BOULDER - That avalanche of points Dan Hawkins is accustomed to is yet to be triggered, and had it happened Sunday in the University of Colorado's first training camp scrimmage, this morning would find him fretting over a good news/bad news scenario.

For now, go with the good news: CU is in the process of returning the "O" to offense - as in, "Oh, my," instead of, "Oh, no."

In a 122-play scrimmage at Folsom Field, the Buffaloes scored five touchdowns, had another negated by penalty and punched up 600-plus yards of offense (332 rushing, 308 passing).

So?

Those numbers don't mean CU's 2006 offensive woes are in remission. But when contrasted to the five scores the Buffs managed in three scrimmages last August - only two touchdowns from the No. 1 offense - progress isn't difficult to detect.

Hawkins called the two hours of work "a little better" than what he has seen thus far in camp. "I'm just not used to going through a whole bunch of scrimmages and going, 'Well, OK, we kicked a field goal - that was pretty stellar.' "

Instead, stellar work was submitted by several offensive players, including quarterbacks Cody Hawkins and Nick Nelson; receivers Josh Smith, Patrick Williams and Kendrick Celestine; and tailbacks Byron Ellis and Hugh Charles.

Williams, inconsistent as a sophomore, is being pushed by fleet freshmen Smith, Celestine and Markques Simas. And offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said Williams is pushing back: "He's made more plays in the last two days than all last year."

The rangy (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) Williams caught two touchdown passes on short (8, 12 yards) fade routes thrown by Cody Hawkins, while Smith (6-1, 185) took a 54-yard scoring pass from Nelson, who bruised his throwing hand on a defender's helmet but continued to play. Nelson is listed as day to day .

The loquacious Smith, an emerging playmaker who had a 40-yard touchdown catch nullified by penalty, learned how not to celebrate after his first score in a major scrimmage. His dive into the end zone drew an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty and a frontal barrage from Hawkins, who yelled, "This ain't a video game; you just cost us 15 yards."

The next time Smith, dubbed "J-Fly" by his teammates, entered the end zone, he opted for a non-SportsCenter move and graciously lobbed the football to an official.

"Lesson learned," Smith said. "A rule is a rule, and you've got to follow (it). . . . It won't count against my record; I fixed my mistake early."

Added his coach: "As I've said before, 'Once, a mistake; twice, it's behavior.' "

The Cody Hawkins-Nelson quarterback duel will carry into Week 2 of camp, said Helfrich, noting work Sunday showed scant "separation" between the two. Still, Helfrich reiterated when an edge is apparent, coaches will act on it.

"In the next couple of days, it could happen," he said.

ETC.: The other touchdowns on came on a 5-yard end around by Celestine and a 4-yard pass from freshman Matt Ballenger to sophomore Jake Behrens. . . . After two flags were thrown on the first two plays, only three were thrown thereafter. . . . Among the nearly 1,500 persons watching was Ponderosa High School linebacker Jon Major, who has CU on a list of seven finalists. Major spent time after the scrimmage with Buffs linebackers coach Brian Cabral. . . . The first depth chart likely will be issued today, so this configuration could change. But in the opening series Sunday, the No. 1 offensive line consisted of Tyler Polumbus and Edwin Harrison at tackles, Devin Head and Kai Maiava at guards and Daniel Sanders at center. Maiava was joined by fellow freshman Ryan Miller in the lineup a couple of series later, as position coach Jeff Grimes seeks to identify his top players and most cohesive unit. . . . Aside from Nelson's bruised right hand (X-rays were negative), the only notable injury was to tight end Riar Geer, who was assisted off the field because of a left ankle sprain. Position coach Kent Riddle didn't believe Geer's injury was serious and also said tight end Tyson DeVree, held out of the work because of a shoulder injury, likely would return today. Also held out was defensive tackle Brandon Nicholas (ankle). Geer is listed as day to day. . . . Other nonparticipants were quarterback/tailback/receiver Bernard Jackson and offensive linemen Erick Faatagi, Keenan Stevens and Wes Palazzi. Because all missed most of work last week for academic reasons, they must spend a set time practicing without pads before joining full-contact work. Grades could be available by Tuesday.

brooksb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5466