I don't want to call any players out because they are college kids but coming into this year, the senior trio of George Hypolite, Brandon Nicolas and Maurice Lucas were going to rededicate themselves and become the strenghth of this team. Even Coach Hawkins called this unit the strength of the team in the offseason. Rivals.com said one of the main reasons for Jordon Dizon's success in 2007 was because of Brandon Nicolas and George Hypolite, which led them to label the defensive line as the strongest unit on the defense in 2008:

No doubt, Dizon was a tremendous player for the Buffs, but there also is no doubt that he benefited from having tackles Hypolite and Brandon Nicolas in front of him. Nicolas, who began his career at Notre Dame, tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with 11. He and Hypolite form one of the best tackle tandems in the Big 12.

Well, this year they weren't the strength of the defense. That honor goes to the cornerback position where Cha'pelle Brown, Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown emerged as a bright spot. I don't necessarily blame the players, their is plenty that falls on the scheme. The Buffs were erratic in their defensive identity. Against Kansas State, the Buffs attacked from multiple areas on the field from the back seven and allowed the double teams to loosen up. Against Kansas and Missouri, the Buffs went to a three man rush and well, were unable to generate any pressure. The best pressure player this year was LB Brad Jones, who was honored with honorable mention All Big 12.

One big problem that will continue to haunt CU next year is the issue of depth. Other than a rare productive appearance from true freshman Curtis Cunningham, the senior trio was the only group to touch the field with any presence. That obviously took it's toll on the Buffs especially in the finale against Nebraska. Hypolite had his moments especially against weaker competition in Texas A&M and Iowa State. Many give Hypolite the benefit of the doubt due to teams recognizing him as the star of the line and doubling him but then where is the production from the rest of the pass rushers who face one on one assignments?

Another reason for the down production and impact is also attributable to the inept offense. The Buffs offense ranked eighth in the Big 12 in time of possession so CU's front four saw the field a lot more than they wanted to.

see after the jump for some more analysis on the drop off of production from the front four...

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VS. 

The game was dubbed the "basement battle": two teams with losing records struggling to find an identity.  The Buffs had seven rather highly touted recruits in town: 3*/4* LB Michael Clay, 4* DT Latu Heimuli, 3* OT/DE Nik Abele, 4* DE Nick Kasa, 4* Bradley McDougald, DB Deji Olatoye and 4* WR Diante Jackson. Saying it was a big recruiting weekend would be an understatement. Most of these guys would be major gets on the national scene. CU had just come off a bad loss against Texas A&M at Kyle Field for what should have been win number five in the all important race to six. The Iowa State game was supposed to be the clinching game for a bowl bid. That got me and a ton of Buff fans worried about the motivation this team would have for Iowa State with seemingly two losses remaining on the schedule (Oklahoma State and Nebraska). Many were wondering what would come that Monday morning if Colorado actually lost to Iowa State, all but guaranteeing a four-win season. The difference between five and four isn't huge at first glance but losing to Iowa State and A&M back to back and only winning one conference game in the down Big 12 North would have been devastating. You thought recruiting was hard now, think about if we lost to Iowa State? Surely WR Diante Jackson wouldn't be considering us now, Olatoye may not have committed, McDougald wouldn't be a high interest guy and you always have to wonder about a guy like Abele who is getting big interest from a lot of programs right now.

for more on the 9th best moment of 2008, see after the jump...

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Click after the jump to see the first, second and honorable mention teams along with some  commentary...in my opinion, Josh Smith got screwed.

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We have officially waited two whole days to let the season settle before we started breaking it down. Today, we are kicking off our best and worst moments of 2008. Yes, as you can tell from the 10th best moment of 2008, the negatives of 2008 were much easier to come up with than the positives. But there were some positives to 2008, you just have to look much harder.

