2013 Colorado Spring Football Analysis

Colorado Buffaloes 2013 ... Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre

Colorado Buffaloes

2013 Schedule
8/31 Colorado State (in Denver)
9/7 Central Arkansas
9/14 Fresno State
9/21 OPEN DATE
9/28 at Oregon State
10/5 Oregon
10/12 at Arizona State
10/19 OPEN DATE
10/26 Arizona
11/2 at UCLA
11/9 at Washington
11/16 California
11/23 USC
11/30 at Utah

Why To Get Excited … after Jon Embree, the only way was up at head coach. In Mike MacIntyre, the Buffaloes appear to have actually made a major upgrade on the sidelines. Fresh off a stunning run of success at hapless San Jose State, Colorado attracted a coach with the blueprint, enthusiasm and right demeanor to gradually begin to turn things around in Boulder.

Why To Be Grouchy … as last year indicated, the Buffs are still a long way from having the talent on either side of the ball to compete with even middling Pac-12 opponents. The program’s best player, LT David Bakhtiari, bolted early for the NFL, leaving behind a questionable collection of talent. After true freshmen started a nation’s-high 57 games in 2012, Colorado will be more experienced, yet still rather green.

The Number One Thing To Work On Is … building up the confidence of a squad outscored by an average of more than four touchdowns a game in 2012. Yeah, MacIntyre needs to sift through a half-dozen candidates to find the right quarterback, but there’s single decision that’ll make this program markedly better this fall. It’s just not that simple. The Buffs need a holistic turnaround that’ll begin with the fragile psyche of a team engulfed in a culture of losing.

Non-Conference Games: Colorado State, Central Arkansas, Fresno State
Games Against The North: California, Oregon, at Oregon State, at Washington
Realistic Best Case Record: 1-11
Worst Case Record: 6-6
Likely Finish: 2-10

Pre-Preseason Projected Wins: Colorado State, Central Arkansas

Pre-Preseason Projected Losses: Fresno State, at Oregon State, Oregon, at Arizona State, Arizona, at UCLA, at Washington, California, USC, at Utah

Schedule Analysis: The Buffs always have a problem with Colorado State, but they can’t blow the rivalry game or it could be yet another brutally long season. Central Arkansas will be the one sure-thing win on the schedule, and then it’s going to take upsets the rest of the way to come up with any more victories, including the date with Fresno State before getting a week off.

Going to Oregon State and Arizona State wouldn’t be horrible for a decent team, but wrapped around a home game against Oregon makes it tough for a rebuilding program. Missing Stanford from the North will help, but going to Washington isn’t going to help. Arizona, Cal and USC are coming to Folsom, and getting a win out of the three would count as a positive step forward. Utah is one of the few teams in the Pac-12 the Buffs can beat, but the regular season finale is on the road.

Team Concerns For 2013: What has to improve? Everything. 19 starters are back, but everyone has to be better for a team that finished dead last in almost all major category. The defense was last in the nation in points allowed and pass efficiency D, but the offense was even worse. The Buffs were abysmal in pass protection which directly led to the second-least efficient passing game in college football. The running attack didn't go anywhere and the passing attack never found a spark. Hanging on to the ball would be nice after giving it up 34 times.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Offensive linemen. What do you get for the team that needs everything? Infrastructure, coming up with a few nice defensive ends, led by Jimmie Gilbert out of College Station, Texas, and loading up on offensive linemen. There aren't any sure-thing stars, but Colin Sutton and Jonathan Huckins are promising guards, and tackles Sam Kronshage and Gunnar Graham will be groomed for down the road. The offense is also getting a little more help with Devin Ross and a few good receivers, while the defense is getting a killer with George Frazier at middle linebacker.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 33. That Class Was Heavy On ... Lots and lots and lots and LOTS of bodies. This will be a huge class with a little something for all spots, especially for a defensive line that has to be the cornerstone of the program’s resurgence. If all goes according to plan, this might be the Big 12’s best class of defensive tackles, while the ends aren’t too shabby with three-star prospects the norm. The offense doesn’t need pass catchers after loading up in previous classes, but a few solid prospects are expected to sign on. 

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 66. That Class Was Heavy On ... Linebackers. New head coach Jon Embree is a linebacker guy, and his first class reflects where he wants his program to be with an upgrade in speed and athleticism. Will Harlos, Woodson Greer, and K.T. Tuumalo are smallish, safety-sized linebacker prospects who can fly, but Brady Daigh is a pure middle linebacker. The quarterback situation could be interesting with Stevie Dorman and JUCO transfer Brent Burnette two big passers, while Paulay Asiata should eventually be the type of offensive tackle who becomes an anchor to keep the passers clean.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 66. That Class Was Heavy On ... Tight ends. Dan Hawkins is recruiting someone else's players as he's all but gone without a sensational season. He didn't get any instant impact help, but RB Tony Jones might be inserted as a third down back early on. The next head man (assuming Hawkins really will be gone) will be loaded at tight end with four tall pass catchers signed on. Kyle Slavin is a big wide receiver, while Harold Mobley and Justin Favors will get their chances over the next few years to be focal points of the passing game.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 52. That Class Was Heavy On ... receivers. Head coach Dan Hawkins and his staff brought in a few nice safeties, signed two good quarterbacks, and landed superstar DE Nick Casa, but the spotlight will mostly be on the three receivers who’ll be asked to contribute early on. JUCO transfer Andre Simmons has the size and the potential to be a No. 1 target from the start, while Terdema Ussery and Jarrod Darden both very big, very good targets.