Brooks: Collins Believes Buffs 'D' Can't Lag At Start

BOULDER - Picture Colorado's defense as the sieve and Missouri's spread offense as the water flowing through it. Based on the four most recent outcomes and Mizzou's offensive outputs, that image isn't outlandish.

CU defensive coordinator Ron Collins has a fairly simple theory as to why Mizzou's success has gone unchecked.

"They've come out and made plays - and we haven't," Collins said. "They've executed and we have not. That's the bottom line."

Last season, the Buffs fell behind 33-3 after a disastrous first half and wound up losing 36-17. Although dismayed by his unit's first-half performance, which was partially attributable to good field position offered the Tigers, Collins noted improvement after halftime.

"I thought last year we did some things in the second half," he said. "We had a lot of short fields in that game that we had to overcome. I thought we started to play, make some plays, in the second half.

"We need to come out and start faster (Saturday at Missouri). They start fast, they finish, they're a good football team. When you go play Missouri, you'd better be ready to play."

Rather than making wholesale changes to his defense in preparing for Mizzou, Collins and his staff are emphasizing the need to play fast and as error-free as possible.

"I try to keep it all within our scheme so that our guys aren't doing a ton of thinking when they get out on the field," he said. "Whatever adjustments we have to make, we make it within the scheme we have."

The Tigers have topped 50 points (55-10, 58-0) in two of their past four wins over the Buffaloes, as well as hitting 36 in last season's victory in Boulder. Give up that many points on such a regular basis and it becomes more than a garden-variety loss.

"Yeah, I take it personally," senior corner Jimmy Smith conceded. "For me, being on defense, I was there for the brutal beat-downs . . . I'm playing with a chip on my shoulder this game."

Junior guard Ryan Miller expressed the same feelings: "I think it is (personal) for the older guys - myself included. We've had it taken to us the past couple of years."

TORRES LEAVES: Freshman tailback Justin "JT" Torres has left the team, coach Dan Hawkins confirmed Wednesday morning. But Hawkins also said Torres could return.

"He went home . . . we'll see (whether he returns)," Hawkins said. "I've told you guys before . . . are kids different from what they were? I don't think they are, but I think their lives are 8,000 times more complicated. So we'll see how that goes. There's a combination of things there."

Hawkins said Torres' decision was based on "personal issues, a bunch of them, and I'm not going to get into them. You've got teenagers - they've got 8,000 things going on. He'll try to get his life settled down and we'll see where it goes from there."

Running backs coach Darian Hagan said Torres' departure took him by surprise. Hagan said the player was in his office Monday and seemed carefree, offering no hint he might leave.

At 6-foot, 215 pounds, Torrance, of LaMirada, Calif., was the biggest of the backs Hagan has used this season. Torres had been ticketed for duty as a short-yardage/goal line back and had carries in two of CU's four games. He ran five times for 26 yards against Colorado State and nine times for 32 yards against Hawai'i.

Hawkins said redshirt freshman Quentin Hildreth (5-8, 185) and true freshman Cordary Allen (6-1, 220) would travel to the Missouri game. Neither has played this season, and Allen will maintain his redshirt season if possible.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (OR CLOSE TO IT): Last Tuesday and Wednesday - in the run-up to CU's 29-27 win against Georgia - Hawkins said his team's practices were "really, really good."

He indicated that the dose of confidence the Buffs received from the second half of the Hawai'i game, as well as the win over UGA, has had a carryover effect in the way they've practiced.

"It's interesting what a little more confidence will do . . . you have some of those breakthrough moments," he said. "I think they're just kind of getting in that groove of how you practice - you've got to practice well and keep the balls of the ground, yourself off the ground. Yeah, I think they're feeling that a little bit."

LOWERING THE FLAG COUNT: CU entered last weekend averaging over nine penalties (9.3) a game. The Buffs were flagged just three times for 21 yards against the Bulldogs.

Why the big drop?

