A promising start.

[Liver]

It is so nice to have hope again.

This is going to be a very long and challenging season but that was a nice start. A staff with a plan and players who are executing on the plan should give us all some hope.

I guess my key takeaways are as follows:

1. The talent differential between us and the sheep is at an all time low. We clearly had more top tier guys than they did but once you cut away from the handful of stars we have, their guys looked as good to me as our guys. That means you have to out coach them and get your handful of stars in position to make plays. The staff did that.

2. The offensive line could be decent if they stay healthy. Depth is scary but the starters played pretty well especially in pass pro. As we will be throwing a lot this year, I think that is a good sign.

3. We have some real gaps on defense. CUD is a stud. And Henderson is going to have a good year. Gillam may develop nicely. After that, however, we need more guys to make plays. We are going to give up some yards especially when we get into conference.

4. They will get the return coverage sorted out. On defense, we are undermanned but guys generally were in the right position. I think and hope they will coach the st guys into the right positions. That said, we do lack athletes overall so we are going to give up yards here.

5. The rebuilding is underway! We may only win a couple more games this year but we appear finally to be pointed in the right direction!

 

[somebody]

That was obviously a well-coached team last night. Feels good to say that. We need more talent, obviously, but I have hope now to exceed the two wins I predicted. I'm almost ready to add Utah to next week's win.

 

[buffaholic]

Pretty much to plan of what I thought was reasonable expectations.

1. I agree with the talent. We don't have many games left where "our players are better than their players".
2. I agree. A little disappointed in our ability to make more yards in the run game. Pass pro was solid.
3. CUD played the run better (mostly) but very little pass rush, even when we brought an extra guy. Some of that is props to CSU, but color me concerned.
4. I think you are right.
5. We have asked that this team be more competitive, win some games, and just not look confused or hang your heads when adversity hits. Check.

 

[Yellow Shirt]

I watched it, and then immediately watched again. Composure and focus all game from every player. The color analyst did four of our games last year and simply said," this is not the same team." the only time the team caught hell for not being prepared for the next play was after the final touch and Mac wanted two. Cook moment to watch him bark at everyone to refocus the group, and then laugh about it with wood as they drew up the two.

 

[Swish]

I'm sure this has already been posted somewhere but I am thrilled with getting over 500 yds offense the first game. We only did that once last year and didn't make 400 yards passing in a game at all. We may not win a lot this year but at least we will move the ball and put up some points. It sure seems like the kids are buying in to the new staffs approach and that the cultural change that the Buffs needed so badly is underway. The verbals we have so far have to feel good about yesterdays game and hopefully some of the kids still looking at us will to.

I'm not intoxicated on koolaid yet but this sure feels good.

 

[MiamiBuffs]

I am not drinking any Koolaid yet. Not a drop. But man did it feel good to see a well coached team get a good win.

I predicted 1 win for the year so its all downhill from here. :rofl:

 

[GoBuffs08]

I'm not drinking the Koolaid just yet, but my liver is very happy this morning that I didn't need to drink myself into a coma to forget last night!

 

[BuffHerd]

I'm not drinking the Koolaid just yet, but my liver is very happy this morning that I didn't need to drink myself into a coma to forget last night!

Well your liver is doing better than Slider's this morning. AKA -"shotgun"

 

[Duff Man]

Good post, Liver.

You know what can make up for defensive deficiencies? Forcing turnovers. Our secondary players have to start catching the ball some when they get the chance.

 

[wsp4820]

Well your liver is doing better than Slider's this morning. AKA -"shotgun"

Has anyone heard from him? Did he make it into the game? Did he wash that shirt? Did his friend ever find Veronica?

 

[DrunkRalphie]

Gillam looks like the real deal. I hope he continues to develop because he made some nice plays yesterday.

 

[Buffenuf]

Gillam looks like the real deal. I hope he continues to develop because he made some nice plays yesterday.

Nah, he's gonna be frozen at this level of play forever---we can only hope---I'll take 14 tackles from him every game! Jeeez, wotta comment.

Kid's only played FB for less than three years, splitting time in HS between RB and LB and he's showing that kind of development? He's just started to learn the intricacies of the game (even though one can learn the basics in three weeks).

