thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Homebuilders in metro Denver on track for an unexpectedly stellar year, despite pandemic

Facing a slim inventory of existing homes for sale , Denver buyers are snapping up new homes at the fastest pace in the country , a rebound so strong that it has caught local builders off guard .
“ During the initial stages of the pandemic in late March , especially when the stay-at-home orders were in place during all of April , no builder thought that demand would return the way that it did , ” said John Covert , regional director for Zonda , a real estate analytics firm .
“ Sales rebounded sharply through the summer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ builders will not only exceed 2019 sales but will likely have their best year ever.
” Zonda ’ s pending new home sales index is up 95.3 % in metro Denver compared to a 46.9 % gain nationally in September .
The next hottest markets in terms of the gain in contracts signed to purchase new homes are Jacksonville , Fla. , up 73.3 % on the index and Raleigh , N.C. , up 69.6 % .
“ All of these markets are benefitting from positive net in-migration and are among the top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Ali Wolf , chief economist at Zonda Economics , in comments accompanying the index report .
“ Builders in Denver are outselling the national average across all categories : entry-level , move-up and luxury.
” Beyond migrating millennials , builders also are seeing a flow of older adults escaping more crowded and expensive markets , especially in California , a move that the switch to remote work arrangements during the pandemic has made easier .
“ We have seen a huge flight from markets where there is an affordability issue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Pat Hamill , founder of Denver-based Oakwood Homes .
He adds Oakwood , whose communities include Green Valley Ranch and Reunion , is also picking up buyers from downtown areas that faced unrest in recent months .
The Federal Reserve is also keeping interest rates low to support the economy , improving affordability and fueling housing demand .
Freddie Mac reported Thursday that rates for 30-year mortgages averaged 2.84 % , compared to 3.75 % last year at this time .
Years of price gains have left homeowners with large amounts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purchase , Covert said .
The stay-at-home orders also coincided with the start of the peak spring buying season , which created pent-up demand once restrictions lifted .
Randy Carpenter , president of the Colorado division of KB Home , said traffic has returned to levels seen last year and those who show up are buying at a much higher rate .
Home sales on the whole in metro Denver are up 37 % compared to 2019 , he said , quoting Zonda data .
“ Since the pandemic , we have seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically looking for a new home .
At KB Home , we are seeing buyers across all demographics , ” Carpenter said .
Builders also successfully marketed improved interior air quality and technological features and design configurations that could accommodate remote workers , Covert said .
And their timing was good in launching new communities , many of which offered relatively affordable options .
Purchases are mostly concentrated in the suburban ring of metro Denver , with Broomfield , Adams , Arapahoe , Douglas , and Elbert counties representing 69 % of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ago , Covert said .
Add in southwest Weld County and nearly 80 % of housing production is happening on the metro periphery .
“ The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 pandemic has not diminished the demand for new homes , and in many ways , it has increased home buying activity , thanks to the growing importance of where and how we live , ” Larry Mizel , executive chairman of MDC Holdings , a national homebuilder based in Denver , told analysts during an earnings call on Oct. 29 .
Net new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the third quarter to $ 1.65 billion and that the average selling price increased by 10 % , the company said .
Robust sales have contributed to a backlog valued at $ 3.1 billion , which is up 47 % from last year .
Basically , there just aren ’ t enough existing homes available for sale to meet demand .
Hamill said the perception is that new homebuilders compete against each other , but in reality , they compete primarily against the existing home market .
Between 1985 and 2019 , buyers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ select from at the end of October , according to the Denver Metro Association of Realtors .
Last month , there were only 4,821 listings for homes and condos , a decline of nearly 44 % from a year earlier , and a record low for October .
“ Low inventory is pushing buyers to consider newer developments outside their initial target location , even if that means waiting for homes to finish being built by going month-to-month in leases or pushing back a closing , ” said Jenny Usaj , a Denver-area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tight , buyers face bidding wars and must work harder to land a deal .
Signing a contract on a new home can be much easier .
But the trade-off is a much longer wait , which can feel like an eternity for buyers wanting to escape the confines of a tight space during the pandemic .
Hamill said Oakwood Homes is taking 6 to 9 months to complete homes after purchase .
MDC Holdings reports that the time from sale to closing averaged 215 days in the third quarter , up from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , construction time is running 142 days on average compared to 132 days .
Although new home sales are way up , the number of permits pulled this year for single-family homes is running about 4 % below last year , said Rich Staky , interim CEO of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver .
Part of that reflects obstacles created by the outbreak .
Governments are slower in providing the required approvals .
Expecting a big drop in construction , lumber mills shut down , creating severe shortages when demand quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this business , and I have never seen the price increase that we saw in lumber , ” Hamill said .
He notes that appliances are taking 10 to 11 weeks to arrive .
Even light fixtures became harder to obtain .
Skilled labor remains in short supply , a problem that has plagued builders for several years now .
And while service workers displaced by the pandemic might be more open to switching to a higher-paying career in construction , training them takes time .
“ There have been a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a delay in getting starts going .
Builders are going fast and furious starting new homes , ” Staky said .
He expects the gap between sales and permits to narrow as builders tackle more of the backlog .
But don ’ t expect builders to try and get ahead of the curve with speculative building , something they did in the mid-00s with disastrous consequences for the industry .
That downturn wiped out the more aggressive builders , and those who survived carry deep scars .
They may be enjoying an unexpectedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t fully trust it yet .
“ MDC ’ s policy as a concept is not to build specs , and the specs that are created are strategic as to particular subdivisions and fallout during the construction period .
We consider it very advantageous to our business model to keep the spec count low , ” Mizel said on the company ’ s earnings call .
Hamill said Oakwood pre-sells 99 % of what it builds , and tries to keep a good handle on where the market is headed .
When the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be 2008 and the Great Recession all over again .
Some homes under construction did end up without buyers because of people losing their jobs , but those were quickly claimed once the economy opened up again .
Builders have enough of a backlog to keep them busy even if new shutdown orders keep buyers away this winter , which is normally a slower time for purchases .
“ They will adjust construction to the sales rates .
I don ’ t think builders will be taking a lot of risks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of exuberance in the home building community , ” Stacy said .
And Hamill said he remains concerned that what happened this summer and fall could be the anomaly , not the new normal .
“ I do believe we will have some headwinds as we move forward .
You still can ’ t have 22 million people unemployed without having some issues at some point , ” he said .

Facing a slim inventory of existing homes for sale, Denver buyers are snapping up new homes at the fastest pace in the country, a rebound so strong that it has caught local builders off guard.
“During the initial stages of the pandemic in late March, especially when the stay-at-home orders were in place during all of April, no builder thought that demand would return the way that it did,” said John Covert, regional director for Zonda, a real estate analytics firm. “Sales rebounded sharply through the summer and early fall to the point where many builders will not only exceed 2019 sales but will likely have their best year ever.”
Zonda’s pending new home sales index is up 95.3% in metro Denver compared to a 46.9% gain nationally in September. The next hottest markets in terms of the gain in contracts signed to purchase new homes are Jacksonville, Fla., up 73.3% on the index and Raleigh, N.C., up 69.6%.
“All of these markets are benefitting from positive net in-migration and are among the top markets in the country for millennials,” said Ali Wolf, chief economist at Zonda Economics, in comments accompanying the index report. “Builders in Denver are outselling the national average across all categories: entry-level, move-up and luxury.”
Beyond migrating millennials, builders also are seeing a flow of older adults escaping more crowded and expensive markets, especially in California, a move that the switch to remote work arrangements during the pandemic has made easier.
“We have seen a huge flight from markets where there is an affordability issue, like San Francisco and Los Angeles,” said Pat Hamill, founder of Denver-based Oakwood Homes. He adds Oakwood, whose communities include Green Valley Ranch and Reunion, is also picking up buyers from downtown areas that faced unrest in recent months.
The Federal Reserve is also keeping interest rates low to support the economy, improving affordability and fueling housing demand. Freddie Mac reported Thursday that rates for 30-year mortgages averaged 2.84%, compared to 3.75% last year at this time.
Years of price gains have left homeowners with large amounts of equity to roll into a new purchase, Covert said. The stay-at-home orders also coincided with the start of the peak spring buying season, which created pent-up demand once restrictions lifted.
Randy Carpenter, president of the Colorado division of KB Home, said traffic has returned to levels seen last year and those who show up are buying at a much higher rate. Home sales on the whole in metro Denver are up 37% compared to 2019, he said, quoting Zonda data.
“Since the pandemic, we have seen an increased number of buyers who are specifically looking for a new home. At KB Home, we are seeing buyers across all demographics,” Carpenter said.
Builders also successfully marketed improved interior air quality and technological features and design configurations that could accommodate remote workers, Covert said. And their timing was good in launching new communities, many of which offered relatively affordable options.
Purchases are mostly concentrated in the suburban ring of metro Denver, with Broomfield, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, and Elbert counties representing 69% of all housing production compared to 64% a year ago, Covert said. Add in southwest Weld County and nearly 80% of housing production is happening on the metro periphery.
“The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 pandemic has not diminished the demand for new homes, and in many ways, it has increased home buying activity, thanks to the growing importance of where and how we live,” Larry Mizel, executive chairman of MDC Holdings, a national homebuilder based in Denver, told analysts during an earnings call on Oct. 29.
Net new home orders rose 89% year-over-year in the third quarter to $1.65 billion and that the average selling price increased by 10%, the company said. Robust sales have contributed to a backlog valued at $3.1 billion, which is up 47% from last year.
Basically, there just aren’t enough existing homes available for sale to meet demand. Hamill said the perception is that new homebuilders compete against each other, but in reality, they compete primarily against the existing home market.
Between 1985 and 2019, buyers had an average of 15,577 listings to select from at the end of October, according to the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. Last month, there were only 4,821 listings for homes and condos, a decline of nearly 44% from a year earlier, and a record low for October.
“Low inventory is pushing buyers to consider newer developments outside their initial target location, even if that means waiting for homes to finish being built by going month-to-month in leases or pushing back a closing,” said Jenny Usaj, a Denver-area realtor.
When the inventory is too tight, buyers face bidding wars and must work harder to land a deal. Signing a contract on a new home can be much easier. But the trade-off is a much longer wait, which can feel like an eternity for buyers wanting to escape the confines of a tight space during the pandemic.
Hamill said Oakwood Homes is taking 6 to 9 months to complete homes after purchase. MDC Holdings reports that the time from sale to closing averaged 215 days in the third quarter, up from 198 days last year. Of that, construction time is running 142 days on average compared to 132 days.
Although new home sales are way up, the number of permits pulled this year for single-family homes is running about 4% below last year, said Rich Staky, interim CEO of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver.
Part of that reflects obstacles created by the outbreak. Governments are slower in providing the required approvals. Expecting a big drop in construction, lumber mills shut down, creating severe shortages when demand quickly rebounded.
“I am 30 years in this business, and I have never seen the price increase that we saw in lumber,” Hamill said. He notes that appliances are taking 10 to 11 weeks to arrive. Even light fixtures became harder to obtain.
Skilled labor remains in short supply, a problem that has plagued builders for several years now. And while service workers displaced by the pandemic might be more open to switching to a higher-paying career in construction, training them takes time.
“There have been a lot of sales written, but there was a delay in getting starts going. Builders are going fast and furious starting new homes,” Staky said.
He expects the gap between sales and permits to narrow as builders tackle more of the backlog. But don’t expect builders to try and get ahead of the curve with speculative building, something they did in the mid-00s with disastrous consequences for the industry.
That downturn wiped out the more aggressive builders, and those who survived carry deep scars. They may be enjoying an unexpectedly strong market, but they don’t fully trust it yet.
“MDC’s policy as a concept is not to build specs, and the specs that are created are strategic as to particular subdivisions and fallout during the construction period. We consider it very advantageous to our business model to keep the spec count low,” Mizel said on the company’s earnings call.
Hamill said Oakwood pre-sells 99% of what it builds, and tries to keep a good handle on where the market is headed. When the new coronavirus first hit, he feared it would be 2008 and the Great Recession all over again.
Some homes under construction did end up without buyers because of people losing their jobs, but those were quickly claimed once the economy opened up again.
Builders have enough of a backlog to keep them busy even if new shutdown orders keep buyers away this winter, which is normally a slower time for purchases.
“They will adjust construction to the sales rates. I don’t think builders will be taking a lot of risks around those issues. There is not a lot of exuberance in the home building community,” Stacy said.
And Hamill said he remains concerned that what happened this summer and fall could be the anomaly, not the new normal.
“I do believe we will have some headwinds as we move forward. You still can’t have 22 million people unemployed without having some issues at some point,” he said.


