A little Hawk Love...

[Sexton Hardcastle]

Is still with me. I really like Hawkins. A lot. I think he's a good football coach. He's certainly going through some tough times right now, times that he has never really had to deal with coachingwise. We all know his record pre CU, but I think he's in uncharted waters with our current losing streak. Can he pull it out? I think it's 50/50. But the tide is rising against Danny.

The Offense:

On the Offense we've seen the OL struggle. A lot. But I really think this group will pull it together. I know the announcers said this during the Toledo game, but I agree with them. The OL has had to endure constant changes with their coaches, and this has set them behind. But I think Denver Johnson is a good OL coach and he will use these guys in the correct way.

Our current WR "grouping" has got to go. I like McKnight, a lot, he's a good weapon to have on any team imo, but he shouldn't be the starter at this point in Hawks tenure. We'll be getting M. Simas back on the field and he creates a lot of mismatches for us imo, we just need to see some growth by our younger crop of kids. Simmons especially. I also don't think Espinoza should ever be our #2 option. Ever.

We've all talked about the QB situation so I will try to avoid beating a dead horse. Cody has to go. I like little Hawks heart, but he would be most value coaching up Tyler. As for Tyler I think now is the time to remove his RS and stick with him as the starter for good. I know their is some talk about this in the locker room. Let's go ahead and make the move. He's only a Sophomore. He'd benefit from this PT.

Our RB situation was decent on Friday. Scott looked like he got into a rhythm and once we get speedy back it should get even better. I do like Sumler as a receiving RB out of the backfield. I also think Lock should return some punts. Maybe even Speedy. What about Simmons? Anything is better than Espy.
It's obvious that Kiesau is adjusting to his new role. Not an excuse really, he should've been ready. That's another one that has to be placed on Hawkins. It's his job to have his asst. coaches ready.

The Defense:
I really think Bandison and Collins should go. The bad tackling is not being addressed. And we all know why with our DL coach. I think we should have Cabral take over. Lord knows he's ready.


My opinion:
Not that it really matters:lol: I just have always been a big Hawkins fan. He was the top up and coming HC according to the Sporting News when we hired him, so it's not like Bohn and Neinas just tossed names at a wall. Should we have given Butch Davis and Jon Embree serious consideration? Probably, but that's the past. Hawk is our coach, and I really don't think we can afford to buy him out. Unless some Boosters step up. Which won't happen. Especially with this economy.

I am on the fence with Hawk, but will try to support him for as long as I can. If that makes me come off as arrogant, it's not my intent. Ever. I'm no better a fan than any of you guys. So for that to be tossed at me is BS. I just get carried away just like everyone else here.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

I also know there are a lot of holes in my breakdown, I look forward to what the board thinks of it.

 

[White_Rabbit]

Good post, I think a lot of people here actually do like Hawk. We're just tired of him not producing wins. I have lost pretty much all faith in him this season for pretty much all of the reasons you just explained. We aren't playing our best players on offense and our defense is offensive. How Brandison and Collins still have jobs is beyond me and it frankly worries me more than Cody starting at QB. Hawk simply doesn't want to see that his friends are bad coaches.

I hope we do turn it around this year, but I just don't see it happening. On offense I think we can improve quite a bit; OL play to their potential, WR get the better athletes on the field, RB less Sumler more Scott/Speedy/Lock. On defense however, I just can't see them inserting new players and getting it worked out. Safety is a huge problem, DL is simply lacking in size and experience, LB is not living up to the billing either. Maybe if Collins would figure our that blitzing Rippy and Beatty is better than blitzing Chappelle Brown and Ben Burney we might have something, but I doubt it.

 

[Buff fanatic]

I agree. For the first time in his tenure, Im on the fence. Im ready to see wins, but, I just dont think its as easy/quick of a job as most people on here think. Agree on arrogance. I dont look down on being pissed off at Hawk....i get it. We just have different opinions of how to get wins. I think we ride it out and it'll come ala Mac/Pinkel/Mangino, etc, etc, etc. As for the argument that this is different---agree. Hawk is BUILDING a program that was in the ****ter.
Just my opinion, I know nobody agrees....

 

[buffsyko]

I also know there are a lot of holes in my breakdown, I look forward to what the board thinks of it.

I think he sucks. 2 days ago you did too. The guy somehow has 9 lives with you people.

" What do you mean you people?"

Seriously, I have no faith in hawk or this coaching staff to put a winning product on the field. Game planning, adjustments, playing the right players and mostly,anything that comes out of his mouth.

 

[Swish]

I also know there are a lot of holes in my breakdown, I look forward to what the board thinks of it.

I'm on board. Frank assessment time. The time for rage is over. There are things much in life much bigger than the Buffs @ 0-2.

We need speed. I saw a comment about being out of position as a possible reason. Might contribute some but the core problem is a lack of speed. We need to get some talented, fast, fast, fast, players soon if we are really going to be a contender on the national scene again.

No real hitting either. Two things from the Barnett era that I do miss. His way of getting his players to overachieve and good old fashioned rugged football. We let the opponent take the game to us and this has to change.

If canning the whole staff is what is needed so be it. Frankly I don't see how even Cabral could be that satisfied with his groups performance. Just get it settled one way or the other while something can still be salvaged from this recruiting cycle. The ones that need to go the most IMHO - Collins/Bandison. Defense does win games and a great defense could have us at 2-0 right now even with an anemic offense. This is true and we have all seen it many times through the years both in college and the pros.

 

[Gateway]

I'll go on record that I never liked Hawkins...not my type of coach. Don't get him.

I'm not surprised at his lack of success.

I think the Buffs deserve better.

I'm done now. :huh:

 

[Junction]

Is still with me. I really like Hawkins. A lot. I think he's a good football coach. He's certainly going through some tough times right now, times that he has never really had to deal with coachingwise. We all know his record pre CU, but I think he's in uncharted waters with our current losing streak. Can he pull it out? I think it's 50/50. But the tide is rising against Danny.

The Offense:

On the Offense we've seen the OL struggle. A lot. But I really think this group will pull it together. I know the announcers said this during the Toledo game, but I agree with them. The OL has had to endure constant changes with their coaches, and this has set them behind. But I think Denver Johnson is a good OL coach and he will use these guys in the correct way.

Our current WR "grouping" has got to go. I like McKnight, a lot, he's a good weapon to have on any team imo, but he shouldn't be the starter at this point in Hawks tenure. We'll be getting M. Simas back on the field and he creates a lot of mismatches for us imo, we just need to see some growth by our younger crop of kids. Simmons especially. I also don't think Espinoza should ever be our #2 option. Ever.

We've all talked about the QB situation so I will try to avoid beating a dead horse. Cody has to go. I like little Hawks heart, but he would be most value coaching up Tyler. As for Tyler I think now is the time to remove his RS and stick with him as the starter for good. I know their is some talk about this in the locker room. Let's go ahead and make the move. He's only a Sophomore. He'd benefit from this PT.

Our RB situation was decent on Friday. Scott looked like he got into a rhythm and once we get speedy back it should get even better. I do like Sumler as a receiving RB out of the backfield. I also think Lock should return some punts. Maybe even Speedy. What about Simmons? Anything is better than Espy.
It's obvious that Kiesau is adjusting to his new role. Not an excuse really, he should've been ready. That's another one that has to be placed on Hawkins. It's his job to have his asst. coaches ready.

The Defense:
I really think Bandison and Collins should go. The bad tackling is not being addressed. And we all know why with our DL coach. I think we should have Cabral take over. Lord knows he's ready.


My opinion:
Not that it really matters:lol: I just have always been a big Hawkins fan. He was the top up and coming HC according to the Sporting News when we hired him, so it's not like Bohn and Neinas just tossed names at a wall. Should we have given Butch Davis and Jon Embree serious consideration? Probably, but that's the past. Hawk is our coach, and I really don't think we can afford to buy him out. Unless some Boosters step up. Which won't happen. Especially with this economy.