He really reminds me of Ted Johnson.

 

[DrunkRalphie]

Nah, he's gonna be frozen at this level of play forever---we can only hope---I'll take 14 tackles from him every game! Jeeez, wotta comment.

Kid's only played FB for less than three years, splitting time in HS between RB and LB and he's showing that kind of development? He's just started to learn the intricacies of the game (even though one can learn the basics in three weeks).

He really reminds me of Ted Johnson.

Well, aren't you a douchebag.

 

[Burrito]

Well, aren't you a douchebag.

Did you just get here?

 

[L Buff]

From the ESPN Pac 12 blog (4th item down)

Colorado looks like a different team

September, 1, 2013
Sep 1


Colorado was perhaps the nation's worst AQ conference team last year. That won't be the case this year.

In their first game under coach Mike MacIntyre, the Buffaloes beat rival Colorado State 41-27, with quarterback Connor Wood throwing for 400 yards and two of his three touchdowns to receiver Paul Richardson, who finished with 208 yards receiving.

In last year's loss to the Rams, the Buffaloes wilted in the fourth quarter. This time, they dominated, winning the final frame 18-3 with big plays on both sides of the ball.

The biggest was a 53-yard fumble return for a TD from cornerback Greg Henderson. At the time, Colorado had just taken a 26-24 lead, so things were tight. Defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe forced the fumble, coming up behind Joe Hansley and slapping the ball loose.

It was a heady play. How often did we accuse a Buff of being "heady" last year?

Richardson then iced the game with a 75-yard touchdown reception with 3:36 remaining, taking a short pass the distance against busted coverage.

Wood was in complete control. While he got little support from a running game, he completed 33 of 46 with three TDs and no interceptions.

Don't forget the defense. Last year, the Buffs yielded 46 points and 499 yards per game. The Rams had just 295 yards.

Kicker Will Oliver was 4 for 4 on field goals, including a career-long of 52 yards. The only downer was poor coverage on special teams, with the Rams returning a punt 74 yards for a TD and a kick 84 yards, which set up another TD.

The Buffs play host to Central Arkansas next weekend, trying to improve to 2-0. They haven't been 2-0 since 2008.

 

[Johnny Juzang]

I am drunk on the koolaid.

Hammered.

Gotta find a driver.

 

[Buffnik]

Good post, Liver.

You know what can make up for defensive deficiencies? Forcing turnovers. Our secondary players have to start catching the ball some when they get the chance.

Yeah. Henderson is wishing he had another shot at that pick-6 he missed. Orms had a shot at a tip drill pick. And Crawley was in great position for an INT but seems to be at that point in his development where he's covering well and using his techniques but isn't yet making plays on the ball. It will come, though. For the first time in a long time I feel like the team will get better after reviewing the game film and practicing all week.

On another note, I was happy to see the rugby punt and squib kickoff as in-game adjustments. The coaches were smart enough to realize that they weren't going to fix their coverages during the heat of battle so the smart thing was to give away a bit in scheme with these changes in order to avoid another big play go against the Buffs. These are the types of things that will get fixed at practice, not during the game.

 

[Jaximus]

For those of us like me who stuck it out all last year, we deserved this.

I am in LOVE with our offensive scheme. We sustained more drives in this game than we did ALL of last year. I loved how we would gain 6 or 7 yards on 1st down and then very quickly get to the line and run up the middle for a few more yards. We see Peyton Manning do that all the time and it makes so much sense. Lindgren makes QB's better and Wood is taking advantage of this opportunity. I know that it's only one game, but I've waited an entire year to see this dammit.

On defense, I actually came away impressed because my standards were so low. I see our biggest liability as safety. Orms makes some good plays, but he can be taken advantage of due to his size and lack of elite speed. However, we have improved our tackling (sounds like it was actually practiced!). It didn't seem like we blitzed much, which allowed us to cover pretty well which resulted in many contested passes and a couple that maybe should have been INT's. We look to have more defensive speed and the team looked more prepared and adjusted well to the offensive audibles. My immediate thought was that we appeared to be built more for our PAC-12 competition.