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| | Monday, September 6 | |||||
| 1998 Record: 8-4 (4-4) | 1998 statistics | 1999 schedule Head coach: Gary Barnett Returning starters: 17 (offense 9, defense 6) Outlook A schedule that usually focuses on first weekend in December (when the Big 12 title game is played) will instead point toward the last weekend in September. That's when the Buffaloes will meet former coach Rick Neuheisel and Washington in one of the most anticipated non-conference matchups for either school in years. Former Colorado assistant Gary Barnett is back in Boulder, where he was a part of the 1990 national championship under former head coach Bill McCartney. A mild war of words took place in the offseason between Neuheisel and Barnett and the conflict is expected to escalate when the Buffaloes travel to Seattle for the Sept. 25 matchup. It's one game, but it might as well be a season for Barnett, who has adopted the slogan: "Return to Dominance" in his return to Colorado. His presence will also signal a return to the run. Whether it will all mean a return to the lofty perch once taken for granted by the Buffaloes is another story. OffenseAny coach worth his clichés will tell you that an offense wins and loses with the play of its line. If so, the staff must like what it sees on the depth chart. Colorado boasts one of the best offensive lines in the Big 12. Every starter weighs at least 310 pounds and three stand 6-foot-7. The group did suffer a mild setback when its leader, three-position player Ryan Johanningmeier, suffered a broken wrist in conditioning drills. He will be in a cast for about six weeks, but was only expected to miss a few days of practice. Johanningmeier is projected to be the starting weakside guard. He played guard, tackle and center last season. Tackles Victor Rogers and Shane Cook are experienced, despite Rogers being only a sophomore. Classmate Andre Gurode will start at center. Senior QB Mike Moschetti played with various injuries last year, including a cracked rib, but still won newcomer of the year honors in the Big 12. He finished the year with 2,104 yard and 15 touchdowns. Javon Green and Marcus Stiggers give the Buffs a deep and talented receiver corps. Sophomore Cedric Cormier established himself as a breakaway threat last year before being felled by a torn ACL. The running game, which ranked a dismal 88th in the nation last year (1,355 yards), should receive a boost if the backs can stay healthy. Marcus Moore -- the fastest of Colorado's incoming freshmen (he ran a 4.3 on artificial turf) -- was expected to compete with senior Dwayne Cherrington, junior Damion Barton and sophomore Cortlen Johnson. He has been hampered by a sprained left knee and will likely be worked in slowly. Johnson and Cherrington closed out spring drills with a slight edge in performance. It's a good sign if: The Buffs get back to a reliance on running.It's a bad sign if: Moschetti spends another year nicked and bruised. Defense The defense has undergone a few adjustments, with modifications being made to a unit that ranked 13th in the nation in total defense. End Fred Jones will move to linebacker, which coaches feel will allow him to rush the passer more effectively. Last year he led the team in sacks with 6½. Robert Haas will be utilized as a drop linebacker so that the formation more closely resembles a 3-4. Also returning to play at inside linebacker are talented sophomore Jason Sykes and junior Ty Gregorak, although Gregorak sat out spring drills with shoulder problems. The loss of transfer Anwan Jones, a potential starter at outside linebacker, to an admission snafu was a setback. Two starters are back on the line. Senior Jesse Warren is the go-to guy. End Brady McDonnell had 10 starts a year ago and 300-pound nose tackle Justin Bannan can stuff the run with the best of them. Cornerbacks Ben Kelly and Damen Wheeler highlight a standout secondary that will employ a balance of zone and man-to-man coverage this season. The reason: Barnett wants the Buffs to focus on stopping the run first, and a zone strategy will allow the entire backfield to focus on the line of scrimmage, rather than a receiver. Last year Kelly and Wheeler teamed to break up 39 passes and pull down five interceptions. Free safety Rashidi Barnes appears completely recovered from a torn knee ligament that ended his junior season early. Michael Lewis and Albus Brooks, who tried his hand at outside linebacker last year, are candidates to play alongside Barnes at strong safety. Brooks is bothered by a sore knee that slowed his progress in the spring. It's a good sign if: Barnes is back to 100 percent after missing much of '98It's a bad sign if: A focus on stopping the run opens the door for the long bomb. Special Teams Punter Nick Pietsch came into his own last year, averaging 41.5 yards a kick as a junior. Kicker Jeremy Aldrich should become Colorado's all-time kicking leader. Kelly will double up his cornerback duties and return kicks. Last year he was named all-Big 12 for his special teams play. -- John Crowley |
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