Wednesday Buff Bites - Burnt Toast Won't Play Cornerback

Recapping Colorado Buffaloes and college football news from around the web. 

Brooks: Embree Says CB Picture Beginning To Clear - CUBuffs.com

"I think I know who our corners are going to be, so we'll see if they finish (this week) like that," he noted following an intense, full-pads practice Monday morning.

Embree said last Saturday's scrimmage "cleared up" - at least in his mind - the probable front-runners to replace Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown, fixtures in the CU secondary for the last several seasons.

At the end of last weekend's scrimmage, Embree singled out true freshmen Kyle Washington and Greg Henderson, redshirt sophomores Ayodeji Olatoye and Paul Vigo and senior Travis Sandersfeld, who has received several good reviews from Embree and defensive coordinator/secondary coach Greg Brown throughout camp. Sandersfeld has played mostly safety, nickel back and on special teams in his three previous seasons.

At least #96 Burnt Toast (So.) and #12 Wet Paper-Bag (Fr.) won't be playing in the secondary...

CU Buffs linemen pull double duty - Buffzone

Buffaloes head coach Jon Embree said Tuesday that if there are any growing pains along the line so far many of them stem from coaches moving guys around to get them proficient at various positions.

"... Every once in awhile a guy thinks he's at tackle and he's at guard," Embree said. Without naming them, Embree said the coaches have a good idea who the top five linemen are. "But we're working guys in other positions so that if we have an injury they can move in and it's not their first time doing it," the coach said. "It may cost us some reps in practice, but it's what we need to do because we don't have any true depth as far as saying, 'We've got these 10 guys.' So we've got to use eight guys to fill the 10 spots."

Also from the article...

"(Stewart's) hamstring was a little tight and it gives us a chance to work other guys," Embree said. "That's what we need to do. Same with (receiver Paul Richardson). His groin was a little sore. We know what he can do. We've got to evaluate other guys. So I just made the decision we're not going to let certain guys practice."

Fall Camp Notes " CU At the Game - A CU Football blog by Stuart Whitehair 

On the passing game – "I’m not worried about our passing game (even though it may appear that the offense is struggling) … We’re doing play-action pass movements. We’re doing ‘nakeds’ and bootlegs.

Our defense knows they’re doing it, so they’re calling blitzes to make us throw hot. So, no. I’m not worried about where we are with our passing game."

Is it wrong that part of me envisions this CU Buffs offense morphing into the old 'John Elway bootleg Broncos' offense?

On the saga of the punters – "They both (sophomore Zach Grossnickle and freshman Darragh O’Neill) did well today. Grossnickle is a little bit ahead, because he’s been a little more consistent … but that’s not saying much. We’ve got to be way better … But I’d say (Grossnickle) is a little bit ahead right now." On whether red-shirt freshman walk-on Josh Ford has a chance to play – "Yes he does. Josh just keeps making plays. He keeps showing up. He’s does that since spring (practices)."

Is our football team old? Is our football team young? Is the ESPN main-page blocked on your work computer? There are more links to ESPN after the jump...

Best case-worst case: Colorado - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN - Miller Predicts W's for Buffs and 'insightfulness' on his blog...or does he? 

Second in a series looking at potential dream and nightmare scenarios for all Pac-12 teams.

Understand: These are not predictions. They are extreme scenarios and pieces of fiction.

Best case Hawaii quarterback Bryant Moniz shook his head. "If Colorado is the worst team in the Pac-12 South, I'd hate to play in the Pac-12 South," said the touted Warriors QB after the Buffaloes sacked him five times and intercepted him twice in a 42-20 victory that ended a 17-game road losing streak.

..."Colorado has been underestimated," the Pac-12 Blog insightfully observes. 

CU In Relation to the Pac-12 - We're old!   ...Also: We're not that old!

Who's got the youngest team in the Pac-12? - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN

Colorado (6):WR Paul Richardson (So), OT David Bakhtiari (So), C Daniel Munyer (RFr.), OT Jack Harris (So), DE Chidera Uzo-Diribe (So), CB Parker Orms (So.).

Reaction: There could be a seventh youngster on this list, depending on how things shake out at cornerback. Richardson is a guy you will hear about this fall. A little surprised by the youth on the O-line.

Who's got the oldest team in the Pac-12? - Pac-12 Blog - ESPN

Colorado (12): WR Tony Clemons, OG Ethan Adkins, OG Ryan Miller, TE Ryan Deehan, QB Tyler Hansen, TB Rodney Stewart, FB Evan Harrington, DE Josh Hartigan, NT Conrad Obi, LB Patrick Mahnke, SS Anthony Perkins, CB Arthur Jaffee

Reaction: A big of a surprise that the Buffs are so veteran. Another reason to wonder if they are being underrated. 

Other Football Links, from Around the Country.   And by the country, I of course mean the...Espn.

Police officer asks Oregon Ducks' Darron Thomas, Cliff Harris, 'Who's got the marijuana in the car?' - ESPN

Oregon quarterback Darron Thomas was a passenger in the car when Cliff Harris was pulled over for driving 118 mph in June, and the state patrolman asked Harris during the traffic stop, Who's got the marijuana in the car?

Harris replied, "We smoked it all."

These latest revelations from the incident that earned Harris a suspension for at least the season-opener against LSU in Cowboys Stadium 

Ponzi schemer Nevin Shapiro says he provided benefits to Miami athletes - ESPN

Nevin Shapiro, a former Miami booster who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for masterminding a $930 million Ponzi scheme, has told Yahoo! Sports he provided impermissible benefits to 72 of the university's football players and other athletes between 2002 and 2010.

Report -- Two Alabama coaches involved with Miami booster - ESPN

Two first-year Alabama assistants have been accused by a former Miami booster of steering recruits to him in a story published by Yahoo! Sports.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

CU Buffs gear up for flyin' Hawaiians - Buffzone

"It's hard to practice against because nobody runs that style of offense. Our offense certainly doesn't do anything remotely close to that," CU defensive coordinator Greg Brown said of Hawaii's five-receiver attack.

"You need extra defensive backs to get into the game, and we're very thin as it is with people. The clock is ticking. It's a deal where we need to come up with some people and put them out there in our schemes where we can give ourselves a chance."

The Buffs, of course, lost starting cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown to the NFL.

An army of defensive backs have been auditioning to replace the diligent duo since the first spring football practice. Parker Orms, Travis Sandersfeld, Greg Henderson, Paul Vigo and Ayodeji Olatoye are emerging as the cornerbacks likely to be included on the flight to Honolulu.

Talley, Team USA Get Underway At World University Games - CUBuffs.com 

Senior Emily Talley and the rest of her United States teammates will begin competition Thursday here at the XXVI Summer World University Games. 

Basketball, Volleyball Practice Facility Grand Opening Set - CUBuffs.com 

The University of Colorado will officially open its newest athletic facility, a basketball and volleyball practice facility adjacent to the Coors Events Center, during a ceremony on August 20.

Go Buffs, 17 Days Left!