I am on the fence with Hawk, but will try to support him for as long as I can. If that makes me come off as arrogant, it's not my intent. Ever. I'm no better a fan than any of you guys. So for that to be tossed at me is BS. I just get carried away just like everyone else here.

Chilly, hacking into another user's account is a bannable offense. I hope you have a good explanation for this... :lol:

Seriously, good post Valdez. I'll agree with much of it, although I am less convinced than you are at this point that he really is a good football coach. OTOH, his past record at Boise and before would suggest that he is all that, and more...

A theory I've been kicking around is that his "inspirational" style with all the motivational zen bull**** and the everybody gets a chance playing time allocation and the "hard work trumps talent" ethic might just not be as effective with more talented players as it is with the "underdogs" he was typically recruiting at Boise.

Kids who are a little "too small" or "too slow" and looking for ways to contribute beyond their skills can probably really buy into the idea of being the bow and that doing all the little things right will make everything OK. Hell, it's how they've gotten where they are in a lot of cases. But kids who are used to being dominant in their pre-college careers aren't interested in being the bow. Hell, they aren't thinking about being the target in the first place. They want to be the mother****ing howitzer. They want to be challenged to go take on the other guys and kick some ass. When they hear that they are supposed to let their talent take a back seat to some philosophical meaning they probably tune out. If Hawk is making his decisions on playing time based on who is "buying in", that would explain a lot of decisions that seem to defy logic otherwise... :huh:

 

[Duff Man]

I cannot disagree with your assessment of the team valdez, but unfortunately it requires the coaches to make major changes at QB and WR along with firing some coaches on defense. Just do not see that happening.

Keep in mind we are not into the meat of the schedule and have actually stayed relatively healthy. Things are about to get real ugly IMO.

 

[somebody]

Yeah, I agree. I'm a Hawk supporter, except and until he developed this complete tunnel vision about Cody taking all the snaps. If it's not broken, don't fix it. But this was obviously broken in the first half against CSU. I just can't figure it out - he did bring in Hansen last year.

 

[chipwich]

I'm "All out of love". I was going to be mean a post a link to the song but even I am not that mean. :smile2:

 

[chipwich]

screw it. yes, I am that mean.

[video=youtube;2HejVjzhKTY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HejVjzhKTY[/video]

 

[AlferdJasper]

Hawkins looked bewildered on the sidelines at Toledo. Like "it wasn't supposed to be this way..." I want to like him and want to support him. I also want him to take a hard look and say "well, if that wasn't working, we have to make changes." Not tweaks, but big time changes to make a difference.

I think our team and players is better than 0-2. Hawk needs to figure something out - make changes - and the Wyoming game should be the time.

 

[somebody]

:ban: wow, air supply, talk about a kick in the nuts

 

[buffwings]

I think he sucks. 2 days ago you did too. The guy somehow has 9 lives with you people.

" What do you mean you people?"

Seriously, I have no faith in hawk or this coaching staff to put a winning product on the field. Game planning, adjustments, playing the right players and mostly,anything that comes out of his mouth.

:dito: But I think he can salvage his career if he somehow brings in some quality assts. e.g. EB as OC, dont know who as DC perhaps Hankwitz, and if he doesnt like it then Bohn needs to to force his hand in order to appease the ones who pay the bills. Something of that nature, a change in attitude, and some wins and may be able to earn another chance.

As for myself, I was a Hawk supporter, had a tough time 2-10 as I didnt see how that could be possible after a 7-5 season, then we did some magic in 07 and thought hmm alright this guy is gonna make some things happen. 08 came and well that was less than stellar, but I still said OK injuries suck and are hindering progress until the KU game when he was making some bohnhead decisions (which he had made in the previous years b but I overlooked as minor errors in trying to get his system in) and then he lost me. After half way through last season I was convinced this guy in over his head and just wont get it done. I was skeptical but slightly optimistic (based on media reports) for this season. Man was I fooled again.

I think he needs to go by the end of the year. I actually prefer ASAP let Cabral take over. I have confidence in DH anymore whatsoever. He's a tumor that needs to be removed soon before he does more damage. Then we can let the healing begin.

