Tuesday Buff Bites - Texas Thinks Colorado's Running Game Will Test Them (Me Laughing)

Colorado should provide tuneup for UT run defense | College Sports | Star-Telegram
Apparently Mack Brown thinks the Colorado running game will give the Longhorns their first real test of the season. Well, Mack, if you plan on scoring any points in the first quarter, you won't see much of a running game the rest of the game because the Colorado coaches like to throw the ball 50+ times with Cody Hawkins instead of run the ball, even when they are not that far behind (see Colorado State - 40 attempts and West Virginia - 54 attempts). Yes, Cody Hawkins has averaged 46.5 attempts per game, sixth in the college football. If you would have told me that stat before the beginning of the season, I would have said the Buffs would be 0 - 4. Luckily, we had Wyoming on our schedule. With a 31.5 point spread, I am sorry Mack, but this week won't be your tune up:

Although the Colorado ground game lacks statistical success this season, Texas coaches and players view the Buffaloes as a viable litmus test for the Longhorns’ largely untested run defense. Colorado (1-3, 0-0 in Big 12) builds its offense around a power running game, with three backs — Rodney Stewart, Darrell Scott and Demetrius Sumler — sharing the load. No. 2 Texas (4-0, 1-0) ranks second nationally in rushing defense, allowing 47.3 yards per game, but has posted those numbers against teams that run pass-oriented, spread offenses.

CU’s Iltis, Wright ready for Texas | All Things Colorado Sports

Hawkins said reserve wide receiver Anthony Wright (ankle sprain) and starting center Mike Iltis (concussion) will be available for Saturday’s game at No. 2 Texas.

‘Speedy’ recovery - The Longmont Times-Call

Texas leads the Big 12 with 49.5 points a game and is second in yards with 521.2 per. CU is last in scoring defense, allowing 28 points per, and yards allowed, 408.8. The Buffs have produced two plays of 40 yards or more while allowing 11. In its three losses, CU has allowed 20 plays of 20 yards or more. CU has allowed 14 touchdowns from scrimmage from distances that average 28 yards.

Barking Carnival — Blog — Mack Brown compliments Cody Hawkins. I think.

Yes, we actually had Cody here at our camp. He came down and spent time with us. I think Major was coaching him at that time when he was a graduate assistant. Cody is a lot like Colt. He is tough, he’s smart, he makes good decisions, and you’re not going to rattle him. Every time he gets knocked down, he jumps up before they get off the field and he is a very good football player. They are throwing the ball more this year than they did last year, and he’s throwing it at a very high rate.

Omaha.com - The Omaha World-Herald: Sports - Big 12: Outlook is bleak for North trio

Colorado is in the deepest trouble of all, with the Dan Hawkins hire looking more like a mistake every day. The Buffaloes are carrying millions in athletic debt, and seem to have lost the ace-in-the-hole boosters who can change things quickly. But don't tell me CU can't afford to buy out Hawkins if he posts a fourth straight losing season. CU can't afford not to make a change. If you struggle to recruit and the fan base has lost hope, it takes two years to recover for every year the wrong hire is kept in place.

Hawk: Cody’s interceptions ‘alarming’ | All Things Colorado Sports

"The interceptions, to me, are obviously the most alarming part," Dan Hawkins said. "They’ve all been sort of different, in different cases. His first year, there was a decent amount that came off batted balls, like our guys dropping ‘em. "I do think he’s been pounded a little bit, so I think he has a tendency to get it out (too quickly). This year, I do think some of it has to do with a couple of things: 1) Is him trying to force the issue a little bit. I think also, most of the time when he throws it to Scotty (McKnight), he doesn’t throw a pick. (Cody) has a pretty good idea of where Scotty is going to be and what he’s going to do. That’s part of the whole mixture in there."

Hawkins Quotes From Tuesday Press Luncheon - CUBuffs.com

Brooks: Riddle Retains Confidence In Goodman - CUBuffs.com
Although weekly competition at all positions is standard procedure at Colorado, chances appear good that Aric Goodman will be the Buffaloes' placekicker on Saturday when they visit No. 2 Texas in their Big 12 Conference opener.

LeGarrette Blount, Tate Forcier, Clemson Tigers, LSU Tigers and the art of the apology - ESPN

Falling back: Darrell Scott (27), Colorado. If the hugely touted recruit's freshman season was a disappointment (448 yards from scrimmage in 11 games), his sophomore season has been closer to a disappearance (106 yards from scrimmage in three games).

Buffs' Crawford a bigger big man - Boulder Daily Camera
CU junior added 18 lbs. of muscle in offseason.

Mack Brown Monday Press Conference

CU football primer: the Texas Longhorns - The Denver Post

Colorado-Texas Preview - Oct. 6, 2009 - NCAA Football - CBSSports.com Live GameCenter

Texas hasn't budged in the Top 25 since the preseason poll was released. If the Longhorns can keep it that way through the rest of the regular season, they would have a good chance of playing for the national championship.

Texas' Lamarr Houston morphs into team leader | Dallas Morning News

Neither defensive tackle nor a vocal leadership role came naturally for Lamarr Houston. Now Houston has progressed well enough that he has turned into this season's version of Roy Miller, easing a major Texas concern. Going into Saturday's game with Colorado, Houston is tied for the team lead in tackles-for-loss with five, while ranking second on the team in quarterback pressures (11) and fumbles recovered (two). "If he stays healthy and continues to play like he has the past couple of weeks, he'll make a lot of money," coach Mack Brown said bluntly. "He'll be in the NFL and be a great player."

As Colorado game approaches, UT on guard against overconfidence

If you're a Longhorns player, it's human nature to glance past Saturday's game against Colorado, given what comes next. Then next, and next, all on the road. The one-victory Buffaloes, whom oddsmakers have established as 311/2-point underdogs, should be the easiest team Texas will face until a Nov. 7 home date against Central Florida.