CU-Texas Post Game
filed in Post-game on Oct.06, 2008 by BK
This was a hard game to stomach. As an editor you approach every game hoping for the win, knowing they can win. However, with some opponents you know it will be a very, very difficult battle. But remember Oklahoma last year, we found a way to win. We have the talent, we have the coaching…it just needs to all meld together. Well, it didn’t on Saturday. From the very first snap ,Texas proved their depth and ranking.
The Colorado defense did okay. They did have two interceptions and at times held the Texas offense . However, there is no excuse for all those missed tackles. Hypolite speaking for the defense after the game realized this. The Buffs defense needs to improve their tackling skills, Period. There were many times during the game when either Colt McCoy or Chris Ogbonnaya could have been tackled for a loss but slipped through the defenses’ hands.
The offense? Offensive. On our second drive in the first half I was encouraged that we were able to move the ball. Yet that ended with one of our three missed field goals from Aric Goodman. Obviously, his head was not in the game and we need to do better. There were some bright spots with the passing game, but for the most part Cody seems to be struggling more and more with each game. What he lacks in height and arm strength he makes up with leadership, and when the leadership goes…then we see Matt Ballenger in his place. Ballenger seems like a bright prospect for the future. (Question: Who should start against the Jayhawks?)
Another frustrating point is how we became so one-dimensional on offense. No running game is no good for CU. We have electrifying running backs and none of them could find much success. At the half CU had 4 yard rushing. Texas did a great job of exposing our injured line, closing down the run and giving Cody very little time to throw the ball.
If you think back to our last meeting with Texas they beat us 70-3. Ouch…but we did improve from last time. Going for it on 4th down and finding Behrens for our first touchdown was great. We are still a youngprogram in my opinion, especially when compared to Texas.
I actually lived in Austin and took great pride when Mack Brown lost. Remember this is a large state where high school and college football is the most popular religion. For the most part people live and die by football and as a result Texas has some of the most talented prospects in the state and team in the Big 12. Each year the Longhorns are filled with great players and I am shocked that they don’t win every year, but I think that speaks more about Mack Brown and his poor coaching. It is easy to coach Vince Young and all the talent, but lets see how well they do when they struggle.
We will get better, and unlike Mack Brown, Dan Hawkins is a great coach who took Boise State to greatness and is in the process of doing the same for CU. Sure we have some problems that need to be fixed, especially with a tough Jayhawks defense and Todd Reesing ahead, but I know we will succeed. No need to panic, 3-2 is where we expected to be. We will need to adjust and move ahead. Go Buffs!
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October 6th, 2008 on 6:00 pm
Fix the O line, and this is a totally different team.
I hate to say it, but I think that happens two years from now at the earliest.
October 6th, 2008 on 7:19 pm
O-Line was exposed for what it is. They are very young and very inexperienced. Cody is fine, let’s not even start those conversations. The kid can play football. They need to run more inside/outside zone running plays, much easier for the O-Line to handle. Get the running game going before D. Scott decides to transfer.
My only request is that Josh Smith be taken off special teams. Yes–He is explosive. But he makes so many crucial mistakes that just crush the offense. Why on Earth would he not kneel down the kick off?? He could have been killed!! He’s bringing kicks out of the end zone that are 7 yards deep. He’s fair catching punts on the 10, and letting punts go on the 25. We need secure hands back there that make intelligent plays.
October 6th, 2008 on 9:28 pm
Your Mack Brown point is pretty weak.
Mack has had nothing but success including his time at North Carolina. UNC was terrible when he took over and after two bad seasons he had them winning 6+ games. He led them to six straight bowl games and finished with two straight 10 win seasons. His last year he finished #7 in the country with North Carolina. Considering the much tougher ACC schedule that’s just as impressive as anything Hawkins did at Boise St.
Brown has the best winning percentage of any coach in Texas history, seven straight 10-win seasons, and just 3 years ago won a national title. All this after a decade where Texas as in MUCH worse shape than CU was when Hawkins took over. CU was freaking back to back Big 12 North champs in Barnett’s last two years and you’ve gone the other direction since.
Nice try though.
(I like Hawkins by the way.)
October 7th, 2008 on 8:41 am
Missed field goals changed that game. 21-9 at half changes everything. Agreed the O-Line didn’t do a whole lot, but losing two key players last week didn’t help, but if that had happened two years ago we wouldn’t even have linemen left to play.
While Ballenger looked good, remember it was garbage time. Maybe we could try using him for one series here or there for a spark. Wish we had a real mobile qb to put back there so when we do fake hand offs out of the shot gun the D might think the qb could keep it and run.