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BOULDER — Cleaning out the notebook with some notes, observations and questions as Mike MacIntyre's Colorado Buffaloes approach the three-week countdown to the opening of fall camp (July 28):
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Woelk: Storylines Will Be Plentiful When Buffs Open Camp
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BOULDER — Cleaning out the notebook with some notes, observations and questions as Mike MacIntyre's Colorado Buffaloes approach the three-week countdown to the opening of fall camp (July 28):
Continue reading...
Woelk's 10 storylines (with a snip of his answer):
1. Biggest question of camp?
This one is easy. The major question mark that will hover over the Buffs not only in camp but well into the season will be how quickly the defense can bounce back from the loss of eight starters and three assistant coaches.
2. Most difficult hole to fill this year?
one area that will be difficult — if not impossible — to replicate will be the aura of toughness that quarterback Sefo Liufau brought to the team.
3. Unheralded player ready to make name for himself.
don't be surprised if Gamboa — who has received almost no attention in the preseason all-conference teams — puts his name on a few of those teams at season's end.
4. Is quarterback Steven Montez ready to take the next step?
What is quite clear is that Montez has the tools to become an elite quarterback. The question now is whether he can assume the role of a leader in every sense of the word.
5. Most intense position battle.
Another easy one. Not only do the Buffs have every wide receiver who caught a ball last year returning, they have a host of others who will make earning a starting spot — and keeping it — a difficult task.
6. Is O-line ready to take another step forward?
With four returning starters and a fifth player who has plenty of experience, this group should no doubt not only improve, but be a group that sets the tone for the rest of the team.
7. Does RB Phillip Lindsay have another gear?
if anyone can make another significant jump, it is Lindsay.
8. Impact player on defense many folks have forgotten about.
Try senior outside linebacker Derek McCartney
9. So what about that defensive line?
While the position is definitely still an unknown, it is by no means one without potential.
10. Who has the edge in CU's opener?
Overall, it's probably a plus for the Buffs.
Agree or disagree with Woelk on these storylines and/or his answers? What other storylines are you guys wondering about?
1. Biggest question of camp?
This one is easy. The major question mark that will hover over the Buffs not only in camp but well into the season will be how quickly the defense can bounce back from the loss of eight starters and three assistant coaches.
2. Most difficult hole to fill this year?
one area that will be difficult — if not impossible — to replicate will be the aura of toughness that quarterback Sefo Liufau brought to the team.
3. Unheralded player ready to make name for himself.
don't be surprised if Gamboa — who has received almost no attention in the preseason all-conference teams — puts his name on a few of those teams at season's end.
4. Is quarterback Steven Montez ready to take the next step?
What is quite clear is that Montez has the tools to become an elite quarterback. The question now is whether he can assume the role of a leader in every sense of the word.
5. Most intense position battle.
Another easy one. Not only do the Buffs have every wide receiver who caught a ball last year returning, they have a host of others who will make earning a starting spot — and keeping it — a difficult task.
6. Is O-line ready to take another step forward?
With four returning starters and a fifth player who has plenty of experience, this group should no doubt not only improve, but be a group that sets the tone for the rest of the team.
7. Does RB Phillip Lindsay have another gear?
if anyone can make another significant jump, it is Lindsay.
8. Impact player on defense many folks have forgotten about.
Try senior outside linebacker Derek McCartney
9. So what about that defensive line?
While the position is definitely still an unknown, it is by no means one without potential.
10. Who has the edge in CU's opener?
Overall, it's probably a plus for the Buffs.
Agree or disagree with Woelk on these storylines and/or his answers? What other storylines are you guys wondering about?
Special teams, and specifically, place kicking is a story line to watch for me. Will the 90 year old Aussie kicker pan out?
in an interesting twist, this new kicker brings with him the ability to kick Aussie Football style - that is to say, he kicks with BOTH feet. I can't wait to see him punish the pigskin, get back up and do it again!
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I think you guys are projecting our placekicking woes across all special teams:
http://pac-12.com/content/football-statistics
In conference play:
5th in punting
4th in punt returns
7th in KO coverage
9th in FGs
12th in PATs (more misses than any other team)
Nothing to write home about there. If we expect to win the division again, we need to improve all of it. But it was really the FGs and PATs that were the sore spot, IMO.
http://pac-12.com/content/football-statistics
In conference play:
5th in punting
4th in punt returns
7th in KO coverage
9th in FGs
12th in PATs (more misses than any other team)
Nothing to write home about there. If we expect to win the division again, we need to improve all of it. But it was really the FGs and PATs that were the sore spot, IMO.
Dead last in net punting in 2016, Kinney needs to be better.
Howell mentioned it recently as well, but there have been a high number of blocked kicks over the last couple seasons as well.
Kinney has been too slow in getting punts off and hang time has been very inconsistent. I believe he's got an all-conference level leg, though. This is all about coaching and him working reps to gain consistency and build confidence. Potential is there to be excellent.
I think the most intense battle will be for the second corner position behind Oliver. Lots of young guys and wigley but there are different skill sets there for whatever direction they want to go. Dark horse is blackmon starting at nickel.
