Just watched the HBO series Hardknocks with the Dallas Cowboys and it got me even more excited for football season. Check it out...it’s amazingly done. Would be great to have that coverage for the Buffs. That being said, we would like to hear from you, the readers, about how we are doing, what you would like to see more of, whatever. So drop us an email - theralphiereport -at- gmail.com or a comment. We know you have been checking us out as we are getting great traffic on the site but our ultimate goal is to make this site very interactive and the leading source for CU sports and we need your help to do that.
-Things are really revving up to the first game versus Colorado State and we are already getting hints of players that are standing out. One of those players is Rodney Stewart, that little third RB that has been overshadowed by Scott and Polk. Kyle Ringo of the Daily Camera notes that Stewart has the ability to make defenders look bad with his speed and shiftiness. With his diminutive size he is getting compared to Darren Sproles from multiple outlets. In college football, a breakaway speed return man is a huge threat. Take a look at this video to see what we mean. It's about 20 minutes long!
-Get to know freshmen OL Bryce Givens and RB Ray Polk coming to you from training camp. I am glad Givens didn't end up with the Huskers! And Polk showing the TV show "Entourage" some love! Hopefully that love affair with the San Diego Chargers goes away, though.
-Nate Solder now weighs 305 lbs and is 6'9". I remember watching him as a tall, lanky tight end at Buena Vista High School. He has come a long way in solidifying the tackle spot for the Buffs. All news isn't good on the offensive line as redshirt guard Mike Iltis was lost for the year with an ACL injury. Also, senior guard Erick Faatagi was ruled ineligible but the JUCO transfer has been a disappointment since he arrived at Colorado. With these two departures, there is a little concern about experienced depth on the offensive line. Hopefully, freshmen Max Tuioti-Mariner, Ryan Dannewitz or Givens can step up if need be. At least the Buffs have book-end tackles and a potential All American center. Here is some more in regards to the injury and practice yesterday from the Longmont Times.
-Looking forward to the first game of the year versus Colorado State, it looks like Rams TE Kory Sperry will be back to normal after a torn ACL injury that he suffered last year. Sperry is probably the best athlete on CSU team that always plays the Buffs hard in the Showdown. More to come on the Rams this week before the first game of the year.
