Scrimmage Saturday!

The Buffs will conduct their first scrimmage tomorrow at Folsom Field to cap the first two weeks of camp.  One major positional competition is over but coaches have a lot to look for and many guys need to step up now as the depth chart will be tightened up (even though Embree says he doesn’t really believe in them) and some guys are going to get a lot more reps than most “behind” them.  The defensive line and wide receivers are probably the two groups with the most uncertainty as of now.  Most of the scrimmage will be conducted “ones vs. ones and twos vs. twos”.

Here are a few more quotes and items from the last few days:

Offensive Notes

§  QB battle: The battle now is for second place with Jordan Webb being announced as the starter.  We should really see what Connor Wood and Nick Hirshman have in them at the scrimmage now that they are only competing for the backup spot.  Embree said they both seemed to take it well and did decently on the practice field the first day after the announcement.

§  Wood said he was disappointed but will still compete and try to push Webb and be ready if the team needs him.  He still feels he has the skills and experience enough in Texas coming in to play.  Teams do almost always need two QBs each season.

§  Hirschman appeared even more disappointed and didn’t speak to anyone at first.  He, too, will continue competing but just doesn’t sound quite as committed as Wood.  When asked about possibly transferring, Hirschman replied, “I’m not really thinking about it,” (my emphasis) then followed up with, “The thought hasn’t even crossed my mind.”  Coaches say he is dedicated but we’ll see.

§  Jordan Webb comes with decent resume, but really hasn’t had much success in his 19 games of experience, with only one win over a FBS team.  He feels he has a lot of big time experience, even if it hasn’t all been successful, as well as leadership ability and competitiveness.  He has played in front of 100,000 in Austin so nothing will “faze” him.  It sounds like it wasn’t really a hard choice for coaches.

§  FB Christian Powell received some serious praise from EB, who compared him to bruising Buffs greats Lawrence Vickers and Brandon Drumm (two of my favorites!), and said he was “unique”, that he has never had a fullback so physically ready to go as a freshman, “a complete football player” who can block, catch the ball and carry the rock in a straight handoff.  He lost some weight during the summer and has increased his strength and will make us “remember what fullbacks are supposed to look like.” Powell will almost certainly play a decent amount this season.

However, no one has one the job yet and EB was quick to praise Alex Wood and Clay Norgard as well.

§  RB Tony Jones thinks 1200 yards is a realistic goal, but Bienemy said he was surprised he didn’t say “1600”.

§  RT Jack Harris is finally healthy and hoping to stay that way.  Although the Buffs do have some depth, having him on the right side is their best option.

§  P-Rich has a plan-he has begun and intensive 5-week rehab schedule and will re-check everything around Sept. 16, which would be five months from the surgery.  Recovery generally takes 6-9 months and while 5 months is not unheard of, it is rare. Embree said if he is indeed cleared around then or shortly there after, the ultimate decision will come down to the family.  He also, “Nope, it won’t at all,” addressing whether CU’s record and bowl hopes will be factors in the decision.

§  Coaches keep talking about how Sr. TE Nick Kasa is improving, but what that means to me is he is not there yet at his new position, one at which they are counting on him to start..

§  T-Fr. Gerald Thomas (hamstring) will likely sit out the scrimmage; So. RB DD Goodson has a concussion.

Defensive Notes

§  So. LB Brady Daigh (concussion) and possibly Sr. S Ray Polk (groin) could also sit out the scrimmage.

§  I am really bummed out for (former) S Wil Harlos.  I watched him a lot at practice last fall and he was fast, had a great attitude and seemed to love hitting and special teams (probably a factor in his multiple concussions).  I hope he decides to remain a Buff and run track, and not try to find a program that will clear him to play.

Special Teams Notes

§  Embree said there will be some live special teams plays during the scrimmage.

§  AllBuffs “uncensored Special Teams Preview”: http://www.allbuffs.com/content.php/1476-A-really-******-preview-of-the-2012-CU-buffs-football-season-Part-III-Special-Team

Other Team Notes:

§  The team was rewarded for their hard work with a canceled walk-through and a movie night instead.  Friday morning’s practice was also pushed back 45 minutes so everyone could sleep in a little.

§  Three true freshmen from the same high school (Upland, CA) could end up playing for the Buffs this year: FB Powell, RB Donta Abron and S Marques Moseley.

§  The Pac-12 Network has launched!   CUattheGame gave an overview of upcoming programming: http://www.cuatthegame.com/2012/pac-12-notes-3/

*Jeremy Bloom has also joined the network for both studio and broadcast analyst duties.  He will help call the Sacramento St. game.

§  CSU notes: The Lambs have lost two offensive skill position players to injury who will not play in the opener: speedy WR and returner Thomas Coffman has had an undisclosed surgery (?) and is out a few weeks.  RB Davon Riddick also broke his wrist during their last scrimmage.

§  Other opponents: Utah has yet to name a starter at QB.  Most have expected former CU commit Jordan Wynn to get the job, but two freshmen have been performing well.

§  USC has also lost another player to injury on their already limited roster.  Losing DE DeVante Wilson to a ACL along with DE Devon Kennard who tore a pectoral muscle, leaves the Trojans with only 70 healthy, eligible players on the roster.  Attrition is SC’s biggest obstacle for the next couple of reduced roster years.

§  Washington has suffered two injuries to projected starters-Sr. WR James Johnson with a dislocated wrist and So. LB Jamaal Kearse with a lower leg stress fracture- and has dismissed two players this week (R-Fr. receiver Joshua Perkins and So. walk-on RB Willis Wilson).

§  Buff bashing? Have the media run out of bad things to say and dismal predictions to make about CU?  Jon Wilner, Pac-12 savant from the San Jose Mercury News, just said that Colorado still has the fifth toughest schedule in the conference, but not how badly they would do because of it.