LongHaulBuff
Club Member
Found this in the MWC archives. This is what we need right now speed on the outside on both sides of the ball.(offense mainly)
Aug. 31, 1999
BOULDER - If Colorado and Colorado State football teams were holding a track meet Saturday at Mile High Stadium, the Rams wouldn't stand a chance. But while Buffaloes football coach Gary Barnett likes his quickness on paper, he's waiting to see how his burners handle a 100-yard dash with 11 obstacles in the way before making any judgments.
"There's some guys who run fast on the track who don't play that fast, and then there are some guys who play fast who don't run that fast on the track,'' he said. "I won't know until we play somebody else really if we play with that kind of speed.''
At the same time, Barnett will admit that at least by the numbers, this is the fastest team he's ever coached. Last season, offensive coordinator Tom Cable thought he'd never been around a speedier squad, but he thinks this one is quicker.
Ask Cable who is the fastest of the fast, and his face brightens like a man choosing from Porsche and Ferrari showrooms.
"If I say this, a couple of them are going to get mad at me,'' he said. "Stiggers you've got to say right out front. Marcus Stiggers can get you. But there's Ben Kelly, Donald Strickland and (Damen) Wheeler and Damion Barton, Cortlen Johnson, Cedric (Cormier), Javon (Green).''
Barnett agrees with Cable, calling Stiggers, his most experienced wide receiver, the fastest Buffalo.
But he doesn't just see speed at receiver, tailback and on the corner. He's got quickness at quarterback in Mike Mos chetti, in rush linebackers Fred Jones and Robert Haas, in hawk linebacker Jashon Sykes and even in linemen such as guard Brad Bedell.
At most positions, the Rams are likely to find Buffaloes faster than they are. As Barnett pointed out, faster doesn't equal better. But a good first step is always a good first step.
CU's speed certainly made a difference in its 42-14 victory over CSU a year ago. Stiggers helped the Buffaloes to an early lead with a 53-yard touchdown catch and burned the Rams' secondary for 47 more yards on three catches. Cormier later broke the game open with an 82-yard punt return into the end zone. Meanwhile, the Buffs' speed on defense helped to keep CSU's offense quiet.
"Colorado State had a couple of fast players, but we were able to match them,'' recalled Kelly, who will man the left corner and return kickoffs and punts Saturday. "Our defense was able to match up with their receivers and running backs.''
Of all areas, Kelly believes speed can make the biggest difference on special teams. It's a subject he knows something about, having scored twice on punt returns last year. All the technique in the world may not be enough to stop someone like him or Cormier returning the ball.
"I think we were a lot faster,'' Kelly said of last year's game. "It was evident in Cormier's return. They had pretty good coverage and a good kick. Just being as fast as he is, he just outran them.''
Kelly believes speed doesn't automatically make you the better player, but it allows more freedom to recover from a wrong step.
"Playing against guys that are real fast, you can't make mistakes,'' he said. "The more mistakes they make, the more we can outrun their mistakes.''
Against CSU corners Terrence Gibson and Justin Gallimore, Stiggers, Green, Cormier and company should have that speed advantage again this year. Kelly and Wheeler ought to have the same edge over Rams receivers Dallas Davis and Pete Rebstock.
But even with faster 40 times, the CU staff knows better than to put anything past a team coached by Sonny Lubick, who is accustomed to making due without great speed. For Barnett, speed is just the starting point. "It comes down to whether you use your speed or not,'' he said. "Undisciplined speed doesn't do you a whole lot of good.''
Aug. 31, 1999
BOULDER - If Colorado and Colorado State football teams were holding a track meet Saturday at Mile High Stadium, the Rams wouldn't stand a chance. But while Buffaloes football coach Gary Barnett likes his quickness on paper, he's waiting to see how his burners handle a 100-yard dash with 11 obstacles in the way before making any judgments.
"There's some guys who run fast on the track who don't play that fast, and then there are some guys who play fast who don't run that fast on the track,'' he said. "I won't know until we play somebody else really if we play with that kind of speed.''
At the same time, Barnett will admit that at least by the numbers, this is the fastest team he's ever coached. Last season, offensive coordinator Tom Cable thought he'd never been around a speedier squad, but he thinks this one is quicker.
Ask Cable who is the fastest of the fast, and his face brightens like a man choosing from Porsche and Ferrari showrooms.
"If I say this, a couple of them are going to get mad at me,'' he said. "Stiggers you've got to say right out front. Marcus Stiggers can get you. But there's Ben Kelly, Donald Strickland and (Damen) Wheeler and Damion Barton, Cortlen Johnson, Cedric (Cormier), Javon (Green).''
Barnett agrees with Cable, calling Stiggers, his most experienced wide receiver, the fastest Buffalo.
But he doesn't just see speed at receiver, tailback and on the corner. He's got quickness at quarterback in Mike Mos chetti, in rush linebackers Fred Jones and Robert Haas, in hawk linebacker Jashon Sykes and even in linemen such as guard Brad Bedell.
At most positions, the Rams are likely to find Buffaloes faster than they are. As Barnett pointed out, faster doesn't equal better. But a good first step is always a good first step.
CU's speed certainly made a difference in its 42-14 victory over CSU a year ago. Stiggers helped the Buffaloes to an early lead with a 53-yard touchdown catch and burned the Rams' secondary for 47 more yards on three catches. Cormier later broke the game open with an 82-yard punt return into the end zone. Meanwhile, the Buffs' speed on defense helped to keep CSU's offense quiet.
"Colorado State had a couple of fast players, but we were able to match them,'' recalled Kelly, who will man the left corner and return kickoffs and punts Saturday. "Our defense was able to match up with their receivers and running backs.''
Of all areas, Kelly believes speed can make the biggest difference on special teams. It's a subject he knows something about, having scored twice on punt returns last year. All the technique in the world may not be enough to stop someone like him or Cormier returning the ball.
"I think we were a lot faster,'' Kelly said of last year's game. "It was evident in Cormier's return. They had pretty good coverage and a good kick. Just being as fast as he is, he just outran them.''
Kelly believes speed doesn't automatically make you the better player, but it allows more freedom to recover from a wrong step.
"Playing against guys that are real fast, you can't make mistakes,'' he said. "The more mistakes they make, the more we can outrun their mistakes.''
Against CSU corners Terrence Gibson and Justin Gallimore, Stiggers, Green, Cormier and company should have that speed advantage again this year. Kelly and Wheeler ought to have the same edge over Rams receivers Dallas Davis and Pete Rebstock.
But even with faster 40 times, the CU staff knows better than to put anything past a team coached by Sonny Lubick, who is accustomed to making due without great speed. For Barnett, speed is just the starting point. "It comes down to whether you use your speed or not,'' he said. "Undisciplined speed doesn't do you a whole lot of good.''
