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RB Scott still hindered by injury
LAWRENCE, Kan. --- There seemed to be some confusion following the Colorado football team's loss at Kansas about the health of running back Darrell Scott.
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He was nowhere to be found after a first-quarter run on which he gained 4 yards.
Coach Dan Hawkins said Scott was not suffering from effects of a sprained ankle suffered last week against Texas, but running backs coach Darian Hagan offered a different assessment.
"Darrell Scott is not healthy, and until he gets healthy, he can't help us," Hagan said. "One week it's his knee. Last week, it's his ankle, and it carried over to this week."
Scott was voted the Big 12 Conference newcomer of the year prior to the season following his highly publicized recruitment from high school in Southern California. But outside of a few flashes early in the season, Scott has been overshadowed by fellow freshman running back Rodney Stewart and hasn't been much of a factor during the Buffs' three-game losing streak.
"Somehow, some way, we've got to get that guy going," Hagan said. "It's not anything we can do but encourage him and keep his head on straight and not get frustrated with him. You know, when the freshman wakes up, he'll wake up."
Scott said his ankle was too sore to play on Saturday and he realized it after his only carry. Since the middle of fall camp, he has suffered a groin injury, a hyperextended knee and the sprained ankle.
Scott said he has never had so many injuries in one season and is feeling snakebitten.
"I should bounce back for next week," Scott said. "I'm just waiting for next weekend and hopefully we can get three more wins so we can go to a bowl game."
With half of his freshman season gone, Scott has rushed 42 times for 156 yards, a far cry from the 1,000-yard pace he was hoping for in the summer. Scott was asked if he is beginning to feel like his freshman season is becoming a wasted year.
"It's not a wasted season," Scott said. "It's ups and downs and that's football. I'm used to it. I'm getting adapted to it and I just got to bounce back from this ankle injury."
Goree stays on defense
Colorado coaches used redshirt freshman Eugene Goree at his normal defensive tackle spot on Saturday after moving him to offensive line during practices in the week leading up to the game.
Goree said the plan remains for him to move to offense, but he and coaches agreed he wasn't ready to be thrown into a game on the offensive side with just a few days of practice at guard under his belt.
"I talked to the coaches and we both felt like I wasn't ready to be thrown into a game situation," Goree said. "So we're just going to work more at it next week and see where I come out at."
Both Dan Hawkins and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said the offensive line performed better Saturday, but Helfrich said coaches will keep working for improvement.
"We're going to continue to circulate some guys through there and create some competition and find a couple more solid answers," Helfrich said.
1,000-yard man
Wide receiver Josh Smith contributed 198 all-purpose yards in the game, giving him 1,016 all-purpose yards for the season.
Smith, who returns punts and kickoffs in addition to his duties on offense, is on pace for more than 2,000 yards in his sophomore campaign, especially if he continues to produce days like Saturday, when he came up with three plays of more than 30 yards. He has 10 plays of 30 yards or more this season.
Mellow yellow
The Buffs were being flagged at an alarming rate to start the season but have taken control of the problem in recent weeks and finished Saturday's game with just two penalties. It was the fewest flags thrown against the Buffs since playing penalty free against Texas Tech in 2006.
Notable
Ryan Walters led the Buffs with 12 tackles and Shaun Mohler was credited with 10. ... Cody Hawkins threw the second interception of his career in the red zone, bringing his career ratio of touchdowns to interceptions in the red zone to 24-2. ... The Buffs are now 1-15 on the road against ranked opponents since the start of Big 12 play in 1996. ... Redshirt freshman wide receiver Jason Espinoza played for the first time in his career fielding punts. He didn't have the best day though, muffing one late in the game and allowing another to hit the ground and bounce for a 77-yard boot. ... The Colorado marching band traveled to Lawrence and performed at halftime.
Posted by BuffMan6236 on October 12, 2008 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We need an extra body on the O-line. Drop the five man lines for now and add two tight ends so we can get some run blocking on the line. And run out of the I.
With the injuries, we can't run the whole offense yet, so get back to basics so we can run and set up at least some play action.
Posted by flabuff227 on October 12, 2008 at 1:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Buffman6236- Very good idea... i gotta a better one!
Lets see how many people say that scott is gonna transfer. Im gueesing the majority that don't pay attention... I'll take the over
Posted by Buffaloed on October 12, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I like Darrell's attitude. Even injured he was carrying a pile when he made the four yard gain. Hang in there!
Posted by 1GoBuffs1 on October 12, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep your head up Darrell! We will get this thing turned around as soon as we get a quarterback, a receiver (or two) who gets open, an offensive line, and a new OC. "we are a lot closer than people think".
Posted by nolanjp on October 12, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
even if scott is healthy, hawkins still doesn't play him, that is why scott is going to transfer. you don't want to be a running back in this joke of an offense
Posted by nepabuff on October 12, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Scott is probably regretting not answering Colt's phone calls last febuary.
Posted by 20buff on October 12, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sure sounds like mixed signals coming from Hagan about Scott. Is he injured, or is his head on crooked, or does he still need to wake up? If he is injured, maybe he refuses to haul sand in a wheelbarrow to please the drill instructor of a strength coach. Just wondering like everybody else. Hope it all works out in the end for Darrell.
Posted by WhosYourDaddy on October 12, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hawk says he isn't injured! Scott says he is injured! Hagan doesn't know if he's injured, and implies something else is going on!
This ship is looking more and more like it has no captain.
Posted by 1980sBuff on October 12, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for at least writing the article. It's good to have an update. Now if we could dig a bit deeper and find out what Hagen seems to be saying between the lines we might really find out what's up.
Not that the boat needs to be rocked or anything...it doesn't.
Posted by BuffTime on October 12, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did any of you nay-sayers ever read the article? Hagan didn't say Scott needed to "get his head on straight" he said they need to "keep his head on straight" as in don't let him get down on himself.
He also wasn't talking about him "waking up" as in attitude, he is talking about him waking up and performing to his potential when healthy. As I've said in several posts before, Scott is injured most likely from not being in top shape and try to play and compete against people who are in top shape. I think it was a big mistake to use him in any game until he was in top shape and blowing people away in practice to the point you couldn't keep him out of the game anymore. If he hadn't played in the first month of games he might have had a chance to get into game shape and learn more of his assignments coming into his first game. I think physically he was rushed before he was ready.
Posted by BuffTime on October 12, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BTW, BuffMan6236, I think you are spot on. We need to use more TEs and blockers in general to help out the O-line. We don't have the healthy bodies on the line to spread things out like we would like to.
Posted by ilikeseeyou on October 12, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wait a minute, I could totally be wrong but wasn't that Josh Smith that let that 77 yard punt fly over his head? I saw espinoza muff that one later, but if that was also him on the 77 yarder I owe Josh Smith an apology for yelling a bunch of mean stuff through the TV at him.
Could someone verify what it says in the article for me?
Posted by BlackAndGold on October 12, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is my take
1) Scott spent the summer chase'n the muff' around. A disappointment and something you can't do if you are expecting to be the go to guy as a freshman. If you are going to USC...sure, there are 9 RB's in front of you. Scott been forced to elevate his game to the D1 level, out of shape. Hence the injuries. I say he has a 60(against)/40(for) chance of making an impact this season. (We should have redshirted him when we realized what DIDN"T show up to camp. ...a wasted year of eligibility.)
2) Without making any impact on the field this season (which he has yet to do), courting top D1 schools for transfer will not be a lay-up, but I think the transfer is a possibility. (Coaches will question his commitment and ask why he showed up to CU out of shape knowing the team was going to be looking to him as the go-to RB.)
3) Our receivers SUCK !!!! No real talent or play-maker/go-to player has emerged from that group since Hawk has been coaching. We've seen brief glimpses of talent, but no one at that position remains consistent. Who is coaching these guys? Seems like we're coddling them. You drop a ball and your @#s is grass...the player is running stairs at 6AM!
4) Build the team around what you have. Rodney Stewart is the only talent on the offensive side of the ball. He is the break-out player. We need someone else to step-up for short yardage situations. Stack the line with TE's. We have several tight ends on the roster...USE THEM !!! (and with a subpar OL, the extra boddies will help...its football, there's something to be said for having more boddies in one place.) And, like I said, the receivers suck...so we really don't have much of a choice but to do this.
5) Give Cody a shot at running a run based offense. If he can't handle it., he's out.
