Hawkins leadership lacking

It would be easy to overreact and call for coach Dan Hawkins' head after an 0-2 start in 2009 and getting embarrassed by Toledo in every way Friday night. There are certainly good things that happened in the loss to the Rockets to be optimistic about but the reality is Hawkins is not going to make it as CU coach. The clock is ticking now on his demise.

Giving up horrendous amounts of points and yardage and to a non-power school, completing just about 50 percent of its' own passes, being shredded with ease is not progress, and neither was the loss to CSU a week prior.

CU has no excuse anymore. There is experience, there is more talent. There isn't, however, adequate leadership, coaching or development.

Hawkins might be forced out in Boulder by the end of 2009. He won't resign. Making it to 2010 is a possibility but would likely require a shocking turnaround. Anything less than a winning record is a major disappointment. Lose, say, seven games and the deed is done -- fired.

Wishing Hawkins a miraculous recovery on the field but not counting on it.

The next hire has to be the right one as the Buffs' program appears to be a sinking ship. Irrelevant.

Now on to Andy Staples of CNNSI.com and his viewpoint, which is as scathing or honest as any you'll read here.

Offensive woes not tied to Scott

Darrell Scott was a mega recruit of a running back who signed with Colorado, the most highly regarded talent at that position to end up in Boulder since Rashan Salaam.

A game into his sophomore season, all has been a disappointment, whether due to injuries, a lack of development, too much hype or a lack of coaching development.

Scott, who carried but once last week in an embarrassing loss to CSU, says he wants more opportunity to run the ball. You assume he was recruited to do such. He should be running the ball more. Of course, so should Rodney Stewart, so should CU.

The Buffs inability to dominate the ground last week was shocking and inexcusable. They are big and talented up front and despite digging themselves a hole on the scoreboard they should have been able to run effectively all game long.

Scott and Stewart are not the problem. The line takes some blame but not all of it. The Rams' defense gets credit but the coaching, the playcalling, takes the brunt of the criticism.

The Buffs need to run to win.

Even Cody Hawkins knows that deep down.

Does dad and offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau?

Hansen redshirt plans reveals problem

Tyler Hansen plans to redshirt this season, giving him two seasons to potentially start after Cody Hawkins uses up his eligibility as the Buffs starting quarterback. That Hansen is redshirting shows how much of a gap there is between him and Hawkins to start.

As uninspiring as Hawkins has been as a playmaker, not all of it his fault, he still has a stranglehold on the starter's job, which is not good for the offense, the team nor quarterback recruiting. Hansen has mobility and a decent arm but he's obviously a minimal threat to Hawkins.

While I doubt Hansen makes it through the year redshirting him doing so might be beneficial to him and the team if he actually develops his talent.

Freshman Clark Evans, big and raw, also plans to redshirt.

Both quarterbacks might be playing for a new head coach unless the man on top of the depth chart wills this team to a winning season in 2009.

Doubt growing stronger on Hawkins coaching

A loss to Colorado State, a program CU always views as inferior, makes it easy to hate on Dan Hawkins' coaching and assume the rest of the season will be frightful. While that might actualize itself, the Buffs could still show composure, prove it can play this funny game and win enough games to qualify for and win a bowl game.

But the odds are slim.

CU seemingly had every advantage going into this game -- experienced quarterbacking, a stable of talented running backs, a speed receiver and scattered talent on defense. This was Hawkins chance to show the program was much improved.

A loss to a well-coached Rams' team shot holes in Hawkins' approach and coaching and only amplifies the discontent out there with his leadership.

The season isn't over but unless the coach can get his team to make a complete about face in game 2, the FireDanHawkinsNow.com web sites will soon appear, the boosters will be screaming for his head and the Zen master might soon know the end is at the end of the season. Athletic director Mike Bohn doesn't want this hire to be proven wrong so he's standing by his man, but with doubt you can be sure.

The why for the case of Buffs over Rams

The Buffs and CSU are ready again for the next round of in-state kickoff football.

Why CU should win and by two touchdowns:

1. A talented, developing offensive line.

2. More quarterback talent and experience.

3. No Gartrell Johnson.

4. Experienced backs, talented backs in Rodney Stewart and Darrell Scott.

5. Confidence

Pericak overtakes Goree before opener

Eugene Goree's accomplishment of being named a starter on the CU defensive line was a short one, as less than a week, as Will Pericak has been moved ahead of Goree by position coach Romeo Bandison.

Goree must be good enough to play. Pericak, however, must provide the fire in the belly and mentality CU needs out of the gate in 2009.

This is a good sign that there is talent and competition for starting spots, less of a gap between the starter and the backup.

Promise you Pericak doesn't want to give up his spot and Goree is not happy about losing his starting crown. That's could be bad news for opposing offenses and good news for the Buffaloes' defense.

Klopefenstein done in St. Louis

Former CU tight end Joe Klopfenstein, a second round draft choice of St. Louis in 2006, was cut after three seasons with the team.

Klopfenstein had size (6-5, 262), quickness and hands when he left Boulder but those measurables never translated into NFL success (33 catches in 48 games). It was a surprising disappointment for the Rams and followers of CU players in the pros.

Bottom Line -- Klopfenstein hasn't lost his size or skill and he appears relatively healthy. With a strong mindset to overcome this setback he could still, if matched with the right team, develop and become a solid backup at least, if not a quality second-tier starter.

