Buffs Receivers Gear For Challenge Vs. Trojans
October 06, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
CU wideouts will see plenty of man-to-man coverage from USC
BOULDER — When it comes to defense, wide receivers like nothing better than to line up and see man-to-man coverage in their faces.
It is perhaps the truest test of their skills. One receiver, one defensive back — and may the best man win.
Saturday afternoon, No. 21 Colorado's wide receivers will see plenty of that when they square off with Southern California in a 2 p.m. game at the Los Angeles Coliseum (Pac-12 Networks). They'll see an ultra-talented USC secondary, led by preseason All-American cornerback Adoree Jackson, and a defense that loves its Cover 1, man-to-man scheme.
It is a testament to Trojans' confidence in their defensive backs — and a challenge to Colorado's receivers.
"They feel they can match up and play man-to-man most of the game," Buffs offensive co-coordinator and wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini said. "Our receivers are excited for the challenge. You've got to love that as a receiver."
Playing man-to-man coverage instead of zone in the secondary allows a team the luxury of utilizing an extra defender to put pressure on the quarterback, something USC did with great frequency in last weekend's 41-20 win over Arizona State. The Trojans recorded three quarterback sacks in the game.
"Clancy Pendergast is an excellent defensive coordinator," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said earlier this week. " I know Clancy pretty well. Last week he did a lot of blitzing, a lot of safety blitzes. It kind of reminded me of the days of the Dallas Cowboys and Mike Zimmer, because he worked for Mike Zimmer and so did I. He was bringing safety blitzes from the boundary a tremendous amount, which is a Zimmer trademark. That was the first time they've done that that much. I expect us to see some of those types of blitzes in this game.  … He'll definitely have an arsenal up his sleeve. He's got some really good players to utilize in his defense."
The antidote to such a defense, of course, is for your receivers to beat those defensive backs in the man-to-man matchups. Thus far this year, CU's receivers have proven quite capable in that regard, and they've done it by committee. Not only is 4-1 Colorado (2-0 Pac-12) 19th in the nation and third in the Pac-12 in passing offense, averaging 312.6 yards per game through the air, the Buffs have had five different receivers lead the team in catches and/or yards this season.
"I think our guys are read for it," Chiaverini said. "They've been working hard, they're playing at a high level right now. I told all of our receivers, you want to make a name for yourself than you do it on national television against Cover 1. We're excited for the opportunity."
Jackson is no doubt the marquee defensive back in the USC (2-3, 1-2)Â lineup. Along with being an electrifying return man on punts and kickoffs (he already has a touchdown in each), he has one of USC's four interceptions this year and leads the team in pass breakups with four.
He will almost assuredly see plenty of CU's Shay Fields on Saturday, as it is Fields who might pose the biggest deep ball threat for the Buffs. The CU junior has 19 catches for 460 yards (24.2 yards per catch) and five touchdowns this year, and he has seven of CU's 17 plays of 30 yards or longer, including a 70-yard touchdown reception, CU's longest play from scrimmage this year.
"He's a great player," Fields said. "Just like we played against Michigan's Jabrill Peppers, who's a great player also. We just have to go out and try to outwork him, do what we can against him."
TAKEAWAY STREAK: Saturday's game will also be an interesting test between CU's defense and USC's high-powered offense, led by quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Since moving into the starting lineup two weeks ago, Darnold has not thrown an interception. For the season, the redshirt freshman is 55-for-81 for 741 yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
CU, of course, has recorded at least one interception in four of five games this year, and currently has the nation's longest streak of producing at least one defensive takeaway, a string of 18 games. It's something that became a huge emphasis of defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt when he was hired prior to the 2015 season, and something the Buffs have done well since his arrival.
"Our athletes understand where they're going and they're good, strong, they're quicker, they're more powerful, so they knock the ball loose, they cover a yard further and are able to make a pick," MacIntyre said. "Their anticipation is good. The coaches have done a phenomenal job with getting them in the right place and using the proper technique."
The Buffs also hone their skills with daily sessions through a "takeaway circuit" that involves interception tip drills, strip/sack drills and fumble recovery drills.
The result has been a streak that last year produced 14 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries and this year has yielded six interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
The Trojans have shown a penchant for putting the ball on the ground, with at least one fumble in each of the last three games while losing three.
BACK TO NORMAL: One day after the Buffs' routine was disrupted by an incident at the CU Champions Center, coaches and administrators had full access to the Champions Center and their offices. CU's equipment trucks were loaded Thursday morning and on the road to Los Angeles and all operations were back to the normal routine.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