 

[BlackNGold]

One thing everyone seems to be overlooking or ignoring. CU got handled by two teams that are probably not in the top 50 nationwide. CSU will probably go to a Bowl (thanks in part to CU) but I expect them to be no better than 5 in their conference - losses to Utah, BYU, TCU, and Air Force. Toledo is no power house.

I guess I don't understand why you think he is a good coach. Who has he out coached recently? I am having a hard time coming up with a good answer. Ron Prince who got fired maybe.

Here is my laundry list on Hawkins.

- teams have a poor record on the road.
- teams seem unready to play too often.
- talent does not develop under his leadership.
- game day adjustments are non-existent.
- does not come up with ways of compensating for weaknesses.

- too many stupid sayings that he actually steals from others.

I just threw that one in because if annoys me along with his always talking about himself in the 3rd person.

 

[MtnBuff]

Good post,

I don't think many here are willing to admit exactly how little talent was left on this squad when GB left. I know that some will pop up with Dizon and the Goldfish, et. al but from a standpoint of having 85 guys or even 45 guys who were ready to play or even develop into ready to play in one of the two toughest conferences in college football it wasn't even close to there. Six scholarship O-Lineman, one with a bad knee. Bernard Jackson as your best option at QB ahead of Cox, a nice kid with a D2 arm and White who got beat out when he transfered to D1-aa.

The first recruiting class was a wash-out, the second better but they were still getting to know the HS coaches and a lot of kids had already been building relationships with other schools since their Soph/Junior years. Third year recruiting was excellent, last year lacked big names other than Kasa but was very solid.

As a result we may have the youngest O-line in the country, CSU was the first real game action for three guys. The line includes a RSFr, three Soph (only one of of who has significant prior playing time) and a Jr in his second year as an O-Lineman. Then the center gets injured and we go with a sub who was a WO in his first significant playing time. This group improved a huge amount from game one to two and has a major upside.

We have no upperclass WRs other than a JC Transfer. This position is improving rapidly. I know that people give Scotty grief about being a small, slow, walk-on but he gets open and catches the ball. If he were to leave a lot of D1 schools would be happy to have him. Simas is finally going to get on the field, we have all heard the same things about him, Simmons is a legit big reciever with hands and speed. The three Fr are all significant upgrades from what we have had. I don't like seeing Espy out there either, he should be Scotty's seldom used back-up.

How many teams wanted Darrell Scott, this week we got to see a little of why that was the case, not many teams wanted Steward, now many see that they made a mistake. Lock is talented and Sumler looks a lot like what CSU has been throwing at people for years.

TE Deehan is young and was highly rated, This is the one position where we lose a lot to graduation after this season. Thornton gives hope for the future.

QB is the problem area. Cody was actually fairly highly regarded coming out of HS but has shown that he is not the answer. Hansen showed flashes, Evans has his supporters but who knows. This is an area that is very questionable.
I could do the same breakdown for D and it would look similar. At all positions we have made major upgrades from what we had at the end of the GB era. The trouble is that at most positions including the most important on a defense the line we are painfully young.

We are starting a huge number of guys who would be welcome at top 20 schools around the country but in almost all cases they would be comfortably settled in on the depth chart behind an upper classman getting their experience in carefully measured doses and situations.

Hawk has made some huge progress in his time here but truthfully this team is not ready for prime time yet. It is to young and the guys who should be the depth are starting for lack of upperclassmen in front of them. This also means that there is a lack of depth behind them. This doesn't come instantly when a team was so deep in a hole as when Hawk got here.

I like you valdez, think that Hawk has potential still as a winning coach. He needs time to build the program and we may in our anger over two ugly losses jumped the gun.

At the same time Hawk needs to grow into Big XII football just like his players. It is understandable losing to teams like Texas and Missouri and even some of the lower teams that are not battling the lack of depth and experience. What is not understandable is a coaching staff that looks clueless to stop offenses that are doing to same thing over and over to us. What is not understandable is a defense that when it gets to the ball doesn't look like it has a clue about fundamental tackling (wrap the guy up and bring him down instead of slapping at him or bouncing off.)