Next year, if I am acknowledging a victory over CSU as the 10th best moment of 2008, we can expect a huge change in the program. The win over Colorado State next year better be out of the top 20. But in 2008 season, August 31st was still a good day. It was the first game that The Ralphie Report was around for so it was also monumental in that sense. We were immediately validated as yours truly picked the correct final score of the game 38 - 17! The Colorado State game also gave us some false hope. The Buffs scored 38 points, the most of the season. They also had 367 yards, good for third most on the season. Josh Smith showed us a preview of what was to come this year: a prolific 93 yard kick off return and a muffed kick. Seriously, though, Josh Smith averaged 53.3 yards/return that game and 160 yards total. Early in the year, Smith was unstoppable and probably was the difference in the first three games of the year with big returns against CSU and Eastern Washington & the touchdown grab against West Virginia in the 17 - 14 win.

Freshman RB Darrell Scott also got us excited. 11 carries, 54 yards and a touchdown. He gave us a glimpse, like I said in the post game review: "We will always remember the 14 yard run with multiple broke tackles as the day we knew he was going to be special." I don't think anyone is ready to crown Scott after this year but he also had some spectacular runs against Eastern Washington, Texas A&M and Iowa State. Consistency and health will fix a lot of problems for the Buffs next year. 

Even Cody Hawkins looked good in the first game of the year. He had his usual one tipped pass that went for an interception but Hawkins still threw a touchdown on 20 - 29 passing for 214 yards.

The story of the game was the defense. In 2007 and years before, Rams TE Kory Sperry was dominant against the Buffs, scoring three touchdowns in the '07 game. In 2008, the Buffs' defense made sure that Sperry wasn't going to beat them. He was visibly frustrated and ended the game with an unimpressive 2 receptions for 11 yards The Colorado defense also picked off two Billy Farris passes on their way to victory. The most impressive part of the performance was the defense technically didn't allow any long touchdown drives. The only touchdown allowed was after the tipped screen pass/interception that gave the Rams the ball deep inside the Buffs territory. The other was a kickoff return for a touchdown immediately after Josh Smith did his thing. Colorado also got to Farris six times which was their high sack total for the year. 

But, in my post game review titled Love the No Huddle? Not So Much, I pointed out a few things that I wanted to see improved. At that time, I attributed the offensive no huddle issues to the first game of the year and how things would improve as the team got through Eastern Washington. About three months later and 2 - 4 injured offensive players, it looks like the Buffs regressed. In fact, we all would sign up for the offensive performance of week one over week 8 or 10. Here is what I said the Buffs needed to improve on after the Colorado State game:

The Buffs had 367 yards of offense 153 of which were on the ground. So you are asking what is wrong with that? Nothing, but our rushing game consisted of two plays last night, dive right, dive left or Cody fumbled snap. The Buffs fumbled or mishandled snaps 4 times last night that really sputtered the offense. The times when the Buffs were deep in their own territory, they didn't have a power set that allowed them to get tough yards. Maybe they were trying to be vanilla in the first game but we have to get better at a few things.

First off, plain and simple, Cody needs to be able to get under center and let Scott or Sumler or Stewart running student body left with pulling guards to keep the defense honest. It is a must. They have to add that hybrid because sitting back and running the option running game with a non-running option quarterback doesn't open a lot of things up and against a good, strong defensive line. Second, I know it is a no huddle but the Buffs need to slow it down. Remember it is not a true no huddle, it is a contained no huddle with reads and formation changes at the line. A lot of times, Cody snapped the ball before players were ready or set resulting in penalties.  Third and this is probably something that will come over time, but there was not a strong rhythm to the offense. There wasn't that one dominating drive without any penalties or miss snaps that got you feeling great about the offense. There was glimpses though.

A lot of those issues applied against Nebraska.

Still, that hot day August 31st was a good day for Buffs fans. They properly escorted the Rams out of Denver with a loss, the offense showed promise, the defensive scheme was strong, Aric Goodman made all 5 of his extra point attempts & a field goal, we saw a little something from Darrell Scott and Josh Smith & Scotty McKnight looked like a dangerous combination. It was a good way to start the season.

The Worst of 2008 #10 is coming up next...

