2010 NCAA Football Preview: Colorado
When Colorado was able to hire Dan Hawkins away from a very successful position at Boise State the future seemed to be written in the stars for fans of the Buffalo Football Program. While Hawkins did inherit a team on the rise at Boise State, he kept it going strong during his five year tenure winning the Western Athletic Conference in four of five seasons (and placing second the only season he did not win it).
In Hawkins' first five years as a head coach he won 53 games; only three other coaches (Walter Camp, George Washington Woodruf, and Bob Pruett) have won more. So when the Buffaloes hired him to take over their program they felt confident that not only were the scandalous days of recruits being plied with alcohol and s*x to come to Colorado were over, but the team could get back on the winning track.
Anything but winning has been what the program has done though. In his first season the team fell to 2-10 after having gone 7-6 the previous year. It improved to 6-7 and even went to a bowl game in 2007 (the Independence Bowl which it lost), but then fell back to 5-7 in 2008.
Prior to the 2009 season Hawkins proudly proclaimed that the team would win 10 games. It won three. If he does not produce results this season he may need to polish his resume and start sending it out.
Offense
The offense that coordinator Eric Kiesau runs is meant to use three wide receiver sets along with a tight end in order to spread out defenses and help open up running lanes. Running lanes are actually the last thing the Buffaloes have had ; since Hawkins took over in 2006 the team has gone from 173 yards in 2006 to less than half of that in 2009 (88).
Their best player is actually one of their offensive tackles, Nate Solder. At 6ft 9in his 300lb frame appears to be pretty lean. Recruited as a tight end, his footwork is better than average, but he will need to get a little better at run blocking. Hawkins will be hoping that Solder and the rest of the line will be much better after having started together last season.
Running back Rodney Stewart is probably hoping that the line gels quicker as well. He is a bit small for a running back standing just 5ft 6in 175 lb, but actually runs pretty tough inside. With 198 carries in 2009 he ran for 804 yards and nine touchdowns.
The biggest problem for the Buffaloes will come in fielding a quality quarterback. Last season both Tyler Hansen and Cody Hawkins (the coach’s son) received time. Neither one was overly impressive though which will make it hard for the Buffaloes to earn a bowl game invitation.
Defense
The base defense the team runs is a 4-3, but the team also runs a 3-3-5 rather often. In 2010 they will likely do so often with the talent that the team has returning in the secondary.
Cornerback Jimmy Smith is the best player the unit has coming back. Last season he made two interceptions and had 52 tackles. At 6ft 2in, 210 lb he is as comfortable defending the run as he is the pass. If he can continue to improve going into his final season he should have a good shot at earning all-conference honors. Jalil Brown returns at the other corner making for a very dangerous tandem for opposing quarterbacks.
Ray Polk and Anthony Perkins complete the standard secondary package and the two combined for over 100 tackles last season. Parker Orms is a freshman that could see some significant playing time as a freshman. Deji Olatoye and Paul Vigo is another pair of physical defensive backs that will get time in 2010 and will likely be starters in the future.
Where the team will falter will be in the front seven. The group has potential, just potential that has yet to be realized. If the team is going to improve off of a dismal showing in 2009 it will need to see significant improvement there.
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