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Todd Helton’s journey toward Hall of Fame resumes Monday

The ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame ’ s class of 2021 will be released Monday .
Rockies great Todd Helton will be on the ballot for the third time and could see a bump in support when the Class of 2021 is announced Jan. 21 .
That ’ s because last January , Larry Walker , Helton ’ s former teammate , finally overcame the stigma of Coors Field and was voted into the Class of 2020 .
Walker ’ s election , albeit in his final year of eligibility , should prop open the door for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I really have no idea about , ” Helton said from his home in his native Knoxville , Tenn. Helton can be , notoriously , a man of few words , especially when he ’ s talking about himself .
But that doesn ’ t mean he doesn ’ t care about his induction into Cooperstown ’ s hallowed halls .
“ It ’ s not something I think about all of the time , but I ’ d be lying if I said it ’ s not something that ’ s important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first baseman said .
Make no mistake , Helton ’ s path to the Hall of Fame is a steep climb .
Still , his jump in votes from 2019 to 2020 was encouraging .
Helton received 16.5 % in his first year on the ballot and jumped 29.2 % in his second , a leap of 66 % .
Walker , by contrast , garnered between 10.2 % and 22.9 % during his first seven years of eligibility before increasing to 34.1 % in 2018 , 54.6 % in 2019 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cleared the 75 % needed for induction .
When Walker was elected last January , he didn ’ t shy away from talking about the stigma of playing baseball in Denver ’ s mile-high altitude , and he hoped he had paved the way for Helton .
“ The year I won MVP ( 1997 ) , I thought it was a great thing for Colorado Rockies players as well and took away that mess about playing there and the negatives that go into it , ” Walker said .
“ Hopefully this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he ’ s very Hall of Fame worthy.
” Helton lets others debate his credentials , but he ’ s willing to point out two things about his career .
“ The thing I am most proud of is that I showed up every day , ready to play hard , ” he said .
“ I ’ m also very proud of how many doubles I hit.
” His 592 career doubles rank as the 19th-most in history .
He was also the first player ever to record 35 doubles in 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slash line of .316/.414/.539 , which puts him in elite company .
Only six players in big-league history have posted equal or higher averages in each category : Jimmie Foxx , Lou Gehrig , Rogers Hornsby , Stan Musial , Babe Ruth and Ted Williams .
All of them are in the Hall of Fame .
What ’ s more , during his spectacular run from 1999-2003 , Helton became one of only four players in major league history with five or more consecutive seasons of a .320 or better batting average , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or more RBIs and 100 or more runs scored .
The others ?
Gehrig ( 1930-37 ) , Ruth ( 1926-32 ) and Foxx ( 1932-36 ) .
Those who have argued against Helton ’ s bid for the Hall of Fame typically point out two main factors .
First , Helton ’ s numbers tailed off significantly in the back half of his career .
From 2005-1013 he averaged just 13 home runs per season with a high of 20 in 2005 .
Second , Helton ’ s career home/road splits are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line and hit 227 of his 369 career homers at Coors Field .
Helton ’ s road numbers were solid — .287/.386/.469 with 142 home runs — but not spectacular .
But consider this : Helton ’ s career .855 OPS away from Coors Field is better than the road marks of several Hall of Famers , including Dave Winfield ( .841 ) , Eddie Murray ( .838 ) , Rickey Henderson ( .836 ) , Tony Gwynn ( .835 ) , Al Kaline ( .827 ) and George Brett ( .825 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Helton debate in his 2019 Baseball Handbook .
“ Helton ’ s numbers … are SO good that nobody knows what to do with them , ” James wrote .
“ Helton played not only in a very high-run era , but also in a hitter ’ s paradise .
People know intuitively that his numbers are misleading and you need to let some of the air out of them , but they don ’ t know intuitively how much .
“ ( But ) even if you adjust for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Famer.
” Rockies owner Dick Monfort , who remains close to Helton , also believes the first baseman ’ s numbers are worthy of Cooperstown , but that ’ s not the only reason he wants to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame .
“ We all know the rigors of playing at Coors Field and in Denver , ” said Monfort , who made the decision to retire Helton ’ s No .
17 .
“ We all know that it challenges you when you play seven games in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ games somewhere else , and it ’ s easy to let that get into your head and make you complain .
“ But a true , consummate Hall of Fame player never lets that get in his way .
You never look for excuses .
You go out and pack your lunch bucket and you go play .
Todd was all of that .
Probably more so than anybody we have ever had in the organization .
Todd was the face of this franchise and he made us proud.
” Todd Helton played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , batting .316 , with 2,519 hits , 592 doubles , 369 home runs , 1,401 runs and 1,406 RBIs .
He won the 2000 National League batting title with a .372 average while leading the league in slugging percentage ( .698 ) , on-base ( .463 ) and OPS ( 1.162 ) .
He finished in the top 10 of NL MVP voting three times ( 2000 , ’ 01 and ’ 03 ) , was a five-time all-star selection and won three Gold Gloves as a first baseman .
Some key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hall of Fame : * Career OPS of .953 is 19th best in MLB history * 592 career doubles ranks 19th all-time * 998 extra-base hits ranks 40th all-time * First player ever to record 35 doubles per season for 10 consecutive seasons * From 1997-2013 , led all NL first basemen with 2,247 games played * 1,726 career assists are the second most for a first baseman all-time * 2,038 double plays turned are the third most for a first baseman all-time * Led NL in double plays turned by a first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Denver Post There is no doubt that Todd Helton was more productive at hitter-friendly Coors Field than he was on the road .
That fact is likely to hurt his Hall of Fame chances among some voters .
It should be noted , however , that Helton ’ s career road OPS of .855 is higher than the career road OPS of many Hall of Famers , including Dave Winfield , Eddie Murray , Tony Gwynn , Andre Dawson , Paul Molitor , Wade Boggs , Jim Rice and Harold Baines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @

The ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s class of 2021 will be released Monday.
Rockies great Todd Helton will be on the ballot for the third time and could see a bump in support when the Class of 2021 is announced Jan. 21. That’s because last January, Larry Walker, Helton’s former teammate, finally overcame the stigma of Coors Field and was voted into the Class of 2020.
Walker’s election, albeit in his final year of eligibility, should prop open the door for Helton. Right?
“That, I really have no idea about,” Helton said from his home in his native Knoxville, Tenn.
Helton can be, notoriously, a man of few words, especially when he’s talking about himself. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care about his induction into Cooperstown’s hallowed halls.
“It’s not something I think about all of the time, but I’d be lying if I said it’s not something that’s important to me,” the five-time all-star first baseman said.
Make no mistake, Helton’s path to the Hall of Fame is a steep climb. Still, his jump in votes from 2019 to 2020 was encouraging. Helton received 16.5% in his first year on the ballot and jumped 29.2% in his second, a leap of 66%.
Path to Cooperstown
Larry Walker is the only Rockies player in the Hall of Fame and he didn’t make it until his 10th and final year of eligibility. Todd Helton could be the second Rockies player to make the Hall but he will likely have to follow a path similar to Walker’s in order to make it. A player needs a minimum of 75% of votes cast by eligible members of the Baseball Writers’ Association to be inducted into Cooperstown. Following is a comparison of Walker and Helton’s path to the Hall of Fame LARRY WALKER 2011 20.30% 2012 22.90% 2013 21.60% 2014 10.20% 2015 11.80% 2016 15.50% 2017 21.90% 2018 34.10% 2019 54.60% 2020 76.60% TODD HELTON 2019 16.5% 2020 29.2% 2021 ????
Walker, by contrast, garnered between 10.2% and 22.9% during his first seven years of eligibility before increasing to 34.1% in 2018, 54.6% in 2019, and finally 76.6% in 2020 when he cleared the 75% needed for induction.
When Walker was elected last January, he didn’t shy away from talking about the stigma of playing baseball in Denver’s mile-high altitude, and he hoped he had paved the way for Helton.
“The year I won MVP (1997), I thought it was a great thing for Colorado Rockies players as well and took away that mess about playing there and the negatives that go into it,” Walker said. “Hopefully this does work for Todd. Obviously, he’s very Hall of Fame worthy.”
Helton lets others debate his credentials, but he’s willing to point out two things about his career.
“The thing I am most proud of is that I showed up every day, ready to play hard,” he said. “I’m also very proud of how many doubles I hit.”
His 592 career doubles rank as the 19th-most in history. He was also the first player ever to record 35 doubles in 10 consecutive seasons.
Helton posted a career slash line of .316/.414/.539, which puts him in elite company. Only six players in big-league history have posted equal or higher averages in each category: Jimmie Foxx, Lou Gehrig, Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. All of them are in the Hall of Fame.
What’s more, during his spectacular run from 1999-2003, Helton became one of only four players in major league history with five or more consecutive seasons of a .320 or better batting average, 30 or more home runs, 100 or more RBIs and 100 or more runs scored. The others? Gehrig (1930-37), Ruth (1926-32) and Foxx (1932-36).
Those who have argued against Helton’s bid for the Hall of Fame typically point out two main factors. First, Helton’s numbers tailed off significantly in the back half of his career. From 2005-1013 he averaged just 13 home runs per season with a high of 20 in 2005.
Second, Helton’s career home/road splits are dramatic. He posted a .345/.441/.607 slash line and hit 227 of his 369 career homers at Coors Field. Helton’s road numbers were solid — .287/.386/.469 with 142 home runs — but not spectacular. But consider this: Helton’s career .855 OPS away from Coors Field is better than the road marks of several Hall of Famers, including Dave Winfield (.841), Eddie Murray (.838), Rickey Henderson (.836), Tony Gwynn (.835), Al Kaline (.827) and George Brett (.825).
Sabermetric pioneer Bill James weighed in on the Helton debate in his 2019 Baseball Handbook.
“Helton’s numbers … are SO good that nobody knows what to do with them,” James wrote. “Helton played not only in a very high-run era, but also in a hitter’s paradise. People know intuitively that his numbers are misleading and you need to let some of the air out of them, but they don’t know intuitively how much.
“(But) even if you adjust for the context, Todd Helton was a Hall of Famer.”
Rockies owner Dick Monfort, who remains close to Helton, also believes the first baseman’s numbers are worthy of Cooperstown, but that’s not the only reason he wants to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame.
“We all know the rigors of playing at Coors Field and in Denver,” said Monfort, who made the decision to retire Helton’s No. 17. “We all know that it challenges you when you play seven games in Denver and then have to play seven games somewhere else, and it’s easy to let that get into your head and make you complain.
“But a true, consummate Hall of Fame player never lets that get in his way. You never look for excuses. You go out and pack your lunch bucket and you go play. Todd was all of that. Probably more so than anybody we have ever had in the organization. Todd was the face of this franchise and he made us proud.”
Helton’s Hall of Fame Case
Todd Helton played his entire 17-year career with the Rockies, batting .316, with 2,519 hits, 592 doubles, 369 home runs, 1,401 runs and 1,406 RBIs. He won the 2000 National League batting title with a .372 average while leading the league in slugging percentage (.698), on-base (.463) and OPS (1.162). He finished in the top 10 of NL MVP voting three times (2000, ’01 and ’03), was a five-time all-star selection and won three Gold Gloves as a first baseman. Some key statistics that could land Helton in the Hall of Fame:
* Career OPS of .953 is 19th best in MLB history
* 592 career doubles ranks 19th all-time
* 998 extra-base hits ranks 40th all-time
* First player ever to record 35 doubles per season for 10 consecutive seasons
* From 1997-2013, led all NL first basemen with 2,247 games played
* 1,726 career assists are the second most for a first baseman all-time
* 2,038 double plays turned are the third most for a first baseman all-time
* Led NL in double plays turned by a first baseman six times
— Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post
Coors Field Factor
There is no doubt that Todd Helton was more productive at hitter-friendly Coors Field than he was on the road. That fact is likely to hurt his Hall of Fame chances among some voters. It should be noted, however, that Helton’s career road OPS of .855 is higher than the career road OPS of many Hall of Famers, including Dave Winfield, Eddie Murray, Tony Gwynn, Andre Dawson, Paul Molitor, Wade Boggs, Jim Rice and Harold Baines. Here are his career home/road splits:


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Sylvester Williams’ second coming in Denver is important for fortunes of Broncos’ defensive front du

Sylvester Williams’ second coming in Denver is important for fortunes of Broncos’ defensive front during last half of 2020

Like an old friend returning home to make good again , Sylvester Williams ’ second-coming in Denver is important for the defensive front over the last half of 2020 .
Williams , the Broncos ’ first-round pick in 2013 , played his first four seasons in Denver .
Now , the Broncos need him to help re-stabilize a defensive front ravaged by season-ending injuries ( Jurrell Casey , Mike Purcell ) and COVID issues ( Shelby Harris , who won ’ t play Sunday in Las Vegas ) .
“ Sly is a guy who ’ s been a player @ @ @ @ @ @ @ played here , played for other teams ( with the Titans , Lions Dolphins and Chargers ) , ” Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said .
“ He ’ s loving his second opportunity to come back here .
I know the guys enjoy him , the coaches enjoy him , and he ’ s making the most of it.
” Signed to the practice squad Oct. 3 and promoted to the active roster Oct. 17 , Williams has played in three games , with two tackles and a pass deflection in 63 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depth , he ’ s now the Broncos ’ secondary nose guard behind DeShawn Williams , who started both games at the position following Purcell ’ s foot injury in Week 7 .
Sylvester Williams ’ return to relevance in Denver this year is the latest twist in his against-the-odds football career , which didn ’ t begin until his senior year in high school , when he started just one game .
After high school , the sport wasn ’ t even on his mind as Williams went to work at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just as Williams capitalized on the opportunities in front of him then — first as a walk-on at Coffeyville ( Kan. ) Community College after quitting his job , then on scholarship at North Carolina — he ’ s done the same as a veteran amid an unprecedented , coronavirus-impacted NFL season .
That meant taking advantage of 2020 ’ s expanded practice squads , with teams now able to carry up to six vested veterans .
“ This summer I stayed in shape and stayed sharp mentally , and I honestly didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation until roster cuts started happening and I saw some veterans signed to the practice squad , ” Williams said .
“ It kind of threw me off a little bit , but once I got updated to what ’ s going on , I thought it was a unique opportunity ( to extend my career ) .
” In his four seasons with Denver from 2013-16 , Williams accrued 93 tackles , 17 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 60 games .
He was especially productive in his final two seasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Super Bowl run in 2015 and then all 16 games the next year before departing in free agency for Tennessee .
And while things have certainly changed in the time Williams was gone — the only other defensive player left from the Super Bowl 50 team is injured linebacker Von Miller — DeShawn Williams , Dre ’ Mont Jones and DeMarcus Walker all realize the well of knowledge they have to draw from in the 31-year-old .
“ I talk to him every day about that ( 2015 ) defense because I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what we can do as a defense to do more and help our team win , ” DeShawn Williams said .
“ We all know in 2015 the offense wasn ’ t too great but the defense somehow , some way , pulled out wins .
So , we ’ re just trying to see how we can do that , too .
I pick ( Sylvester ’ s ) brain each and every time in the room.
” Heading into Sunday ’ s game in Las Vegas , Sylvester Williams — who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play — is ready to anchor a “ dog fight ” in the trenches against the Raiders ’ ninth-ranked rushing attack ( 131.3 rushing yards per game ) that features high-power tailback Josh Jacobs .
“ They ’ re going to come out and run the ball and they have a tendency to want to be physical , so it ’ s a challenge for the D-line , ” Williams said .
“ As a D-lineman , you have to look forward to that challenge , because their ( offensive ) line is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 340 pounds .
We have to go to work .
”