It still very much stings, the whole year stings. My 7 - 5 projection seems like a distant memory. The 3 - 0 start feels ages ago. But it is never too early to look ahead. That is what Coach Hawkins told us to do in the middle of the season. He said once the Buffs heal up, this will be a different team. So over the next 280 days until kickoff against CSU and over the next 5 months until mid-April when the first spring game occurs, we will have plenty of time to debate what this team needs to do. Before we start our prognostication of next year and review of this year, what is on all of your wish lists next year? I figure, this year is too sensitive to talk about right now, so let's be optimistic right now and look toward the future. Tell us what you think about these questions:

1) Here is schedule: Sept. 5 - Colorado State at Invesco Field or Boulder, Sept. 12 - at Miami, Ohio, Sept. 19 - Wyoming, Sept. 26 - at West Virginia, Oct. 10 - at Texas, Oct. 17 - Kansas, Oct. 24 - at Kansas State, Oct. 31 - Missouri, Nov. 7 - Texas A&M, Nov. 14 - at Iowa State, Nov. 21 - at Oklahoma State and Nov. 27 or 28 - Nebraska

What do you think? Missouri,  West Virginia, Colorado State and Nebraska all will definitely lose quarterbacks. Texas and Kansas State may lose quarterbacks as well. Does the schedule set up nicely for the Buffs?

2) What needs immediate addressing on the coaching staff?

3) What unit on next year's team are you most concerned about?

4) True or False: Until the Buffs find another quarterback or get unbelievable improvement at the position, 6 wins will be the maximum regardless of who is surrounding him?

5) Is 2009 Dan Hawkins last year to show progress?

6) What is priority #1 this off-season?

7) What are you most excited to see next year? What are you most nervous about?

More to come, most definitely more to come. This offseason is going to be fun. We have a lot to discuss and a lot to analyze leading up to next year. It is "Judgment Year" for the Buffs on The Ralphie Report. It's the "No Excuses Tour."

Someone upstairs must have not liked the Buffs this year. And that someone capped off the season with a knock out blow today. We were in euphoria. 1:51 seconds left, 4th and 25. Pelini and the Huskers, who took a horrible sack to get in that position, was thought to have only one decision: he had to go for it. Nope, on trots #90 K Alex Henery. A little sophomore whose career long was 48 yards. The Buffs, of course, because we never practice special teams and it shows, failed to blitz or rush the middle to block what would have to be a low line drive kick for "just reached puberty" kicker Alex Henery. Have to give the kid credit for jerking that over the cross bar, give Pelini credit for making that call after attempting to throw the ball after his team was pounding the Buffs on the ground and of course, the Buffs for having George Hypolite, who could hardly get in his stance in the second half because he was so tired, to try and block the kick with his credit card high vertical. It was the second worst possible way to end the season in my mind. First would have been a blowout. It stings. All Buffs fans today leave their bar, their armchair, their friends' house with their head down. Where do we go from here? It was a straight shot to the gut that most Buffs fans won't recover from for a long time. We will talk about this game for a while and that little #90 will haunt our memory. It shouldn't have been that way. The Buffs, regardless of how bad the play calling, the defensive line, the offensive inconsistency and the special teams was, were in a position we all would have taken in a heartbeat. A little sophomore kicker would have to make a 57 yard field goal to win the game. Where do I sign? I would take it right now without hesitation because no way that guy makes it again. Just a bad way to go out.

Here are some initial positives and negatives of today's game:

Positives

• The Buffs scored 31 points, away from home. The Buffs haven't scored 31 points since week two of the season and to do it on the road, no less, was a positive.
• The Buffs made some plays today. They had big touchdowns, exciting touchdowns, a big sack by Mahnke, a fumble recovery in the Huskers red zone, etc. CU hasn't had this many plays in a game all year. The Buffs had a chance to win at the end of the game. Honestly, not many of us, if any at all, thought that would happen.
  
