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Grading the Buffs (Lack of) Performance: Missouri Tigers vs Colorado Buffaloes

Guess what, I am not going to go into a lot of detail here at all. You know why, because it is a failure across the board. You look at the "Keys to the Game" and then what the Buffs actually did Saturday, I, at least, chuckled. Just a pathetic effort and display. Before Saturday, most fans were in the corner of the Buffs, still somewhat optimistic that with all the youth, injuries, tough schedule...you name it, the Buffs were on the right track. After this weekend's game, I judge from you, the readers comments, and media outlets that many are growing very impatient. Each and every one of our prides were kicked in the face Saturday night. I think we all felt the punch to the gut that deflated our sails and sent us into a mode of questioning. I wish I could be at practice this week to see how Hawk is preparing these guys. Is there anger, accountability, frustration, pride on this team? I am beginning to question that. I question it because I don't see a leader. A gravitating voice among the players to call a team meeting and talk player on player. No one to set the forum to air things out and challenged the will of teammates. I don't see that player. That is the player who would get guys on the team excited during the game and motivated on the sidelines...again I don't see it. This team needs to find a leader...better said, someone needs to step up and become the leader.  The Texas A&M game will show us if this team has packed it in. 

 

The grades to Saturday's game after the jump....

Star-divide

 

CU logoStop the Missouri Running Game: The stats don't lie on this one. Games where Missouri has won: they averaged 193 yards on the ground. Games they have lost: 47 yards. 

  • Missouri rushed for 189 yards on 33 carries (5.8ypc) which was more than 5 ypc better than what they averaged against Texas and 2 ypc better than what they averaged against Oklahoma State. The 5.8 ypc was above what Mizzou has averaged for the year. The offense/special teams did not help the defense once again but the defensive game plan was bad enough to place most of the blame directly on the D.

    Buffs Grade: F

CU logoThe Air Up There: The Buffs have to be able to make headway through the passing game. Which means play Tyler Hansen the whole game. If Hanson gets hot and exposes a defense that is giving up 287 yards a game, the Buffs may just score more than 14 points this week. Mizzou is a superior team, to beat a superior team you have to do superior things.

  • Well, that was a bunch of hot air. Shame on me for having faith in the Buffs offense for getting better in the passing game overnight. I must have had too much kool-aid to drink after a win. Shame on me for thinking Stryker Sulak wouldn't tee up on the offensive line. Shame on me for thinking the Buffs would throw the ball farther than 10 yards down the field. The Buffs averaged 4.0 y/att and totaled on 158 yards on 34 pass attempts. That 158 yards was 129 yards below the Tiger average for the year. To give you an idea how bad 4.0 y/att is, Mizzou averages over 9. The entire year the Buffs haven't had one game over 7.3 y/att and that was against CSU. That stat screams no playmakers.

    Buffs Grade: F
    Irish1611's Grade for Making that a "Key to the Game": F

CU logoAccount for Chase Coffman:

  • Did the Buffs account for anyone:
    Chase Coffman: 7 catches, 50 yards and 1 TD
    Jeremy Maclin: 11 catches, 134 yards and 2 TD

    Someone forgot to tell the Buffs about these guys

    Buffs Grade: F

CU logo  7 points not 3 points/Win the Special Teams Battle:

  • This one made me laugh the most. First off, the Buffs didn't have the choice between 7 or 3 points as they didn't have any points. Second, the Buffs lost the special teams battle in the first 3 minutes of the game Saturday. First was the great idea of the squib kick that allowed Mizzou to have a 57 yard field. They properly scored in a couple plays. Then the Buffs brought in backup punter Tom Suazo and he subsequently dropped the ball and allowed Mizzou to start on the Buffs 5 yard line.

    Buffs Grade: F

CU logoChallenge the Will of Mizzou:

  • Mizzou and challenged don't belong in the same sentence when talking about Saturday's game. The Buffs allowed Mizzou to get right back on track easily. As most are describing the game, the Buffs were the perfect medicine for the Tigers.

