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Pulse of Buff Nation: It Can Only Get Better, Right?

It is never great to have an offensive coordinator leave after spring ball but the prospects of a potential change on the offensive side of the ball can only be exciting to Buff fans. It can't get any worse right?

2008 Offensive Statistics
Category National Actual Conf Big 12 Conference Actual
Rank Rank Leader
Rushing Offense 86 124.5 10 Oklahoma St. 245.46
Passing Offense 81 194 11 Texas Tech 413.15
Total Offense 95 318.5 12 Oklahoma 547.86
Scoring Offense 100 20.17 12 Oklahoma 51.14
Passing Efficiency 90 112.89 12 Oklahoma 176.24
Sacks Allowed 102 2.5 11 Oklahoma 0.93

 

I am sure Oregon fans will come over to our site and get the pulse of Buff nation on Helfrich and this chart will be the first thing they see. That being said, he won't control the offense so he won't be tasked with the numbers above.

The chart above represents the floor, the bottom of the barrel, the ineffectiveness that made fans go crazy, that is, of course, the 2008 Colorado offense. It hurts to see those numbers. It can only go up, right? That will be Kiesau's job now.

Kiesau is in a good position to suceed, though, more than Helfrich was in his first three years. More talent, more experience, an offensive scheme that fits the players and he has had three years to closely look at what Helfrich did, critique it and now he has the opportunity to improve on it.

We all know the difficulty on offense last year, many blame the injuries, the inexperience, the Gary Barnett days for leaving the cupboard bare, the quarterbacks, the swine flu, global warming, the ecomony and George Bush. We had enough excuses to last us for a while. Hopefully with change comes brighter days. Denver Johnson has brought change to the offense already and so far it looks good. Everyone is happy with Johnson and thinks the style of play he is coaching will improve the offense from day one. Kiesau, from an outsiders perspective and the way recruits talk about him, will instantly upgrade the recruiting ability under the title of offensive coordinator. We won't know until Colorado State how he responds in a game situation or see his halftime adjustments but I am excited about the move. In this case, change is good.

After Helfrich & Co. pulled the switcharoo to the spread offense after a less than impressive first season as offensive coordinator to pretty much admitting the spread was a failure last year and moved back to a more pro-style offense, Buff fans can only hope Eric Kiesau can bring stability and continuity to an offense that has been one of the odd-squads out in the high octane Big 12.

I like how Hawkins had a quick plan, made a familiar move to avoid disruption, sending off a minimal shock wave through Buff nation and sending a message to the team that it is business as usual. You could tell by the statement made in Dave Plati's CUBUFFS.com release:

(Note: The school Helfrich is leaving Colorado to join has asked that we not release the information ahead of their completing the standard hiring process.)

that they are addressing this issue as they see fit, as whats best for them and what was best for them was to make a move on Kiesau.

We will put out a list of things that we would like to see changed in the offense in the next couple of days but we wanted to guage how the fans felt so feel free to give us your thoughts below:

1) Are you excited or worried about Kiesau taking over and Helfrich leaving?

2) What should Kiesau's first order of business be as the new offensive coordinator?

Poll
After the announcement today of Eric Kiesau taking over the offensive coordinator position, how are you feeling about the offense in 2009.
This shouldn't affect the offense, it is a seamless transition. Look at the chart above, it wasn't like the Buffs were an offensive juggernaut under Helfrich. I like Kiesau and think he will do a good job.
119 votes
I am worried. Kiesau has never called plays before, let alone run an offense. He didn't have spring ball to prepare. This will make the first four games very interesting.
16 votes
Both, excited and apprehensive is the best way to describe my emotions.
66 votes

201 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 7 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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Comments

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Kiesau's the best fit

especially at this juncture of the off-season. Gotta like Hawk’s preparedness and decisive move to fill the void with minimal disruption. That said, let’s hope Kiesau’s given the same free reign to run “his” offense, choose “his” QB, etc., that Helfrich was. Seems like he’s got a lot of energy and hopefully some new ideas to make this offense GO.

If not Jon Embree for WR Coach then my vote (if I had one) goes to none other than Rod Smith, THE finest, most productive undrafted player in the history of the NFL. Who better for these young bucks to learn from than the future Hall of Famer?

Just sayin’

by mam2jd on Apr 30, 2009 2:09 PM MDT reply actions  

Good move by Hawk

I think this is the right hire and I do not think it is a negative to have Helfrich move on. I have a friend who is a WR coach in high school and went to a clinic where Kiesau was one of the instructors and he was impressed with some of his drills and likes his approach a lot. I would like Kiesau to draw upon his years in the Cal offense a bit more. I do not know how much they can change the offense now with spring ball behind them but he needs to at least start making this offense into his vision of what it can be.

I like your line of thinking mam2jd, tie into CU’s bloodlines for the next WR’s coach would be great. Another potential candidate, if he would be willing to leave the NFL for the same title, would be Karl Dorrell. I always thought he got the most out of the WR’s when he was here and he would give the staff an experienced play caller as well.

by LuckyCast on Apr 30, 2009 2:58 PM MDT reply actions  

Yea, I suggested Dorell

sometime back but another poster from CA said Dorell was recruiting poison b/c of all the burned bridges he left behind after his UCLA stint? Here in Colorado he looks great, but, presuming there’s some smoke to that chatter, that would render him ineffective here.

by mam2jd on Apr 30, 2009 4:05 PM MDT reply actions  

I believe that I am the poster to which you are referring

You said that he would help with recruiting in Southern California, and I said that he was not at all loved in Southern California (also see below). I remain baffled that someone as spectacularly milquetoast as Karl Dorell could invoke so much distaste, but he did.

Also, he has a better job already, and his personality wouldn’t fit in with Hawkins. Frankly, Karl Dorell has no personality. I’m not 100% convinced he has a pulse.

by Hallux Valgus on Apr 30, 2009 6:54 PM MDT up reply actions  

No Dorrell

the guy is a no talent ass clown, he totally blew it at UCLA who has one of the most built in recruiting pipelines and is one of the softest football minds I have ever seen. This guy would be a complete cancer to the program and would ruin all in roads we’ve made in California. He has absolutely no respect in the LA high school circuit

by buffsnbruins on Apr 30, 2009 5:43 PM MDT reply actions  

Thanks

I knew he screwed up in UCLA but did not realize it was as bad as you 2 stated.

by LuckyCast on May 1, 2009 3:00 AM MDT up reply actions  

I would love Bienemy to come back

I am really confused on Oregon thoughts on this, Chip Kelly may be the HC, but he will also be calling the plays, I am not sure what Helfrich brings, not much in the recruiting battle, and I see him having limited success as an OC. Just chicken bleep Oregon tactic to raid a coach after the spring game. I really hope OSU destroys the Ducks this year.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman

by Broncoman on Apr 30, 2009 6:20 PM MDT reply actions  

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