Boulder – Now comes the next wave of thought.
“Hopefully (Saturday) was just a first step, not an endgame,” Colorado offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said.
Many of the little errors that plagued, and stalled, CU’s offense on drives this season were not present in Colorado’s win over Texas Tech. But what does it mean?
Players hope it indicates the mistake-prone CU offense has become the formerly mistake- prone CU offense.
“Now, we’re finally firing on all cylinders; we’re actually getting it going,” running back Mell Holliday said. “This is how we were supposed to be winning all season. Instead of being close, we’re supposed to be blowing people out. We just needed to execute.
“We were always one block or one missed play away or something like that. Now we’re finally getting some blocking on the line, getting some penetration into the defense, and we’re rolling.”
With a season-high 380 yards total offense against Texas Tech, the Buffs have now made it four straight weeks with more than 300 yards of offense. Before that, CU averaged 193.7 yards per game.
Against Texas Tech, Colorado put up the kind of numbers a coach Dan Hawkins-led offense is more used to seeing: It averaged 5.0 yards per rush, 12.7 yards per completion and rolled up 20 first downs. It was the first time Colorado has thrown for two touchdowns in a game this year.
But has it turned the corner yet?
Quarterback Bernard Jackson won’t go that far just yet.
“It’s very close,” Jackson said. “Finally we were able to put it together, and we’ve just got to continue to put it together the way we have and hope to come out with more victories.”
For Jackson, it has been a week-by-week work in progress. He said he put in more hours of game film study last week than he had previously. Hawkins said a couple of practices last week were better than any other this season.
Washington vows to play
The initial outlook was bleak for oft-injured cornerback Vance Washington. But the senior, who recently underwent major knee surgery that requires a six- to eight-month rehabilitation and will miss the season, insists he’ll play again.
“I’m definitely coming back,” Washington said. “I want to support my team. I want to win ballgames. I just want to get back with my teammates, because I miss them.”
Getting Washington back on the field is contingent upon NCAA approval for a medical redshirt, which might be difficult. Washington already has received one medical redshirt, for his sophomore season, which he missed because of shoulder surgery.
Approval for a second medical redshirt season is not unprecedented, however. It happened recently for former CU tight end Quinn Sypniewski, who played six seasons for the Buffs.
Washington, who is seeking a sixth year as well, sticks close to the process and said it shouldn’t be a problem.
“It looks real good for that, positive on the medical redshirt,” he said.
Footnote
Hawkins gave the team Sunday off for the first time this season. The Buffs return to practice Tuesday in preparation for Saturday night’s Oklahoma game.
EYE ON … The Sooners
COLORADO AT OKLAHOMA
5 p.m., Saturday
For the record: Oklahoma is 4-2, 1-1 Big 12.
Streaking: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is 12-0 in home games against Big 12 North teams.
Who’s hot: Wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias has caught four or more passes in his past four games.
Who’s not: Oklahoma has committed 14 turnovers and is minus-0.17 in turnover margin this season.
Key stat: Oklahoma has won 28 of its past 29 home games, including nine in a row.
FYI: Oklahoma has won four straight games against the Buffs.
Injury report: The Sooners have lost star running back Adrian Peterson for the season with a broken collarbone.
Coachspeak: “I feel we are capable of more and I want to see it. As a coach you are pleased to win, and don’t get me wrong, the guys felt good in there. They understand the good things, but there is just some frustration in there. I don’t like it when we give things or when we do some things that we can control and be better at.” – Stoops
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
