BOULDER — The best thing going for Colorado in 2010 other than returning nine starters on offense and seven on defense? CU players say they are flat sick of losing.
The 28-20 loss to Nebraska on Friday in the season finale left the Buffaloes with a 3-9 record, including 2-6 in the Big 12 Conference. After four years, newly retained coach Dan Hawkins is still looking for his first winning season.
“I’m pretty embarrassed with the number of games we’ve won,” junior wide receiver Scotty McKnight said last week. “I know that the alumni, the fans, all those people that love Colorado football, they’re not happy about it either.
“As a leader, I’m going to do everything I can in the offseason to make sure we’re going in the right direction. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Where do Hawkins and his staff begin? Entering last week’s game, Colorado showed up much too often near the bottom of the NCAA statistical charts. Down there with, dare we say it, New Mexico State, San Jose State, North Texas, Washington State and other football floor mats.
There are 120 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Colorado ranked 118th in penalties committed, 117th in sacks allowed and punt returns, 113th in rushing offense and net punting, 111th in passing efficiency and 108th in total offense.
Hawkins, admittedly a “glass half-full guy,” insisted Friday that his team was just 10 plays from gaining the minimum of six victories to become bowl-eligible in 2009. That may be true. But how many other teams can say the same? Those teams intend to improve too.
This fall, perhaps even more often than during Hawkins’ three previous years, Colorado never looked in sync. When the offense played well, the defense didn’t. More often, the reverse was true. The defense played well enough to win games against Kansas State, Iowa State and Nebraska. But the CU offense failed to do its part. Silly mistakes (turnovers and penalties) deserve some blame. But usually that means a team lacks playmakers and just wasn’t talented enough.
Under Hawkins, Colorado has never finished better than 10th among Big 12 teams in either scoring or total offense. Against high-powered conference foes, that leaves CU always playing catch-up.
“We need to keep adding speed,” Hawkins acknowledged.
Help is on the way at wide receiver, with Michigan transfer Toney Clemons eligible for next season. Hawkins also likes two rangy, redshirt-freshman wideouts (6-4 Terdema Ussery and 6-5 Jarrod Darden). Former Buff Kendrick Celestine returned to Boulder and hopes to regain his eligibility in time for spring drills. And look for wide receiver to be a position of emphasis in recruiting.
As juniors in 2010, quarterback Tyler Hansen and tailback Rodney Stewart will be more seasoned. CU needs the offensive line, unsettled for much of the past two seasons, to finally play up to expectations.
The sputtering offense failed to finish off scoring opportunities. Friday’s game against Nebraska provided another frustrating example. Late in the third quarter, Hansen connected with sophomore wide receiver Markques Simas for a 58-yard completion — Colorado’s longest play from scrimmage for the season — to the Huskers’ 25-yard line. But Hansen was called for intentional grounding on third-and-2, a spot-of-the-foul loss of 17 yards. Aric Goodman then missed a 52-yard field-goal attempt.
“This team is really close, really close,” departing senior safety Benjamin Burney said. “I can’t wait to see these guys next year. It’s going to explode.”
It remains to be seen whether even that will be good enough to compete with the Big 12’s best.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
Colorado
Starters back
Offense: QB Tyler Hansen, Jr. (eligibility in 2010); TB Rodney Stewart, Jr.; WR Scotty McKnight, Sr.; WR Markques Simas, Jr.; OT Nate Solder, Sr.; OT Bryce Givens, So.; OG Ryan Miller, Jr.; OG Mike Iltis, Jr.; C Keenan Stevens, Sr.; PK Aric Goodman, Sr.
Defense: DE Marquez Herrod, Sr.; DE Forrest West, So.; DT Curtis Cunningham, Jr.; DT Will Pericak, So.; LB B.J. Beatty, Sr.; CB Jimmy Smith, Sr.; S Ray Polk, So.
Starters lost
Offense: TE Riar Geer, FB Jake Behrens. Defense: LB Marcus Burton, LB Jeff Smart, CB Cha’pelle Brown, S Benjamin Burney, P Matt DiLallo.
Eligible transfer to watch
WR Toney Clemons, Jr. (Michigan): The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is a former four-star prospect and CU’s most explosive receiver in practices.
Three redshirt freshmen to watch
LB Derrick Webb: Former Memphis Whitehaven HS standout could replace Marcus Burton as team’s most punishing tackler.
CB Deji Olatoye: Ohioan has size (6-2, 185), athleticism (6-4 high jump) and smarts (business major).
TE DaVaughn Thornton: Coaches believe the 6-5, 230-pounder from Denver East could develop into CU’s next great tight end.
Three goals in spring
1. Get used to new assistant coaches. In addition to former NFL DB Ashley Ambrose being elevated to full-time WR coach, look for at least one other offseason change in the staff.
2. Settle on an O-line. Even in the 12th game, there was some juggling, with backup center Mike Iltis becoming a starting guard.
3. Develop an offense with greater big-play capability.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
2010 CU schedule
September
4 vs. CSU (in Denver)
11 at California
18 vs. Hawaii
October
2 vs. Georgia
9 at Missouri
16 vs. Baylor
23 vs. Texas Tech
30 at Oklahoma
November
6 at Kansas
13 vs. Iowa State
20 vs. Kansas State
26 at Nebraska