Like an old friend returning home to make good again, Sylvester Williams’ second-coming in Denver is important for the defensive front over the last half of 2020.
Williams, the Broncos’ first-round pick in 2013, played his first four seasons in Denver. Now, the Broncos need him to help re-stabilize a defensive front ravaged by season-ending injuries (Jurrell Casey, Mike Purcell) and COVID issues (Shelby Harris, who won’t play Sunday in Las Vegas).
“Sly is a guy who’s been a player in this league — high pick, played here, played for other teams (with the Titans, Lions Dolphins and Chargers),” Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said. “He’s loving his second opportunity to come back here. I know the guys enjoy him, the coaches enjoy him, and he’s making the most of it.”
Signed to the practice squad Oct. 3 and promoted to the active roster Oct. 17, Williams has played in three games, with two tackles and a pass deflection in 63 total defensive snaps. As valuable run-stuffing depth, he’s now the Broncos’ secondary nose guard behind DeShawn Williams, who started both games at the position following Purcell’s foot injury in Week 7.
Sylvester Williams’ return to relevance in Denver this year is the latest twist in his against-the-odds football career, which didn’t begin until his senior year in high school, when he started just one game. After high school, the sport wasn’t even on his mind as Williams went to work at a manufacturing plant, building radiators.
But just as Williams capitalized on the opportunities in front of him then — first as a walk-on at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College after quitting his job, then on scholarship at North Carolina — he’s done the same as a veteran amid an unprecedented, coronavirus-impacted NFL season. That meant taking advantage of 2020’s expanded practice squads, with teams now able to carry up to six vested veterans.
“This summer I stayed in shape and stayed sharp mentally, and I honestly didn’t know about the practice squad situation until roster cuts started happening and I saw some veterans signed to the practice squad,” Williams said. “It kind of threw me off a little bit, but once I got updated to what’s going on, I thought it was a unique opportunity (to extend my career).”
In his four seasons with Denver from 2013-16, Williams accrued 93 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 60 games. He was especially productive in his final two seasons, starting 15 games during the Broncos’ Super Bowl run in 2015 and then all 16 games the next year before departing in free agency for Tennessee.
And while things have certainly changed in the time Williams was gone — the only other defensive player left from the Super Bowl 50 team is injured linebacker Von Miller — DeShawn Williams, Dre’Mont Jones and DeMarcus Walker all realize the well of knowledge they have to draw from in the 31-year-old.
“I talk to him every day about that (2015) defense because I want to pick his brain and see what we can do as a defense to do more and help our team win,” DeShawn Williams said. “We all know in 2015 the offense wasn’t too great but the defense somehow, some way, pulled out wins. So, we’re just trying to see how we can do that, too. I pick (Sylvester’s) brain each and every time in the room.”
Heading into Sunday’s game in Las Vegas, Sylvester Williams — who cited Oakland as his favorite place to play — is ready to anchor a “dog fight” in the trenches against the Raiders’ ninth-ranked rushing attack (131.3 rushing yards per game) that features high-power tailback Josh Jacobs.
“They’re going to come out and run the ball and they have a tendency to want to be physical, so it’s a challenge for the D-line,” Williams said. “As a D-lineman, you have to look forward to that challenge, because their (offensive) line is coming in at an average weight of 340 pounds. We have to go to work.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Keeler: Drew Lock wasn’t supposed to carry the Broncos. The defense was. And it’s let Vic Fangio dow

Keeler: Drew Lock wasn’t supposed to carry the Broncos. The defense was. And it’s let Vic Fangio down, time after time.

Before you chuck Drew Lock and Pat Shurmur into the wood-chipper , remember the master plan ?
No .
3 was supposed to be riding in the Broncos ’ sidecar .
Not driving the chopper .
Let the kid lean on a top-5 defense , a top-5 running game and a world-class placekicker .
Right ?
Use them as safety blankets .
Grow into the position .
Instead , the training wheels fell off about six blocks back .
Lock ’ s had to work around a beat-up-as-heck , middling D. A defense with no depth at cornerback and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two tailbacks are stuck pass blocking or running routes by midway through the second quarter because they ’ re already down double digits .
“ Some of the ( issues ) coming in are on the defensive end , ” former NFL quarterback and CBS analyst Trent Green said Friday from the airport , en route to Broncos-Raiders , which he ’ ll call on Sunday .
“ That they ’ re pressing that much is because the defense is not what it ’ s been in previous years .
So that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because you feel you ’ ve got to score more.
” Look , nobody ’ s saying Lock and Shurmur , his offensive coordinator , are reading from the same page right now , let alone the same book .
But all this playing-from-behind bunkum is a team effort .
And the defensive part of that equation was supposed to be coach Vic Fangio ’ s strength , his bedrock .
The Broncos head to Sin City allowing 15.1 first-half points per game , eighth-most in the NFL .
That number was 7.8 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surrendered 9.6 second-quarter points per game .
That ’ s up from just 5.4 points allowed , on average , in 2019 .
The two best friends for a fledgling offense with fledgling wideouts and a fledgling field general are a running game he can lean on and a defense that can do the heavy lifting .
Meanwhile , the Broncos have spent the better part of two weeks dropping expensive pianos down several flights of stairs .
“ I don ’ t want to speak for ( Lock ) , ” Green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of ( a case ) where they may just be pressing too much to try to make everything perfect at this point.
” And no wonder .
Denver gave up 24 points to the Chiefs before halftime .
Then 14 to the Chargers .
Then 20 to the Falcons .
Los Angeles picked up 14 first downs and converted on 5-of-9 third-down chances over the first two quarters .
Atlanta racked up 16 first downs and had nailed 6-of-8 third-down tries heading into the break .
Shurmur and Lock weren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devil was Fangio ’ s defense when it came time to pick up the rope in a pinch ?
“ Remember how young everybody is , ” Green said of the offense .
“ I think there has to be a little bit of leeway when it comes to dealing with young guys.
” Rookies Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler were supposed to be able to learn on the fly .
Tim Patrick has been a revelation , but he ’ s not Courtland Sutton .
Noah Fant ’ s dinged up .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ season .
The regressions scare you .
The decisions enrage you .
John Elway has long since exhausted your trust in this organization ’ s ability to find , let alone nurture , the next Elway .
But this passing game was always going to be a process , a roller-coaster , even in the best-case scenario .
Which this isn ’ t .
“ I think ( Lock ) is in good hands , ” Green said .
“ Some of it is just inexperience .
Some of his interceptions have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he doesn ’ t step into throws .
If there ’ s any kind of indecision , that could cause a lot of that … and once again , it goes back to the inexperience part of it .
It ’ s reps. “ Now all of a sudden , there are plays that they ’ re running that maybe they ’ ve walked through it once .
I guess I ’ m a little bit more forgiving .
I know the time that went into a lot of our plays over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Opposing quarterbacks have completed 67.5 % of their throws against the Broncos in the first half .
They ’ re averaging 7.9 yards per first-half attempt , with nine touchdown tosses and just two picks .
Their first-half passer rating ’ s a blistering 105 .
Mercy .
“ Everybody in the league is feeling the same thing , ” Green said .
“ It ’ s just tougher when you ’ re an inexperienced quarterback , your skill position guys are inexperienced , and they haven ’ t had a ton of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s just the reality of it .
We ’ d all like it to click quicker.
” This offense was supposed to be the butter , not the bread .
And it ’ s awfully hard to steer the season , let alone the narrative , from a sidecar .

Before you chuck Drew Lock and Pat Shurmur into the wood-chipper, remember the master plan? No. 3 was supposed to be riding in the Broncos’ sidecar. Not driving the chopper.
Let the kid lean on a top-5 defense, a top-5 running game and a world-class placekicker. Right? Use them as safety blankets. Grow into the position.
Instead, the training wheels fell off about six blocks back.
Lock’s had to work around a beat-up-as-heck, middling D. A defense with no depth at cornerback and its Hall-of-Fame pass rusher on ice.
His two tailbacks are stuck pass blocking or running routes by midway through the second quarter because they’re already down double digits.
“Some of the (issues) coming in are on the defensive end,” former NFL quarterback and CBS analyst Trent Green said Friday from the airport, en route to Broncos-Raiders, which he’ll call on Sunday.
“That they’re pressing that much is because the defense is not what it’s been in previous years. So that could cause you to press even more, because you feel you’ve got to score more.”
Look, nobody’s saying Lock and Shurmur, his offensive coordinator, are reading from the same page right now, let alone the same book. But all this playing-from-behind bunkum is a team effort. And the defensive part of that equation was supposed to be coach Vic Fangio’s strength, his bedrock.
The Broncos head to Sin City allowing 15.1 first-half points per game, eighth-most in the NFL. That number was 7.8 a year ago.
They’ve surrendered 9.6 second-quarter points per game. That’s up from just 5.4 points allowed, on average, in 2019.
The two best friends for a fledgling offense with fledgling wideouts and a fledgling field general are a running game he can lean on and a defense that can do the heavy lifting.
Meanwhile, the Broncos have spent the better part of two weeks dropping expensive pianos down several flights of stairs.
“I don’t want to speak for (Lock),” Green stressed. “It’s a lot of (a case) where they may just be pressing too much to try to make everything perfect at this point.”
And no wonder. Denver gave up 24 points to the Chiefs before halftime. Then 14 to the Chargers. Then 20 to the Falcons.
Los Angeles picked up 14 first downs and converted on 5-of-9 third-down chances over the first two quarters. Atlanta racked up 16 first downs and had nailed 6-of-8 third-down tries heading into the break.
Shurmur and Lock weren’t helping, granted. But where the devil was Fangio’s defense when it came time to pick up the rope in a pinch?
“Remember how young everybody is,” Green said of the offense. “I think there has to be a little bit of leeway when it comes to dealing with young guys.”
Jerry Jeudy and KJ Hamler were supposed to be able to learn on the fly. Tim Patrick has been a revelation, but he’s not Courtland Sutton. Noah Fant’s dinged up. Albert Okwuegbunam’s out for the season.
The regressions scare you. The decisions enrage you. John Elway has long since exhausted your trust in this organization’s ability to find, let alone nurture, the next Elway. But this passing game was always going to be a process, a roller-coaster, even in the best-case scenario. Which this isn’t.
“I think (Lock) is in good hands,” Green said. “Some of it is just inexperience. Some of his interceptions have been (when) he drifts back, he doesn’t step into throws. If there’s any kind of indecision, that could cause a lot of that … and once again, it goes back to the inexperience part of it. It’s reps.
“Now all of a sudden, there are plays that they’re running that maybe they’ve walked through it once. I guess I’m a little bit more forgiving. I know the time that went into a lot of our plays over the years.”
Remember the master plan? Opposing quarterbacks have completed 67.5% of their throws against the Broncos in the first half. They’re averaging 7.9 yards per first-half attempt, with nine touchdown tosses and just two picks. Their first-half passer rating’s a blistering 105. Mercy.
“Everybody in the league is feeling the same thing,” Green said. “It’s just tougher when you’re an inexperienced quarterback, your skill position guys are inexperienced, and they haven’t had a ton of time to work together. Unfortunately, that’s just the reality of it. We’d all like it to click quicker.”
This offense was supposed to be the butter, not the bread. And it’s awfully hard to steer the season, let alone the narrative, from a sidecar.


