University of Colorado Athletics
Brooks: No. 1 QB Still Not Set
August 30, 2009
Nonetheless, the Buffs still have one basic need -- a starting quarterback. He didn't emerge from Saturday's two-hour closed situational work in Folsom Field.
Unless there are changes of mind or heart before next weekend, Hawkins apparently will stick with his plan of not publicly announcing either Cody Hawkins or Tyler Hansen as CU's starter until game time (5 p.m., FSN).
But that doesn't mean the players won't know earlier.
Said Dan Hawkins, CU's head coach: "The guys will know the plan (early). They won't be waking up on Sunday and going, 'Well, who is it?' . . . They'll know soon."
Kiesau, the Buffs' first-year offensive coordinator/QB coach, said both players are "doing great jobs. We're still evaluating and looking through it. We'll know later in the week."
Hansen missed drills Wednesday and Thursday with flu symptoms (he said he tested negatively for the H1N1 virus) but said he didn't believe he fell behind in the QB competition.
"Right now we're still competing (and) it's about as even as last week," he said. "I'm still thinking game day (for a public announcement) . . . that keeps us competing all the way through."
Cody Hawkins said he and Hansen met Saturday morning and studied whatever Hansen might have missed during his sickness.
"Some stuff that we installed for Colorado State that I didn't get a feel on, I got a feel on it today," Hansen said. "I was still doing the mental part of the game, but I was bummed about not being with teammates . . . but it was better last week than this week."
Of the competition with his close friend, Cody Hawkins said, "I think the most important thing is that everybody on this team is trying to get better and doing everything we can to prepare.
"That's a decision a coaches are going to make, so we've just go out and continue to compete and have fun. I think me and Tyler both are doing a great job of handling the situation.
"There were times last year when we didn't really know what was going on (who was going to start or play), and we did a great job of just going with the flow . . . we're just going to do what the coaches ask of us."
Defensive coordinator Ron Collins claimed in practice, it was sometimes difficult to tell Cody Hawkins and Hansen apart: "Both do a great job. We can win both of those guys. As a team, whoever's in there we're going to be rallying around. We're very excited about those guys being in there."
As for identifying a No. 3 quarterback, Kiesau said that also will have to wait.
"It's still a work in progress . . . both need lot of work," he said of freshman walk-on Seth Lobato and scholarship freshman Clark Evans. "I thankful we have two guys in front of them who are experienced and developed . . . we can take some time with them. We might take all four (on the road)."
NEW KIDS ON THE ROUTE: Junior college transfer Andre Simmons and recently switched cornerback Anthony Wright made their scrimmage debuts at receiver.
By most accounts, they handled themselves well for having a limited amount of practice at their spots.
"You can definitely tell they're talented," Dan Hawkins said. "Sometimes they're going west when they're supposed to be going east . . . but they definitely got some talent."
Added Cody Hawkins: "The great thing about those guys is that they're unbelievably athletic. If you ask me to switch positions, I'd be awful. But they're two of the more athletic guys on our team.
"We were lucky to get 'A-Dub' (Wright) on our side of the ball because he's a guy who can go make plays and stretch the field.
"Simmons is a guy who did everything . . . he did a lot to get admitted to this program. We're glad he stuck with us, and we're definitely going to see what he can do on Saturdays because he's a great talent and he's been working hard."
Kiesau called Simmons, who has only had four days of practice with the Buffs, and Wright "instant deep threats," but added both are "still learning."
Kiesau said plays will be installed "where they can do some things for us." He said Simmons' number was called a couple of times Saturday, "and I wish he could have come down with those balls, but at least they were deep vertical balls.
"That's going to help us as we get into the season. We just have to be patient with them and understand their situations."
NO IDENTITY CRISIS: The Buffs are emphasizing the run game this season, and Cody Hawkins said that's going to give the offense more of an identity, a personality and "hopefully more consistency.
"We've got some guys who can make some plays and a whole stable of guys who can contribute in one way or another."
And that, contends Kiesau, lends itself to balance - something he earlier was fearful the Buffs might not achieve.
"Right now we're at a point where we've got a healthy O-line, we've got some pretty good backs," Kiesau said. "Now when get some guys to step up at receiver, we're going to be pretty well balanced.
"I was a little nervous early, thinking, 'Boy, we're (only) going to have a strong running attack.' But right now, as of today, I see us being very, very balanced going into the season.
"We're right where we need to be going into our first game."
PLAYING THE NUMBERS: No surprise here, but with better depth than he's had in the past, defensive coordinator Ron Collins' plan is to play more guys.
"We have enough depth that I think we can and feel good about it," Collins said.
He's fairly set with Nos. 1-2 at all positions, and conceded there were true freshmen in his two-deep chart. He declined to identify them, saying that information would be revealed either Sunday or Monday.
But the pair of true freshmen drawing the most praise in camp from defensive line coach Romeo Bandison has been tackle Nate Bonsu and end Forrest West.
Of the D-line as a whole, Collins said, "Every day is a learning experience. I hope those guys never feel like they've arrived. They need to keep working hard all year, they've got a long ways to go."
BUFF BITS: Dan Hawkins believed the Buffs came out of their third scrimmage injury-free, which is "always our No. 1 goal," he said . . . . As planned, tailback Rodney "Speedy" Stewart (slight hamstring pull) did not suit up. "He'll wait until next week," Dan Hawkins said . . . . Precautions are being taken campus-wide to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus. "A lot of that is proper hygiene . . . wash your hands, don't use other people's stuff," Dan Hawkins said. "That's what it really comes down to." He said he believed that particular bug struck his team last spring, "when we had guys who were deathly sick, I mean, deathly . . . I think we already got antibodies for that one." . . . . Game week preparations will be normal for the Buffs, meaning an off day on Monday, padded practice on Tuesday and tapering off on Wednesday (shells) and Thursday (vests). However, with the opener on Sunday, Friday also will be a Thursday-type work day. "There's always that fine balance between getting your work done and staying healthy . . . I think we're right where we need to be," Dan Hawkins said.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
