Boulder – Dan Hawkins doesn’t give a complete shoulder shrug when the subject of Colorado’s scoring in the second half comes up. It’s kind of this in-between thing.
The coach recognizes scoring only three total points in the second half of the first four games this season is a problem. He just chooses not to overanalyze it, or get too excited about it.
So he half-shrugs.
“I think that’s one of those things a little bit sometimes where you can get too carried away with it,” Hawkins said.
But that’s not solving anything. And this is becoming an increasingly glaring issue.
Kicker Mason Crosby’s 36-yard field goal with 11:25 left in the third quarter against Georgia represents the only points the Buffs have put on the board in any second half this season.
But CU’s split personality doesn’t stop there.
The Buffs’ offense goes into a shell in the second half, and that is illustrated by simply analyzing the first drives of both the first and second halves in games this season.
In the four game-opening drives, Colorado has scored 13 points, gained nine first downs and racked up 200 yards. The only game CU did not score on its first drive was against Georgia; the Buffs drove to the Bulldogs’ 9-yard line, but Crosby’s 26-yard field-goal attempt was blocked.
On drives to open the second half, the Buffs come out flat. They have scored three points, gaining five first downs and just 94 yards.
So where’s the disconnect?
“I think a lot of that comes down to us being a little more assertive, having a little more confidence,” Hawkins said. “But we certainly have looked at those questions as well, because we come out of the locker room with a plan, much like we do in the first half. We do make some adjustments.
“We need to be able to have some big plays and generate some excitement and carry forward. It’s that emotion, it’s that chemistry, it’s that assertiveness of going: ‘Let’s go. Let’s finish this. Let’s carry this thing out.”‘
According to offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, a big bulk of the problem lies in penalties, the inability to convert third downs, turnovers and the little things such as bad throws or dropped passes that sabotage plays and stall drives.
“All of those things have cumulative effect,” Helfrich said. “If you’re clicking on offense, you should be in first and second down the majority of the time and third-and-short and third-and-mediums. We’re just not a team right now that needs to be doing business on third-and-11. There’s not too many that are. That just means that we’ve got to be efficient in those other situations.”
Quarterback Bernard Jackson says the team needs to “just keep playing fast, keep playing hard like the first two quarters when we came out.”
Colorado led at halftime against Georgia and Montana State. But those teams took advantage of the Buffs’ inability to move the ball during the majority of each second half.
“It’s just a matter of executing, especially on offense,” center Bryce MacMartin said. “In the second half, you have to have a little more sense of urgency. I don’t think you can practice that, I just think you have to go out there and make sure you stay focused and execute the plays the way they’re supposed to be done.”
Footnotes
Quarterback James Cox was back at practice Wednesday. He left the team last week to be with his father, Terry, who died last Wednesday. “It’s good to be back here, running with the guys,” the senior said. “It’s kind of hard because my head has been somewhere different, but I just need to get back in the flow of things.” … Former Pittsburgh Steelers star and current scout Joe Greene was at practice.
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