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Week 10 NFL Picks: Stout Rams defense vs. stellar Seattle offense

The first of two fistfights between NFC West rivals and the Rams are a 1 1/2-point favorite .
The Rams are second in fewest points allowed ( 19 per game ) and Seattle is 30th ( 30.4 ) .
Edge to the Rams because Aaron Donald will take over the game in the second half .
Eight years ago , the Jaguars were 15-point underdogs at Lambeau Field and lost 24-15 .
This time , the Packers are a 14 1/2-point favorite .
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers should be out of the game when the third quarter ends .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jaguars .
Don ’ t look now but Joe Judge ’ s Giants are 2-2 in their last four games after an 0-5 start ; both wins were over Washington .
Philadelphia is 3-4-1 and a three-point road favorite .
The Giants produce three takeaways that lead to field position for their offense to cash in with 17 points .
Around the NFC : Dalvin Cook one touchdown from joining rare company Vikings revival .
Minnesota was seemingly kaput last month at 1-5 , but it won at Green Bay and vs. Detroit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in sight when the Vikings ( 3-5 ) , two games behind the Rams/Arizona , travel to Chicago ( 5-4 ) .
Vikings running back Dalvin Cook can tie an NFL record if he scores a rushing touchdown in an eighth consecutive game , tying Lenny Moore ( Baltimore , 1964 ) , John Riggins ( Washington , 1983 ) and George Rogers ( Washington , 1986 ) .
The Bears , meanwhile , once again have a broken offense ( 19.8 points per game , 30th in the league ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after his horrific broken leg , Smith will start at quarterback for Washington against Detroit .
Smith replaced Kyle Allen ( season-ending ankle injury ) last week and his rust showed — three interceptions among his 32 attempts .
That Smith is playing should clinch him for NFL Comeback Player of the Year … if it wasn ’ t already locked up .
McCaffrey ailing .
Good on Carolina running back/Castle Rock native Christian McCaffrey for getting his four-year , $ 64 million contract extension in April .
McCaffrey didn ’ t miss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but sustained an ankle sprain in Week 2 at Tampa Bay ( missed six games ) and a shoulder injury last week at Kansas City ( out against the Buccaneers Sunday ) .
McCaffrey , 24 , has been limited to 59 rushing attempts for 225 yards in three games .
Involving Evans .
Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans has seven touchdown catches , but is averaging nearly four fewer yards per catch compared to last year ( 17.3 to 12.9 ) and is barely on pace to reach his current career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ’ 19 ) .
What gives ?
“ Mike was open a bunch in that ballgame ( last week ) , ” coach Bruce Arians said .
Take note , Tom Brady .
Around the AFC : Battle of young quarterbacks when Chargers meet Dolphins Herbert vs. Tua .
The Broncos saw Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert two weeks ago and get Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa next week .
The rookies square off Sunday in Miami .
Tagovailoa and Herbert were drafted fifth and sixth , respectively , this year , and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ league history two rookie quarterbacks who were among the top six picks have met .
Way back in 1998 , Peyton Manning/Indianapolis beat Ryan Leaf/San Diego 17-12 .
Last year , Kyler Murray/Arizona beat the New York Giants/Daniel Jones 27-21 .
Jets show some life .
The Jets are 0-9 for the first time in franchise history , but should have defeated New England last Monday .
Gang Green won ’ t go 0-16 because players have pride and it ’ s very difficult to go winless .
The offense , though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rank last in yards per game and play , passing yards per game and play , third down , red zone and points per game .
Now that ’ s consistency of the wrong kind .
Steelers good or lucky ?
Pittsburgh is the league ’ s last unbeaten team ( 8-0 ) .
The Steelers ’ wins have been by 10 , five , seven , nine , 31 , three , four and five points .
It ’ s easy to say Pittsburgh has been fortunate , but good teams find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week at Dallas , the Steelers trailed 19-9 but won 24-19 .
They have outscored opponents 63-34 in the fourth quarter .
Hurry back , Chris .
Before last week ’ s loss to Las Vegas , the Chargers had lost four consecutive games with a lead of least 16 points .
Cornerback/old friend Chris Harris has missed all of these losses with a late September foot injury and had a timetable of 4-6 weeks to return .
The Bolts have only four interceptions ( 26th ) and are allowing opponents to complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .

Game of the week
Seattle at L.A. Rams
The first of two fistfights between NFC West rivals and the Rams are a 1 1/2-point favorite. The Rams are second in fewest points allowed (19 per game) and Seattle is 30th (30.4). Edge to the Rams because Aaron Donald will take over the game in the second half.
Rams 31, Seahawks 27
Lock of the week
Jacksonville at Green Bay
Eight years ago, the Jaguars were 15-point underdogs at Lambeau Field and lost 24-15. This time, the Packers are a 14 1/2-point favorite. Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers should be out of the game when the third quarter ends. Rookie quarterback Jake Luton starts for the Jaguars.
Packers 38, Jaguars 2
Upset of the week
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants
Don’t look now but Joe Judge’s Giants are 2-2 in their last four games after an 0-5 start; both wins were over Washington. Philadelphia is 3-4-1 and a three-point road favorite. The Giants produce three takeaways that lead to field position for their offense to cash in with 17 points.
Giants 28, Eagles 24
Around the NFC: Dalvin Cook one touchdown from joining rare company
Vikings revival. Minnesota was seemingly kaput last month at 1-5, but it won at Green Bay and vs. Detroit. Suddenly, the seventh playoff spot is in sight when the Vikings (3-5), two games behind the Rams/Arizona, travel to Chicago (5-4). Vikings running back Dalvin Cook can tie an NFL record if he scores a rushing touchdown in an eighth consecutive game, tying Lenny Moore (Baltimore, 1964), John Riggins (Washington, 1983) and George Rogers (Washington, 1986). The Bears, meanwhile, once again have a broken offense (19.8 points per game, 30th in the league).
Alex Smith gets chance. Two years after his horrific broken leg, Smith will start at quarterback for Washington against Detroit. Smith replaced Kyle Allen (season-ending ankle injury) last week and his rust showed — three interceptions among his 32 attempts. That Smith is playing should clinch him for NFL Comeback Player of the Year … if it wasn’t already locked up.
McCaffrey ailing. Good on Carolina running back/Castle Rock native Christian McCaffrey for getting his four-year, $64 million contract extension in April. McCaffrey didn’t miss a game in his first three years, but sustained an ankle sprain in Week 2 at Tampa Bay (missed six games) and a shoulder injury last week at Kansas City (out against the Buccaneers Sunday). McCaffrey, 24, has been limited to 59 rushing attempts for 225 yards in three games.
Involving Evans. Tampa Bay receiver Mike Evans has seven touchdown catches, but is averaging nearly four fewer yards per catch compared to last year (17.3 to 12.9) and is barely on pace to reach his current career low for catches (68 in 2014 and ’19). What gives? “Mike was open a bunch in that ballgame (last week),” coach Bruce Arians said. Take note, Tom Brady.
Around the AFC: Battle of young quarterbacks when Chargers meet Dolphins
Herbert vs. Tua. The Broncos saw Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert two weeks ago and get Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa next week. The rookies square off Sunday in Miami. Tagovailoa and Herbert were drafted fifth and sixth, respectively, this year, and their meeting will mark the seventh time in league history two rookie quarterbacks who were among the top six picks have met. Way back in 1998, Peyton Manning/Indianapolis beat Ryan Leaf/San Diego 17-12. Last year, Kyler Murray/Arizona beat the New York Giants/Daniel Jones 27-21.
Jets show some life. The Jets are 0-9 for the first time in franchise history, but should have defeated New England last Monday. Gang Green won’t go 0-16 because players have pride and it’s very difficult to go winless. The offense, though, must show a pulse. The Jets rank last in yards per game and play, passing yards per game and play, third down, red zone and points per game. Now that’s consistency of the wrong kind.
Steelers good or lucky? Pittsburgh is the league’s last unbeaten team (8-0). The Steelers’ wins have been by 10, five, seven, nine, 31, three, four and five points. It’s easy to say Pittsburgh has been fortunate, but good teams find ways to win close games. Last week at Dallas, the Steelers trailed 19-9 but won 24-19. They have outscored opponents 63-34 in the fourth quarter.
Hurry back, Chris. Before last week’s loss to Las Vegas, the Chargers had lost four consecutive games with a lead of least 16 points. Cornerback/old friend Chris Harris has missed all of these losses with a late September foot injury and had a timetable of 4-6 weeks to return. The Bolts have only four interceptions (26th) and are allowing opponents to complete 63.5% of its passes (ninth).