6) Ballenger is slow and tracks his receivers. I was not even impressed. He's not ready.
7) Lets get a look a t Nelson next time Cody needs to take a seat. The guy is 22? 23? years old. Ballenger is a kid. Nelson had success at the JUCO level...he's played a lot more football than Ballenger...its not D1, but he just has more reps. I don't know the guy, but there hasn't to be some more maturity because of his age.
Rodney Stewart is our guy (Its unfortunate that the best talent on the team wasn't even seriously recruited by MAC schools). I would love to see this guy pin-balling, spinning, and sprinting down the field. (And we'd at least have something entertaining to watch!!!)
Posted by BuffTime on October 12, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I also thought it was J Fly on that muffed 77 yarder.. though admittedly I only assumed it was him because he is the one who has been back there almost every return. It could have been Espinoza I guess...
I really like the idea of putting in the TE's and even using the fullbacks on more plays to block and open holes. Both are also pass eligible. Use Speedy and the occasional WR and rumble through the rest of the games as a running team that passes occasionally. If e're the only team in the Big 12 playing that way then the opposing teams will not have practiced against it much if at all. We should use that to our advantage.
Posted by BlackAndGold on October 12, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Adding more to #4
4) Even if we had talented receivers (which we don't), we don't have an O-line to create the pass protection any QB on the roster would need.
Posted by vegasbufffan on October 12, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bufftime:
The negative hotheads, or the troll flamers do not read. If they did they would not have a point to make, nor would they be rushing to drivel these desperate posts.
Posted by vegasbufffan on October 12, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Fabbuff:
Your repeated cries to get a reaction from us about DS leaving has been ignored for a reason.
We all know DS is more level headed and stable then you or the nebraska trolls.
Posted by BuffTime on October 12, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
vegas, I know the hotheads are not being rational and truth be told I am less replying for their benefit as I am replying to them for those who might otherwise be taken in with their non-sense absent any other opinion or facts. Some people will never change (mostly because they could care less) I just don't want casual readers thinking they really represent the base of Buff fans.
Posted by buff4life on October 12, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
.........young buffaloes growing up........stay strong.........IN HAWK WE TRUST...........go buffs........shoulder2shoulder........
Posted by BUFFSFANEAST on October 12, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought he was finally healthy? Maybe i read the the wrong story either way it dosent matter play quaterback a loss next week im most likely throwing in the towel on the season sorry never thought id said that this year. Lets go buffs.
Posted by vegasbufffan on October 12, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks BuffTime agreed 100% buff4life you too, lets ignore the trolls and stick to supporting the great institution CU represents.
Stick to talking about football and our team accept its victories and losses and F the nebraska trolls.
Posted by dpease on October 12, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was Josh Smith and not Espinoza on the missed 77 yard punt - Ringo has it wrong in this article.
This team is hard to watch but I will continue to watch regardless b/c I still think that this team is headed in the right direction.
My question is what happened to the TEs? Do they not get open anymore?
GO BUFFS!
Posted by nolanjp on October 12, 2008 at 4:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
it doesn't matter if the tight ends get open or not, cody can't hit them or see them
Posted by buff4life on October 12, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
at least during these times the "fair weathered" chump fans get exposed.....i just wish most of you would just turn in your black and gold cuz you make me sick and when we start winning with hawk you chumps be the first ones jumping around like chearleaders talking about "go buffs, that's my team!!!'...every program has sorry "band wagon" fans like donny in tucson, arent there teams in arizona for you to watch?, you "fair weathered chump". and drinking the "koolaid" is soooo early 2000's....
Posted by clesquibel on October 12, 2008 at 5:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You guys are right...it was Josh Smith who watched that ball sail over his head. For all of his explosiveness, his mental lapses every game almost negate the plays he does make. I think he's kind of a head case.
Posted by buffalo_flyer on October 12, 2008 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
fair weathered fans gets exposed and a slew of new "tough, honest" fans suddenly pop up. wonder where fishy was just a month ago?
Posted by BlackAndGold on October 12, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't call us "fair weathered"...if we were, we wouldn't be posting assessments of the team. A fair weather fan ignores there team until they are successful.
