CU report: Touchback or bust

By B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published September 5, 2008 at 9 p.m.

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BOULDER — Hard lesson No. 1 learned by Colorado's kickoff coverage team in the opener last weekend: Don't expect Jameson Davis' kickoffs to always reach the end zone.

While Davis' first two kickoffs resulted in touchbacks and the next two (one was a do-over after an offsides penalty) weren't returned further than CSU's 23-yard line, his fifth attempt was returned 90 yards for a touchdown by the Rams' John Mosure.

CU tight ends/special teams coach Kent Riddle said a "series of several things" contributed to Mosure's return, but added, "I think our guys took it for granted it was going to be a touchback. Everything up to that point they'd seen in the game and in practice had been. I think it was a little bit of a wake-up that, 'Hey, we've got to be ready to go (if it's not kicked into the end zone).' "

Riddle pointed to at least one missed tackle on the return, as well as "four guys that didn't fit in their correct gaps. It was a series of things, and a great thing to learn from" before the game against Eastern Washington today (1:30 p.m., Folsom Field, no television).

Quite a catch

Eastern Washington junior receiver Aaron Boyce earned postseason All-America honors last season after catching 85 passes for 1,308 yards and 10 touchdowns. His reception total ranked second in school history and his yardage total was fourth.

The 6-foot-3 Boyce played only one season of football at Kentwood (Wash.) High School but was a standout basketball player. With Boyce and current Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey, Kentwood won the 2004 Washington 4A state championship.

Directional scouting

When CU coaches began preparing for Eastern Washington, they took a hard look at Central Washington. That's because new Eastern Washington head coach Beau Baldwin left Central Washington last winter and brought four of his assistants with him.

Baldwin, 36, spent four seasons as the Eagles offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach before leaving for Central Washington, his alma mater. He returned to Eastern Washington as head coach Jan. 4.

Etc.

* Eastern Washington's senior punter, Fritz Brayton, is the cousin of former CU defensive end Tyler Brayton, an Oakland Raiders draftee six seasons ago who now is with the Carolina Panthers.

* Tight end Riar Geer, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery before the opener, appears on track to return by the West Virginia game (Sept. 18), Riddle said, adding, "He's jogging around and looking good." Final clearance, though, will come from CU's medical staff.

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