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--How the CU Buffs have fared compared to their fellow Big 12 departures

Regular-season conference championships since 2011 : 12 ( all but one from cross country ) Bottom line : The majority of CU ’ s non-revenue sports have enjoyed success in the Pac-12 .
However , the football team has mostly floundered during the Buffs ’ decade in the conference .
CU also recorded the lowest amount of annual revenue compared to fellow Big 12 defectors .
Bottom line : Joining the Big Ten was a financial boon for Nebraska , but its football team languishes in mediocrity .
Big Red basketball is even worse .
Nebraska continues to rely on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its athletic success .
Regular-season conference championships since 2012 : 2 ( both from women ’ s volleyball ) Bottom line : Missouri football won the SEC East twice ( 2013-14 ) but hangs in the shadow of traditional powerhouses .
The Tigers ’ remaining athletic programs haven ’ t fared much better .
Missouri was more competitive in the Big 12 .
Bottom line : A & M is positioned to become an SEC powerhouse as the only Texas school in the conference with arguably the nation ’ s top recruiting base @ @ @ @ @ @ @ athletic revenue has also skyrocketed in the SEC .
Despite lacking football championships , A & M is in a much better place than previously with the Big 12 .
* Latest financial information courtesy of USA Today ’ s database .
Statistics compiled from sports-reference.com .
Note : Missouri and Texas A & M did not formally join the SEC until 2012 .

Colorado
2019 athletic department revenue: $94.9 million
Regular-season conference championships since 2011: 12 (all but one from cross country)
Football record from 2011-19: 39-73 (20-61 Pac-12), 1 bowl bid, 14 NFL draft picks
Men’s basketball record since 2011: 186-120 (84-78 Pac 12), 4 NCAA Tournament berths
Bottom line: The majority of CU’s non-revenue sports have enjoyed success in the Pac-12. However, the football team has mostly floundered during the Buffs’ decade in the conference. CU also recorded the lowest amount of annual revenue compared to fellow Big 12 defectors.
Nebraska
2019 athletic department revenue: $136.2 million
Regular-season conference championships since 2011: 12
Football record from 2011-19: 65-50 (40-36 Big Ten), 6 bowl bids, 20 NFL draft picks
Men’s basketball record since 2011: 135-157 (58-108 Big Ten), 1 NCAA Tournament berth
Bottom line: Joining the Big Ten was a financial boon for Nebraska, but its football team languishes in mediocrity. Big Red basketball is even worse. Nebraska continues to rely on an aging tradition to define most of its athletic success.
Missouri
2019 athletic department revenue: $106.6 million
Regular-season conference championships since 2012: 2 (both from women’s volleyball)
Football record from 2012-19: 58-44 (30-34 SEC), 4 bowl bids, 19 NFL draft picks
Men’s basketball record since 2012: 123-137 (50-94 SEC), 2 NCAA Tournament berths
Bottom line: Missouri football won the SEC East twice (2013-14) but hangs in the shadow of traditional powerhouses. The Tigers’ remaining athletic programs haven’t fared much better. Missouri was more competitive in the Big 12.
Texas A&M
2019 athletic department revenue: $212.7 million
Regular-season conference championships since 2012: 16
Football record since 2012-19: 68-36 (34-30 SEC), 8 bowl bids, 30 NFL draft picks
Men’s basketball record since 2012: 153-112 (72-72 SEC), 2 NCAA Tournament berths
Bottom line: A&M is positioned to become an SEC powerhouse as the only Texas school in the conference with arguably the nation’s top recruiting base in its backyard. The Aggies’ athletic revenue has also skyrocketed in the SEC. Despite lacking football championships, A&M is in a much better place than previously with the Big 12.
* Latest financial information courtesy of USA Today’s database. Statistics compiled from sports-reference.com.
Note: Missouri and Texas A&M did not formally join the SEC until 2012.


thedenverpost--2020-11-14--Even before pandemic, CU Buffs’ financial resources hindered by lagging Pac-12 revenue

BOULDER — Rick George took long gulps of water from an aluminum bottle in between questions from reporters .
But his answers didn ’ t wander .
In fact , the University of Colorado athletic director proved defiant in his optimism during a news conference last winter .
Where does the program go from here ?
“ We ’ re going to go out and hire somebody that shares the same expectations that I do .
We ’ re going to win a championship and we can do that at Colorado with the resources we have.
” While that may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ season represented a stark financial truth for CU a decade after it decided to join the Pac-12 : Without the revenue to match many of its Power 5 peers , the Buffs must overcome a growing gap in college football ’ s arms race , including what it takes to hold on to a hot coach .
Midnight Mel ’ s disappearing act feels like a lifetime ago with the coronavirus pandemic having infiltrated the sports world the past nine months .
Collegiate athletic programs across the country are feeling the financial pinch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from fans on game days over the past three seasons at CU , the Buffs are estimated to lose out on roughly $ 12.7 million from home football games alone this fall .
However , some schools came into the pandemic more financially immune than others .
Tucker went from being the fourth-lowest paid coach in the Pac-12 ( $ 2.7 million ) to earning the 14th-highest FBS salary in the country ( $ 5 million ) coaching in the Big Ten .
CU hired Karl Dorrell , scheduled to make $ 3.2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cut due to the coronavirus , and gave him a long leash to turn the program around .
“ Even if we were able to match the salary ( offered by Michigan State ) , we wouldn ’ t have done that , ” George told The Post .
“ We ’ ve got to determine our priorities .
We ’ re never going to pay our coaches the highest .
That ’ s just not who we are.
” Staying true to a program ’ s identity is noble .
Winning championships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past 10 years , CU has fallen into football irrelevance on a national scale .
Of course , paying a head football coach top dollar doesn ’ t guarantee titles .
But in the Pac-12 , head coaches make , on average , far less than their peers in Power 5 conferences .
Seventeen head coaches across the SEC , Big Ten , Big 12 and ACC are better compensated than the Pac-12 ’ s highest-paid coach in 2020 : Stanford ’ s David Shaw ( $ 4.8M ) .
CU ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and keep Tucker speaks to a larger issue of the Pac-12 ’ s current resource disadvantage .
The Big Ten set a new standard for the 2018-19 fiscal year , with roughly $ 55.6 million in revenue distributed to each member school .
The SEC came in second with about $ 45.3 million per school , followed by the Big 12 ( $ 38.2M- $ 42M ) , Pac-12 ( $ 32.2M ) and ACC ( $ 27.6M- $ 34M ) , according to USA Today .
That money not only allows teams @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the increasingly pricey efforts of football programs to recruit nationally for the best talent .
CU ’ s athletic department reported $ 775,312 in recruiting expenses for the 2019 fiscal year — a sharp rise from the previous year ( $ 635,077 ) .
But that growth falls short of how resources are being spent across the country .
SEC schools averaged $ 1.3 million in football recruiting costs for the 2018 fiscal year , ahead of the Big 12 ( $ 961,981 ) , ACC ( $ 938,424 ) , Big Ten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( $ 708,750 ) , per the Louisville Courier Journal .
Michigan State ’ s ability to pluck Tucker from Boulder is just one more example of the Big Ten ’ s financial superiority to the Pac-12 .
CU reported $ 94.9 million in athletics revenue in 2019 .
Michigan State blew CU away at $ 140 million .
But George told The Post he does not believe the conference revenue gap has impacted CU or the Pac-12 ’ s ability to compete .
“ Would I like to have more distribution and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Absolutely , ” George said .
“ There are things that we could do to support our student-athletes maybe even better than we do today .
But I don ’ t think it hurts our ability to play at the highest level .
We ’ ve just got to be smart about how we invest our resources , then go out and play the games.
” It ’ s a challenge George must bear , but certainly not one of his making .
In 2012 , the Pac-12 entered a landmark 12-year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with ESPN and Fox Sports to broadcast football and men ’ s basketball games .
The conference also launched the Pac-12 Network for original content — totally independent of major networks .
The conference shopped the network to potential partners prior to its launch , but none were interested , the Oregonian recently reported .
Now the network isn ’ t carrying live football games during this fall ’ s coronavirus-shortened season as the Pac-12 scrambles to meet its commitments to ESPN and FOX .
“ They made a risk when they decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own network , whereas the Big Ten went with FOX and the SEC and the ACC went with ESPN , ” said Chuck Neinas , the interim Big 12 commissioner during conference expansion ( 2011-12 ) and a former longtime Big Eight commissioner .
“ People don ’ t understand the cost involved .
… You ’ ve got to have the leverage to get clearances .
To get exposure and sales , you have to find sponsorships .
All those things , the Pac-12 decided they were going to take on themselves.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the Pac-12 Network ’ s inability to successfully negotiate a deal with major carrier DirecTV its biggest indictment , and AT & T ’ s U-verse dropping it in 2018 .
Conference leaders also failed to anticipate a meteoric rise in television dollars for college football programming .
Back in 2011 , the projected annual revenue distribution per school from the league ’ s ESPN/Fox Sports television agreement seemed massive at $ 21 million .
Today , that ’ s small potatoes with the Big Ten topping $ 50 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the SEC for rights to its “ Game of the Week ” and conference title game is $ 55 million annually .
When it expires after the 2023 season , ESPN is prepared to pay the SEC $ 300 million per season for the same rights , according to Sports Business Daily .
That would be on top of a multi-billion dollar agreement ESPN previously made with the conference to carry other programming and host the SEC Network through 2034 .
The Pac-12 ’ s television contracts expire after 2024 with uncertainty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biggest question mark for the Pac-12 is the 2024 TV contract , ” CU men ’ s basketball coach Tad Boyle said .
“ That ’ s the unknown and where media is going .
There are a lot more questions than there are answers .
But it is going to change and I think it ’ s going to be interesting to be a part of it.
” The CU football program desperately seeks stability with Dorrell at the helm .
But if you ask Martin Greenberg — founder of the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this won ’ t be the last time Pac-12 schools are poached for head coaches .
Greenberg formerly represented Mark Richt in contract negotiations with Georgia , in addition to a number of high-profile head coaches across college football and basketball .
He said programs without the maximum financial resources can still find ways to incentivize coaches to turn down big money elsewhere ; with contract amendments such as a longer-term commitment , post-career employment , retention bonuses , additional spousal/family travel , and loosening restrictions on outside income opportunities .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have much better resources to steal coaches away , ” Greenberg said .
“ It ’ s just a fact of life.
” What will be the financial toll from an absence of fans at Folsom Field for football games in 2020 ?
The Denver Post created an estimate by averaging the combined revenue generated for sales of tickets , programs , novelties , parking and concessions .
Here is the breakdown , courtesy of annual financial records provided by CU athletics .