CU starters bring questions

Any strong defense has to have a skilled and physical front line and the people who will have to get all that done for CU to start the season are relative unknowns.

Marquez Herrod and Lagrone Shields will man the end positions with Eugene Goree and Curtis Cunningham in the middle.

Herrod and Shields have pass rushing ability but are they tough enough and good enough to make plays as quarterback hunters and run stoppers? Goree has size, Cunningham has tenacity but can they stand up to often bigger offensive lineman, make plays and set the table for the linebackers to eat?

Heat hotter on coach in 2009

The Denver daily is talking CU coach Dan Hawkins this Sunday, talking about the pressure on the Buffs' leader to produce. They're right.

Hawkins cannot afford another sub-standard year. Yes, athletic director Mike Bohn is in Hawkins corner and apparently former CU coach Bill McCartney is too (so am I) but for the good Hawkins is doing (recruiting, culture) he is simply not winning enough or fast enough and the lid of discontent is going to be blown off come December if the Buffs don't show themselves as a Big 12 North power again.

I don't see the Buffs competing with Kansas or Nebraska in 2009 but being within a game of the leaders, working hard to get a leg up on Missouri again would be helpful. Hawkins can't sleep well at night with a season that produces less than 7 regular season wins. If he want's to be able to have any peace at all amongst the majority of the Buff faithful he better put an 8-spot of wins up on the board, regular season plus bowl victory. That would buy him some fan support.

There is adequate talent to win in Boulder now. It's not overwhelming talent but improved. Injuries to higher profile players and off-the-field bugaboos continue to be a problem but they are obstacles that must be overcome.

The Buffs should be a better running, better run offense. If the receivers step up there is hope for some explosive game days. The defense and special teams are still question marks. Not necessarily negative units, just unknown. Hawkins too is unknown but he and new offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau must shine in '09 for there to be a happy household of Buff followers.

Henderson's view

John Henderson of the Denver daily wrote an in-depth piece that at first glance was attacked by sensitive CU fans. However, Henderson's work stands strong in that storm. It is not, as one poster wrote, an assassination piece. Was it slanted? Probably. But it is the prevailing thought amongst many followers of the program. When was the last time you saw Dan Hawkins for governor sign? Some interesting points to Henderson's article were former CU quarterback Bobby Pesavento's 100 proof statements about being impatient for success, Bohn's refusal to give Hawkins a 100 percent endorsement and former Buff quarterback Joel Klatt's statesments about the offensive approach last season.

Some might attack Henderson but there are many more uncomfortable with Hawkins production.

Hawkins secret is no secret

Buffs coach Dan Hawkins is telling the media that he won't publicly name a starter at quarterback before the season opener against Colorado State.

Any educated follower or fan of the Buffs already knows who the starter is going to be, hands down.

Commander Cody, the offspring of Misti and Dan.

Tyler Hansen is not mentally ready to take Cody's job so he will likely sit all game long unless the game develops into a blowout on one side or another, Lil' Hawkins gets hurt or offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau goes for a little, as Reece Davis of ESPN says, trickeration.

Scott and Stewart key to offense

Darrell Scott and Rodney "Speedy" Stewart must carve up defenses behind a big, healthy, effective offensive line for CU's offense to score points and this team to have a chance to win games.

If the running game is cranked up, whomever Colorado throws out there at quarterback -- Cody Hawkins or Tyler Hansen -- is skilled enough to complete enough passes to keep the offense moving.

The more successful the backs the less pronounced the quarterbacks' warts, whether those lack in size, arm strength, mobility or ability.

Scott and Stewart, if healthy are more than capable backs. Throw in Demtrius Sumler as a relief pitcher and you have a solid start.

Coach Dan Hawkins may not have all the talent he needs to contend for a Big 12 championship but it's clear he has more talent than he's ever had in Boulder. He should feel optimistic, even if guardedly so.

Hawkins still an unknown

Cody Hawkins is smart. He breathes football. He cares about winning. He works hard. He's easy to like. We get it. So does this reporter. The issue for CU is does Hawkins have enough talent around him to help the quarterback drive this offense and does Hawkins have enough physical skills, as in mobility and arm strength, to get detractors off his back?

Those are questions that to this today are still unanswered. The good news is that sometime this season fans (see: fanatics) and followers both gain a better understanding on whether Commander Cody is top shelf quality or a dime-store knockoff.

The book here says that Hawkins can be loved by many if the talent around him is better and with the backs (Darrell Scott, Rodney Stewart) and offensive line the Buffs have, there is hope. The question is can the tight ends (Ryan Deehan) and wideouts (Markques Simas, Andre Simmons especially) step up and become campus heroes.

Simmons gets into school, quarterbacks better

In a shocker of shockers, a junior college recruit has been cleared to play football for the Buffaloes. No, this isn't unprecedented news, just a rare gift. The present is a big, fast and talented wide receiver, Andre Simmons, who could very well be that field stretcher and pass grabber to greatly aid the Buffs' offense, giving it an outside explosive presence to go with the numerous possession receivers on the roster.

Coach Dan Hawkins has seen his trials in Boulder so this is a real positive. In Markques Simas ever decides that football is a priority, at least enough of one to get on the field during a game to show what all the hype was about, then CU might have the size and talent at the position they've lacked for a while.

Success often comes in small steps. Getting Simmons into CU was a small, but important step toward success.

One thing is for certain -- quarterbacks Cody Hawkins and Tyler Hansen just got a lot better today.