Brooks: Daigh, Buffs 'D' Say Physical Play Suits Them

BOULDER - It might not be entirely accurate to call Brady Daigh a throwback football player, but poll any of Colorado's coaches and they'll tell you Daigh is a perfect fit for a throwback game.

That's what Daigh and the Buffaloes are expecting Saturday against No. 15 Stanford at Folsom Field (noon, FX). It might seem implausible for a one-win team locked in what seems to be a downward spiral to eagerly await a third consecutive ranked opponent, but the Buffs claim they are.

Here's why: The Cardinal offers a few-frills, look-you-in-the-eye, smack-you-in-the-mouth style. Two or more tight ends, a bullish offensive line in front of a fullback and running back . . . old-school power football.

"This is going to be a physical game from that standpoint, so it is good we are getting some guys back like Brady Daigh," CU coach Jon Embree said. "But it is going to be a very physical game up front. Our offensive and defensive lines need to play their best games of the season . . . their offensive line is kind of where they built their identity - big physical guys up front. Their favorite play is Power; they will run it out of two backs, out of two tights."

For the past month against mostly spread-it-out, warp-speed offenses, CU's defense has been chewed up and spat out by four consecutive Pac-12 Conference opponents. In those four horrific losses, the Buffs (1-7, 1-4) have allowed an average of 53 points and 540 yards, plummeting them to the NCAA's statistical depths.

Make no mistake, even minus No. 1 2012 NFL draftee Andrew Luck, the Cardinal (6-2, 4-1) is capable of punching up impressive offensive numbers - particularly against CU's defense. But rightly or wrongly, the Buffs believe they're a better fit in a more physical matchup than in most others.

"I'm looking forward to that kind of game," said Daigh, a 6-2, 253-pound sophomore middle linebacker who is only two weeks removed from a neck strain and slight concussion suffered against Arizona State. "We see a lot of the spread stuff, so I'm looking forward to kind a two-back, between-the-tackles kind of game. I feel like I've been improving on a lot of other stuff, but I feel that (physical game) has always been my strongest suit."

He called Stanford an "incredibly disciplined team, very talented . . . and they'll run it down your throat if you let them. Mostly, they're disciplined; everyone does their job and assignment well. We have to match that."

Daigh, of Mullen High School, was held out of the losses to Southern California (50-6) and Oregon (70-14) for precautionary reasons. He was cleared to begin practicing again this week and said he was "doing real good."

He believes his defensive teammates share his eagerness to test themselves against a physical, pound-it-out offense. "I definitely think so," Daigh said, noting the preparation of the past four weeks has "been a lot of mental responsibilities football-wise. I think a lot of the guys around the locker room are really looking forward to just lining up and seeing who the more physical team is."

Given the Buffs defense's penchant for missed tackles and blown assignments, that could fall into the "be careful what you wish for" category. Still, the physical Cardinal offense does appear fallible. Without the gifted Luck at quarterback, Stanford has turned to a pair of replacements - senior starter Josh Nunes and his backup, redshirt freshman Kevin Hogan.

At his weekly press conference, coach David Shaw said Nunes, who won the job in August camp, remains this week's starter but Hogan's role could expand. "Kevin has played so well with what we've given him to do that we can't not give him more," Shaw said. "There are things Josh has done well that we're pleased with and things Josh has not done well that we're not pleased with. This is what's prudent."

Nunes guided the Cardinal to comeback wins against USC and Arizona, but he has completed only 52.6 percent of his passes and is No. 8 in the Pac-12 in passing efficiency. Moreover, he struggled last weekend in a close win (24-17) against Washington State, completing seven of 15 passes for 136 yards.

Hogan has been effective running the spread option - which has given the Buffs fits - but Shaw said that in itself was not enough to warrant a change in starters: "We need to be more efficient in the passing game. It's partially the quarterback, it's partially not the quarterback . . . (Hogan) is not ready to take it all right now, and I'm not ready to take it all away from Josh."

Compared to the Luck era, Stanford has slipped in Pac-12 offensive stats. The Cardinal is No. 6 in scoring (27 points a game), No. 9 in total offense (340.1 yards), No. 10 in passing (199.1 yards) but No. 7 in rushing (141 yards).

Defensively, Stanford leads the conference in rushing defense, allowing only 64.9 yards a game and is No. 2 in total defense (334.9 yards). With sack totals taken into account, the Cardinal has yielded minus-13 rushing yards in its past two games. Pass defense hasn't been so stellar; the Cardinal is No. 10 in the league, allowing 270 yards a game.

That likely puts the onus on CU to find a way to throw, but the question is, "Who will do it?" The Buffs have their own QB issues. Embree said on Tuesday he will go with a "gut decision" in naming either junior Jordan Webb or sophomore Nick Hirschman as Saturday's starter, but he added a day later that both would play. Webb has started all eight games and directed the Buffs to their comeback win at Washington State (35-34), but a Hirschman-led offense accounted for CU's only points in last weekend's blowout in Eugene.

Webb checks in at No. 11 in the Pac-12 in passing yards per game (172.8) and No. 12 in passing efficiency (109.8 efficiency rating). He has completed 56.1 percent of his throws (134-of-239 for 1,382 yards, with eight TDs and seven interceptions). The bulk of Hirschman's seasonal passing stats were recorded last weekend; he went 6-for-16 for 64 yards, with one interception.

Stanford's top rusher is senior Stepfan Taylor, who averages 96.9 yards and needs to hit that mark to become the first back in school history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.

Whoever starts at QB for CU likely will be handing off liberally to freshman tailback Christian Powell, who ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns against Oregon. Powell's average is 67.3 yards.

The Buffs play three of four November games at Folsom Field, but they are winless at home this season. Powell said he and his younger teammates want a home 'W' for the seniors: "We definitely don't want to go through a season not winning one at home . . . especially for the seniors. You don't want them to go out like that."

He also said loss after loss is "something new" to a freshman class mostly unaccustomed to losing. "We've had a long season; everything's extended, but we have to stick together and keep grinding it out," he said. "We knew it was going to be tough. We're just trying to stay tuned in and ride it out."

Added freshman safety Marques Mosley: "A play here and there is going to make a big difference - technique, better tackling and basically effort every play. If we can have that, we're in it."

CU's lopsided losses and defensive nightmares have been hard to ignore, but Daigh said he and his buds on 'D' have no choice but flush the memories and move on: "As a defensive-minded guy, you want to go out and not have anyone cross your goal line all game. You don't want anyone to even get a first down all game. When teams are putting up points like that, it's obviously it kind of stuns guys who aren't used to that. But at the same time, you've got to put it behind you or else it's just going to get worse next week."

That's where the Buffs find themselves; next week is here and the weeks in the regular season are trickling away.

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU