Posts Tagged ‘Jason Espinoza’

’10 First Look – Special Teams

//posted 1.31.2010

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2010 Special Teams - Returning Players / Recruits

It’s doesn’t take a word play expert to come up with the truth about Colorado special teams’ play in 2009: It was far from special.

From the kicking game, where every field goal attempt was an adventure, to the punt return team, where a fair catch without a fumble was about all that Buff fans could hope for, it was a miserable season for Colorado on special teams.

The numbers bear this out.

Junior kicker Aric Goodman went 10-for-18 (56%) on the season, connecting on just three-of-ten attempts from outside of 40 yards. Bouncing back from a horrid 2008 season, which witnessed a school record setting eight misses in a row, Goodman actually hit on three of his first four attempts in 2009, only to slide back to earlier form late in the season, missing his final four attempts of the year (including one in the 17-10 loss to Iowa State, one in the 31-28 loss to Oklahoma State, and two in the 28-20 loss to Nebraska). By contrast, opponents’ kickers in 2009 hit on 17-of-24 attempts (71%), including six-of-ten from outside of 40 yards.

The punting game, if anything, was worse than the kicking…

’10 First Look: Wide Receivers

//posted 12.20.2009

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2010 Wide Receivers – Returning Players / Recruits

Before the end of the season-opener against Colorado State next September, senior wide receiver Scotty McKnight, who has 165 career catches, should own the all-time receptions record at Colorado, passing the 167 catches by Michael Westbrook. By the end of the season, McKnight should own the all-time receiving yards record as well (McKnight finished the 2009 season in 7th place in that category). McKnight already owns the school record for consecutive games with at least one catch (36). Overall, McKnight has been one of the most consistent and successful receivers in Colorado history.

But don’t look for Scotty McKnight to be on the cover of any 2010 college football preseason magazines.

McKnight’s productivity over the past three seasons has been obscured by the Buffs’ overall lack of success. Colorado is 14-23 over the past three seasons, and the total offense numbers have languished in the bottom half of the NCAA. The passing offense in 2009, though, did improve, jumping from 81st in 2008 to 45th last season. There were times during the year – especially after Tyler Hansen became the full time quarterback - when the passing game clicked.

What is there to look forward to…

CSU 23, Colorado 17

//posted 9.6.2009

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September 6th – Boulder Colorado State 23, Colorado 17

Colorado State quarterback Grant Stucker passed for 208 yards, while running back John Mosure had two scores in leading the Rams to a 23-17 victory over Colorado in Boulder. The win was the first in Folsom Field for Colorado State since 1986, sending most of the near-sellout crowd of 53,168 home in dismay.

The Colorado Buffaloes’ 2009 season started about as badly as a season can.

The Rams took the opening kickoff smartly down the field, taking only six plays to cover 80 yards, with Mosure scoring from a yard out to give Colorado State a 7-0 lead just 3:13 into the game. The Buffs’ response? Three-and-out, gaining six yards.

Two series later, the score was up to 14-0, as the Rams took advantage of an interception and a personal foul penalty to start their drive at mid-field. The drive took ten plays, but the result was the same – touchdown, Colorado State, with Stucker and Mosure connecting from 14 yards out.

While the Colorado State offense was moving smoothly, the Colorado offense was anemic. The Buffs generated all of five first downs in the first half, gaining less than 100…

Preseason

//posted 6.13.2009

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Fall Camp Notes

August 27th:

Anything you can do, I can do better …

Take that, Steve Fairchild! In a move apparently designed to get fans in their seats on time for the 5:00 p.m. kickoff on September 6th (good seats still available!), Dan Hawkins on Thursday indicated that he will not name a starting quarterback until the day of the game. With CSU also being reluctant to name a starter, this could be the first opener in memory when neither starting quarterback is known prior to kickoff.

The lack of information may give each team’s offense a slight edge in preparation against the defenses, forcing the opposing defensive coordinator to prepare for more sets than they might have otherwise. Still the fact remains that while both teams have different personnel than a year before, neither team’s offensive philosophy has changed significantly.

My uneducated guess – both teams will have their starters in place by this weekend. The quarterbacks will know it, their coaches will know it, and their teammates will know it The quarterback is too important a position to not have your starter taking the vast majority of reps the week before the game.

But it does make for good…

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Posts Tagged ‘Jason Espinoza’

’10 First Look – Special Teams

’10 First Look: Wide Receivers

CSU 23, Colorado 17

Preseason

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