He also needs to get over himself and realize that this isn't Boise. You don't win in this conference playing the hustle guys and the underdogs, you get run over. That doesn't mean that it is okay for guys not to hustle but CU is a BCS conference school. We are going to get the very best that CSU has every year, this is their chance to show in their own minds that they are as good as Big XII players. Schools like Toledo are going to do the same because again this is their shot at ligitimacy. We are not going to beat them on hustle and desire, we are going to beat them because we have bigger, stronger, more talented players who given time and the right game plan will wear them down.

Does Mack Brown play all his walk-ons and effort guys against a Wyoming, no he stays with his quality players even if the game is close at half knowing that eventually he will wear them down and after the game is over on the scoreboard his hustle guys will get their shot.

He also needs to be willing to look at his staff and hold them to the same standard as he claims to hold his players. Those who are doing the job get more prominent roles, those who aren't get replaced. If a coach isn't cutting it he needs to change his performance or find another place to work. CU assistants are not highly paid as BCS conference assistants go but for the privilege of working at the game they love they are paid well enough that a lot of other qualified guys want their jobs.

Lastly he is were the buck stops. He is the one who is responsible for the issues at QB. He is the one who has not made sure that we have a better option than Cody or if we do he hasn't been put on the field. I believe that Hawk truly believes that Cody is a legitimate answer at the position. I also believe that like many fathers he is seeing what he wants to see, not what he needs to see. Cody is a great kid and would make as good a back-up QB as you could ask for but he is not the answer as a starter and Hawk is responsible for not having that legitimate starter on the field at the single most important position on the team.

At the end of the CSU game I was ready to see Hawk go, after Toledo I was ready to help him pack. Reality is that he isn't going anywhere this year, as a true fan of the Buffs and someone who believes that at heart he is a good man and a good coach I hope that he grows into the job just as his players are growing into the college game. If he does we could end up with a solid winning program, if not then the coach who replaces him at least won't be starting in the same hole Hawk did.

 

[BlackNGold]

You guys are killing me!!! A lot of excuses for the no excuses guy!!!

MtnBuff where did Fairchild find all that talent at Dline to manhandle our oline. Or that QB who struggled against Weber State???

The talent excuse does not fly why you are playing CSU and Toledo.....Toledo coach is brand new.

 

[somebody]

I'd love to buy in, and excuse me if I'm harping, but please explain why he steadfastly refuses to play anyone but Cody at QB? Hansen has potential, but not so much that we need to sacrifice the program for a redshirt year. Is this really a plan for 2 years from now when Cody is a graduate assistant?

 

[MtnBuff]

You guys are killing me!!! A lot of excuses for the no excuses guy!!!

MtnBuff where did Fairchild find all that talent at Dline to manhandle our oline. Or that QB who struggled against Weber State???

The talent excuse does not fly why you are playing CSU and Toledo.....Toledo coach is brand new.

I understand your argument. Simple fact is that both Toledo and CSU did more with the talent they had.

Huge part of this is that both teams are senior laden teams with juniors filling in key spots, not sophmore laden teams with freshman filling key spots. Where was Stucker the last four years when CSU was getting beat and beat up, on the bench. Those D-linemen CSU had are again SENIORS as were most of the O-line. They were not all that talented, most won't get a second look in the NFL but the had a level of physical and mental maturity that only comes with 4years or more on a practice field and in the weight room.

Let's see what Fairchild does next year when all those linemen (and QB and RBs and WRs graduate) of course he has a program with a normal JR class to help fill the holes.

Same can be said for Toledo, new coach but a bunch of veteran players.

This doesn't say I am happy with how the Buffs failed to show up at each game. If you read to the end you will also find that I have a list of things that Hawk needs to do if he ever plans on being a winner at this level even when his players do reach maturity. If he can't or won't do those things then he may as well leave now but since I don't see Bohn pushing him that way I hope that he makes some movement into that direction.