Editor’s note: Second installment in series on CU’s move to the Pac-12 a decade ago.
BOULDER — Rick George took long gulps of water from an aluminum bottle in between questions from reporters. But his answers didn’t wander. In fact, the University of Colorado athletic director proved defiant in his optimism during a news conference last winter.
Did football coach Mel Tucker’s departure to Michigan State feel personal?
“I don’t feel jilted at all.”
Where does the program go from here?
“We’re going to go out and hire somebody that shares the same expectations that I do. We’re going to win a championship and we can do that at Colorado with the resources we have.”
While that may be true, losing Tucker after one season represented a stark financial truth for CU a decade after it decided to join the Pac-12: Without the revenue to match many of its Power 5 peers, the Buffs must overcome a growing gap in college football’s arms race, including what it takes to hold on to a hot coach.
Midnight Mel’s disappearing act feels like a lifetime ago with the coronavirus pandemic having infiltrated the sports world the past nine months. Collegiate athletic programs across the country are feeling the financial pinch. When averaging the annual revenue generated from fans on game days over the past three seasons at CU, the Buffs are estimated to lose out on roughly $12.7 million from home football games alone this fall.
However, some schools came into the pandemic more financially immune than others.
Tucker went from being the fourth-lowest paid coach in the Pac-12 ($2.7 million) to earning the 14th-highest FBS salary in the country ($5 million) coaching in the Big Ten. CU hired Karl Dorrell, scheduled to make $3.2 million this season before taking a pay cut due to the coronavirus, and gave him a long leash to turn the program around.
“Even if we were able to match the salary (offered by Michigan State), we wouldn’t have done that,” George told The Post. “We’ve got to determine our priorities. We’re never going to pay our coaches the highest. That’s just not who we are.”
Cost of winning
Staying true to a program’s identity is noble. Winning championships is more fun. And in the past 10 years, CU has fallen into football irrelevance on a national scale.
Of course, paying a head football coach top dollar doesn’t guarantee titles. But in the Pac-12, head coaches make, on average, far less than their peers in Power 5 conferences. Seventeen head coaches across the SEC, Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC are better compensated than the Pac-12’s highest-paid coach in 2020: Stanford’s David Shaw ($4.8M). CU’s inability or unwillingness to match Michigan State and keep Tucker speaks to a larger issue of the Pac-12’s current resource disadvantage.
The Big Ten set a new standard for the 2018-19 fiscal year, with roughly $55.6 million in revenue distributed to each member school. The SEC came in second with about $45.3 million per school, followed by the Big 12 ($38.2M-$42M), Pac-12 ($32.2M) and ACC ($27.6M-$34M), according to USA Today. That money not only allows teams to retain coaches, it also funds the increasingly pricey efforts of football programs to recruit nationally for the best talent.
CU’s athletic department reported $775,312 in recruiting expenses for the 2019 fiscal year — a sharp rise from the previous year ($635,077). But that growth falls short of how resources are being spent across the country. SEC schools averaged $1.3 million in football recruiting costs for the 2018 fiscal year, ahead of the Big 12 ($961,981), ACC ($938,424), Big Ten ($855,437), and Pac-12 ($708,750), per the Louisville Courier Journal.
Michigan State’s ability to pluck Tucker from Boulder is just one more example of the Big Ten’s financial superiority to the Pac-12.
RELATED: Larry Scott has CU Buffs, Pac-12 peers playing the long game. But will it pay off?
CU reported $94.9 million in athletics revenue in 2019. Michigan State blew CU away at $140 million. But George told The Post he does not believe the conference revenue gap has impacted CU or the Pac-12’s ability to compete.
“Would I like to have more distribution and be closer to some of our peers? Absolutely,” George said. “There are things that we could do to support our student-athletes maybe even better than we do today. But I don’t think it hurts our ability to play at the highest level. We’ve just got to be smart about how we invest our resources, then go out and play the games.”
It’s a challenge George must bear, but certainly not one of his making.
Conference blunders
In 2012, the Pac-12 entered a landmark 12-year, $3 billion media rights deal with ESPN and Fox Sports to broadcast football and men’s basketball games. The conference also launched the Pac-12 Network for original content — totally independent of major networks.
The conference shopped the network to potential partners prior to its launch, but none were interested, the Oregonian recently reported. Now the network isn’t carrying live football games during this fall’s coronavirus-shortened season as the Pac-12 scrambles to meet its commitments to ESPN and FOX.
“They made a risk when they decided that they were going to do their own network, whereas the Big Ten went with FOX and the SEC and the ACC went with ESPN,” said Chuck Neinas, the interim Big 12 commissioner during conference expansion (2011-12) and a former longtime Big Eight commissioner. “People don’t understand the cost involved. … You’ve got to have the leverage to get clearances. To get exposure and sales, you have to find sponsorships. All those things, the Pac-12 decided they were going to take on themselves.”
The gamble has yet pay off, with the Pac-12 Network’s inability to successfully negotiate a deal with major carrier DirecTV its biggest indictment, and AT&T’s U-verse dropping it in 2018.
Conference leaders also failed to anticipate a meteoric rise in television dollars for college football programming.
Back in 2011, the projected annual revenue distribution per school from the league’s ESPN/Fox Sports television agreement seemed massive at $21 million. Today, that’s small potatoes with the Big Ten topping $50 million in distributions.
The current contract between CBS and the SEC for rights to its “Game of the Week” and conference title game is $55 million annually. When it expires after the 2023 season, ESPN is prepared to pay the SEC $300 million per season for the same rights, according to Sports Business Daily. That would be on top of a multi-billion dollar agreement ESPN previously made with the conference to carry other programming and host the SEC Network through 2034.
The Pac-12’s television contracts expire after 2024 with uncertainty over what comes next.
“The biggest question mark for the Pac-12 is the 2024 TV contract,” CU men’s basketball coach Tad Boyle said. “That’s the unknown and where media is going. There are a lot more questions than there are answers. But it is going to change and I think it’s going to be interesting to be a part of it.”
The CU football program desperately seeks stability with Dorrell at the helm. But if you ask Martin Greenberg — founder of the National Sports Law Institute at Marquette University — this won’t be the last time Pac-12 schools are poached for head coaches.
Greenberg formerly represented Mark Richt in contract negotiations with Georgia, in addition to a number of high-profile head coaches across college football and basketball. He said programs without the maximum financial resources can still find ways to incentivize coaches to turn down big money elsewhere; with contract amendments such as a longer-term commitment, post-career employment, retention bonuses, additional spousal/family travel, and loosening restrictions on outside income opportunities.
But money talks.
And college football coaches are listening.
“The conferences with greater revenues are going to have much better resources to steal coaches away,” Greenberg said. “It’s just a fact of life.”
THE COST OF COVID-19
What will be the financial toll from an absence of fans at Folsom Field for football games in 2020? The Denver Post created an estimate by averaging the combined revenue generated for sales of tickets, programs, novelties, parking and concessions. Here is the breakdown, courtesy of annual financial records provided by CU athletics.
2019
Ticket sales: $11,523,640
Program, novelty, parking and concession sales: $1,143,245
2018
Ticket sales: $12,070,227
Program, novelty, parking and concession sales: $1,011,845
2017
Ticket sales: $11,459,055
Program, novelty, parking and concession sales: $1,073,596
3-YEAR AVERAGE
Ticket sales: $11,684,307
Program, novelty, parking and concession sales: 1,076,228
Total: $12,760,535


thedenverpost--2020-11-15--CU Buffs make case as Pac-12 South’s 2020 dark horse after 2-0 start

