Brooks: With Opener Looming, It's All About Details

BOULDER - As always, the countdown to kickoff comes down to taking care of details. Time to sweat the small stuff. After Saturday's final scrimmage at Folsom Field before next weekend's opener against Colorado State, the Colorado Buffaloes pronounced themselves ready - sort of.

But in a very short time, they believe the "sort of" will be scratched.

"We just need to do the mental things, get our calls right - that kind of thing," said junior quarterback Tyler Hansen, who will make his first start against the Rams on Sept. 4 (noon, The Mountain) at Invesco Field at Mile High.

"These next couple of days are really big in watching film, get CSU's personnel and tendencies down," Hansen said. "Execution-wise, I think we're good. We just need to clean some things up and we'll be all right."

The Buffs' third preseason scrimmage featured 109 plays - shorter than the previous two because it was conducted as a game, with CU's first offense and defense running against scout teams simulating CSU.

Coach Dan Hawkins said his team had improved through the three scrimmages, but added, "Again, it comes down to a couple of plays a game. We need to just keep working on cleaning it up."

On his side of the ball, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Eric Kiesau said the final five days before the opener would be spent fine-tuning: "We just need to continue to focus on getting better . . . we've got our game plan in; we're not going to change anything, not going to add any plays. We'll continue to practice what we're doing and get better at it."

A spring and fall camp emphasis on defense has been getting more players to the ball and tackling better. Defensive coordinator Ron Collins said he saw improvement in both areas: "I never felt good in the last couple of years about how we have pursued to the ball as a whole unit. That's been a big emphasis and guys have really bought in. They're doing as well as we've ever done and they know that's necessary to win games."

The Buffs are faster overall on defense, but Collins said any front-line player who wasn't particularly swift "better look like (it). To me it's all an effort thing; give 100 percent effort on every play."

Tackling, he added, has been better, "but when we get into live situations, that's how we'll find out how far we've progressed."

Attending to game-week details on defense, said Collins, will involve "communications, alignments, assignments . . . guys feeling comfortable playing with each other."

GOODMAN TAKES STEP UP: Asked who among his kickers would line up for CU's first PAT in the opener, Hawkins said senior Aric Goodman: "He kicked great (Saturday) and has been kicking good. Kicking is a little different than other positions; it's simple math. He's had a nice camp and has kicked well in scrimmages."

Goodman, who underwent hip surgery the day before the spring game in April, said doctors weren't certain if he would be able to compete this season.

"Fortunately, I'm getting another opportunity," he said. "I hope to make the best of it."

Hawkins said freshman Justin Castor has "a little edge" as Goodman's backup, but did not discount using junior Marcus Kirkwood. Hawkins called Castor and Kirkwood "big tall guys who can reach back and pound it."

SOME DO, MOST DON'T: The only players sporting Buffs logos on their helmets Saturday were the inside linebackers. Linebackers coach Brian Cabral said his interpretation was if a position coach believed his players had "earned their Buffs," they would get them.

Outside linebacker B.J. Beatty laughed and said, "That's kind of a mystery to the whole team . . . We kind of joked if Coach Cabral wants it, nobody messes with him. So that's why they got the Buffaloes."

Hawkins has said he won't take his team to Denver with generic helmets.

RAM TOUGH: CSU's strength is expected to be its defense, and Kiesau can see why.

"I have a ton of respect for their defense; they play extremely hard and are very aggressive," Kiesau said. "They do a great job of disguising things. It'll be a big challenge, no doubt about it. I've known Larry Kerr (defensive coordinator) for a long time and they do a great job scheme-wise."

Near the end of last season when the Rams were mired in what would be a nine-game losing streak, Kiesau said Kerr's unit was "still playing very, very hard on defense."

EXPECT TO GET HIT: CU players who haven't competed against CSU need a crash course in expecting hard knocks. Hansen said while he hasn't played in the game (he came on in relief of Cody Hawkins in Big 12 Conference play in each of the last two seasons), he's been on the sidelines and knows what to expect.

"I know it gets wild among the fans, but on the field, it's the same way; guys will get after each other," Hansen said. "It's not a friendly rivalry; it's a hostile rivalry."

Hansen's roommate, tight end Ryan Deehan, has played in the past two CSU games. "He says those CSU guys definitely come out feeling like the underdogs, the little brothers - but they're not that," Hansen noted. "We respect them 100 percent. But they come out with a chip on their shoulders, for sure."

Said Beatty of the rivalry: "I don't think there's anything like it in the first week of college football."

NO RED SHIRTS FOR THEM: Five true freshmen likely will play in the opener. They are: running back Justin Torres, defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe, receiver Paul Richardson, defensive back Jered Bell and long snapper Ryan Iverson.

BUFF BITS: Dan Hawkins said the new players among his team's virtually made-over receiving corps "have done a good job. But you never really know until the live action. You have to make it come to fruition." . . . . He reported no new injuries after Saturday's scrimmage but said a further report on anything minor might not come until Sunday . . . . Since Hansen was named the starter about a week ago, Kiesau said the biggest difference he's seen in his QB has been "an exhale, you know? He got a little tight during the middle of camp, but once it was announced it was more of an exhale - like now I can continue to grow and move forward and know it's my spot." . . . . The Buffs continue to shuffle personnel on defense, but Beatty said strides have been made in "assignments, communication and knowing our responsibilities. We still have a long way to go, but we've made steps." . . . . Good news in the penalty department? CU ran 387 snaps from scrimmage in three preseason scrimmages. Eight penalty flags were thrown - six on the offense, two on the defense . . . . The Buffs have meetings and a light practice Sunday, then take Monday off. Final preparations for CSU begin Tuesday morning.

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU