Notes, sweet notes . . .
It all starts up front, says Dan Hawkins. What’s that? You’re right. What else is he supposed to say? Every football coach that ever was says it all starts up front.
On the offensive line, that is. That being the case, the Buffs should be improved this season over last year’s 5-7 record. How big are the Buffs up front?
“There’s a lot of shade to be had underneath most of those guys,” Hawkins said.
For the record, the line averages 6-feet-6 and 296 pounds from tackle to tackle. Just to put those numbers in perspective, the Broncos average 6-4, 301 across the front. . . .
And it’s not like those big lugs in Boulder aren’t athletic. Take left tackle Nate Solder. At 6-9, 305, he has 8 percent body fat and runs a 4.8 40. Oh, and did we mention he was the MVP of his conference in high school basketball and turned down an offer to play hoops at Dartmouth? . . .
By the numbers: 0. That’s how many sacks CU right tackle Bryce Givens, a redshirt freshman in 2008, allowed during his days at Mullen High. . . .
You hope, one of these days, the lights go on and Brandon Marshall will be home. But then, the Falcons go and lay $50 million over six years — $18 mill guaranteed — on Roddy White. Like B-Marsh, White reported to camp disgruntled, and, also like B-Marsh, was scheduled to make about $2.2 million this season. Not that, you know, Camp Marshall noticed. . . . Speaking of Marshall, what does it say about the Broncos when their best defensive player is Harvey Steinberg? . . .
Where have you gone, Rubin Carter, Bronco Nation turns its lonely eyes to you: The three first-stringers on the defensive line have combined for 10 career starts. . . .
So, barely a year after Mike Shanahan said Ryan Torain reminded him of Terrell Davis, Torain is gone. Moral to the story: If you’re not a Josh guy, you’re an expendable guy. . . .
Do not attempt this at home. Shanahan’s final three Broncos teams were 24-24 against the league, 18-18 against the AFC, 9-9 against the AFC West and 6-6 against the NFC. . . .
The Cubs are shelling out $149 million in payroll. Are you thinking what I’m thinking? After seeing them play at Coors Field last week, they should have just given the cash to Bernie Madoff. . . .
LoDo Launching Pad? Brad Hawpe just says no. He has 15 homers — 10 on the road, five at home. . . .
Hawkins, by the way, has lost 17 pounds, thanks in part to surgery to remove a kidney stone. To hear him tell it, he’d rather have lost 17 winning Powerball tickets. . . .
Then there’s Cody Hawkins, the chip off the ol’ coach. Believe it or not, he prefers taking snaps under center to catching them via the shotgun. Why? “I really feel like I’m in the cockpit. Most people would think I’d like the shotgun because I’m 6-5 recently. . . . I don’t know if you guys have noticed.” . . .
Yeah, yeah, that’s the ticket. Cody is 6-5. And Michael Phelps didn’t inhale. . . .
Is it just me or does anyone else find it ironic that, at a time when neither CU nor CSU knows who its starting quarterback will be, Our Town’s Own Zac Robinson lands on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s college football preview? . . .
Right point spread, wrong team favored: The Vegas books have Nebraska listed at minus-3 over CU on Nov. 27 at Folsom Field. . . .
They say it’s your birthday: Three ex-Broncos — Gary Kubiak (48), Bubby Brister (47) and Bertrand Berry (34) — and one ex-Buff, Eric Bieniemy (40).
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
Five fearless predictions
Cancel the season, Commish. It’s mid-August and we already know what’s going to happen in the NFL circa 2010. How? Simple. It says so right here in the paper. Herein are five fearless predictions for the Not For Long season:
5. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu will agree to have his hair cut for charity at halftime of the Steelers’ Oct. 18 game vs. Cleveland. The game will resume Oct. 19.
4. Al Davis and Josh McDaniels will shake hands on the field at Oakland, whereupon a bystander will ask Al what his grandson’s name is.
3. Jay Cutler will shatter the Bears’ all-time record of two touchdown passes in a single game.
2. Matt Leinart will call fellow ex-USC quarterback Mark Sanchez to congratulate him for, like, actually playing in a game.
1. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, below, will get lost in Mike Shanahan’s house while taking a break from contract negotiations.
A look at the numbers
Brandon Marshall dodged a conviction and, presumably, a suspension from NFL commish Roger Goodell. Now what?
Who knows? Maybe he’ll go out and catch 100 passes again, as he did in 2007-08. Question is, would it help the Broncos in the standings? Brian Howell of the Longmont Times-Call and I often swap stats, mostly for laughs, occasionally for publication. Here’s his latest installment:
Sixty players in AFL/NFL history have caught 100-plus passes in a season, but less than half (29) made the playoffs.
Thirty four players have cracked the 100 mark since 2000 and 21 have missed the playoffs. Only one, Troy Brown of the 2001 Patriots, has won a Super Bowl in his 100-catch season.
Three players caught 100-plus balls in 2008 — Houston’s Andre Johnson (115), New England’s Wes Welker (111) and Marshall (104) — and none made the playoffs.
The Broncos have accounted for six of the 60 100-catch seasons. They missed the playoffs four out of six times.