Why not the Buffs ?
USC needed a touchdown with 25 seconds left to rally past Arizona in Tucson .
Arizona State and Utah can ’ t shake the COVID bugs .
The next stop UCLA makes on defense will be the Bruins ’ first .
It ’ s 2020 .
Everything , including logic , went out the window months ago .
In a bonkers year , the Pac-12 South needs a bonkers sleeper .
Why not the Buffs ?
“ We ’ re going to keep going , ” CU quarterback Sam Noyer said after leading the Buffs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and 2-0 in the Pac-12 , with a 35-32 win at Stanford early Saturday evening .
“ Two-and-oh is a great feeling .
We want to get to 3-0 .
“ And we ’ ve got to go back and watch the film and correct those mistakes .
But we ’ ve got something going here .
Something great going here .
We ’ re building something special with coach ( Karl ) Dorrell and this team.
” How special remains to be seen .
For the second straight weekend , CU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life to preserve a lead late .
Still : 2-0 is 2-0 .
Why not the Buffs ?
“ They ’ ve learned how to win .
They ’ ve learned how to win ugly , ” Dorrell said .
“ And that ’ s a good sign .
It ’ s a good trait to have in games like we had ( Saturday ) .
” They ’ re also building an identity , leading with a run game that ’ s alternated power and misdirection like the great option attacks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 121 rushing yards on 27 carries ) brought the lightning , classmate Jaren Mangham ( 18 rushing yards , one touchdown ) added North-South thunder and Noyer ( 255 passing yards , 36 rushing yards , four total TDs ) kept the opposition honest .
A defense led by linebacker Nate Landman ( 14 tackles , 11 solo ) harassed Stanford quarterback Davis Mills all day , limited the Cardinal to 70 rushing yards and forced the hosts , down 35-16 at the start of the final quarter , to have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flip side , we haven ’ t seen how a Noyer-led CU attack fares when forced to play from behind .
But the grad student was yet again decisive , physical and cool in helping to build a massive lead .
The dual threat of Noyer and Broussard on the ground forced Stanford to try a corner blitz with 8:55 left in the third quarter as the Buffs lined up for a second-and-5 at the Cardinal 34 .
That left freshman wideout Brenden Rice , son of NFL legend Jerry Rice , running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Noyer hit him with an easy rainbow that had CU up 27-9 before the extra point .
After giving up 42 points at home to UCLA , including 28 in the second half , in Dorell ’ s debut , CU ’ s defense racked up timely stop after timely stop over the first two quarters on the Farm .
Stanford was turned away on seven of its first eight third-down tries , and two straight long drives by the Cardinal offense stalled at the CU 15 and the CU 5 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five red-zone drives for the day , but were 0-for-2 in the first half .
“ If they can ’ t score , they can ’ t win , ” said Buffs linebacker Carson Wells , who finished with six stops , a sack and two pass break-ups .
“ That ’ s our mentality .
We don ’ t want to let them in the red zone , but once we do let them in the red zone , just hold them to field goals.
” The Cardinal made no secret about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pressure Noyer early and often until he made the hosts pay for it .
For the Buffs ’ first two drives , the gambit worked like a charm , forcing CU into a three-and-out punt , then a Hail Mary pick snared at the Stanford 10 .
But Noyer continued to chip away and got his own back on the Buffs ’ fourth drive , firing a quick slant to Dimitri Stanley that seemed to catch the Cardinal defense completely flat-footed .
Stanley , jets burning , outran the entire Stanford defense for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up 6-3 with 3:20 left in the first quarter .
Noyer looked even sharper on the Buffs ’ next drive .
With CU nursing a 7-6 cushion , the Buffs offense converted three third downs while marching 75 yards on 10 plays , capped by Noyer ’ s zone-read keeper for a 7-yard touchdown gallop .
Why not the Buffs ?
Why not now ?
“ Everybody ’ s buying in , guys are having fun out there playing , ” Noyer said .
“ It ’ s good to see that again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t seen that in a couple years .
And guys are really enjoying being out there on the sidelines .
Obviously , we want to win , but you see it from the fourth string all the way up to the first string .
And that ’ s a good feeling .
”

Why not the Buffs?
USC needed a touchdown with 25 seconds left to rally past Arizona in Tucson. Arizona State and Utah can’t shake the COVID bugs. The next stop UCLA makes on defense will be the Bruins’ first.
It’s 2020. Everything, including logic, went out the window months ago. In a bonkers year, the Pac-12 South needs a bonkers sleeper.
Why not the Buffs?
“We’re going to keep going,” CU quarterback Sam Noyer said after leading the Buffs to a 2-0 start to the season, and 2-0 in the Pac-12, with a 35-32 win at Stanford early Saturday evening. “Two-and-oh is a great feeling. We want to get to 3-0.
“And we’ve got to go back and watch the film and correct those mistakes. But we’ve got something going here. Something great going here. We’re building something special with coach (Karl) Dorrell and this team.”
How special remains to be seen. For the second straight weekend, CU started fast and had cling for dear life to preserve a lead late. Still: 2-0 is 2-0.
Why not the Buffs?
“They’ve learned how to win. They’ve learned how to win ugly,” Dorrell said. “And that’s a good sign. It’s a good trait to have in games like we had (Saturday).”
They’re also building an identity, leading with a run game that’s alternated power and misdirection like the great option attacks of CU lore. Sophomore tailback Jarek Broussard (121 rushing yards on 27 carries) brought the lightning, classmate Jaren Mangham (18 rushing yards, one touchdown) added North-South thunder and Noyer (255 passing yards, 36 rushing yards, four total TDs) kept the opposition honest.
A defense led by linebacker Nate Landman (14 tackles, 11 solo) harassed Stanford quarterback Davis Mills all day, limited the Cardinal to 70 rushing yards and forced the hosts, down 35-16 at the start of the final quarter, to have to air it out late.
On the flip side, we haven’t seen how a Noyer-led CU attack fares when forced to play from behind. But the grad student was yet again decisive, physical and cool in helping to build a massive lead.
The dual threat of Noyer and Broussard on the ground forced Stanford to try a corner blitz with 8:55 left in the third quarter as the Buffs lined up for a second-and-5 at the Cardinal 34. That left freshman wideout Brenden Rice, son of NFL legend Jerry Rice, running wide open up the left boundary, and Noyer hit him with an easy rainbow that had CU up 27-9 before the extra point.
After giving up 42 points at home to UCLA, including 28 in the second half, in Dorell’s debut, CU’s defense racked up timely stop after timely stop over the first two quarters on the Farm. Stanford was turned away on seven of its first eight third-down tries, and two straight long drives by the Cardinal offense stalled at the CU 15 and the CU 5, respectively.
Stanford managed three touchdowns on five red-zone drives for the day, but were 0-for-2 in the first half.
“If they can’t score, they can’t win,” said Buffs linebacker Carson Wells, who finished with six stops, a sack and two pass break-ups. “That’s our mentality. We don’t want to let them in the red zone, but once we do let them in the red zone, just hold them to field goals.”
The Cardinal made no secret about its plan in the early going: Pressure Noyer early and often until he made the hosts pay for it. For the Buffs’ first two drives, the gambit worked like a charm, forcing CU into a three-and-out punt, then a Hail Mary pick snared at the Stanford 10.
But Noyer continued to chip away and got his own back on the Buffs’ fourth drive, firing a quick slant to Dimitri Stanley that seemed to catch the Cardinal defense completely flat-footed. Stanley, jets burning, outran the entire Stanford defense for a 55-yard score that put the Buffs up 6-3 with 3:20 left in the first quarter.
Noyer looked even sharper on the Buffs’ next drive. With CU nursing a 7-6 cushion, the Buffs offense converted three third downs while marching 75 yards on 10 plays, capped by Noyer’s zone-read keeper for a 7-yard touchdown gallop.
Why not the Buffs?
Why not now?
“Everybody’s buying in, guys are having fun out there playing,” Noyer said. “It’s good to see that again. You know, I haven’t seen that in a couple years. And guys are really enjoying being out there on the sidelines. Obviously, we want to win, but you see it from the fourth string all the way up to the first string. And that’s a good feeling.”


thedenverpost--2020-11-15--Judge: Department of Homeland Security head didn’t have authority to suspend DACA

NEW YORK — A federal judge in New York ruled Saturday that Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf assumed his position unlawfully , a determination that invalidated Wolf ’ s suspension of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program , which shields young people from deportation .
“ DHS failed to follow the order of succession as it was lawfully designated , ” U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis wrote .
“ Therefore , the actions taken by purported Acting Secretaries , who were not properly in their roles according to the lawful order of succession , were taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attorney who represented a plaintiff in one of two lawsuits that challenged Wolf ’ s authority , called the ruling “ another win for DACA recipients and those who have been waiting years to apply for the program for the first time.
” Wolf issued a memorandum in July effectively suspending DACA , pending review by DHS .
A month earlier , the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that President Donald Trump failed to follow rule-making procedures when he tried to end the program , but the justices kept a window open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ August , the Government Accountability Office , a bipartisan congressional watchdog , said Wolf and his acting deputy , Ken Cuccinelli , were improperly serving and ineligible to run the agency under the Vacancies Reform Act .
The two have been at the forefront of administration initiatives on immigration and law enforcement .
In Garaufis ’ ruling Saturday , the judge wrote that DHS didn ’ t follow an order of succession established when then-Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen resigned in April 2019 .
DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on @ @ @

NEW YORK — A federal judge in New York ruled Saturday that Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf assumed his position unlawfully, a determination that invalidated Wolf’s suspension of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which shields young people from deportation.
“DHS failed to follow the order of succession as it was lawfully designated,” U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis wrote. “Therefore, the actions taken by purported Acting Secretaries, who were not properly in their roles according to the lawful order of succession, were taken without legal authority.”
Karen Tumlin, an attorney who represented a plaintiff in one of two lawsuits that challenged Wolf’s authority, called the ruling “another win for DACA recipients and those who have been waiting years to apply for the program for the first time.”
Wolf issued a memorandum in July effectively suspending DACA, pending review by DHS. A month earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled that President Donald Trump failed to follow rule-making procedures when he tried to end the program, but the justices kept a window open for him to try again.
In August, the Government Accountability Office, a bipartisan congressional watchdog, said Wolf and his acting deputy, Ken Cuccinelli, were improperly serving and ineligible to run the agency under the Vacancies Reform Act. The two have been at the forefront of administration initiatives on immigration and law enforcement.
In Garaufis’ ruling Saturday, the judge wrote that DHS didn’t follow an order of succession established when then-Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen resigned in April 2019.
DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling.