Last September, before a game against rival Colorado State, Colorado head coach Deion Sanders got on stage and danced with prominent hip-hop artist Lil Wayne during a performance on CU’s campus. If it hadn’t been clear before that the Colorado football team was a national headline, it was at that moment.
That’s how “Coach Prime” likes it. Colorado football was bigger than it ever had been in the last two-and-a-half decades before the team even set foot on the field. There was nothing “Lil” about the Buffs anymore but the hope was that the locker room culture didn’t imitate the flashy concerts, celebrity endorsements, and the bigger-than-life approach Coach Prime instated.
But that's exactly what’s happened. Fourteen games into the Prime era, Colorado isn’t lacking anything flashy with two first-round NFL prospects, routine highlight plays or Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson sporting a Buffs jersey on ESPN’s College Gameday.
But they are missing all the little things.
Slow starts
For being such an explosive team the Colorado Buffaloes have shown over and over again that they need time to get going. Against North Dakota State, they fell behind 20-17 at the half before taking control of the game in the fourth quarter. Against Nebraska they fell into a hole they couldn’t dig out of, allowing 28 first half points before shutting the Huskers out in the second.
When you combine both games, CU trails 17-48 to start the game but leads 24-6 to end it.
The Buffs will see bad game scripts all season if they can’t fire out of the gate quicker than they have. By failing to find their urgency early they’re taking away their own run game on offense and letting the opponent dictate the flow of the game.
No control offense
The reason why Colorado continues to get off to slow starts is that they don’t have an offensive identity, and continue to rely on talent and explosive plays instead of scheme. The big plays are exciting, but they don’t help the Buffs control the game.
Of the eight drives to get into scoring position (includes two missed field goals) so far this season, Colorado has only successfully controlled the ball and bled the clock once. It came at the right time against North Dakota State and proved to be crucial in securing the victory.
Here is the time of possession on scoring drives for the Buffs through two games:
2:41
0:44
2:04
8:01
3:05 - Missed FG
0:39 - Missed FG (Half)
2:46
2:04
A few quick scores per game is ideal but eventually, the offense needs to slow down and control the tempo. Not being able to do so results in far more chances for the opposing offense. Colorado is averaging a time of possession of 24 minutes per game to the opponents 36.
The hope is that the explosive passing game will force defenses to play back and open up the shallow parts of the field but at the same time, CU must show that they can patiently dink-and-dunk down the field.
Short yardage
Football is a game of inches, and so far there have been seven instances where Colorado was unable to convert a short-yardage situation.
vs. North Dakota State
11:02 2nd Q - 3rd & 1 - Hayden stuffed
10:50 2nd Q - 4th & 1 - Hayden stuffed
vs. Nebraska
08:31 1st Q - 4th & 1 - Offerdahl stuffed
11:23 3rd Q - 1st & G (Neb 6) - Incomplete pass
14:09 4th Q - 2nd & 2 - Offerdahl stuffed
13:38 4th Q - 3rd & 1 - Sanders stuffed
12:51 4th Q - 4th & 1 - Offerdahl stuffed
Against Nebraska, Colorado found themselves on Nebraska’s six-yard line on their first drive out of halftime after a huge 30-yard gain to WR Will Sheppard. The following three plays were a pass for a loss of four yards, an incomplete pass and an incomplete pass. Considering that Colorado shut out Nebraska in the second half, a touchdown here may have given it a chance late but instead, it faltered.
The last three instances all came in a row and were nails the nail in the coffin. At the beginning of the fourth quarter on its own side of the field, Colorado ran three straight plays for a total gain of one yard, turning the ball over on downs.
There’s a lack of creativity on offense that bleeds into these plays, not stressing the defense whatsoever on the perimeter and allowing them to stuff the box against Colorado. At the same time, there’s a “you versus me” element to these situations that they aren’t winning.
No pressure, no turnovers, no chance
Zero.
The Colorado defense has created zero turnovers via forced fumbles or interceptions and only two sacks through two games, both of which were against North Dakota.
Subsequently, Colorado has turned the ball over three times and has taken seven sacks. These numbers make it seem like Colorado hasn’t even been competitive, much less 1-1, but it has managed not to let things get out of hand. Still, if the best thing going for the Buffs is their passing offense, then they need to force turnovers to put the ball in quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ hands more.
Instead, offenses are either scoring or punting, never giving Colorado a short field or momentum.
Colorado must find a way to remedy these issues if it's to be taken seriously as a winning football team. The team on the field currently matches their reputation: headline-worthy without substance behind it. The loss at Nebraska should be the wake-up call this team needs if they’re to start focusing on the “Lil” things and not just the big picture.
Cover photo by Matt Batchelder/Sko Buffs Sports
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