Posted by vkberlinn on October 12, 2008 at 7:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bf We were watching and trusting that you and your blind rah rah would make it happen. Sorry you fail.
uh oh buffaloes
Posted by buffalo_flyer on October 12, 2008 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
still not exacly sure what you're trying to say vk
you're right B&G you have some valid points and shouldn't be included in the group of flunkies
Posted by vegasbufffan on October 12, 2008 at 8:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Black & gold:
You are right a "fair weathered" fan ignores the team..... if he is stable and has no agenda to grind his axe several times a day.
Posted by BlackAndGold on October 12, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
...axe to grind? dude...what are you smoking, the offense sucks...the receivers are awful....there is not a guy in that group that has become a playmaker...they are boring to watch. If the OL can't cut it...get a FB or some TE"s in there...fix the problem!
do you have a problem calling a spade a spade? do you complain to your kids teacher that he should have got an A when he got a C. people in competitive environments need to know when they are not meeting expectations. and these people are falling short...big salaries and scholarships is what the university provides them. so we in return expect signs of improvement. (what the hell have the guys at the two deep position been doing...this is football...did they think they were going to be riding barca loungers while the first string guys won 7-8 games this season!) and Scott showing up to school out of shape...what?!!!...Hagan, bro, that's your fault...no excuse.
and i like Hawk, a lot. and have met Bohn personally. i think they are studs. i want them to succeed. i just think its time to turn off the Hawk love. (because its not working!) if it was...i'd say stick with it...get it.
AND, you can lose and still show progress. that's not what we saw Saturday.
Posted by buffalobilly on October 13, 2008 at 6:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Right on Buff4life........Like I've posted,been watching these guys since Sonny Grandelius and the rest of them. Hawk is doing it his way. Like it or not. The program will only benefit in the end....unlike Barnetts efforts. One thing that is worrisome to me and that is play selection. I often wonder what the hey is Helfrich thinking? He may need to go after this yr, if not before.
Posted by divineorder on October 13, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Who is the special teams coach? Wonder if anyone has worked with Josh Smith on kneeling in the end zone and fielding punts. Josh Smith has great talent, however, he doesn't seem to have the fundamentals down when fielding kickoffs and punts. Surely, someone will work on this with him....I hope.
Also, I wonder what made D. Scott think he didn't have to come in top shape. That makes no sense...hopefully, Darian Hagan will make an impression on him.
Posted by buffalotom on October 13, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dpease, on TEs:
neither of our upperclass TEs are the type of receivers we need at this point. deehan, the true frosh shows promise, wallace also is the tall/lean/lanky type of TE that has worked well for us when we've had shorter qbs (about 6'6" or 7"). one reason the o is so bad - and cody is having a hard time - is the void left by devree - tall, long arms, good hands - easy to see for a shorter qb, always able to get open, and able to reach balls that may be a little off target. i was hoping solder, 6'9", would be that guy but the dearth of talent in the oline necessitated his move to left tackle. there have been a few key passes to devinney and geer that were just a bit too high for them - a relatively easy catch for a taller tight end.
Posted by midwestbuff on October 14, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is the problem with recruiting and all the hype. We the "fans", put our expectations at unreasonable levels. The majority of fans can't walk and chew gum at the same time, let alone do what these athletes can do. We need to sit down, shut up, and enjoy the game. This team is being built from the ground up, and I for one, can't wait to see the the rewards in a year or two. Keep your head up Darrell and keep working. Once this O-line and offense clicks, you'll be dancing up and down the field at will.
Go Hawk & Go Buffs
Posted by BlackAndGold on October 14, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
MidwestBuff....since you are the expert, how would you explain returning offensive players not growing? Sumler? Moyd? The receivers? Or, back-up players showing they are not ready to back-up another player? How do you explain terrible special teams play? Or, how would you explain not playing to where the talent is (Stewart)? Or using your TE's for blocking (cause the receivers couldn't catch a cold)? And what the hell happened to Nelson? Did we waste a scholarship on that guy? Ballenger is a boy amongst men.
We don't have unreasonable expectations. The AD clearly doesn't have unreasonable expectations. No one thought we were going to go 11-0. But we definitely did expect some growth from the players 2 and 3 years on the roster. Seeing no real skill growth from returning players on the offensive side means the coaching is bad or the players are awful or both.
Its time for DH to put Rick Neusheisel's guitar away and start demanding more from these players. The "Hawk" love fest is over.
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