boydbuff
Club Member
Offense:
After starting out on fire (especially passing) against 2 inferior opponents, we tanked pretty hard across the board once we got to conference play. It seems Sefo has brought a spark to the O, PRich is PRich, and we have found a high quality freshman back who could become a top 3 back in the Pac over the next few years. Our OL is beyond suspect and is concerning for the rest of the season and next year too. Absence of quality TE play, especially in the passing game, was expected.
Offensive Coaching:
While I have had plenty of concerns about play calling at times, in general it has been much better than previous years. We have shown a more aggressive approach, throwing deep more often and mixing in the run and pass. I was blown away by the apparent coaching done to get Connor into a BCS caliber QB until he started facing BCS competition. Fingers crossed they can build Sefo's confidence and skill set.
Defense:
Up and down. Truthfully they are playing much better than previous years and the problems with the offense, turnovers and the kicking game, combined with playing some very potent offenses yielded some ugly results. But most of the time our players are in the right position. Another thing I have noticed, we are not giving up all-star numbers (and records) to individual athletes as much as previous years where our defense was just a complete sieve. Our DL has potential but still getting beat up too much, our LBs, especially Gillam are beyond promising for this year and beyond. Our DB play, in my opinion, is significantly better than previous years.
Defensive Coaching:
Actually I think Baer, Jeffcoat and our DB coaches are doing a decent job under the circumstances. While we all got on them for giving up long drives to a 1-dimensional FCS team in the first half yesterday, you have to be impressed with how much we shut them down in the 2nd half with virtually no first downs and no points. Say what you will about CSU not being a good team (and they are not) we got beat by teams about their level in the past few years, so I'd say, that was a decent showing for the Buffs and I credit the coaching staff for getting them up to play and for half-time adjustments.
Special Teams:
Started out attrocious. Terrible coverage on punts and kickoffs, as well as a lack of touchbacks on KO came close to causing losses in our 1st 2 games. However, they have started improving as of late and do not seem to be a liability anymore. The question is, when might they turn into an advantage?
Special Teams coaching:
Like many ABers I was calling for Neinas head early in the season. Not sure I feel the same way anymore. He has apparently fixed the problems. Let's see if he can find a way to have ST be the difference maker on the positive side through the 2nd half of the season.
HCMM:
Personal opinion shared by many ABers I think-HCMM is the real deal. He is a good coach. He focuses on developing his players rather than berating them. He is patient and realizes this is a building process. He has done it before and I am convinced he will do it here. Obviously we all would like him and his staff to improve recruiting more, but at the same time you have to be impressed by some of the early results of his under the radar recruits like Awuzie, Gillam and Adkins.
I believe after the 1st 6 games, the future is bright for this program under HCMM. I think the bowl talk is still likely very wishful thinking and if we are lucky we win 1 and maximum 2 games here on out. 2014 could definitely be a bowl season, especially if we find a way to improve our OL through our younger players and/or Jucos.
After starting out on fire (especially passing) against 2 inferior opponents, we tanked pretty hard across the board once we got to conference play. It seems Sefo has brought a spark to the O, PRich is PRich, and we have found a high quality freshman back who could become a top 3 back in the Pac over the next few years. Our OL is beyond suspect and is concerning for the rest of the season and next year too. Absence of quality TE play, especially in the passing game, was expected.
Offensive Coaching:
While I have had plenty of concerns about play calling at times, in general it has been much better than previous years. We have shown a more aggressive approach, throwing deep more often and mixing in the run and pass. I was blown away by the apparent coaching done to get Connor into a BCS caliber QB until he started facing BCS competition. Fingers crossed they can build Sefo's confidence and skill set.
Defense:
Up and down. Truthfully they are playing much better than previous years and the problems with the offense, turnovers and the kicking game, combined with playing some very potent offenses yielded some ugly results. But most of the time our players are in the right position. Another thing I have noticed, we are not giving up all-star numbers (and records) to individual athletes as much as previous years where our defense was just a complete sieve. Our DL has potential but still getting beat up too much, our LBs, especially Gillam are beyond promising for this year and beyond. Our DB play, in my opinion, is significantly better than previous years.
Defensive Coaching:
Actually I think Baer, Jeffcoat and our DB coaches are doing a decent job under the circumstances. While we all got on them for giving up long drives to a 1-dimensional FCS team in the first half yesterday, you have to be impressed with how much we shut them down in the 2nd half with virtually no first downs and no points. Say what you will about CSU not being a good team (and they are not) we got beat by teams about their level in the past few years, so I'd say, that was a decent showing for the Buffs and I credit the coaching staff for getting them up to play and for half-time adjustments.
Special Teams:
Started out attrocious. Terrible coverage on punts and kickoffs, as well as a lack of touchbacks on KO came close to causing losses in our 1st 2 games. However, they have started improving as of late and do not seem to be a liability anymore. The question is, when might they turn into an advantage?
Special Teams coaching:
Like many ABers I was calling for Neinas head early in the season. Not sure I feel the same way anymore. He has apparently fixed the problems. Let's see if he can find a way to have ST be the difference maker on the positive side through the 2nd half of the season.
HCMM:
Personal opinion shared by many ABers I think-HCMM is the real deal. He is a good coach. He focuses on developing his players rather than berating them. He is patient and realizes this is a building process. He has done it before and I am convinced he will do it here. Obviously we all would like him and his staff to improve recruiting more, but at the same time you have to be impressed by some of the early results of his under the radar recruits like Awuzie, Gillam and Adkins.
I believe after the 1st 6 games, the future is bright for this program under HCMM. I think the bowl talk is still likely very wishful thinking and if we are lucky we win 1 and maximum 2 games here on out. 2014 could definitely be a bowl season, especially if we find a way to improve our OL through our younger players and/or Jucos.
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