Colorado University Athletics
Brooks: Analyzing The North
July 31, 2009 | Football, B.G. Brooks
BOULDER - The mainstream media covering the Big 12 Conference, an esteemed assemblage in most instances, collectively believes Nebraska will win the league's North Division.
What were those woeful, wasted wretches thinking?
With the exception of Kansas having a slight edge because of quarterback Todd Reesing and the division's top two receivers, the North race appears as wide open as that state's prairie land.
In the league's 13-year history, only two North teams - Iowa State and Kansas - haven't won the division. But it's safe to go ahead and remove Iowa State and Kansas State from this season's North equation, with both breaking in new coaches (kind of) and their respective talent levels needing two or three more recruiting classes to merely stand in the shallow end of the pool.
Nonetheless, K-State will provide one of the North's top storylines - that being the perhaps illogical return of 70-year-old Bill Snyder from what probably was a fitful three-year respite.
Practically living next door to K-State's Bill Snyder Family Stadium, we're guessing the workaholic Snyder didn't roll out of bed many mornings feeling that good about his retirement.
And when his former program began bottoming out under Ron Prince's less-than-steady hand, we're guessing Snyder answered every incoming call with, "Yeah, I'll be right over."
Snyder's second coming offers Wildcats followers a sliver of hope and a larger slice of credibility not found in Prince's last two seasons (10-14 after a 6-6 debut).
It wasn't like asking Tim Tebow if he was saving himself for marriage, but a couple of days ago a reporter at Big 12 media days asked Snyder if, in essence, he was courting death by attempting to return K-State's program to the glory days it enjoyed during his first run.
"I hope you said that in jest," Snyder answered. "That's a good question. I don't think there's a great deal of danger. My doctor says things are on 'go,' says I'm doing OK.
"You know, it's a demanding thing no matter how you look at it. I think it is for every coach regardless of what their age happens to be. I've got a lot of good people around me that help a great deal."
But no matter how much good help he gets this season, it's difficult to see the Wildcats doing harm to many Big 12 opponents except maybe the Cyclones, or maybe spoiling someone's November.
With K-State and Iowa State down, the scrambling at the summit will be done by KU, Colorado, Nebraska and Missouri - and the latter three find themselves huddled under some very large question marks.
CU could be poised for a breakthrough if . . .
- A potentially potent running game eases the burden on quarterback Cody Hawkins and helps with his consistency;
- The receiver position gets a lift from incoming recruits;
- A rebuilt defensive line - three starters are gone - can stand its ground;
- The kicking game is brought up to speed;
- Injuries don't ravage another position as they did the O-line last season.
Nebraska could be poised to continue its climb back under Bo Pelini if . . .
- Junior college transfer Zac Lee performs anywhere near the level of graduated quarterback Joe Ganz;
- One or more big-play threats emerge at receiver - and Lee can get the ball to them;
- Hulking tackle Ndamukong Suh sets the early tone for the kind of defensive intensity Pelini vows he'll restore in Lincoln;
- Placement specialist Alex Henery continues to hit pressure kicks like the school- record and personal-best 57-yarder he drilled last season against CU.
Missouri could be poised to avoid a free-fall (or at least a milder plunge) if . . .
- Life on both sides of the ball isn't disrupted by two new coordinators;
- Sophomore Blaine Gabbert, who at 6-foot-5, 235 pounds sure looks the part, can be an effective replacement for departed quarterback Chase Daniel;
- Somebody, anybody can be an effective replacement for departed all-purpose phenom Jeremy Maclin;
- There's not a leadership void following the graduation of 22 seniors.
For CU, Nebraska and Mizzou, that's a bunch of "ifs." It might take until late November to see which of the threesome copes the best - and if Kansas is alone at the top watching it all unfold.
