alex Kelley at center, Jonathan Huckins, started three games last year, and has 13 career starts …
… and now … This was a complete whiff. The offensive line has been a huge disappointment. Offensive tackle Jeromy Irwin and blocking tight end George Frazier were suspended for the first two games, but their return for the Northern Colorado game did not render dramatic improvement. Center Jonathan Huckins missed the UNC game with an injury, but the unit is out of excuses. If the offensive line doesn’t get its act together, the Pac-12 conference season will be long indeed.
4. Phillip Lindsay, a/k/a The Tasmanian Devil … There have been many popular players at Colorado over the years, but Phillip Lindsay may leave Boulder as one of the most popular ever. A colorful and feisty spokesman for the Buffs during the hard times, Lindsay may get to enjoy the fruits of his labor this fall.
… and now … Lindsay has 376 yards rushing in three games, and has done his part. If the offensive line was doing its part, who knows how good of a season Lindsay could be having.
5. The defensive line will surprise … The Colorado 2017 defensive line starters will have to prove themselves, but Leo Jackson (who has played in 26 games in his CU career, with 11 starts) will lead a unit which has more experience than it is given credit for.
… and now … While not a dominant force, the defensive line has held its own. The Buff defense has given up 27 points in three games, the fewest for a CU defense since 1978. The defensive line has done its part.
6. Isaiah Oliver – All-Pac-12 in 2017; All-American in 2018? … Colorado had three defensive backs drafted into the NFL in April, but the Buffs’ shut down corner this fall may be better than those three.
… and now … Oliver is all that, and a bag of chips. Two interceptions in the first three games, including a highlight reel pick against Texas State.
7. The new defensive coaches are working out just fine … Colorado has three new defensive assistants – D.J. Eliot, ShaDon Brown, and Ross Els – and none of them are named “Jim Leavitt”. It remains to be seen if the 2016 Buff defense was an anomaly – and a product of mastermind Leavitt – or the natural progression of better recruiting and overall player development.
… and now … See above. A total of 27 points in three games. Do the Buffs need a better pass rush? Better deep coverage? More consistent play overall? Sure. But until or unless the Huskies dominate the Buffs, these coaches get the benefit of the doubt. The play of the defense has not been CU’s problem.
8. Depth is not a four-letter word … Only a handful of especially gifted freshmen will see the playing field this fall, while most of the talented members from the CU Recruiting Class of 2017 will watch this fall, hitting the books and the weight room, waiting for their turn to become stars at Folsom.
… and now … A number of true freshmen have seen action: linebacker Jacob Callier; linebacker Nate Landman; wide receiver K.D. Nixon; tight end Jared Poplawski; wide receiver Laviska Shenault; linebacker Dante Sparaco; and kicker James Stefanou. Those who have played have, for the most part, played well. The majority of players from the Recruiting Class of 2017 are waiting, watching, and learning.
9. Buffs still have a “chip on their shoulder” … The final two games of the 2016 season – embarrassing losses to Washington and Oklahoma State – are providing fuel to the Buffs’ fire. Disrespect – actual and perceived – have left the Buffs knowing that there remains some unfinished business in 2017.
… and now … If the Buffs have a chip on their shoulders, they have been holding back on their use of that motivator. The Buffs have played well enough to win their non-conference games, but have not come out looking like a team which wants to show the nation that it is an elite team. Quite the contrary … the Buffs are giving fuel to the naysayers that the Buffs were one-hit wonders in 2017, and will revert to mediocrity (or worse) once Pac-12 play begins.
10. The schedule works in CU’s favor … If the Buffs can get past Colorado State in the opener (and yes, that remains an “if”), Colorado will coast to a 3-0 non-conference record. That will give the Buffs two extra weeks to prepare for their rematch against Washington, which will be a sellout between two undefeated teams …
… and now … nothing has changed. The Buffs, are, as expected, 3-0 heading into the Washington game. The schedule has been kind to Colorado, but now it’s time to put up or shut up. If the Buffs have been lacking in motivation against the last two opponents, saving themselves for the Huskies … fine. The proof is in the pudding.
If Colorado upsets Washington next weekend, all will be forgiven. The Buffs will be 4-0 and nationally ranked.
If Colorado lays an egg against Washington next weekend, the boo-birds will be out in full force. The Rise hit a wall in the Pac-12 championship game last season.
The Bite Size Rise the Buffs have put together so far in 2017 is now on the clock …
–
—–
Stuart
Continue reading...