Since we've got a bye week, this isn't a bad time to speculate on stuff a little bit.
Special teams will need to replace both our Punter and Kicker. That will lead to a lot of question marks heading into next season. As we've seen, even Alabama has its hopes killed when there are issues in the kicking game. Recruit Alex Kinney (Rocky Mountain HS in FoCo) is having a senior year that gives some confidence in what he can bring to the 2015 team. Through 6 games, Kinney has gotten touchbacks on 32 of 33 kickoffs, 19/19 on XPs, 7/9 on FGs (including a 57 yarder), and punting stats that suffer from the 2nd game when he had 6 for a 28 yard average but for the year he's at 38.9 including a 47.7 average this week on 3 punts against Fairview.
Defense:
We lose Henderson at CB, Parker at DT and Greer at OLB. Besides that, it's mostly a loss of depth guys led by Daigh and including TSmith and KT who are doing most of their work on special teams. Frankly, that's about as little as we'll ever see a defense lose to graduation and it's less than what was expected since it now looks like we'll have Bell in 2015 due to a medical hardship waiver gaining a 6th year. This is a unit that is poised to make huge strides in 2015 based on the experience that players are gaining in 2014. Where the recruiting class could make a big impact is with LB depth. Watanabe showing up in January recovered from the foot fracture and in shape would be a big deal. Closing on some targets like Bartlett would also be huge.
Offense:
We've got some significant losses to our OL and WRs, as we'll lose Munyer, Crabb, McCulloch and Goodson. TJ has also been a significant contributor at RB this season and Slavin has made a few plays at a very thin TE position. Returning, we'll have both of our starting OTs and our starting C. I think most people expect Callahan and Huckins to move into the starting OG spots and be at least as good as what we have in 2014. OL should be better, especially with its third year in this offensive system. WR projection is very much keyed to whether Spruce is back for his senior year or if the NFL comes calling. From the quick slot, DLee should take over for DD without problem as he's already getting his run plays and seems at least as capable catching the ball. From the big slot, McCulloch is playing both the 4 WR role and the split TE role. Irwin should continue to improve as a traditional TE and only get better as a blocker and receiver. Bobo should be able to replace the production when it's 4 wide. The hope is that Keeney comes off his redshirt year ready to replace the production when it's a split TE. He'll be a guy I'll be watching closely in the Spring Game. At RB, Adkins' performance the rest of this season will go a long way to telling us whether we've got a front-line guy at RB or whether it's an inconsistent committee that leaves us hoping Gordon can come in as a true frosh and be special. Finally, at the all-important QB position the Buffs will have a 2-year starter returning for his junior season backed up by 3 players who were recruited for this system.
Bottom line: Buffs won't be young in 2015 and they won't lack for experience at any position. This will be a junior and senior dominated 2-deep on both sides of the ball. With CSU and 7 of our 9 Pac-12 opponents replacing QBs and the other 3 games being against Hawaii, UMass & Nicholls State, 2015 sets up as a breakout year for the Buffs.
Special teams will need to replace both our Punter and Kicker. That will lead to a lot of question marks heading into next season. As we've seen, even Alabama has its hopes killed when there are issues in the kicking game. Recruit Alex Kinney (Rocky Mountain HS in FoCo) is having a senior year that gives some confidence in what he can bring to the 2015 team. Through 6 games, Kinney has gotten touchbacks on 32 of 33 kickoffs, 19/19 on XPs, 7/9 on FGs (including a 57 yarder), and punting stats that suffer from the 2nd game when he had 6 for a 28 yard average but for the year he's at 38.9 including a 47.7 average this week on 3 punts against Fairview.
Defense:
We lose Henderson at CB, Parker at DT and Greer at OLB. Besides that, it's mostly a loss of depth guys led by Daigh and including TSmith and KT who are doing most of their work on special teams. Frankly, that's about as little as we'll ever see a defense lose to graduation and it's less than what was expected since it now looks like we'll have Bell in 2015 due to a medical hardship waiver gaining a 6th year. This is a unit that is poised to make huge strides in 2015 based on the experience that players are gaining in 2014. Where the recruiting class could make a big impact is with LB depth. Watanabe showing up in January recovered from the foot fracture and in shape would be a big deal. Closing on some targets like Bartlett would also be huge.
Offense:
We've got some significant losses to our OL and WRs, as we'll lose Munyer, Crabb, McCulloch and Goodson. TJ has also been a significant contributor at RB this season and Slavin has made a few plays at a very thin TE position. Returning, we'll have both of our starting OTs and our starting C. I think most people expect Callahan and Huckins to move into the starting OG spots and be at least as good as what we have in 2014. OL should be better, especially with its third year in this offensive system. WR projection is very much keyed to whether Spruce is back for his senior year or if the NFL comes calling. From the quick slot, DLee should take over for DD without problem as he's already getting his run plays and seems at least as capable catching the ball. From the big slot, McCulloch is playing both the 4 WR role and the split TE role. Irwin should continue to improve as a traditional TE and only get better as a blocker and receiver. Bobo should be able to replace the production when it's 4 wide. The hope is that Keeney comes off his redshirt year ready to replace the production when it's a split TE. He'll be a guy I'll be watching closely in the Spring Game. At RB, Adkins' performance the rest of this season will go a long way to telling us whether we've got a front-line guy at RB or whether it's an inconsistent committee that leaves us hoping Gordon can come in as a true frosh and be special. Finally, at the all-important QB position the Buffs will have a 2-year starter returning for his junior season backed up by 3 players who were recruited for this system.
Bottom line: Buffs won't be young in 2015 and they won't lack for experience at any position. This will be a junior and senior dominated 2-deep on both sides of the ball. With CSU and 7 of our 9 Pac-12 opponents replacing QBs and the other 3 games being against Hawaii, UMass & Nicholls State, 2015 sets up as a breakout year for the Buffs.