NORTH DIVISION
1. Kansas
Coach: Mark Mangino (8th season, 45-41)
Last year: 8-5 overall, 4-4 Big 12, beat Minnesota 42-21 in Insight Bowl.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (50,071)
Top returnees/2008 statistics: QB Todd Reesing (329-495 passing, 3,888 yards, 32 TDs, 13 INT; 126 carries, 224 yards, 4 TDs), TB Jake Sharp (186 carries, 860 yards, 12 TDs), WR Kerry Meier (97 catches, 1,045 yards, 8 TDs), WR Dezmon Briscoe (92 catches, 1,402 yards, 15 TDs), S Darrell Stuckey (98 tackles, 60 solo, 5 INT).
Pivotal game: Oct. 17 at Colorado.
Coach speak: "You don't ask the kids to be tougher . . . No, you hold them to a high standard. You finish every drill. You finish every play. When you think you don't have anything else, you're able to give a little bit more." - Mangino
Bottom line: In Reesing, the Jayhawks have the North's most proven quarterback. And in Meier and Briscoe, he'll have two of the division's top targets. KU's question marks hover over a retooled offensive line and a linebacking corps which must replace its starters. Mangino's team has won 20 games over the past two seasons, highlighted by a 12-1 record in 2007. In anyone's league, that's called a solid foundation.
2. Colorado
Coach: Dan Hawkins (4th season, 13-24; 105-47-1 career)
Last year: 5-7 overall, 2-6 Big 12.
Stadium: Folsom Field (53,750)
Top returnees/2008 statistics: QB Cody Hawkins (183-320 passing, 1,892 yards, 17 TDs, 10 INT), TB Rodney Stewart (132 carries, 622 yards, 2 TDs), TB Demetrius Sumler (63 carries, 261 yards, 4 TDs), WR Scotty McKnight (46 catches, 519 yards, 5 TDs), ILB Jeff Smart (109 tackles, 55 solo), CB Cha'pelle Brown (73 tackles, 2 INT).
Pivotal game: Oct. 17 vs. Kansas.
Coach speak: "I think we have a chance, provided we can avoid some of the injuries we had last year and get a little momentum going. We have a chance to do some really nice things this year." - Hawkins
Bottom line: Even with Kansas' explosive offensive potential, the North Division is as unsettled as it's ever been. CU at No. 2? Why not? The Buffs could be No. 1; they catch all three projected divisional contenders - KU, Missouri and Nebraska n++n++n++ at home. And if they can reap the benefits of their strong off-season work and a camaraderie that players claim has never been better, the Buffs could play their unsung status to the hilt. But they'll need stepped up efforts in several key areas to accomplish it. Here's a hint: CU was last in the league in total offense in 2008, averaging 318.5 yards a game (95th nationally).
3. Nebraska
Coach: Bo Pelini (2nd season, 10-4).
Last year: 10-4 overall, 5-3 Big 12, defeated Clemson 26-21 in Gator Bowl.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (81,067)
Top returnees/2008 statistics: IB Roy Helu, Jr. (125 carries, 803 yards, 7 TDs), IB Quentin Castille (106 carries, 467 yards, 6 TDs), TE Mike McNeill (32 catches, 442 yards, 6 TDs), DT Ndamukong Suh (76 tackles, 39 solo, 7.5 QB sacks, 2 INT for TDs), SS Larry Asante (67 tackles, 44 solo, 1 INT), PK Alex Henery (18-21 FGs, 56-57 PATs).
Pivotal game: Oct. 8 at Missouri.
Coach speak: "I thought we made some strides on defense (in 2008), but we're not in the same galaxy of where I want to be defensively. I think we're heading in that direction . . . We're going to play good defense in Nebraska." - Pelini
Bottom line: For the Cornhuskers, the 2009 season is all about momentum generated in the final half of 2008. The Huskers won six of their last seven games, including a season-turning 40-31 win over the Buffs. On the downside, much of that momentum was generated by departed quarterback Joe Ganz. Nebraska now turns to untested Zac Lee, a junior who played in two games and completed one pass in 2008. Lee faces Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State in his first two home games, but his first road tests are at Virginia Tech and Missouri. Umm, that's a bit of an upgrade.
4. Missouri
Coach: Gary Pinkel (9th season, 59-40; 132-77-1 career)
Last year: 10-4 overall, 5-3 Big 12, defeated Northwestern 30-23 in Alamo Bowl.
