BOULDER — That breakaway offense that Colorado promised with its newfound fleet of fast receivers must have become worn down during August camp and is taking a nap. But CU senior wideout Scotty McKnight believes potential is ready to become reality.
“I think it is one of those things that can pop at any minute,” Mc- Knight said Tuesday of the CU offense. “Honestly, it’s going to happen this Saturday (in the home game against 1-1 Hawaii). I can feel it. We’re going to take some shots (downfield). We’re going to make big plays.”
Struggling to get out of its way and muster any kind of threat, Colorado (1-1) managed just one offensive play of longer than 20 yards last Saturday in the 52-7 loss to California in Berkeley — a 24-yard pass from Tyler Hansen to Toney Clemons in the second quarter.
CU did not exactly look explosive in the 24-3 victory over Colorado State either. Through two games, the Buffs have broken free for just two pass plays of more than 25 yards — 27-yard receptions by McKnight and tailback Rodney Stewart.
The Buffs’ fastest receivers — Southern Cal transfer Travon Patterson (10.4 in 100 meters) and Michigan transfer Clemons (10.2) — are barely averaging enough yards for a first down. And another star of preseason scrimmages, freshman Paul Richardson, has just one reception for 11 yards.
“I’m shocked (at the paucity of big plays),” McKnight said. “That would help the offense as a whole. When you get one over the top for 80 yards, that makes defensive guys back off.”
O-line shuffling.
Colorado yielded six sacks to California, so it came as no surprise when CU coach Dan Hawkins announced changes Tuesday.
Junior Mike Iltis, who was in on every offensive snap at left guard at Berkeley, has been moved to starting center to replace senior Keenan Stevens.
Junior Ethan Adkins is back as the starter at left guard.
Another lost nickel.
Junior safety Travis Sandersfeld suffered a “slight” fracture in his lower leg Saturday at Cal and will be out at least a couple of weeks.
Sandersfeld had replaced redshirt freshman Parker Orms, who tore an ACL in the season opener and is done for the season. Paul Vigo, a 6-1, 190-pound redshirt freshman from New Jersey, will be Sandersfeld’s replacement.
Hansen tweets “never again.”
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, the CU quarterback stood by his Saturday message on Twitter that “going out there and playing like that will never happen again.”
“I just felt like I needed to say something,” Hansen said Tuesday. “I knew the fans didn’t like it. We are not 45 points worse than Cal. That was not us.”
Hansen said he removed the tweet about two hours after he had posted it Saturday.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