• I thought RB Demetrius Sumler played well. He made some good blocks in pass protection. He averaged 7.2 yards a rush. The problem for the Buffs is that they either scored so fast or could not sustain drives, which ultimately wore down their defense and most importantly, their defensive line. The Buffs had almost 20 minutes less TOP and Nebraska had 29 more plays including running the ball 51 times.
• The tight ends got involved and made some good plays. Four catches for over 100 yards is something that we haven't seen this year.
• Cody Hawkins. Surprised? I know he threw a few interceptions but they were something that happens when you play a small quarterback. I thought, for the plays that were called for Cody, he had some great throws. Is he the answer at quarterback? Absolutely not. But he did have 249 yards today and made some big throws to move the chains or make a big play. He is just too limited athletically and that is where the Buffs get tipped passes for interceptions, bad sacks and a limited playbook.
• Freshman safety Patrick Mahnke. I thought he played superb for a freshman. He made a couple of big plays, wasn't afraid to put his nose in there and definitely made more of an impact that anyone would have predicted.
• WR/KR Josh Smith. Their is a love/hate relationship that goes on with him but today, he played well. He had a few nice grabs and averaged close to 30 yards a kickoff return. We all would have liked a better return after the 57 yard field goal but whether it is coaching or blocking, Josh had no where to go. Our readers who commented during the game realized that Josh Smith is much better on the edge and of course, the coaches don't recognize it.
• Finally, I know it was a loss and it was a bad one. Coaching, poor line play on both sides of the ball or whatever you are mad about but again, the Buffs were up one, 1:51 left and Nebraska needed a miracle and they got it. the 2008 season wasn't our year and it will leave a horribly bad taste in our mouths but the Buffs were literally 2 yards and a hit cross bar away from sneaking out of Nebraska with a huge upset and a bowl game. I am not a consolation guy but Nebraska got an early Christmas present. Hopefully they lose 92 - 0 in their little Gator Bowl that they are all excited about.
  

Enough with the positives, on to the negatives:

• The Buffs still only had 291 yards on offense and the main reason was the inability to sustain drives like Nebraska did. Nebraska's running back Roy Helu was a "5 yards per carry" machine. The Buffs don't have that type of consistency. They have a 68 yard touchdown plan or they have a run on first, incomplete on second and find themselves with third and very long all the time. 
• There needs to be an immediate fix to the special teams! A big change. Between the 35 yard punts, short kickoffs, no imagination to get Josh Smith a wall on a return and turnovers, its time. Then throw in the 81 points over the year that the special teams has cost the Buffs and the large number of missed field goals, the results have been unsatisfactory. Hawkins needs to make the tough decision right now.
  
• The play calling if anything was, once again, confusing. Yes, I know all of you who think I am negative, "the Buffs are injured," but running quarterback draws with Cody Hawkins and having zero outside running game?Helfrich needs to be better. I can't believe the ABC announcer said he liked the QB draw play call late in the game. The play calling late in the game was not of a coach that was trying to win the game but probably of a coach who called a play and closed his eyes until the play was over. Nebraska runs the offense we are trying run. Did you see how many times they rolled out Ganz and got the ball out of his hands quick to the tight end? The Nebraska offense wasn't explosive, it was consistent and they had a game plan. Yes, the pass call late in the fourth quarter by Nebraska that ended up being a sack by Mahnke was absolutely horrible but other than that, they pounded the running game and flat out wore the Buffs down.
  
• I can't tell right now if I should be mad at this right now but the defense wore down. I don't blame the defensive line players necessarily but it highlights a glaring weakness that doesn't look like it will be getting better next year: The Buffs have no depth on the defensive line. Is there nobody that we can substitute and get the interior guys a break? The defensive line was unbelievably ineffective in the second half. The Buffs offense didn't help the defense by any stretch but my #1 concern going into next year is the defensive line. Mark it down. Regardless of whether you want to play a 3 - 4, tell me the three guys who will be able to do anything better than what we have now minus Hypolite, Lucas and Nicholas. BIG TROUBLE SPOT!
  
• 42 yards rushing for the Buffs. I know "the injuries." Have I reached my quota for that as an excuse yet?
• CU was still up 14 - 0 and lost that lead rather quickly. Good teams finish.
• The officials missed the interference on Darrell Scott down the sideline that was a horrible miss call that would have put us in business. Next play, interception. Thanks for the replay pro-Husker ABC telecast.

I know, frustrating loss Buffs' fans. Here is to brighter days in the future! More to come on this loss later. We have about 5 + months to discuss this one.

Team Stat Comparison - First Half
1st Downs	5	13
3rd down efficiency	1-3	5-9
4th down efficiency	0-0	0-2
Total Yards	187	227
Passing	144	158
Comp-Att	5-8	11-16
Yards per pass	18	9.9
Rushing	43	69
Rushing Attempts	9	30
Yards per rush	4.8	2.3
Penalties	1-10	1-0
Turnovers	2	1
Fumbles lost	1	1
Interceptions thrown	1	0
Possession	8:18	21:42

Well, the stats don't tell the story with this one. The Buffs have only had 17 total plays. 14 points on the first four plays will do that for you. The two turnovers ended up not being huge against the Buffs. The Huskers turnover was massive as Jimmy Smith took it to the house on the fake field goal attempt. 24 - 24. I am a little worried about the defense and being on the field so much but we have one half to play and are right there!

Who: Colorado Buffaloes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Where: Memorial Stadium (Lincoln, Nebraska)
When: 1:30 pm MT
Line: Nebraska -18
 

VS.

Radio: 850 KOA (Mark Johnson, Larry Zimmer and Charles Johnson)
TV: ABC
Online Tracker: CU Buffs.com
Weather: Clear and sunny, 49 degrees at kickoff


Welcome to The Ralphie Report as the Buffs get ready to take on the hated Nebraska Cornhuskers. No need to go anywhere else today. The Ralphie Report has everything you need and we welcome you to weigh in with your live game analysis, critiques, observations and predictions as the Buffs battle the Huskers as the 2008 regular season comes to an end. Below you will find the "Buff Toolbox" that will have this week's previews and information about today's game. So if you are feeling a little under prepared for the match up, those links should get you caught up.

Check out the Oklahoma State thread to see how the live game thread works.  Throw all your comments about today's game below and let's get this thing rolling. If you don't have an account, sign up here and enjoy all that our site has to offer. 

Buff Tool Box
Everything to Get You Ready for Today's Game

The Ralphie Report Discusses the "Keys to the Game"
Colorado Buffaloes vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers: A Statistical Review
Gameday Buffs Bites
Getting To Know the Huskers: Q&A with CornNation, A Husker Blog Part One
Getting To Know the Huskers: Q&A with CornNation, A Husker Blog Part Two
The Ralphie Report Featured in Newspaper Discussing the Upcoming Game
"You're Right Nebraska Fan, This Isn't a Rivalry" Buff Bites
Oxymoron: Husker Hotties
Glass Half Full: Colorado Will Score 56 Points and Total 434 Yards Against Nebraska This Week
It's Nebraska Week: Let the Hate Begin!

I LOVE THIS PLAY

It's a rivalry game so stats, lines, odds and history have less of an impact on the perception of how the game may play out. Looking at the normal stat sheet that we do below, though, their is something we haven't seen since the Texas game and it shocked me a little. I tried to normalize the stat by taking out the Huskers' excuse for a non-conference schedule but that only made a small difference.

see the rest of the analysis after the jump...

Conf	National	Actual	Category	Actual	National	Conf
Rank	Rank				Rank	Rank
10	76	132.00	Rushing Offense	173.09	38	5
11	86	189.00	Passing Offense	289.82	13	6
12	91	321.00	Total Offense	462.91	9	6
12	105	19.18	Scoring Offense	35.82	18	6
9	84	165.18	Rushing Defense	133.45	49	7
5	71	127.65	Pass Efficiency Defense	138.63	97	10
6	78	379.27	Total Defense	367.91	68	3
6	82	28.27	Scoring Defense	29.00	91	9
7	74	34.16	Net Punting	33.23	91	8
9	57	9.16	Punt Returns	14.17	12	2
10	43	21.98	Kickoff Returns	21.55	53	11
9	88	-.45	Turnover Margin	-1.09	110	12
1	73	214.09	Pass Defense	234.45	90	2
12	92	112.19	Passing Efficiency	156.55	14	6
7	61	1.82	Sacks	2.27	42	5
7	63	5.55	Tackles For Loss	5.73	54	6
9	88	2.27	Sacks Allowed	1.55	44	6

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