Boulder – Or, or, or.
Colorado players had better get used to it. Or else.
When he coached Boise State, Dan Hawkins used to drive the media batty with his depth charts. He admits that it was amusing when he answered abstractly to the media’s get-to-the-point questions, but the new CU coach insists it wasn’t to be intentionally annoying.
He just had a system. And the “ors” were prevalent.
In a time of “getting to know you,” the Buffaloes have another issue on their plate – the ever-present “or.”
CU depth charts now work like this: The only positions set in stone from game to game are the quarterback and offensive line. It’s open season on everyone else.
“It’ll keep everyone dialed in,” Hawkins said.
Offense now works like defense, where set starters are sometimes difficult to pin down because the 11 players who start each game usually are tailored to what the opposing offense does well. For example, if Oklahoma runs the ball most of the time, four down linemen and three linebackers will start for the Buffs. If spread-you-out- and-pass Texas Tech is in town, CU will use an extra defensive back or two.
Hawkins will start the skill-position players who best fit what he wants to do in that week’s game. The Buffs’ depth chart at running back baffled many when Hawkins revealed there are three “co-starters.” But that is just the beginning. Wide receivers, tight ends and fullbacks are just as susceptible.
CU running backs coach Darian Hagan said he never had heard of three players tied for the top at any position.
“But in our system, I think it’s an advantage for us to play all three and get those guys doing different things,” Hagan said.
The cynical viewpoint is that CU doesn’t have one running back it can count on to be good carrying the football, in pass protection and whatever else the coaching staff is asking players at that position to do. The optimistic viewpoint is that CU has three running backs with different skills, and they all deserve playing time.
But what do the players think about it? From the first time any of them played football, there was a first team, a second team and so on.
“I think everybody looks at it as a way to contribute,” said senior Mell Holliday, one of the three “starters” at running back. “Most of the people just want to play. So when they see we have a chance to be in there at any given time, it gives them more to look forward to.”
Said senior defensive end Abraham Wright: “It definitely keeps you on your toes. You can’t get lackadaisical. It just makes you just keep working. You can’t miss too many days. You can’t slack off.”
But there is a tad bit of skepticism, too.
“At this point everybody is thinking real positive about it,” Holliday said. “But when it gets into the season, I think it’s going be a lot of different opinions about how things are going. You never know. It might for the better or it might change for the worse.”
Footnotes
Jordon Dizon and Thaddaeus Washington were named to the Butkus Award watch list Thursday. The award honors the nation’s best linebacker. … Hawkins said under normal circumstances he wouldn’t give a player seeking a transfer a release to an opponent on the schedule, but in safety Tyrone Henderson’s case he relented. According to Henderson’s dad, Montana State was about the only school that showed significant interest in his son, who has transferred to the I-AA school and will play against CU in the season opener next week. Hawkins said he’s not worried about secrets being given away, because things have changed since the spring. That was the last time Henderson practiced with the Buffs. He was suspended at the start of fall camp, which eventually led to his transfer.
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