Not worried about the QB situation, sefo was highly highly inaccurate down the stretch last year and it was tough to watch.
Not worried about the QB situation, sefo was highly highly inaccurate down the stretch last year and it was tough to watch.
SIGBY, I'll take a more accurate and better running QB over one whose greatest attribute is his toughness, with the caveat that the playcallers stop treating the QB like a FB, so that is a highly questionable answer in #2.
How can that answer not clearly be the 3 NFL DBs that are no longer on the team? Im confident in the DBs ready to step in, but until they prove it, how can anyone even argue that the Secondary isn't the biggest hole to fill? The DL would have even been a more acceptable answer than QB toughness.
How can that answer not clearly be the 3 NFL DBs that are no longer on the team? Im confident in the DBs ready to step in, but until they prove it, how can anyone even argue that the Secondary isn't the biggest hole to fill? The DL would have even been a more acceptable answer than QB toughness.
HEY! I was told that there was very little risk of injury on the types of runs they had Sefo doing - no matter the amount of times we called it for him in any given game.
I'm more worried about the DLs than the DBs.
At safety, we've got Fisher and Fo with Moeller (probably starting at Buff) and then Worthington who was in line to start before his sabbatical. That's one of the most experienced groups we've ever had back there.
At cornerback, Oliver is the one guy on the team I believe could be a 1st round pick in next year's draft. Julmisse will be ready as a soph and Wigley is right there. Then there's Blackmon who I think will be our primary return guy to take over for Oliver (PR) and Julmisse (KR).
Wildcard for me is Miller. He's one of the freshmen who has the potential to start from day one.
I also left some guys out. This will be a great secondary. May take a few weeks to gel, but it's going to be among the best in the conference.
Yeah I'm confident, but the secondary made the defense what it was last year. Anytime you lose that kind of talent, at 3/4 positions in a group, I have to consider it he biggest hole, whether the guys ready to step in seem legit or not. But I agree, I'm more concerned about the DL.
What about pass rush?
In line with the dline, that has to be the biggest question on the team. Other than Gilbert last year, CU had a poor pass rush. We need multiple guys to step up in that department. I think they use the buff backer position more as a pass rush specialist, but I question whether that will work or not. We shall see.
The offense has a chance to be lethal this year, so not sure why anything there could be questioned other than oline progression. I am afraid if we can't get a consistent pass rush, this team will take a huge step back on defense.
In line with the dline, that has to be the biggest question on the team. Other than Gilbert last year, CU had a poor pass rush. We need multiple guys to step up in that department. I think they use the buff backer position more as a pass rush specialist, but I question whether that will work or not. We shall see.
The offense has a chance to be lethal this year, so not sure why anything there could be questioned other than oline progression. I am afraid if we can't get a consistent pass rush, this team will take a huge step back on defense.
DrunkRalphie
Well-Known Member
If Edwards and Mulumba can be in the ballpark of Tupou and Carrell at the beginning of the season and the linebackers can stay healthy they might have something to work with.
Ringer
Well-Known Member
Punt return team with Oliver might be very fun. Field goal kicking only needs to rise to median level to improve. If a hungry and fairly good offensive Colorado State doesn't upset the first game, the defense has a couple more easy nonconference games to get their legs under them and figure out where they are. This is the season to sustain a winning record and get into another bowl game after a decade of wandering in the wilderness.
Bufffan68
Club Member
Agreed. DL to me is the biggest question mark...then LB...then QB. I'm actually not too worried about the DBs...yes we lost a ton of talent and there should be a drop off, but the guys we have returning are pretty damn good... don't think it's reasonable to expect to have a top 3 pass defense every year.
This.
8Jah
Well-Known Member
1) Biggest question: How good will our defensive coordinator be
2) Biggest hole to fill: Agree its Sefo. That kind of leadership not easy to replace
3) Gamboa all the way. Depends on if we use the kid as a classic Ted like we should. See 1
4) Is Montez ready: Sefo lead and inspired even with cast on. How inspired will Oline play for Montez?
5) Position Battle: Receiver.
6) Oline: Maybe. worried about Center
7) Lindsay Better?: See #6
8) Agree
9) Defensive line: ton of raw talent. Jeffcoat good. Will take till mid season. See 1
2) Biggest hole to fill: Agree its Sefo. That kind of leadership not easy to replace
3) Gamboa all the way. Depends on if we use the kid as a classic Ted like we should. See 1
4) Is Montez ready: Sefo lead and inspired even with cast on. How inspired will Oline play for Montez?
5) Position Battle: Receiver.
6) Oline: Maybe. worried about Center
7) Lindsay Better?: See #6
8) Agree
9) Defensive line: ton of raw talent. Jeffcoat good. Will take till mid season. See 1
We need to stop kicking line drive punts to elite punt returners ASAP.
DexBuffsteen
Well-Known Member
We need to stop kicking line drive punts into the backs of our O-Linemen
BehindEnemyLines
beware the habu
We need to make first downs instead of hoping our punts are not an adventure.
