BOULDER — The University of Colorado football team faces some new challenges and old questions.
Players and coaches gathered in the Dal Ward Athletic Center at Folsom Field this afternoon to talk to the media after the third day of practice. Throughout a 30-minute Q&A session with head coach Dan Hawkins, the importance of the 2009 season was expressed through his monotone answers and tense facial expression.
“Our tempo has been good,” Hawkins said. “You’re always trying to clean a few things up and we’ve certainly got a long way to go, but I like our guys right now.”
The Buffs have yet to wear pads during practice, but once the team suits up, the plan is to focus on establishing the run on offense while stopping the run on defense.
Last year, the Buffs defense allowed 161.1 rushing yards per game, while gaining 87.9 rushing yards on offense.
“Those are always two things that I think are critical,” said Hawkins, who noted that he has four different rotations on the offensive line. “That obviously starts up front and you have to have some shoulder pads on to get some things done there.”
Fifth-year wide receiver Travon Patterson, who was released from his scholarship at USC after the NCAA penalized the school, is waiting for his paperwork to get cleared before he can practice. Hawkins discounted any belief that USC head coach Lane Kiffin is purposely delaying the process. Hawkins said that the paperwork could be cleared by this evening and as late as next week. Freshmen wide receiver Paul Richardson was also released from his scholarship at UCLA and began practicing with the team yesterday.
“We anticipate (Travon will practice) here shortly,” Hawkins said. “We don’t know when. Obviously what Paul has done here, he can run and he’s talented and he’s got some hands. He’s got to learn the system. Travon we haven’t seen at all.”
One of the intriguing questions entering the season is who will start at quarterback for the Buffs. The leading candidates for the position are junior Tyler Hansen and senior Cody Hawkins. Hansen started the last seven games of 2009, completing 129 of 231 passes for 1,440 yards. Hawkins, who ranks first in CU history in touchdowns with 46, started in five games and played in eight. Hawkins doesn’t have a timetable for when a final decision will be made while leaving the option open to rotate the two during the season.
“We’ll see,” Hawkins said. “We’ll just see it when it emerges. There’s no big rush right now . . . We might (rotate),” Hawkins said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
Key injuries include offensive guard Maxwell Tuioti-Mariner, who tweaked his knee Thursday during practice, and defensive end Forrest West.
After finishing the season 10 for 18 on field goals last season, Aric Goodman likely will get the nod at place kicker, though he has competition behind him. Similar to the quarterback position, Hawkins said that he is going to wait before making a final decision.
“They’ve all done a nice job,” Hawkins said. “I think again, you have to see over time how that shapes up and how that emerges.”