    Buffs grade: F

0 recs  |  Comment 8 comments |

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Well that was an easy report card

Reminds me of one semester report card:

D – Below Average
W – Withdrew
I – Incomplete

Still I will say it was a fun semester.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum

by Broncoman on Oct 27, 2008 6:13 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Seriously...

I thought if I waited a couple days, I could think of something positive to say, or at least constructive.

I’m still stumped.

There are few places to go except up from here.

by JustmyOp on Oct 27, 2008 7:51 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

well....

Lets see the A&M game before we completely hit rock bottom.

Cmon guys get the O going by Nebraska and maybe we can save this season.

by roxbombers on Oct 27, 2008 8:22 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Worst. Game. Ever.

How sad is it to be wishing to be in the same spot we were last year. You would have thought we could easily make a bowl after the start of the season. I agree with JustmyOp there is still nothing at all to say positive about this game, although I never once thought it would heal with time. Every single aspect of the team was a total F. We have essentially sunk to the level of a cupcake 1-AA team (we already lost to Montana State, almost lost to E. Wash). I mean if Hawk can’t take the aftermath of this nuclear bomb and motivate our team to beat a terrible A&M team, then I think the hot seat has to start to heat up. In my mind this game is a must win for him, although a road game at a usually tough place to win, and if he can’t get us up for this then he is not the right coach for this team. One problem with Barnett, among other things, was that the team would just not show up sometimes, exactly like happened here.

by BVaz on Oct 28, 2008 7:45 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree, it is very depressing to keep saying, "man, if we can only get to a bowl game."

That sort of goal isn’t going to fly next year. There is no reason that we shouldnt expect bigger things. Next year we will get a lot of players back so I am still excited. The problem is at quaterback. Hopefully, Hansen, Evans or Wynn can rise to the occasion but just think about the reserves we will be getting next year:
RT Ryan Miller – back from injury
G Max Tuoiti-Mariner – back from injury
WR Simas – back from suspension
RB Darrell Scott – back from being non existent
LB Lynn Katoa
LB Jon Major
DB Jimmy Smith who will be forced to play next year, Cha’pelle and Jalil will be back which should make our CBs a strength
The big thing will be signing another explosive WR and getting some DL help. If the Buffs can get Kasa and Nuckols, they might be helpful but maybe not in year one. DL is a glaring problem that I dont know can be fixed in Hawks all important 4th year

The Ralphie Report - Shoulder to Shoulder...All Colorado Buffaloes on SBNation - http://www.ralphiereport.com/

by irish1611 on Oct 28, 2008 8:17 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yea I totally agree that there are a lot of people who could be helping us that are injured, especially with our line play, which has been atrocious. My main concern at this point is effort. Despite the injuries it still does not look like he has got the team prepared or working hard or anything. Every team gets injuries, and even if we had put in one ounce of effort we probably still lose to Mizzou but I just see no fight in these guys. Early in the season there was a tiny bit, but now nothing. In my mind A&M does not have the huge talent advantage over us that Missouri or Texas has, and in that sense Hawk should at least have us amped for this and we should at least compete.

In my mind if Hawk is the right coach he needs to be able to point to Saturday and basically be able to say to all of us “this is never going to happen again”, and next week is a gut check for him and the whole team whether we are going to fold or actually fight.

And in addition to what you mentioned above, they absolutely HAVE to address the kicking situation. Goodman is definitely not any kind of solution.

by BVaz on Oct 28, 2008 8:45 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

I disagree about Missouri

The only teams in the Big 12 who should have a big talent advantage over us are Texas and OU. Everyone else we should be able to compete with year in and year out. I doubt the players Mizzou has on their roster right now were highly rated recruits coming out of HS, they have just been developed and coached much better (which is what is so frustrating)

by nebraskasux on Oct 29, 2008 1:17 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

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