BOULDER — Coach Jon Embree closed Friday’s scrimmage to the public. He has a message to all those wanting to see the Buffaloes in his first year.
You didn’t miss much, not aesthetically nor athletically. In a highly controlled situational scrimmage, Colorado’s offense did little. That means Embree will do a lot.
“The offense was not good enough,” he said. “We’re going to have changes on the depth chart.”
Rodney Stewart, a 1,000-yard rusher, sat out to nurse a hamstring and starting receiver Paul Richardson has the flu. But the rest of the offense looked just bad enough to take the question mark hovering over the inexperienced defense and put it on offense.
In the 92-minute, 105-play scrimmage, the offense scored only two touchdowns. True freshman John Schrock, who appears to have the No. 3 quarterback job, threw an out to sophomore reserve tailback Josh Ford who broke a couple of half-hearted tackles (it wasn’t quite live) for a 36-yard touchdown.
Schrock later hit Georgia-transfer Logan Gray over the middle for a 20-yard score. That’s about it. Embree will announce Monday the depth chart for the Sept. 3 opener at Hawaii.
“It’s the same three or four guys,” Embree said. “That’s the thing about our offense. All it takes is one guy and you can hurt a play.”
The rushing attack was minimal. Redshirt freshman Tony Jones didn’t help his tenuous hold backing up Stewart. Asked how Jones is doing, Embree said, “See on Monday.”
Said Jones: “The holes were there. I’ve just got to keep pressing in. I have to take my time and see the holes.”
On the sideline.
In addition to Richardson and Stewart on offense, defensive end Josh Hartigan and reserve linebacker Patrick Mahnke also were out with flu-like symptoms.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Nick Hirschman (high ankle sprain) participated in some individual work but not the scrimmaging. He said he will be cleared for full-speed practices beginning Monday. There are no practices today or Sunday.
Orms nearing 100 percent.
Parker Orms, a projected starter at cornerback when camp opened, played well after nursing a tender knee for nearly two weeks. He even sacked starting quarterback Tyler Hansen once.
“I feel I can run as fast as I can,” Orms said. “After practice there’s a little bit of swelling, but it’s not too painful out there running.”
On the move.
Look for senior receiver Kyle Cefalo to be among those moving up the depth chart. In the opening possession, Cefalo found seams in the defense and nabbed passes of 16 and 13 yards from Hansen.
“I’m just trying to work hard so I can help the team,” Cefalo said.
Footnotes.
Embree said he decided to not allow full tackling or cuts by skill players after seeing so many stories this week about other teams losing players to injuries. “We’re at the point where we know what guys can do,” Embree said. . . . A concussion suffered by safety Will Harlos was the only announced injury after the scrimmage.