Hawkins said a high number of weekly penalties can stem from "being desperate, from over-trying . . . you've just to relax and let the game come to you. I think that's part of it."

He also said players' concentrating on their specific assignments "and not trying to do other people's jobs" was a factor.

BIG BACKS, SOFT HANDS: Heavyweights Matt Bahr (6-4, 290) and Scott Fernandez (6-3, 275) - both former offensive linemen - are being utilized at tight ends/fullbacks for the first time this season.

Bahr scored CU's first touchdown against UGA, catching a 4-yard pass from quarterback Tyler Hansen.

Hawkins said both Bahr and Fernandez are capable receivers: "We joked because first time we threw to them, they could catch it. We weren't really banking on that. It's a plus . . . I'm not saying they're in Scotty (McKnight's) league, but they can catch it. They're not bad, they can catch the ball."

HANSEN HANDLING HIS JOB: Hansen accounted for 209 of CU's 393 yards in total offense against UGA, passing for 158 yards (13-for-20, one touchdown, one interception) and running for 51 yards. His comfort level at his position is on the upswing, as is his command of the offense.

"He's getting better . . . I've really noticed it a lot more this week in practice to be honest," Hawkins said. "I thought he played a good game (vs. UGA) don't get me wrong . . . but your quarterback is your first cellist - he's got to hit every note, that guy.

"So you have high expectations there. I think he's gotten progressively better, and the team has gotten progressively better. So that's helped him do what he does."

Hansen struggled in the 52-7 loss at California, completing only 18 of 34 passes and being intercepted three times. He also was sacked six times, losing 41 yards and finishing with minus-9 yards rushing.

"That's where the Cal experience - as painful as that is - sometimes it's the best lesson to learn," Hawkins said. "You cannot play for these other guys; you have to do your job . . . some of those lessons are the absolute best. They're painful but they're going to stick in his mind . . . throw the ball on time, trust your receiver, trust the route and let those other 10 guys do what they're supposed to do. You can't win it by yourself."

ROAD ROUTINE ISN'T THE ISSUE: The Buffs' road woes are well-documented (last win in 2007 at Texas Tech). But the losing streak has nothing to do with the itinerary, said Hawkins: "A lot of it has to do with how you play."

Ah, make that most of it.

For that reason, CU won't alter its travel itinerary for this weekend's trip to Columbia, Mo. The Buffs will leave the Dal Ward Athletics Center at mid-day Friday and arrive in mid-Missouri late that afternoon. They will, however, swing by MU's Faurot Field for a brief walkthrough - something they didn't do at Cal's stadium on their trip to Berkeley, Calif.

Hawkins said that was because of traffic issues in the Oakland-Berkeley area, adding, "For us to practice (Fridays) we're much better doing it here because we can functionally do things. When you practice on the road, you're looking around saying who's watching . . . who's taking pictures. You don't get a whole lot out of it."

BUFF BITS: Hawkins believes MU quarterback Blaine Gabbert might not be getting the acclaim he deserves. "In the grand scheme of things, he's probably underrated," Hawkins said. "I think he's pretty good . . . you just don't hear about him (when) people talk about the best quarterbacks in the country or whatever. You don't see his name come up in that venue. When Chase (Daniel) was there, his name was kind of tossed around in that group. (Gabbert) is a big strong guy who can run, he's got a very good arm. He does a nice job." . . . . Gabbert has completed 103 of 151 passes for 1,039 yards and five TDs (three interceptions). His efficiency rating is 133.0 - eighth in the Big 12 . . . . Hawkins' recipe for success Saturday: "We can't turn it over, put ourselves in bad spots. I think our guys are feeling good about things, liking the challenge." . . . . Are the Buffs on a roll? It's best not to get carried away, but Hawkins notes, "Our guys have put six pretty good quarters together, and I think that means a lot to them to have consistency . . . that's good for us and where we feel about our preparation now."

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU