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Editor’s Note … This is the second contribution from long time commentator VK Berlin …
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THE VK VOICE
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So, you fans of the Mighty Buffalo Football team where does it go from here.
I’ll tell ya where it goes from here……………………………
IT GOES TO THE MOON ALICE.
(Not taking to you Karen)
It goes to the moon cause my dog caught a rabbit yesterday. Yup she did. A sign from the heavens for sure. She is 11 but made a move on that rodent like I have never seen her do. And for the past 10 years her rabbit catching success has looked like the gridiron success of the Buffs. Not good. But bad. (Inside note: Now this all happened while my daughter was visiting with her 8-month-old lab so……………some say it was he who got it but there is no way the ol mutt was gonna let a purebred beat her to the prize…………….I am sticking to my story)
The moon is a wonderful place. Been there once on a deep dark Saturday with friends. It was nice. I would like to go back someday but am told I am too old.
So, let’s look back just because it’s easier than looking forward.
So then, about that Mighty Buff offense everyone wants to see. Are we ever going to see it or is it just another Russian collusion story? I mean that is a legitimate question looking back to the time the Mighty Buffs joined the Conference of Champions. (Love Bill Walton…………..similar brain flow) So I am going to look at some of the offensive stats during that timeframe and I will have some other babble as well for you to ponder and digest.
You know I like stats cause numbers never lie. I like to use CFB.com because they have a nice format with easy to manipulate views and no subscription is required. Also, I only look at conference stats which are 75% of the games unless you go to that faraway placed called a bowl game. Still don’t count them either
So, let us begin the trek down the ten-yr. trail of the dark dirty existence of the Mighty Buffs offense in the Conference of Champions.
Too Harsh?
Score offense rank:
2 yr. #12,
4 yr. #11,
1 yr. #10,
1 yr. #8,
1 yr. #7,
1 yr. #5
Average finish 9.8
And even in 2016 they were only ranked 7th 10 points behind Washington. The defense was the key as you all know. And last year ranked 5th. Buff scoring offense has been a nothing for 10 years. Mein Gott is it ever gonna catch up to today’s modern offenses? Chev?
Tot. offense rank:
2 yr. #12,
3 yr. #11,
1 yr. #9,
1 yr. #7,
1 yr. #6
1 yr. #5,
1 Yr. #2
Average finish 8.6
In 2016 they were ranked 7th. The ol defense again. Now last year they were ranked 2nd. So maybe there is hope. (Inside note: That is why I am convinced that HCKD will be the difference in the offense and push Chev to put his ego aside and do his damn job.) Or…. A late article says this is happening. May have to raise my projections.
Some more look see:
3rd down conversion
1 yr. #12,
3 yr. #11,
1yr. #10,
2yr. #7,
1 yr. #6,
1 yr. #4,
1 yr. #1
Average # 6.2
And the RedZone scores
1 yr. #12
0 yr. #11
2 yr. #10
1 yr. #9
1 yr. #8
1 yr. #7
0 yr. #6
1 yr. #5
0 yr. #4
2 yr. #3
2 yr. #2
Average # 6.6
And I dig into all the numbers a couple of items pop out……….
In 2016 the offense was mediocre at best.
Scoring #7 29. Total offense #7
3rd down conversion #4
Red zone score #2 24 td 11 fg 89.74 % (That was good)
Again, this was only conference games.
Note: In 2026 Defense scoring 3rd 20.7 (and that includes the 41 they gave up in the championship game when WacMac was acting DC)
Defense #3 (again with WacMac championship game)
And you won’t convince me otherwise about WacMac running that championship game defense. Don’t try
In 2020
Scoring #5
Total offense #2
3rd down conversion #1
Red Zone Scores #2 11 td 4 fg 80%
Damn, when you sit and look back at the stats for the last 10 years it simply looks unbelievable. So dang nab bad. I mean the Saturdays were bad but the offense being this bad was more than I imagined.
Points scored
2011 19.5
2012 17.2
2013 20.3
2014 29.2
2015 19.7
2016 29.9
2017 24.7
2018 22.4
2019 19.2
2020 32.0
I believe that pretty much predicts where the Buffs end up in the conference standing each year eh? If ya can’t score ya can’t win. Sure, ya gotta have the defense to stop the opponent, but if you can’t score you can’t win. We can talk defense some other time.
There are many other stats that show the mediocre to midland 10-year history of the Buffs offense. It is what it is and it is what it was.
