Who Dey? Pre-season analysis - part I, the offense

Just as in the past two seasons, predicting the performance of the the 2008 Buff football team is a bit like predicting what a two year old might do with a box of crayons. He might scribble a picture of a dog on the dining room wall. He might re-create Salvador Dali's finest on canvas. But probably he'll just eat the crayons and later crap the bed (in technicolor). Ahh, the Buffs... Little scoundrels.

That said, here is my pre-season analysis of our beloved brothers in black, beginning with the offense.

This year's group will feature a no huddle attack run primarily out of the shotgun. Cody Hawkins (the scamp pictured here) will be the starter at QB and, despite his diminutive stature, will lead the team well and perform admirably. That is, of course, until his inevitable season ending injury. The kid is definitely tough and survived a whole season as a freshman starter last year but, c'mon, eventually the big angry men are going to crush the small boy, no? We'll look back fondly on the days when little Cody was at the helm as we watch the backups, Nelson & Ballenger, struggle mightily. Eventually they'll stabilize and fill in adequately and unremarkable.

At running back, we are young but deep. Demetrius Sumler will start to begin the season but freshman Great Scott (pictured) will soon break in and should share plenty of carries with the running back committee of all shapes and sizes. We'll run productively and catch out of the backfield. We'll see talent and speed not witnessed in Black & Gold since the days of Brown & Purify. But likewise we'll see plenty of mistakes indicative of youth - fumbles and poor pass blocking chief among them.

At tight end, Riar Geer (pictured here presumably during arraignment) returns after some off-season legal difficulty resulting from after hours fisticuffs - the pass time of champions. Assuming he manages to stay out of the pokey, he'll be a force. He's big, he catches the ball well and he hits like a, well, Riar Geer!

At wide receiver, we get one last chance to watch Patrick Williams (is that really him in the photo - really?) attempt to live up to his potential. It's been a long 4 years with this kid who seems like he should be all world, but just never has gotten there - in his wake are dropped passes and broken hearts. Make it right this year, Pat! Joining the senior are a list of freshmen and sophomores as long as your arm. Ahh, youth. As thrilling as they are exasperating.

Speaking of youth - again - the O-line is anchored by one senior surrounded by freshmen and sophomores. But this line, young though it may be, is absolutely gargantuan. Each man tops 300 pounds - something no other Buff line has boasted. Senior Daniel Sanders (pictured making a statement for inclusion in the All Hair-merican Team), who I hope to Buddha has been practicing his shotgun snaps 8 hours daily in the off-season, is a good leader for this crew. Super soph Ryan Miller will man one tackle while 6-9 converted TE Nate Solder will man the other. They are young but the line will be the strength of this team. But how will little Cody see over or around these big fellas?


In summary, the offense will be young and... good! Balanced attack, no-huddle outfit with playmakers doing what they do. Yay, offense!! But can their defensive counterparts hold up their end of the bargain? Stay tuned, Buff junkies...