Three wins, know excuses.
Scoring more than we give up?Wins: 6
Conference record: 4-5
Pass Yards: Shrout
Rush Yards: Fontenot
Receiving Yards: MLC
Tackles: Barnes
INTs: Woods
Sacks: Thomas
Points Scored: 26.3
Points Against: 23.4
I think our defense is going to be better than most people are giving it credit for. I think the DL is the deepest, most experienced and most talented we've had since 2016 and might be better than that group, and I also think the LB corps is the most athletic group we've had since then, but also has the size and experience. The Secondary is very thin, but I think the starters can play. Pass rush without having to bring 6 guys will be the key, which means Thomas and Alvin Williams will need to get after it.Scoring more than we give up?
This team?
Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Easy there MaximusI think our defense is going to be better than most people are giving it credit for. I think the DL is the deepest, most experienced and most talented we've had since 2016 and might be better than that group, and I also think the LB corps is the most athletic group we've had since then, but also has the size and experience. The Secondary is very thin, but I think the starters can play. Pass rush without having to bring 6 guys will be the key, which means Thomas and Alvin Williams will need to get after it.
Offensively, I honestly don't know what to expect, but I believe we will see a competent offense. Nothing special by any means, as 26 ppg would represent a 5-5.5 point/game increase, which is still somewhere around 7th-9th in the Pac 12, and something I think is achievable with basically an entirely new offensive staff and (most likely) starting QB.
The worst offense and the most dysfunctional coaching staff CU has had since Embree went 3-6 in conference last year. I think this team is significantly better than last year's team, but facing a tougher schedule, so 4-5 in conference (Oregon State, Arizona, ASU and Cal the likely candidates) and then beating TCU and AFA just doesn't seem like that much of a stretch.
I'm an eternal optimist, though.
If CU's D improved by over 3+ points per game despite getting decimated in the back 7, playing a tougher schedule, and lackluster recruiting, our DC would be up for coordinator of the year.Easy there Maximus
Hey! I think there's a path to 6 wins, so that's my prediction. It's not like I'm suggesting the Ohio State and Iowa OL transfers need their bad habits coached out of them by Coach RodEasy there Maximus
Poor guy practically needed supervision at the end of the season last year. I’m sure he’ll be crushed againHey! I think there's a path to 6 wins, so that's my prediction. It's not like I'm suggesting the Ohio State and Iowa OL transfers need their bad habits coached out of them by Coach Rod
Most of what you said is pretty feasible to me until you said the team is significantly better than last year's team. More talent left than came in and I don't think there's much of an argument to be made there. Not to pile on to what will be KD's biggest excuse but the team is younger than a team that was terrible last year. I don't see it.I think our defense is going to be better than most people are giving it credit for. I think the DL is the deepest, most experienced and most talented we've had since 2016 and might be better than that group, and I also think the LB corps is the most athletic group we've had since then, but also has the size and experience. The Secondary is very thin, but I think the starters can play. Pass rush without having to bring 6 guys will be the key, which means Thomas and Alvin Williams will need to get after it.
Offensively, I honestly don't know what to expect, but I believe we will see a competent offense. Nothing special by any means, as 26 ppg would represent a 5-5.5 point/game increase, which is still somewhere around 7th-9th in the Pac 12, and something I think is achievable with basically an entirely new offensive staff and (most likely) starting QB.
The worst offense and the most dysfunctional coaching staff CU has had since Embree went 3-6 in conference last year. I think this team is significantly better than last year's team, but facing a tougher schedule, so 4-5 in conference (Oregon State, Arizona, ASU and Cal the likely candidates) and then beating TCU and AFA just doesn't seem like that much of a stretch.
I'm an eternal optimist, though.
I think true to his personality the Yak is overly optimistic but there are some things he didn't mention.If CU's D improved by over 3+ points per game despite getting decimated in the back 7, playing a tougher schedule, and lackluster recruiting, our DC would be up for coordinator of the year.
I think both can be true, though. I think we lost 6 players who truly mattered from a talent standpoint (Gonzo, Blackmon, Rice, Broussard, Landman and Wells). As I said, I think our front seven is going to be better and deeper, and I think Sneed replaces talent lost with Rice just fine. I'd rather have Broussard here, but he's not a special player who was going to make or break the season, leaving Gonzo and Blackmon as the true net losses, IMO.Most of what you said is pretty feasible to me until you said the team is significantly better than last year's team. More talent left than came in and I don't think there's much of an argument to be made there. Not to pile on to what will be KD's biggest excuse but the team is younger than a team that was terrible last year. I don't see it.
When has the secondary ever stayed healthy for most of the season? One guy goes down and every opposing QB will know where to tear this defense apart.
I think two things can be true. We can get better this year on offense. We were lucky to win 4 last year.I think true to his personality the Yak is overly optimistic but there are some things he didn't mention.
Our offense last season was epically bad. It was sometimes a victory if they managed to get positive yardage on a possession much less a first down before giving the ball back. We were a 3 and out machine.
OL coaching and offensive coaching should be better this year, it would be hard to be worse. Not even talking scoring points but if the offense can run the ball a little more consistently and maybe sometimes protect the passer we should be looking at fewer 3 and outs and with giving the defense more time to rest and more yards to work with. These two things alone could mean one score fewer per game given up.
Agree with you. This team could be much better on offense and overall and still be a very bad football team.I think two things can be true. We can get better this year on offense. We were lucky to win 4 last year.
I think the aTm and UW games cancel each other out. The other 3 wins weren’t lucky. They were what their record said they were.I think two things can be true. We can get better this year on offense. We were lucky to win 4 last year.
I think Sneed negates Rice. It’s weird to me, but Sneed might be the most productive WR to ever transfer to CU and no one is talking about it. I feel confident Shrout can get him the ball so I’m not worried there.I think both can be true, though. I think we lost 6 players who truly mattered from a talent standpoint (Gonzo, Blackmon, Rice, Broussard, Landman and Wells). As I said, I think our front seven is going to be better and deeper, and I think Sneed replaces talent lost with Rice just fine. I'd rather have Broussard here, but he's not a special player who was going to make or break the season, leaving Gonzo and Blackmon as the true net losses, IMO.
So with all that said, we are also likely to have a better QB, better OL and better coaching and playcalling, so yeah, I think while there was a net talent loss, I think this team will be significantly better than they were last year.
At WR, I like the potential of Sneed, Arias and MLC as our top 3. I think they'll surprise and there are a lot of useful depth pieces behind them.I think Sneed negates Rice. It’s weird to me, but Sneed might be the most productive WR to ever transfer to CU and no one is talking about it. I feel confident Shrout can get him the ball so I’m not worried there.
For me, it boils down to Gonzo and Broussard. CU isn’t replacing those two and weren’t going to. Those are massive loses. I think Reed is going to be a stud and feel like he will be just as productive as Blackmon, if not more. Chandler Semado isn’t Landman but he is a damn good ILB.
This team still has talent in the starting cores. However, they are completely devoid of talent in the second and third strings from what we know. Dorrell seems to think this is his best team with depth. If that is the case, and we will need to see it to believe it, then this team can be better than last years team in wins. Possibly even two more wins
I think coaching is going to make the biggest difference on the OL. The difference was noticeable between Rod coached OL and a Vlachos coached OL, and Vlachos had never coached the position. If DeVan is even a middling OL coach, it will be an improved unit.At WR, I like the potential of Sneed, Arias and MLC as our top 3. I think they'll surprise and there are a lot of useful depth pieces behind them.
Really, my big concern is the OL. As we saw last year, no one on offense is productive if you can't block anyone.