Colorado University Athletics
Brooks: Buffs? Memories Of Carey Nothing But Bad
October 22, 2013
BOULDER GÇô KaGÇÖDeem Carey went on an extended afternoon run last November 10, and all Parker Orms could do was watch. Unfortunately, his Colorado defensive teammates also slipped into spectatorsGÇÖ roles for CareyGÇÖs fun run in sunny Tucson.
Orms was recovering from a concussion and watched from the sideline when the Buffaloes lined up to play Arizona. At day's end, Carey had stomped into the Arizona, CU and Pac-12 Conference record books, rushing for 366 yards and scoring five touchdowns in the WildcatsGÇÖ 56-31 rout.
No Arizona back had run for that many yards in a single game. No back CU ever played had run as productively. And no back in Pac-12/10 history had reached that yardage as Carey broke the former league mark (357) set by Washington StateGÇÖs Rueben Mayes in 1984.
CareyGÇÖs total was just short of being 100 yards more than the 268 that KansasGÇÖ David Winbush pounded out of CUGÇÖs defense in 1998. Carey had 293 yards in the first three quarters, and the Wildcats finished the game with 438 yards rushing (574 total).
In a season of bad CU Saturdays, this one was among the worst.
GÇ£It was embarrassing, very embarrassing,GÇ¥ CU defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe said. GÇ£As a defense one of the things you always take pride in is being able to stop the run. Having given up all those yards to one guy, it definitely hurts.GÇ¥
Buffs coach Mike MacIntyre said rather than his defenders getting GÇ£mad and angryGÇ¥ over the memory of Carey prancing past them last season, they should concentrate on getting their assignments right for Saturday nightGÇÖs visit by Arizona (6 p.m., Pac-12 Network) GÇ£then be mad and angry when you hit him.GÇ¥
Taking in last seasonGÇÖs carnage from the sidelines, Orms said Carey GÇ£found holes whenever anyone had a missed assignment and then he was off to the races . . . heGÇÖs the type of back that makes the first guy miss and you canGÇÖt have that. You have to have the first guy wrap up, then have the other ten guys coming.GÇ¥
On Saturday night in Folsom Field, Orms, a senior safety, hopes to get the shot(s) at Carey he missed last season. Same can be said for the other Buffs. The Wildcats (4-2, 1-2) are two wins shy of bowl eligibility (they became bowl eligible last season on CareyGÇÖs run-it-up afternoon) while the Buffs (3-3, 0-3) are seeking a signature October win that will send them into October thinking bowl.
Carey, a 5-10, 207-pound junior, led the nation in rushing in 2012 (148.3 yards a game) and heGÇÖs ahead of that pace this season. Coming off a 236-yard performance in last weekendGÇÖs 35-24 win over Utah, Carey is averaging a nation-best 161.0 yards a game.
GÇ£HeGÇÖs the same guy (as last season), an explosive back, very strong, very fast with good vision,GÇ¥ Uzo-Diribe said. GÇ£HeGÇÖs as advertised.GÇ¥
On Monday night, the BuffsGÇÖ defensive staff watched Carey run on tape, viewing last seasonGÇÖs CU game as well as CareyGÇÖs five 2013 games (he was suspended for the opener against Northern Arizona GÇ£per team policy). What Carey did to the Buffs, said defensive coordinator Kent Baer, GÇ£heGÇÖs done to a lot of people. HeGÇÖs probably the best back in the country.GÇ¥
CareyGÇÖs lowest rushing total this season has been 128 yards against Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) in a comfy 38-13 Arizona win. To keep him from running amok as he did against CU last November and Utah last week, Baer says defensive alignment and GÇ£playing your gaps perfectlyGÇ¥ are required. Plus, his players must use their hands to shed blockers before Carey slips past them.
GÇ£ThatGÇÖs where he gashes people,GÇ¥ Baer said, adding that ArizonaGÇÖs offensive line has been GÇ£good blocking against all fronts. ItGÇÖs really a simple running game, but we have to be sound in what weGÇÖre doing.GÇ¥
ArizonaGÇÖs O-line, said Baer, doesnGÇÖt need to hold blocks abnormally long for Carey to find a crease and slip through: GÇ£Just a second is all he needs and heGÇÖs gone.GÇ¥ But, Baer added, GÇ£He gets a lot (of yards) on his own. HeGÇÖs also got great vision, good speed and heGÇÖs not afraid to lower his shoulder and run you over. HeGÇÖs a pretty physical kid.GÇ¥
The Buffs are No. 10 in the Pac-12 in rushing defense, allowing 174.5 yards a game. The Wildcats, with Carey getting an assist from quarterback B.J. Denker, are second in the conference in rushing offense behind Oregon (332.4-268.5). Denker adds 54.5 yards a game to ArizonaGÇÖs rushing average.
Better tackling has been atop BaerGÇÖs wish list for his defense since August camp. MacIntyre said there has been noticeable improvement since last spring, but Baer shrugged and said, GÇ£I donGÇÖt know,GÇ¥ when asked Tuesday how much better tacklers the Buffs might have become.
GÇ£There have been a couple of games I was disappointed in them,GÇ¥ he said. GÇ£We work on it every day and just have to keep pushing it.GÇ¥
MacIntyre wasnGÇÖt pleased with the BuffsGÇÖ tackling last weekend in their 43-10 rout of Charleston Southern. He said the Buccaneers GÇ£made us missGÇ¥ too many times and this week against Carey the Buffs GÇ£have to make open-field tackles, one-on-one tackles in the hole and run to the ball.GÇ¥
Facing Carey, MacIntyre said, represents a steep step up and if he had his druthers, GÇ£I wish we were playing Jim Carrey and not KaGÇÖDeem Carey.GÇ¥
(You can add your own Dumb and Dumber line.)
NOTABLE: Freshman quarterback Sefo Liufau, who made his first college start last weekend, said he believed he did GÇ£a good job of managing the gameGÇ¥ and taking what the defense gave him . . . . CU junior receiver Paul RichardsonGÇÖs cousin, Shaquille Richardson, is an Arizona cornerback. Liufau said GÇ£P-RichGÇ¥ has offered GÇ£tips on both (Arizona) corners and what theyGÇÖre good at.GÇ¥ Liufau hopes that will allow him and his offense GÇ£to do a couple of things that will help us win.GÇ¥ . . . . MacIntyre believes the Wildcats have GÇ£improved drastically on defense.GÇ¥ They rank fifth in the Pac-12 in total defense, allowing 369.2 yards a game. Last season, Arizona finished last in the conference in that category, allowing 499 yards a game . . . . The Buffs opened Pac-12 play at Oregon State after a 21-day layoff. They resume conference play coming off their lopsided win against CSU. Is that a sign of momentum for Saturday night? GÇ£I donGÇÖt know,GÇ¥ MacIntyre said, GÇ£but Tuesday was our best Tuesday practice all year. He said he didnGÇÖt know whether to attribute it to the weather, the GÇÿWGÇÖ or what, GÇ£but hopefully it shows up Saturday.GÇ¥ . . . . Michael Adkins II rushed for a 137 yards and a freshman record four TDs last weekend. MacIntyre said Adkins and sophomore Christian Powell will continue to be the BuffsGÇÖ 1-2 tailback punch, with Powell playing fullback as dictated by opponentsGÇÖ defensive sets. GÇ£HeGÇÖs a good versatile player,GÇ¥ MacIntyre said . . . . Freshman Ryan Severson is fourth in the conference in kickoff returns, averaging 23.5 yards. GÇ£I think heGÇÖs break one,GÇ¥ MacIntyre said. GÇ£HeGÇÖs a 10.7 hundred meter kid.GÇ¥ . . . . Win Saturday night and CU will exit October 4-3 and two wins shy of bowl eligibility. MacIntyre said bowl talk is not rampant among the Buffs, GÇ£but thereGÇÖs the first time to utter it.GÇ¥ Even if postseason talk is premature, MacIntyre called it GÇ£good motivation to go out and practice (and) stay positive.GÇ¥ . . . . Sophomore tackle Marc Mustoe is scheduled for surgery (leg) before the end of the week. MacIntyre said senior tight end/fullback Alex Wood (concussion) could return this weekend, dependent on testing he was to undergo on Tuesday . . . . MacIntyre said he has used all the true freshmen he intends to play GÇô unless something disastrous occurs in the offensive line and a first-year player or two is needed.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