But what about the recruits, especially the qb position. Well along with that you have to look at the qb coach, the OC and the HC.
Over the last 10 years the Mighty Buffs have probably had 1 real, qb coach, 1 real OC (maybe not), and just now got a real HC. Can you name em? Did I miss any of them?
The running backs coach has been solid. The WR coach when focused has been pretty good the last several years. The Oline coach has been a disaster except for the last two years. The TE coach was non-existent for the first 8. One can easily explain the lack of a real Mighty Buff offense. And of course, it is the recruiting. Always the recruiting. I would submit if Saban and his staff would have been coaching the Buff players exactly how they existed the last ten years, the Buffs would have been to at least 6 bowl games. And if the Buffs staff had been coaching the Alabama teams exactly how they existed, there would be zero national championships.
Too much what if?
So, is the in-the-hole Mighty Buff offense still in it? Is it in dig-out mode? Is mediocrity still here. Have the ghosts of the incompetent coaches of the past finally moved out of the champions center so the new can take the Mighty Buffs back to the past in the future?
I emphatically say yes and yes again. The reasons are simple.
Coaching and more coaching.
HCKD understands that defense wins games. He knows it, has experienced it and understands it and has made changes to get to that point.(look at Buffs 2016).
But he understands also that no-offense loses games and he is bound and determined to ensure that is the case and is dragging it (and Chev) into the future. Where Chev came from they didn’t even put tight ends on the field and he had no clue. But they will be now and his mentor will ensure he understands how it works. People scoffed at 8 tight ends on scholarship. Clueless. NFL use tight ends. The first thing that genius up in New England did this year was to go get two high powered free ends in agency. That boy missed em last year eh? They are gonna be an impact on this team.
I’ll talk up the kids some other time but, in my mind, and my eyes seeing what was accomplished last year I have good vibes going into this year……………….screw that schedule…………..and I feel that way because of the coaching staff. No withering around like a loan guy, or listening till yur ear bleeds to clueless glue. I am in. Don’t care if you are. Don’t care if yur a fence sitter or a wagon chaser or even, gold help me, a no nothing Otolaryngologist, trying to convince me otherwise. I am in. And I’m not some audiologist predicting they win every game.
But I am saying because of the offense they are going to a bowl game. The wait is over.
Put that on your grill and burn it.
VK
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13 Replies to “The VK Voice”
Well sir the writing is sound. A prolific and efficient O and a swarming pumperd up D from good strategy, coaching, and player execution will translate into W’s, bring it on I say.
For some reason I can’t stop thinking about bartending at Quinn’s Billiards in the early 90’s, when the streets were shaking from the mighty Buffs.
Always grateful for my time in Boulder left in 98, perhaps I will join AZ and head for them hills again…
This saban thing is funny. He was a wildly mediocre nfl coach, where arguably the talent is more level than the NCAA.
Bruce arians. Fine coach. Gets Brady and some other dudes and wins a super bowl.
Bill meanwhile loses Brady and some dudes and how’d he do?
We all know players and coaches both matter, but the chess match is only a match if one team isn’t kings, queens, bishops and knights and the other is mostly pawns.
Go Buffs
Depends on your expectations.
If all you get is pawns you play with them. And the royalty can be beaten.
Life.
Buffs:
Stuart, now you know that you will have to allow a mea culpa from VK in about 6 months whether he is right or wrong on all his ramblings regarding the state of CU Football.
Had to wait at least a day for the dust to settle on the VK ……..article??? Robo touched on it ……”lotta stream of consciousness goin on there.”
Interesting points and probably could sit around in some dinghy bar somewhere in Boulder, (maybe way way back, and I mean way way back in years at a place like the original Sink) drink some liquid and debate all that, According to Garp err I mean VK. I think VK would probably be sharper and make more sense to debate if he consumed liquid rather than that fungi that pigs seek out in the woods. Or does that stuff grown under or on top of fertilized Buffalo Chips?
I have abandoned (they fired EP’s favorite BB coach) Tucson moved back to CO, will maybe have to line my stomach with something that repels fermented beverages and just arrange that event with
the VK’er some Football Sat this year and get him straightened out just a bit. Any dinghy bars left in Boulder?
Good choice now that daily temps down there were once reserved for the most extreme days in Death Valley. If the grid goes down so does half of the state with heat stroke.
Dont forget to pick up your season tickets
Mea Culpa? Never heard of it.