 

[Duff Man]

Mtn Buff, it is year four. How the hell are we so young at so many different spots? OL, DL, WR, and S. That is a good chunk of the team that you just can't simply brush aside and blame on the previous coach, the current coach has to take some blame for having that type of inexperience in year four. Plus, we keep hearing every single year that we have been throwing true freshmen into the fire. Well, where are these guys going? Are they just disappearing? Because it sure seems like we are talking about inexperience every single year.

 

[buffsyko]

I understand your argument. Simple fact is that both Toledo and CSU did more with the talent they had.

Huge part of this is that both teams are senior laden teams with juniors filling in key spots, not sophmore laden teams with freshman filling key spots. Where was Stucker the last four years when CSU was getting beat and beat up, on the bench. Those D-linemen CSU had are again SENIORS as were most of the O-line. They were not all that talented, most won't get a second look in the NFL but the had a level of physical and mental maturity that only comes with 4years or more on a practice field and in the weight room.

Let's see what Fairchild does next year when all those linemen (and QB and RBs and WRs graduate) of course he has a program with a normal JR class to help fill the holes.

Same can be said for Toledo, new coach but a bunch of veteran players.

This doesn't say I am happy with how the Buffs failed to show up at each game. If you read to the end you will also find that I have a list of things that Hawk needs to do if he ever plans on being a winner at this level even when his players do reach maturity. If he can't or won't do those things then he may as well leave now but since I don't see Bohn pushing him that way I hope that he makes some movement into that direction.

You mean that young, inexperienced dl of csu that dominated our god given talented OL? The young excuse is lame. When is accountability ever going to be held for hawk?

 

[MtnBuff]

You mean that young, inexperienced dl of csu that dominated our god given talented OL? The young excuse is lame. When is accountability ever going to be held for hawk?

Young inexperienced D-line - Three seniors and a jr.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

Being young at those spots are all on this coaching staff. I'm sure Hawkins makes the calls on who we go after and who's priority during the recruiting year, and those holes on the DL, and WR are all on him.

I hear you on the accountability deal syko. The majority of people are all over Hawkins right now. He's being held accountable. I just don't know if we fire him now, or give him time.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

Young inexperienced D-line - Three seniors and a jr.

Only one player had game experience in that group. Guy Miller. All of the others never played a down in their careers.

 

[buffsyko]

Young inexperienced D-line - Three seniors and a jr.

You sure? I swear 2 of them were sophmores. I know this, they were inexperienced and they made our OL look bad.

 

[buffsyko]

Being young at those spots are all on this coaching staff. I'm sure Hawkins makes the calls on who we go after and who's priority during the recruiting year, and those holes on the DL, and WR are all on him.

I hear you on the accountability deal syko. The majority of people are all over Hawkins right now. He's being held accountable. I just don't know if we fire him now, or give him time.

I'm talking more of him holding himself and his staff accountable. Not once have I heard him say we need to do a better job as coaches.

Then, this soft everything is fine approach angers me to no end. Your not just a few plays away and he's got the players thinking that they arenn't playing that bad, they need a wake-up call, all of them,especially hawk.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

I'm talking more of him holding himself and his staff accountable. Not once have I heard him say we need to do a better job as coaches.

Then, this soft everything is fine approach angers me to no end. Your not just a few plays away and he's got the players thinking that they arenn't playing that bad, they need a wake-up call, all of them,especially hawk.

Why does he need to say that to the media? He's giving the media nothing. And whether that's right or wrong, don't think he isn't pressuring his coaching staff. I could be wrong but I don't think he's stupid enough not to address his coaches.

 

[buffsyko]

Why does he need to say that to the media? He's giving the media nothing. And whether that's right or wrong, don't think he isn't pressuring his coaching staff. I could be wrong but I don't think he's stupid enough not to address his coaches.

I have no faith in hawk doing this to his coaches, none. Everything he says is BS.

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

I think he sucks. 2 days ago you did too. The guy somehow has 9 lives with you people.

I agree with Bohn on his comments about not making any "knee jerk" reactions.

I was pissed off on Friday. So was everyone else, I'm just trying to find some.....I don't know. Something! :lol: