Fast Five: Keys For Buffs vs Beavers
October 13, 2017 | Football, Neill Woelk
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Halfway through the season, the Colorado Buffaloes are still aiming to put together a complete game on both sides of the ball.
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Halfway through the season, the Colorado Buffaloes are still aiming to put together a complete game on both sides of the ball.
Saturday at Oregon State would be a good place to start for the 3-3 Buffs (0-3 Pac-12) — but the formula became a little more complicated this week.
Saturday's game at Reser Stadium (2 p.m., Pac-12 Networks) will pit the Buffs against a team reeling from the unexpected resignation of head coach Gary Andersen earlier this week. The question is how the Beavers (1-5, 0-3) will react. Will they be emotionally charged or simply going through the motions?
Colorado will be prepared for the former.
What Mike MacIntyre's team must do to end a three-game skid and collect its first Pac-12 win of the season:
1. Withstand an early emotional OSU push. When teams lose a head coach in the middle of the season, they're normal reaction is to attempt to prove they weren't the reason the coach left. It means a little more adrenaline and a little more passion, especially early in the game.
The Buffs can't afford to let the Beavers make some big plays early and gather momentum. Colorado needs to get on the board quickly, produce some early defensive stops and take OSU's passion and emotion out of the equation. The Beavers have struggled on both sides of the ball this year, but they do have enough playmakers to gather steam if they have the opportunity.
If the Buffs take that opportunity away early, they'll be in good shape.
2. Keep Phillip Lindsay going downhill. Last week's offensive performance against Arizona was a great example of what the Buffs' offense is capable of achieving when they get the running game in gear and get their senior running back in rhythm. It opened up the passing lanes, established continuity and took its toll on the opposing defense.
The Beavers have allowed nearly 200 rushing yards per game this season. If the Buffs can grind out a long scoring drive early, it will serve as a major body blow to the Beavers defense — and it will also open up the chance for a few deep balls.
That brings us to …
3. Continue to throw deep. It's been a well-documented fact over the last couple of weeks that Colorado has yet to hit a pass for more than 44 yards this season. The Buffs have come oh-so-close on several occasions, but the connection just hasn't happened.
Saturday's game offers a good opportunity. Last year, the Buffs hit two big plays for touchdowns against Oregon State, a 63-yard Steven Montez pass to Shay Fields and a 51-yard Montez pass to Fields. If those two can hook up again, it will be a big boost for the offense's confidence and a demoralizing hit to the Beavers.
Oregon State has already given up 18 touchdowns in the air and opponents are averaging nearly 300 passing yards per game. If the Buffs pound OSU early with the running game, it will open up all kinds of opportunities in the air — exactly the opening Colorado should be looking for.
4. Force OSU to put the ball in the air. There are two elements to this.
One, when the Beavers have been most successful on offense, it is because they have gotten their running game in gear. When big back Ryan Nall (6-foot-2, 235 pounds) gets a head of steam, he's tough to bring down, particularly when he gets to the second level. The Beavers have another capable back in Artavis Pierce. CU needs to stop the running game early and force OSU into second- and third-and-long situations.
When OSU has to put the ball in the air, the Beavers struggle. Oregon State is just 31-for-81 on third-down conversions. If Colorado can force Oregon State into those situations, it will play directly into the Buffs' hands.
5. Chase turnovers aggressively. The Beavers are 128th in the nation in turnovers lost this year (out of 129 teams). They've handed the ball to the opponent 17 times already via five interceptions and 12 fumbles.
Nothing changes momentum faster than a turnover. CU's defense has been solid in this department with 10 takeaways thus far, seven interceptions and three fumbles. If the Buffs can add to that total today, they'll be in good shape to collect their first conference win of the year.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
