University of Colorado Athletics
Brooks: Bieniemy Wants Consistent 'O' In Final Three
November 07, 2011 | Football, B.G. Brooks
BOULDER - Colorado offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy admits he's begun to sound like a broken record - but that's just the way the Buffs' broken season has been playing.
Bieniemy and his offensive staff couldn't fault the Buffs' effort in a 42-17 loss on Friday night against Southern California.
"What stood out is that our kids played very hard from start to finish," Bieniemy said on Monday. "The thing I keep harping on to them is that we play with great effort - that's one thing I want to commend them on, they've done a great job of that all season."
However . . . and there's always a "however" lurking in a 1-9 season:
"Activity doesn't always equate to productivity," Bieniemy continued. "We still have to make sure we're aligned properly, and it still comes down to executing our jobs with great attention to details. Then we have to eliminate the penalties. It's the same old stuff; it sounds like a broken record. The thing is, we've proven we can move the ball, but the bottom line is, we've been so inconsistent."
He said the coaching staff must continue to demand consistency, while the players continue to study their absorb assignments and pay attention to details as they prepare for the season's final three games.
The Buffs opened against the Trojans with an impressive six-play, 69-yard drive to take a 7-0 lead. But from there, the inconsistencies that Bieniemy mentioned plagued his offense. CU wound up with 384 yards in total offense to USC's 561.
WELCOME BACK, "SPEEDY": Senior tailback Rodney "Speedy" Stewart returned from a two-game absence and contributed 155 all-purpose yards (88 rushing, 67 receiving) against the Trojans.
Bieniemy said Stewart "just played a tremendous game, one of his better games. It wasn't perfect; he made some mistakes. He's a player; he brings a tremendous amount to the table every week."
Stewart's performance, added Bieniemy, was the reason reserves Tony Jones and Josh Ford didn't see significant duty (Jones didn't get a carry, Ford got one). Said Bieniemy: "Rodney was hot. Tony and Josh have done a great job of stepping in . . . but we felt (Stewart) gave us the best opportunity to win."
Bieniemy said receiver Paul Richardson (two receptions, 18 yards) wasn't at all rusty after a four-game absence due to a sprained knee: "We had his number called and it was just unfortunate at times the ball just didn't come his way. We have to make sure we're getting him involved more. But sometimes that's just the way it bounces. I thought he looked good out there.
"It felt good to get both of those guys back because they're two of our playmakers. The good news is, too, that Toney Clemons (senior receiver) has stepped his game up tremendously. We just have to keep building off of that."
Clemons went over 100 yards receiving (five catches, 112 yards, two touchdowns) for the first time in his career.
Although quarterback Tyler Hansen threw for 250 yards and the two TDs to Clemons, he didn't have his most accurate game passing (17-of-37). Bieniemy said in football "the quarterback always gets the blame . . . and that's sad, because Tyler's done a great job for us. Would you like for him to make a few throws here or there? Yes. But the bottom line is that it goes all around the room . . . there's a fair share. One thing you learn when you're going through this process is that football is truly a team sport. Indirectly we all affect one another."
THREE GAMES, ONE FOCUS: The Buffs have one home game remaining (Saturday vs. Arizona, 12:30 p.m.) and two on the road (Nov. 19 at UCLA, Nov. 25 at Utah). Right now, Bieniemy isn't concerned with that fact that after having played three consecutive ranked teams (and four in the past five), none of CU's last three opponents are ranked.
"Arizona is a good team," he said. "Obviously, they're going through some things, but the bottom line is that coaching staff and that team has a tremendous amount of pride in everything they do. Our No. 1 objective is to make sure that we're taking care of what's in house, and making sure that our mindsets are ready and we're prepared to play a 60-minute game.
"The bottom line . . . it's not about our opponent, it's about us and it always will be. Once we overcome self, we've got a chance of becoming a pretty successful offense. Consistency - that's the main focus. Let's work on that. When we're consistent, we have a chance."
EMBREE HITS THE SLOPES (FIGURATIVELY): Among the CU ski team's top annual fundraising events is the Ski Ball, held on campus last weekend. The event features an auction, and football coach Jon Embree helped the monetary effort for ski coach Richard Rokos' team with about 5 minutes worth of salesmanship.
Sideline access for two at Saturday's CU-s Arizona game was offered, but Embree kept upping the ante, adding a signed black helmet, pregame locker room access and finally the chance to run alongside him and behind Ralphie IV when the Buffs take the field.
Bidding reached $4,000 by a pair of participants, and that's when Embree's business acumen kicked in. He told both bidders he would see that each received all prizes offered if they paid $4,500.
Deal . . . and a welcome $9,000 for the Buffs ski program.
Embree had a fuzzy recollection of briefly attending a ski banquet when he was a CU player in the 1980s, but was pleasantly surprised at how the event has grown. A decade later, during his time as a CU assistant coach, Embree became acquainted with Rokos.
"I think the world of Richard and all of our coaches; I think we have really good coaches," he said. "I'm glad I can be around and help . . . I see how he trains and pushes his athletes, how hard they work. I mentioned that at the ball; I try to see everything that goes on in this building. I'll go down to the weight room. I see them there early every morning sitting on the steps getting ready to run, or having just gotten done. They don't 50,000 fans or get to be on TV, but that doesn't mean what they do isn't less important."
Embree also became acquainted with skier Katie Hartman when she was rehabbing last year after knee surgery and came away impressed "with her resolve and her whole attitude. That's a good bunch; I really like them."
BUFF BITS: CU's defensive staff features two former Arizona assistants - coordinator/secondary coach Greg Brown and line coach Mike Tuiasosopo. Embree said both can offer insights into the Wildcats' personnel, but not so much into the strategy on either side of the ball since Arizona's mid-season coaching change. Defensive coordinator Tim Kish replaced Mike Stoops. Brown said Kish, an eight-year veteran on the Arizona staff, "always give them a chance; he's a smart, tough football coach." . . . . Like CU, Arizona has suffered a rash of defensive injuries, particularly in the secondary. Embree joked that Brown is the common denominator . . . . Saturday is Senior Day for the Buffs, and it'll be different under Embree. CU's senior class will be honored immediately after warm-ups, allowing the players to return to the locker room and run behind Ralphie a final time. Embree said he hopes fans and students show up early to give the seniors a fitting sendoff . . . . Freshman linebacker Brady Daigh (wrist) is expected to play this week wearing a cast, but freshman safety Kyle Washington (concussion) likely will be a game-time decision, Embree said. Both were injured against USC . . . . No word yet on the availability of safeties Ray Polk (concussion) or Anthony Perkins (ankle). Embree said he's hopeful Perkins, a senior, can play in his final home game . . . . The secondary will get corners Parker Orms and Paul Vigo back this week. Both had their suspensions rescinded last week and practiced. They were held out of the USC game to allow ample time for conditioning. Brown said his starting corners on Saturday could be Orms and Greg Henderson . . . . Among the tapes Embree has studied to prepare for the Wildcats is the brawl-marred Arizona-UCLA game last month. Embree's son, Taylor, was among those Bruins players involved in the altercation, resulting in a suspension. Taylor, joked his father, "has his mother's temper." . . . . Due to last weekend's end of Daylight Saving Time, the Buffs began practicing an hour earlier on Monday and were scheduled to finish about 5:15 p.m. . . . . CU's game at UCLA on Nov. 19 will kickoff at 5:30 p.m. MST and be televised by Versus.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
