Regardless of what we have sitting on the bench at the QB position, virtually every other cfb coach would have tried something else at this point. We have yet to have another QB take even a single snap.
Sometimes, practice performance is not indicative of game performance. Some guys light it up in practice, as I hear Cody does, and struggle in games. Some guys step up big time in game situations and make their name on the field. Basically, at this point, you at least try something else. Anything else.
The personnel issues at WR are extensive and extensively documented. I refuse to believe that Espinoza is a better option than Simas or Simmons, period. If the playbook really is that complicated, perhaps it is time to run some go routes or simplify it a little bit. Both of these players have 2 years of participating in college football under their belts. There is no way they would be less effective than Espinoza. McKnight is definitely making a very solid contribution, but frankly, I think in a lot of programs he would play a smaller role as a #3 guy or change of pace guy rather than an every down, #1 receiver type of player.
WR is perhaps the position in football where players are most successful being "plugged in" and given the opportunity to learn on the fly. Look at how many young WR's have been the best in the conference, and the nation, the past few years. The Big 12 and the SEC, for example, have been dominated completely the last few years by young wide receivers - AJ Green, Julio Jones, Dez Bryant, Crabtree, Maclin come to mind. I am not saying that we have these kind of guys on our roster, but we have some talented players.
Jeremy Maclin, for example, was never a super-polished WR. He ran primarily go routes or little screens that were designed specifically to get him the ball and let him show off his speed. This guy was never really utilized as a part of any super-complicated play. At the bare minimum, him being on the field demanded the attention of the other teams best corner, even when Missouri didn't really plan on throwing to him. Teams have to respect speed and they have to respect the threat of the big play or they will get burned. At CU, neither of those things are a concern and as a result we have teams stacking the box and dropping back into coverage schemes where they might give up a few yards on any given play, but almost never more than 5-7 yards.
RB - Stewart has earned his touches but there is no reason why him and Darrell can't touch the ball at least 15+ times a game each. I believe that the reason Scott doesn't play much has little to do with his ability and a lot to do with some kind of problem that Hawkins has with him. Even Hagan has suggested to the press that he anticipated DS to be much more involved in this offense than he has been. There is no reason, ever, for Sumler to get more touches than DS. DS has simply not been given any opportunity to shine here at CU.
OL - Not much to say here, outside of my curiosity regarding the decision to play Miller at guard.
LB - Why does Beatty play such number of snaps? I would assume the reason to be that he is something of a liability in coverage or he would play more, but with 7 guys up front, there has to be room for a pass rush guy on more than a few plays a game. Why doesn't Mohler play way more? Why don't Major and Rippy play way more? This was supposed to be a huge strength of the team and the unit, as a whole, has been pretty mediocre.
DL - No comment here, I will defer to those more knowledgeable on this subject. I will say, though, if you are going to burn Kasa's RS, he should get some legitimate playing time.
Secondary - Guys are just underperforming here, I think, but I would like to see a little less of Mahnke and probably Polk until they are more ready to play safety at this level.
PR/KR - Just say no to one of the slowest players on your team returning punts. Catching the ball needs to be a given and an expectation, not a superlative that qualifies you to handle the duties exclusively when you lack significant speed or the ability to make people miss. I find it impossible to believe that our more athletic players have such an inability to field a punt that we need to be using the player we are at this position. At some point, you have some minimum expectations of your playmakers, you have faith in them, and you put them on the field.
