Black Hole Beatdown

I'm buzzin, Dirty Dozen, naughty rotten rhymer,
Cursin at you players worse than Marty Schottenheimer…

PROPS and DROPs from this weekend’s CU squeaker versus Eastern Washington and the MNF Bronco beat down of the Raiders:

PROPS: Time to pump out the cliché machine and say “a win is a win” and it doesn’t matter if it comes against the Washington Redskins, the University of Washington, Eastern Washington, George Washington, or Washington from ‘Welcome Back Kotter’.

DROPS: Yeah, but it was Eastern Washington. A team that doesn’t offer the full compliment of schollies a Big 12 team does, doesn’t have nearly the budget, the support, the technology, the facilities… you get the picture.

PROPS: That noise is the Bronco team store register checking out Eddie Royal jerseys. The rookie WR turned Raider DB De’Angelo Hall inside out, so frustrating the former Pro Bowler that he committed two personal fouls. Royal and the other receivers looked all-world, a healthy contingent of the fast (Royal), the dependable (Brandon Stokely), the hybrids (Tony Scheffler and Nate Jackson), and the savvy (Darrell Jackson).

PROPS: The CU defense really only allowed a single TD on the day, and that was on the first drive (the other two EWU tallies came via a pick six for a TD and a short field after a fumble.) For this team to belly up to a bowl berth, the D will likely have to continue its good play until the O can offer some support. The LBs once again shined, with this week JUCO transfer Shaun Mohler all over the field until a late injury knocked him out of the game. CB Chappelle Brown made a huge athletic play by climbing the ladder to bring in an INT and take it to the house.

PROPS: Early in the game Nate Jackson let a sure catch go right through his hands and as the cameras panned back to QB Jay Cutler, one could see him voicing his frustration to Jackson. That is Jay Cutler, your Donk team leader. Comfortable in his 3rd season, he is unquestionably the offensive leader, not only vocally, but his dare I say – Manningesque – approach to the game. Smart throws, precise, yet with the athletic ability to boot, make Cutler this team’s alpha dog. His quick release and reads made it nearly impossible for the Raiders’ to sack, or barely pressure him all night.

PROPS: Everyone’s favorite freshman, Darrell Scott continues to get his feet wet, again leading the team in rushing and hurdling one EWU defender that would’ve made Edwin Moses proud. Scott is gaining confidence with each game and each carry. However, the frosh needs to improve his pass blocking and general awareness of the offense, as he again lined up wrong on several plays. The ‘other’ freshman back, Speedy Stewart, continues to show his versatility, splitting out on one play and slashing through the middle, then taking it right up the gut on another.

DROPS: The Colorado OL play was average or below average at best, and this was versus a line that it outweighed by nearly 50 lbs per man. Guard Devin Head’s absence forced two freshmen to make a go at it versus the quick EWU line. The result was QB Cody Hawkins in traffic for much of the day and a running game that never really hit a hot tempo. Of course, being in the shotgun formation 90% of the time means your OL are already in a pass blocking mindset even when it is a designed run. The CU coach brain trust needs to start mixing in more under the center plays as the B12 season approaches and touch OCC games versus West Virginia and Florida State loom.

PROPS: Coach Shanny has subscribed to the most recent NFL trend and gone to the RB by committee. Versus the Raiders it worked like a charm, as Selvin Young, Andre Hall, and Michael Pittman toted the rock. The hole weren’t huge, so credit the Raiders a bit with their strong front. Yet, as the game wore on, the RBs gained ground and the Raiders looked tired. Imagine dealing with Young and end arounds to Royal all night and then having to face Michael “Guns” Pittman in the 4th quarter as the Raiders had to do Monday Night? Ouch.

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