BOULDER — This is just spring practice, and Colorado’s scrimmage Friday was, for the most part, structured and situational. It’s not yet time to panic when subpar performances rule the day.
But, as junior quarterback Tyler Hansen put it, “We definitely have to pick things up. We had a tough day.”
That was an understatement. The offense did not score a point, not even a field goal, during the portion of the scrimmage that resembled game- like conditions requiring sustained drives.
Granted, the offense was missing several key components. The top two tailbacks, Rodney “Speedy” Stewart (hand) and Brian Lockridge (leg), are banged up and were held out. Also not suiting up were wide receivers Will Jefferson (head) and Markques Simas (leg), as well as place-kicker Aric Goodman (hip) .
Hansen and senior Cody Hawkins took snaps behind jumbled personnel groupings. The offense was moved around to work on situations such as third-and-5, first-and- goal, and in the red zone. But coach Dan Hawkins said that did not explain all those flags (11 penalties for 72 yards) and poor execution.
“It’s hard to get in a rhythm (on offense) when you’re doing segment stuff,” Dan Hawkins said of the situational work. “But I’m not into excuses. We’ve got to clean some things up.”
Place-kicker Zach Grossnickle, a redshirt freshman from Denver East, had a tough day, as did walk-on Marcus Kirkwood. They combined to miss five field-goal tries (all inside 45 yards) before Grossnickle booted a 27-yarder. Grossnickle also struggled mightily with his punting.
“A young guy gets rattled and then his rhythm gets off,” Dan Hawkins said of Grossnickle. “He’s just got to make it.”
As a fullback, Derrick Webb turned in one of the best offensive performances, knocking defensive linemen and linebackers off the line. Oh, and the redshirt freshman from Memphis, Tenn., also was a star on defense. Middle linebacker is his specialty and primary duty, where he backs up senior starter Michael Sipili.
Webb, 6-feet and 220-pounds, said he had never played fullback. “But I was a tailback my junior year of high school,” he said with a grin. “Fullback and linebacker are not that different. You just go hit somebody.”
If Friday’s scrimmage was an indication, CU will be hard-pressed to keep Webb off the field this fall. “He has only one speed,” Dan Hawkins said of Webb’s all-out effort.
In addition to Webb, young defensive players that stood out included redshirt freshman safety Parker Orms, redshirt freshman cornerback Deji Olatoye, sophomore defensive end Nick Kasa, sophomore linebacker Jon Major and sophomore safety Ray Polk.
“I definitely feel we’re going to be good,” Webb said. “We have a lot of young guys that are getting reps.”
As for the top two quarterbacks, Hansen (12-for-22, 102 yards) and Cody Hawkins (10-for-22, 111) finished with similar passing statistics. Hansen threw for the only two touchdowns, both to Michigan transfer Toney Clemons during goal-line situational work.
Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau said the scrimmage produced “no separation” between the two quarterbacks. “That’s the way I like it right now,” Kiesau said.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