You ol AZ finally you pop up. I was worried covid got your old arse. Congrats you made it.
So you got run out ( i mean left) the desert. sheesh.
Too hot?
Overrun by illegals?
Cancel culture got ya?
Wendy Rogers after yur arse?
So many possibilities.
So where in the great state of Colorado have you moved too?
Anyway we will figure it out. You, Me EP and who else?
Okay bud, Glad you are okay, Love ya.
VK
Nice article. I also believe KD will help Chev improve the O. I also like seeing that tight ends will play a role and add a dimension to the offense. Go Buffs!
Am I getting challenged as the king of stream?
I dont think I can challenge VK for instantly changing horses in the stream. I “submit” to you this:
“And of course, it is the recruiting. Always the recruiting. I would submit if Saban and his staff would have been coaching the Buff players exactly how they existed the last ten years, the Buffs would have been to at least 6 bowl games. And if the Buffs staff had been coaching the Alabama teams exactly how they existed, there would be zero national championships.”
I’m inclined to go with the Saban part but I have a feeling with the Alabama recruits even earache would have winning seasons as their coach. OK that maybe a little too much hyperbole to handle but you get my drift.
I’m as optimistic as everyone else about the coming season. Broussard may not be a secret anymore but he will still be good enough to take pressure off Lewis et al. That snowballs with Shenault having a breakout year (Rice too?)
Still the most critical component is the “Saban” one. making game time adjustments. winning the chess match with the opposing D coordinator. HCKD has seen a lot of football under the bridge and that should help keep the Buffs moving down the filed.
Good thing I’m not the coach. I would be throwing deep early and way too often.
Eh morning.
You ol picker and chooser. Actually I may have not been clear on making my point, as my wife often reminds me in her unique way.
The running backs coach has been solid. The WR coach when focused has been pretty good the last several years. The Oline coach has been a disaster except for the last two years. The TE coach was non-existent for the first 8. One can easily explain the lack of a real Mighty Buff offense. And of course, it is the recruiting. Always the recruiting. I would submit if Saban and his staff would have been coaching the Buff players exactly how they existed the last ten years, the Buffs would have been to at least 6 bowl games. And if the Buffs staff had been coaching the Alabama teams exactly how they existed, there would be zero national championships.
I put the recruiting comment in there cause I knew that some like earache would discount what I was saying and say it is all about the recruits. No he wouldn’t……….oh wait see below.
I should have said
Many people under-play the importance of coaching and of course, put it all on the recruiting. Always the recruiting saying stuff like, “where are all the nfl players (dudes)”
Anyway i hope that clears it for you.
Throw deep? You? Nah…………………too many yagermeisters.
Hey VK,
So it is a bit stream of consciousness compared to Stu, but I like the facts! The research is there and I think your conclusions are pretty spot on. You voiced what I have been thinking for quite some time now. Coaching! I totally agree that if Saban And his staff were coaching the Buffs for the last 5 years we would have went to 5 bowl games. I would add that Dorrell has done such a fantastic job in such a weird situation that it seems unreal and a mirage. I gotta feeling , just like you, that not only is it real but we are at the beginning of a new era. There are a host of reasons, from small to large that I think like you do but it comes down to Dorrell. The numbers will show the proof as the next season emerges. But while I have a little fear that last season was a mirage, I truly don’t think so. That doesn’t mean I think we are going to the play offs next year but I am super confident in a bowl game. If Dorrell had come in last year and lost the first game to Chip Kelly we would have said oh well, tough game to start a brand new Qi against a dynamic ability in Kelly’s offense or hey once UCLA cleaned up their mistakes they beat us, if we lost to Stanford we would have said, oh well Standford is just such a great winning program, even on a down year what do you expect…. The only 2 games we would have been expected to win last year was SDSU and Arizona. Buckle up Buff fans Dorrell did that in almost the worse possible situation from a coaching perspective. I am excited what he can do with a real year of coaching. In football all of the real gains come in the off-season. I can’t wait!
Good use of your stats to back your opinions. Much better read. Offense has been bad. Or at best mediocre. How many offensive players made the nfl in that span? 2016 how many defensive players made the nfl?
And there you have it. There are now a smattering of guys on both sides of the ball who will make the nfl. Dudes matter.
Go Buffs
Coaches get the dudes.
Buffs
Coaches matter to get the dudes and there it is.
Buffs