Colorado University Athletics
Brooks: Buffs Want Running Game To Hit Its Stride
September 11, 2013 | Football, B.G. Brooks
BOULDER - Klayton Adams isn't concerned so much with numbers as he is productivity. And yes, there is a difference.
Adams - Colorado's running backs, fullbacks and tight ends coach - believes the Buffs' ground game is capable of more than the 96.5 yards it has averaged in the first two games. But he'll tell you fairly fast, "We're not huge into stats, so the numbers are not so much what we look at. Are we doing our job? It takes an entire group to improve."
The Buffs ran for 113 yards in their opening win over Colorado State and 84 last weekend in defeating Central Arkansas. In both games, the passing of quarterback Connor Wood - 400 yards vs. CSU, 341 vs. UCA - carried the offense.
But Adams, Wood and coach Mike MacIntyre know the day will come (and soon) when more balance is needed between the running and passing games.
Said MacIntyre: "I think that we just need to keep pushing it and keep working with it and I think we'll eventually do better at it. We just haven't broken a 50-yard run that you all of a sudden go instead of having 120 yards rushing you're at 175. So we need to do that and I'm hoping that happens this week."
It would be timely. The Buffs play Fresno State Saturday in Folsom Field (12:05 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
MacIntyre cited "different reasons" for the ground game stalling: "Either we didn't block the right guy one time or we missed a cut one time or a (defensive) guy made a great play . . . the other side of that is, our short passing game has been good. We've done a good job in the passing game and sometimes we were able to throw it pretty well. Sometimes you do whatever you can do to win the football game."
In the first two games, Adams has used three tailbacks - sophomores Christian Powell and Donta Abron, and junior Tony Jones. None of that trio has had a run longer than 11 yards (Jones). CU's longest run from scrimmage has been a 31-yarder by receiver D.D. Goodson on a reverse. Goodson has carried twice for 40 yards.
Powell has been slowed by a thigh bruise but says he's gotten steadily better and won't be hampered for Saturday's game. "My thigh is a little sore but I'm getting it taken care of," said Powell, who is averaging 3.05 yards per attempt (21 carries, 64 yards).
The biggest of the Buffs' backs at 6-0, 230, Powell said he has "been trying to keep up on whatever I've needed to do - blocking, getting the reads, all that. Of course, I'd like to see the run game be more of a factor."
He also said running out of pistol formation sets rather than last season's pro-style sets "is not that big a difference to me."
Jones has rushed for 85 yards on 25 attempts, averaging 3.40 yards a carry. Of his total, 58 yards were gained against UCA, with the bulk of those late in the game when CU holding onto a lead and the ball. Adams said the 5-7, 190-pound Jones ran well in that situation "and we're looking to build on that. He fits through tight spaces pretty well; he's quick and low to the ground and he's tough. I think both of those guys (Powell, Jones) have a lot of upside and potential. But all of them need to improve."
Abron (5-10, 180) has carried 10 times in two games for 14 yards, and Adams indicated he needs to see more of Abron in game situations before judging his capabilities. "You don't know exactly what someone is going to do, how they're going to make plays until they get in a game," Adams said. "The more you get guys into games, the more you see how comfortable they can get. And ultimately, a guy can earn more time."
For his part, Abron said he is "going in and trying to make something happen. I'll be ready when my number is called. I learned a lot more (in camp) than what I knew last year. I just wanted to keep getting better."
Wood has 10 carries through the first two weekends, gaining 47 yards but only 11 net after sack totals (36) are subtracted. Wood has proven to be a capable runner and contends he is comfortable when asked to run: "I feel confident with that, especially kind of ad-libbing, that's been a pretty big part of our offense."
None of Wood's 10 runs have been called, but he always has the option to run on zone read plays. "That option of keeping it and running it is there for me," he said. "And I feel comfortable doing it."
In pointing to the Buffs' 17 runs of four yards or better, Wood noted, "There haven't been many explosive runs - and that's what you've got to have. Coach has challenged our O-linemen and our backs to make guys miss."
Also, MacIntyre wants to see his backs run through arm tackles as well as see the linemen keying on the right blocks. Plus, said Adams, "We've got to get more comfortable hitting things downhill. We've got to be more precise on our reads and make good, fast decisions. If we can do those things I think we'll be able to get through more tackles."
The O-line, Adams noted, is "playing hard. I'm sure that just like everyone else they feel like we all need to improve. But those guys are doing a good job and playing hard and trying to finish things. As we go on, there's going to be more solidarity in all areas and we'll hit some of those tight spots and get through."
Although unbeaten, Fresno State has allowed an average of 183.5 rushing yards in its two wins. The Bulldogs gave up 195 ground yards to Rutgers in a 52-51 overtime win and 172 to Cal Poly in a 41-25 win. Those numbers appear encouraging for CU, but the Buffs are reluctant to say their run game is on the verge of a breakthrough this weekend.
"We all obviously want to see (the run game) improve," Powell said. "The run calls or whatever it might be, we just need to continue working on it. It's all coming along; it'll be a game-by-game, week-by-week improvement."
NOTABLE: The team practiced amidst a steady downpour for the second consecutive morning. MacIntyre says he has welcomed the opportunity because he knows that there will eventually come a time when the team will have to play in similar conditions and it has helped them prepare for such a situation . . . . Stephane Nembot was limited in practice due to an injured finger he suffered in Saturday's game. Nembot did return to action after suffering the injury but MacIntyre likens it to a stubbed toe because it may continue to linger for a couple days . . . . With the team's recent struggles on special teams, MacIntyre and his staff have worked extra hard this week in trying to fix those problems in preparation for Fresno State and their impressive kick returner, Isaiah Burse. Burse returned two kicks for touchdowns in the team's win over Cal-Poly last weekend and the Buffs have given up three kick/punt returns of at least 70 yards through the first two games . . . . .MacIntyre also noted that he is a big fan of the "rugby-style" punt and with punter Darragh O'Neill's athleticism, he thinks that could also become a tool in trying to neutralize Fresno State's dangerous returner . . . . Former Buffs wide receiver Patrick Williams is the latest addition to the team's football support staff. He will serve as the program's assistant recruiting coordinator and since he is from Texas, a national recruiting hotbed, MacIntyre thinks that his familiarity with the area will be instrumental in assisting their recruiting efforts there. Williams had 104 receptions for CU from 2005-08 . . . . MacIntyre has been very impressed with the development of safety Jered Bell since spring camp. He says he thinks Bell has played like he has "new life" since he returned from spring break and it has showed on the field. Bell returned an interception 79 yards for a momentum-changing touchdown in the fourth quarter of the team's win over Central Arkansas on Saturday.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
