Slow starts have plagued the Colorado football team almost all season, and the Buffs don`t seem to have any answers for fixing the problem.
CU has been outscored 64-27 in the first quarter this year, and the Buffs haven`t scored more than once in the opening quarter of any game.
It`s a trend that has the team and its coaching staff doing some soul searching. Several players have said some of their teammates have to find a way to play with more confidence. Meanwhile, the slow starts have frustrated fans believing coaches aren`t doing a good job preparing the team.
Coach Dan Hawkins said it isn`t for lack of trying different ideas and methods.
“I`ve tried to pull more rabbits out of the hat in this deal than I`ve done in 25 years of coaching,” he said Sunday after the team held a correct and review session and a short scrimmage for those who did not play in Saturday`s 36-17 loss to Missouri.
Hawkins teaches his team to keep an even emotional keel as much as possible throughout the season. One of his favorite sayings is “stay off the mountain top and out of the valley.” But does that philosophy rob his team of some of the emotion it needs to be successful, particularly at the start of games?
Hawkins said he doesn`t believe so when asked about the possibility Sunday. But he also acknowledged that coaches and players are only human and do ride an emotional rollercoaster at times, especially during a season like this.
“We`re not always like that necessarily,” Hawkins said. “I mean, you`re not within the bowels of the program. There are highs and lows. There is some of that kind of stuff.”
The past week for Hawkins was a solid example. He made an effort to open up and loosen up during his weekly press conference last week and during practices, but was faced once again with managing the disappointment of an ugly loss Saturday. His team is now dealing with the reality that its next loss will eliminate it from the postseason for the third time in four years under Hawkins` leadership.
Hawkins said he takes full responsibility for where his team stands and how the season has gone.
“I do. It`s all on me,” he said. “Ultimately, that`s what it comes down to. No question. That`s the nature of it. I don`t shirk that all.”
There are problems to be addressed in every area of the team, but of particular concern are the offensive line and another trend in which CU seems to be allowing a big play or making a big mistake in the kicking game each week.
Against Missouri, the Buffs allowed a successful fake field because of a missed tackle, despite having prepared for the exact fake play Missouri used.
It was the third time in the past four games the Buffs have made a significant special teams mistake. There was a fumbled punt a week earlier at Kansas State, and a punt return for a touchdown as well as a blocked punt returned for a score at Texas.
Against Missouri, the offensive line gave up eight sacks, the most allowed by the Buffs in a game since 1984. It also led to a total of minus-14 rushing yards, which fell two shy of tying the CU record for worst output in a game.
“You just have to keep grinding them,” Hawkins said. “It`s a case of part emotion, part experience, part communication, all that. I think they`ve played pretty good at times against pretty good defensive lines. Missouri was another one. We definitely have to have some consistency there. No question.”
Colorado is now tied with Washington State at 114th in the nation in rushing out of 120 teams. The Buffs are averaging 76 yards a game and 2.4 yards per carry.
Kasa update
Hawkins said freshman defensive end Nick Kasa has mononucleosis and an enlarged spleen. Kasa told the Camera after Saturday`s game that he would not play again this season and Hawkins confirmed that Sunday.
Hawkins said the program will submit paperwork in hopes the NCAA will grant Kasa a medical hardship season, but it is probably unlikely. The NCAA requires that a player does not participate in more than 30 percent or four games (because it rounds up not down) of the season.
Generally speaking, Hawkins said the rule applies to the first four games of the year. Kasa was injured and missed the first three games this season and played in games 4-7.
“He`s kind of outside the window,” Hawkins said. “But like a lot of kids who transfer and do things like that, you never know based on his situation because it is unique.”
Notable
Hawkins said it remains possible that offensive lineman Max Tuioti-Mariner could play this season. Tuioti-Mariner used his redshirt season last year after suffering a torn ACL.
He returned from that injury only to tear his ACL in the opposite knee during winter conditioning.
“He`s just got to get some consistency in a lot of areas,” Hawkins said.