Stadium: Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field (68,349)
Top returnees/2008 statistics: RB Derrick Washington (177 carries, 1,036 yards, 17 TDs; 29 catches, 277 yards, 2 TDs), WR Jerrell Jackson (9 catches, 98 yards), LB Sean Weatherspoon (149 tackles, 73 solo, 5 QB sacks, 3 INT), CB Carl Gettis (81 tackles, 39 solo).
Pivotal game: Sept. 5 vs. Illinois (St. Louis)
Coach speak: "I've kind of got the Bill Belichick approach to staff: I try to train people within my organization so that when there is some transition, you can move people within your organization up to different positions." - Pinkel
Bottom line: It's difficult to tag the Tigers. In addition to losing 22 seniors, they'll be breaking in a pair of new coordinators (David Yost, offense; Dave Steckel, defense) and must replace dynamic quarterback Chase Daniel. Thus, it will be a telling season for Pinkel and how he contends with those obvious retooling efforts. Mizzou's opener against border rival Illinois is important because of the seasonal tone it usually sets, and Pinkel is 4-0 against the Illini.
5. Kansas State
Coach: Bill Snyder (first season back; 136-68-1 career at KSU)
Last year: 5-7 overall, 2-6 Big 12.
Stadium: Bill Snyder Family Stadium (50,000)
Top returnees/2008 statistics: TE Jeron Mastrud (38 catches, 435 yards, 2 TDs), WR Brandon Banks (67 catches, 1,049 yards, 9 TDs; 7 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD), TB Keithen Valentine (34 carries, 129 yards, 1 TD), CB Joshua Moore (76 tackles, 57 solo, 3 INT), LB Alex Hrebec (67 tackles, 37 solo, 2.5 QB sacks, 1 INT).
Pivotal game: Oct. 3 at Iowa State.
Coach speak: "Certainly things have changed dramatically, but there's a lot of similarities as well. It's just being able to implement a system, understand that you have issues, whether you're a new coach on the block or whether you've been in the program for a long time." - Snyder
Bottom line: In his second time around, Snyder won't find things as disheveled as did in 1989. But that's not to say he steps back into a ready-to-succeed situation. In essence, the master rebuilder must do it over again. For starters, he must replace quarterback Josh Freeman, rejuvenate a running game that managed 132.5 yards a game in 2008 and overhaul a defense that allowed 479.1 yards a game last season (117th nationally). Big tasks, but Snyder's been there before. Literally.
6. Iowa State
Coach: Paul Rhoads (first season)
Last year: 2-10 overall, 0-8 Big 12.
Stadium: Jack Trice Stadium (55,000)
Top returnees/2008 statistics: QB Austen Arnaud (247-401 passing, 2,792 yards, 15 TDs, 10 INT; 109 carries, 401 yards, 5 TDs), TB Alexander Robinson (153 carries, 703 yards, 6 TDs; 17 catches, 160 yards), WR Darius Darks (49 catches, 477 yards, 1 TD), FS James Smith (85 tackles, 60 solo), LB Jesse Smith (84 tackles, 47 solo).
Pivotal game: Oct. 3 vs. Kansas State (Kansas City)
Coach speak: "I think the challenges are you inherit a program that has no tradition, so to speak, in collegiate football and in the Big 12 since its inception . . . . But the lack of recent success is the first hurdle you must overcome." - Rhoads
Bottom line: When Gene Chizik bolted for Auburn after only two seasons at Iowa State, Rhoads, Auburn's defensive coordinator last season, was hired to pick up the pieces. The scatterings were plentiful; Chizik's overall record was 5-19, and he left without winning a league game in 2008 and only two in 2007. Chizik at least left Rhoads with a serviceable quarterback in Arnaud, who will run a newly installed spread offense. But the big question among Cyclones fans is how psychologically damaging Chizik's departure might have been on players he recruited on the promise of a longer stay and eventual turnaround. Winning in Ames never has been easy, and it might have gotten even more difficult.
SATURDAY: Analyzing the South Division
