Brooks: Cohesion Paying Off For Buffs' O-Line

BOULDER - There's something - actually, a lot - to be said for togetherness.

After shuffling the offensive line for the season's first two games, Colorado O-line coach Denver Johnson has used the same starting five for the past two games - and it appears that something's working up front.

"These guys have been working hard and hanging tough through some difficult times," Johnson said. "Their cohesion and commitment to each other and the team have been unparalleled."

Other factors - blocking assignments being carried out by tight ends and receivers, getting tailbacks to hit the holes, etc. - come into play, too. For all those reasons, the Buffaloes' running game has begun to hit its stride over the past two games.

Against Hawai'i, CU rushed for 252 yards, then encored with a 235-yard performance against Georgia. Two Buffs backs topped 100 yards each against the Warriors (Brian Lockridge, 14 carries for 109 yards; Rodney "Speedy" Stewart, 22-106) and Stewart rushed 14 times for 149 yards against the Bulldogs.

It was the Buffs' first back-to-back 200-plus yard rushing games since 2006, when they accomplished the feat twice. In between then and the past two games, CU languished under 200 yards on the ground for 19 consecutive games.

Why the recent two-game surge?

Right guard Ryan Miller and right tackle David Bakhtiari won't discount the cohesion that's developing among themselves and their three interior mates - center Mike Iltis, left guard Ethan Adkins, and left tackle Nate Solder - over the two most recent games when that fivesome started.

"It's good to know who's going to play next to you. In practice you get that feeling of 'this is how 'Bach' (Bakhtiari) plays, or this is how Mike (Iltis) plays," Miller said. "You kind of play off each other's strengths; you build cohesion with the guys next to you . . . right now, we're definitely starting to grow together as a group and connect."

Added Bakhtiari: "I feel like we're a lot closer - I know me and Ryan Miller can read each other and work a lot better together. We know when to come off a little more fluidly; we feel more cohesive together. And I feel like it's proven throughout, especially in our numbers in the running game."

Miller also believes the ground game's success has bred more confidence among the offensive staff to commit more to the run.

"That's definitely been the sense lately - and I like it," he said, also noting that improved receiver play and tailbacks running with more authority can't be discounted in the improvement.

There's also been a pride factor at work in the O-line. The 52-7 beating the Buffs absorbed at California in Week 2 put Miller & Co. on notice. CU ran for only 75 yards in that game - the only game the Buffs have been below 100 in rushing this season - and quarterback Tyler Hansen was sacked six times, although all of them couldn't be pinned on the O-line.

Still, it was a personal affront to the five guys up front.

"We did not play very well against Cal - assignment-wise or physically," Miller said. "We just didn't play well. An offensive line, that's five guys - almost half the offense. When the offensive line doesn't play well, you're probably not going to have a very good game. We took it upon ourselves to get better, to study more film, to work together to be better."

"The O-line setting the tempo is always important. Coach (Johnson) always says it all starts up front," Bakhtiari said. "If you open up holes all day for the running back, it doesn't matter who's running the ball - they're going to shoot up into a big hole and make a big play."

The O-line changes since the opener have involved the left guard and center positions. Adkins opened at left guard against Colorado State, but Iltis spelled him there against Cal. In Game 3 (Hawai'i), Iltis replaced Keenan Stevens at center and Adkins returned to left guard.

Bakhtiari, a redshirt freshman and first-year starter, is the group's newcomer. But he's convinced his confidence grows every weekend: "The more I play, the more guys, the different talents, styles I see - I'm growing as a player every day, on the practice field, on game day, off the field, everywhere."

The September shuffling shouldn't come as a surprise; the Buffs used seven different O-line combinations last season. Finding the right combinations, said Miller, "just took a little time. We came out in the second half against Hawaii and things started clicking. You see things start to go well and you don't want to stray away from it.

"We're getting on guys and blocking our assignments right. When things start to layer up, it comes together and that's what's been happening."

Miller, a junior, and Solder, a senior, were preseason All-Big 12 Conference selections (media), with Solder also a preseason All-America selection by several publications. Miller said Solder and the team's other three captains - backup quarterback Cody Hawkins, receiver Scotty McKnight, corner Jalil Brown - have provided exemplary leadership - ''a lot more than in previous years . . . all of them have been just phenomenal, very vocal leaders and leading by example. Nate's work ethic just sings."

The Buffs (3-1) open their final Big 12 season Saturday at No. 24/22 Missouri (4-0). An improved running game would improve CU's chances of breaking a road losing streak that dates to 2007 and a win at Texas Tech. The Tigers have been so-so at run defense, allowing 200 or more yards twice (Illinois, 200; San Diego State, 250) but limiting two other opponents to 70 or fewer (McNeese State, 65; Miami-Ohio, 70).

Mizzou ranks No. 58 among 120 FBS teams in rushing defense, allowing 146.2 yards a game. CU is No. 53 in rushing offense, averaging 169.2 yards a game.

The Buffs have lost four straight games to MU, the most recent a 36-17 defeat last season in Boulder that saw the Tigers roll to a 33-3 halftime advantage. It was not a dazzling afternoon for the O-line or Hansen, who suffered through three lost fumbles, an interception, a safety and eight sacks.

CU rushed 24 times for minus-14 yards in that game, with that dismal total dragged down by 73 yards lost in the eight QB sacks.

"We just haven't played as well as we should have (against Missouri)," Miller said. "Last year, that game, we beat ourselves - we dug so much of hole we couldn't get out of it."

Saturday's trip doesn't include a self-burial . . . at least that's the plan.

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU