Colorado Buffaloes

2007 Review

After a 2-10 mark in his first year on the job in 2006, led Colorado to six wins and the Independence Bowl last season. The highlight of last season was a memorable comeback win over Oklahoma in Boulder, where the Buffs battled back from a 24-7 lead to win 27-24 on Kevin Eberhart’s last-second field goal. The other big highlight of the season was the season finale against rival Nebraska, in which Colorado was down 35-24 at halftime, but blitzed the Huskers in the second half, outscoring them 41-16 to win a 65-51 shootout, which not only clinched six wins and a bowl berth, but also brought a rather humiliating end to Bill Callahan’s tenure at Nebraska.

In the Independence Bowl, Colorado faced fellow 6-6 team Alabama, and after falling behind 27-0 in the second quarter, mounted a comeback that would ultimately fall just short, as the Tide squeaked out a 30-24 victory.

Starters Returning: 14 (6 offense, 7 defense, punter)

Key Returnees: QB , WR , WR Josh Smith, WR , C , DT , NT , LB , FS , SS

Key Losses: RB Hugh Charles, TE , LB Jordon Dizon, LB Brad Jones, CB Terrence Wheatley, CB Benjamin Burney (medical redshirt)

Key Newcomers: RB , LB Lynn Katoa (out for season – injury), LB Jon Major (out for season – injury)

Names to Remember

Offense

1. Cody Hawkins, QB, Soph.: Give him schtick about being the coach’s son, but Hawkins’ talent speaks for itself. He had a solid first season at the helm, throwing for 3,015 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. If he can get the interceptions down (17 in 2007) and turn up the accuracy (56.4%), he’s in for a monster year.

2. Darrell Scott, RB, Fr.: The #1 running back prospect in the 2008 class may have surprised some when he picked Colorado, but it’s a decision that will pay off for both the Buffs’ offense and Scott, as he should make a significant impact this season.

3. Josh Smith, WR, Soph.: Colorado’s receiving corps doesn’t exactly have a ‘star’ name, but Smith might be their best big-play weapon. Last year, Smith had only 23 catches, but they went for 451 yards, an average of 19.6 yards per catch, and you can expect those numbers to get a big increase (and for him to get his first touchdown) as he‘s slated to be in a full-time starting role this year.

Defense

1. George Hypolite, DT, Sr.: Hypolite is a preseason All-American and on the watch list for the Bednarik, Lombardi, Lott, Nagurski, and Outland trophies. The 6’1, 290 pounder led the team in sacks last season, and he and fellow tackle Brandon Nicolas will be the Buffs’ most regular playmakers in the backfield.

2. Ryan Walters, FS, Sr.: Walters, who began his collegiate career as a quarterback, has developed into one of the ’s top free safeties. He’ll be counted on to make a lot of plays for the Buffs this season, much like he did in the Independence Bowl, when he had eight tackles, a sack, and an interception that kick-started Colorado’s comeback from a 27-0 first-half deficit.

3. D.J. Dykes, SS, Sr.: Dykes was second on the team last season with 83 tackles, and with some turnover at the corner positions, he and Walters will be the backbone of the defensive backfield.

Eddie’s Essentials

1. Limit offensive mistakes: Last season, Hawkins threw 17 interceptions, and the Buffs committed 27 turnovers total in 13 games. Making two turnovers per game can make a big difference in those close games, and can put you in a hole that you can’t get out of.

2. Avoid the injury bug: Already, Colorado will be without several key players due to injury, and with a number of holes they have to fill as is, they can ill afford to take too many more hits to the depth chart, especially along the offensive line and the secondary.

3. Strong pass defense: The Big 12 is full of talented quarterbacks who will be airing it out plenty, and while not having Wheatley would’ve been a big enough loss in itself, losing Burney (multiple surgeries) for the entire year only piles it on. But, there is certainly potential in the secondary, as both and Cha’pelle Brown have starting experience, and Colorado’s safety unit is one of the best in the conference.

2008 Schedule

8/31 vs. Colorado State – Double-Digit Win
9/6 vs. Eastern Washington – Blowout Win
9/18 vs. West Virginia – Close Loss
9/27 vs. Florida State (Jacksonville) – Double-Digit Loss
10/4 vs. Texas – Close Win
10/11 at Kansas – Double-Digit Loss
10/18 vs. Kansas State – Close Win
10/25 at Missouri – Double-Digit Loss
11/1 at Texas A&M – Close Loss
11/8 vs. Iowa State – Double-Digit Win
11/15 vs. Oklahoma State – Close Win
11/28 at Nebraska – Close Loss

Projected Record: 6-6, 4-4 Big 12 – Potentially good enough to get them into a bowl game again, but they might not be as fortunate this time around.

Best-Case Record: 8-4, 5-3 Big 12 – If they could upset West Virginia and beat either Texas A&M and Nebraska on the road, they could be in for an eight-win season.

Worst-Case Record: 4-8, 2-6 Big 12 – Take away toss-ups against Texas and Oklahoma State, and they could take that dreaded step back.

Swing Games: 10/4 vs. Texas, 10/18 vs. Kansas State, 11/1 at Texas A&M, 11/15 vs. Oklahoma State

Upset Alert: 9/18 vs. West Virginia – It doesn’t always have to be an upset that they have to watch for, so I’m looking at this one as an upset the Mountaineers might need to watch out for.

Key Game(s): Oct. 4 vs. Texas – Last season, it was Oklahoma. This season, it could be Texas. If they could pull it off, it could help shape the Big 12 South race, considering that Texas Tech may need OU or Texas to pick up another loss along the way if they want to win the division or at least get second (and a really, really favorable bowl position), and that could be it for the Longhorns.

Quick Out-look

For Colorado to make a second straight postseason appearance, they’re going to have to overcome a very daunting schedule and not sink to the bottom of a North that should see improved teams from Iowa State, Kansas State, and Nebraska, and continued success for Missouri and Kansas.

The offense should be very productive, but that will depend in part on how well an offensive line that is breaking in some new starters can gel. Hawkins should put up great numbers again, and even though he doesn’t have a Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin in his receiving corps, he has plenty of guys to spread the ball around to. Scott will figure in prominently, but he won’t have to be a workhorse (at least initially), with an experienced back in Demetrius Sumler already in the backfield.

On defense, the front seven will make a lot of plays, even without Jordon Dizon and their highly-rated linebacker recruits. The wild card will be the secondary. We know that the safety positions are set in stone and can be counted on, provided Walters and Dykes are both injury-free, but the new full-timers at corner will have to step up and hold their own against some very talented receivers.

Pulling off an upset or winning one of the road games against either Texas A&M or Nebraska could be the difference in the Buffaloes finishing 5-7 and out of postseason contention and being at least 6-6, break even in the Big 12, and with a shot at a bowl berth. However, depending on how deep the North is and how things shake out in the South, they may need to be 7-5 to assure themselves of the postseason.

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