Colorado Prepares to Face Brad Smith
filed in Pre-game on Nov.02, 2005
And hopefully the rest of the Missouri Tigers. Reading the paper this week makes it sound like the only thing Buffs care about is Brad Smith. Hopefully the offense is not taking the week off. After an uninspired performance last week in Manhattan the Buffs offense must step up this week and control the game. Injuries at the tailback spot leave a major hole. Thanks to the NCAA for declaring our third string running back ineligible the Buffs find themselves looking at V-Back Lawrence Vickers and former QB Bernard Jackson as their best options at this key position. Hugh Charles and Byron Ellis both have ankle injuries and it is unclear if either will be able to play or how effective they may be. Colorado will have to come up with more ways to move the ball through the air to open up the running game. Maybe a pass of over 20 yards down the field would help. And that means actually have to ball fly for 20+ not a short pass that goes for 60 yards. If we are just going to continue to dink and dunk down the field lets try to eliminate those penalties, you know holding, illegal formation, etc, that put us in third and long and kill our drives.
On defense the Buffs must stop Brad Smith. This is tricky because he can beat you throwing and running. The Buffs come in the 4th ranked rushing defense which includes games against dual threat QB’s Reggie McNeal and Vince Young. Colorado did a great job pressuring McNeal and taking away his receivers in a blow out win. Against Texas, umm, nevermind. This defense has shown ability to take a quarterback out of his rhythm and forced mistakes. Again the key may come down to penalties. If we give Smith extra downs he will eventually beat us.
The game will kickoff at 1:30 MST, welcome back standard time, on ABC. On a side note if the Buffs, Jayhawks and Wildcats all win, Colorado will be North Division Champions.
Predictions:
CU 24
Mizzou 21
KU 13
NU 6
KSU 27
ISU 26
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November 4th, 2005 on 12:13 pm
No way we’ll clinch the North title this weeeknd. Too many things have to happen. I wouldn’t want to clinch it anyway, not winning the rest of the games this season would be a huge disappointment. We need to be 9-2 heading into Houston, otherwise we fit solidly into that also ran big xii north category where everybody wants to put us anyway
November 7th, 2005 on 12:12 pm
It is a pretty great win, Brad Smith got owned. Vickers played great and is proving he should really be getting the ball a lot more out of the back field. Why can’t he be on the tailback rotation and also play fullback?
Also, just great to see Nebraska get smacked by the Jayhawks, oh the shame! They may not make a bowl game again. Somebody wrote a story a while ago about how there are games that change the direction of programs, and they pointed out the 62-36 CU-NU game where Brown ran rampant as a case in point. Good to see the Buffs had a hand in the NU death spiral.
December 1st, 2005 on 1:32 pm
Yeah, some “death” spiral! 30-3! Restore the Order! F*** the pathetic Buffs!