Game Day Grazing…
· It seems that Embree exaggerated a little as Ryan Miller and Brian Lockridge actually both played as TFr at the last road win at Texas Tech in 2007; Josh Hartigan, Matt Bahr and Jason Espinoza made the trip, but didn’t play as they ended up redshirting that year. [Embree had stated that no current Buff had experienced a road win.]
· There are a lot of duplicate numbers on defensive and offensive players this year (see Plati’s Colorado Preview page at CUBuffs.com) and 3 with #8 : backup QB Nick Hirschman, starting punter (formerly 90) Darragh O’Neill, and 3rd string punter Mark Brundage as well?!
· Turns out Cody Hawkins asked Sr. Anthony Perkins (half?)jokingly to take his #7, so a freshman or no-name wouldn’t get it; by spring Perkins had decided to go with it.
· I had predicted someone would bail after Embree’s camp and invited walk-on WR Parker Norton left the team (reason not stated).
· The biggest news outside of the Hawaii game, which Embree refuses to discuss, is the transfer to Colorado of QB Conor Wood, originally a 4star recruit to Texas. His arrival will make for an interesting QB competition in the spring and Fall next year. Shane Dillon, this class’ 4star commitment is said to be strong with CU still.
· Former Buffs from the islands, BJ Beatty (cut his red locks short!) and Chris Naoele attended the team’s walk-through at Aloha Stadium. Naoele, a retired 12-year NFL veteran, addressed the team, while Beatty (who hopes to play professionally in Japan) reiterated what so many have said, that the new coaching staff is very different and that there was a “lack of leadership” in the past.
· Massive TFr. Stephane Nembot was not on the travel roster, making some wonder if he will redshirt after all since he is so raw. If he does end up playing later in the year, he can make a difference on ST punt and kick block units, but depth on the D-line might be good enough to let him develop. Also missing the trip was RFr. OT Alex Lewis, who was left home as he developed flu-like symptoms and Embree did not want him on the plane for 7 hours with the whole team. There are still a few others who were listed on the first depth chart (75-6 players) who didn’t go as there are only 70 on the travel roster.
· The 3 TFr. from Hawaii made the trip, JLB Juda Parker, SLB KT Tu’umalo, and LG Paulay Asiata, along with underachieving giant back-up Sr. tackle Sione Tau and utility RFr. O-lineman Kawai Crabb, all made the trip home, but Parker and Crabb might be the only ones that play.
· I am as guilty as anyone for understating Hawaii’s run game. They will run the ball, just not with traditional plays, on traditional downs. Overall, even if they were (~)109th in the NCAA in rushing, they averaged over 4 yards per carry (departed senior Alex Green ran for over 1000 and averaged over 8 yards per carry); they just throw the ball a ton. They instead use the passing game to set up run some plays that catch the defense off guard. The Buffs LBs and DBs will have to make sure they don’t get burned, especially by some early, delayed running plays, they have been game-planning all summer, knowing we will be quite concerned about the pass.
· It has been reported that Crabb is practicing as much at center now as guard. We know that they are going to rotate Munyer and Handler at center and have hinted at other positions on the line getting breathers and snaps for backups. It will definitely be interesting trying to watch the line’s play and rotation.· I will also be curious to see how the WRs rotate. I am thinking they open with a 3-receiver set (no FB) so both Clemons and McCullough are on the field (there is actually a disclaimer to this effect on top of the depth chart). However, I also believe they will still run Rodney right up the middle, even though I’d love to see Tyler run some play action and hit the frosh deep!
· In what is no real surprise, OC Eric Bienemy will be on the sidelines, able to get right into his players’ faces and fire up the team. QB coach Rip Scherer will be upstairs relaying information. He is probably a better fit from the box so he can really tell Tyler and EB what is happening on the field. Consensus was that EB would go stir crazy stuck up in the booth.
· The player to watch on Hawaii’s defense is Sr. LB Corey Parades. It won’t be hard to find him because he will always find his way to the ball and the announcers will be talking about him a lot. He is one of 6 returning starters and had four (all Int) of their 38 turnovers last year in addition to leading the team in tackles. However, due to suspension of another starter, Aaron Brown, Parades will move from middle LB to weakside outside LB. I am not really sure how this will affect their scheme, but my guess is he will come after Tyler more from that position.
· Of course, many eyes will be on CU’s new cornerbacks and how they handle Hawaii’s quick receivers cutting and crossing all over the field. The thought is that they will pick on TFr. Greg Henderson until he proves them wrong-hopefully he does! Embree keeps talking about how solid and smart Sandersfeld is and how he just is in the right position. We need to see if Parker Orms’s legs can hold up at the Nickel and see who will come in after that when we need six DBs, which we will…big hitting S Terrel Smith or one of the other CBs. But so much of the unit’s success will depend on how much pressure the front seven in the new 3-4 scheme can get on QB Moniz. And remember, Hawaii is breaking in an entirely new line and mostly new receivers so their timing will not be sharp and some mistakes will be made.
· I am a little more worried about Special Teams as I read that they hired Dick Tomey, former head coach at Arizona, San Jose St and Hawaii, to just coach and improve that unit which has been awful the last few years. However, Tomey has stated that they will go with two kickers as the competition was just too close. (Slightly different philosophy from Embree and Brookhart who wanted to name a #1 kicker and punter.)
· Bob Bell from RalphieReport is a former Division II QB who really can breakdown offensive and defensive schemes. He explains here how Hawaii creates mismatches with its offensive attack: http://www.ralphiereport.com/2011/9/1/2397426/film-study-hawaiis-offense-mismatches-and-strong-safety-play#storyjump
· The Ralphie Report also now has its own podcast, every Thursday, and is now available on itunes. The 2nd episode has Bob Bell and Jon Woods talkin about new Conor Wood and preview Hawaii.
· This is a Hawaii blog that will give you links to everything Hawaii Rainbow Football if you need to kill some time waiting out kickoff: http://uhfootball.blogspot.com/
· This is a fabulous article from the Post on why Embree is the Man! http://www.denverpost.com/cu/ci_18810406
· Lastly, for an uncensored (I warned you) and extremely Buffalo-prejudiced preview (which will have you pumped for kickoff): http://www.allbuffs.com/content.php/1019-A-really-******-preview-of-Colorado-at-Hawaii
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