Brooks: Irwin, Buffs Look To Shake Offensive Inconsistencies

BOULDER – Having accounted for six pass receptions in seven games, Sean Irwin hasn't been what anyone would call a prolific component in Colorado's offense. Maybe he'll reach that point, maybe not, but boosting his productivity as a receiver is the least of the junior tight end's concerns.

Whether his numbers gradually rise, level off, or fade, Irwin wants the Buffs offense to find the consistency that's been so elusive in three Pac-12 losses. Time to make that discovery is dwindling; CU has six games remaining, beginning with Saturday night's visit to Oregon State (8:30 p.m., Pac-12 Networks).

Irwin and his teammates hope lessons were learned from the Buffs' most recent inefficient Saturday. It came last weekend against Arizona, when the Buffs couldn't extend a 24-17 third-quarter lead after being forced to punt on three consecutive possessions. They broke a 17-17 halftime tie with a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive to open the second half.

But the offensive lull that followed allowed the Wildcats to regroup; they scored three fourth-quarter touchdowns and put away the Buffs 38-31.

"We have to capitalize," Irwin said. "We go back and look at film and (see) the smallest errors. It's a game of inches. The running back didn't put his helmet on the right knee, I didn't get my left foot back to hinge block to keep the guy from making a tackle for a loss . . . it's just simple stuff. The little things add up to kill you, and it hurts."

Most painful, added offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brian Lindgren, was the lack of execution that Irwin described as well as "a couple of penalties in there that took us from a third-and-four to a third-and-nine. In this conference that's a big difference when you talk about conversion percentage . . . it wasn't one position you could pinpoint, it was a number of things."

STILL, LINDGREN COULDN'T HAVE BEEN more pleased with how quarterback Sefo Liufau directed the offense to open the second half, or his final two-minute drive that resulted in CU's last score.

"It was something we were unable to do in the Oregon game (a 41-24 loss)," Lindgren said. "We gave ourselves a chance."

But the Buffs waited too late. It was a frustrating replay of their fizzles at the finish during what is now a 14-game conference losing streak, and it wasted what Lindgren called Liufau's finest Saturday. He completed 28 of 43 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns (both to now-injured Shay Fields) and also ran for two TDs.

"Aside from those three (failed) drives and that part in the second half, I thought it was his best game of the year," Lindgren said, citing Liufau's overall accuracy and decision-making. "He played a clean first half, took care of the ball, managed the game and made some great decisions. The drive coming out of halftime was a great drive (and) those three series I wouldn't put just on Sefo. It was number of positions and guys for whatever reason . . . if you're not on, you're not going to be able to move the ball."

Liufau's problematic right shoulder healed to the point last week of allowing him to throw with no restrictions in practice, which has been the case this week. As for Liufau's mental healing, "I think he's frustrated like the rest of us . . . he's hungry for a win just like the rest of the team," Lindgren said. "But I've been pleased with the way he's bounced back and comes to practice ready to work."

While Irwin's numbers aren't staggering, the last two games suggest that he is becoming a more recognizable target for Liufau. Tight ends/fullbacks have accounted for only 17 of CU's 144 receptions in the first seven games, with Irwin's six catches netting 120 yards. Most of that yardage came on two catches – a 42-yarder at Arizona State and a 52-yarder against Arizona.

Both receptions were on routes down the middle of the field, although Irwin insists they weren't the same plays. "No, it wasn't," he said. "I was open for about two seconds (on the longer catch last weekend). I'm not the fastest guy and the safety was over me. Sefo threw it up and I came down with the ball . . . it was fun."

Lindgren acknowledged the Irwin has "made some plays" and that "we're working on ways to get him a little more involved in the pass game. He's done a nice job of having more urgency in his routes. The more we can involve him in the pass game, the more it helps us as an offense."

To Liufau, Irwin makes "a great target," and he contended that the 6-3, 245-pounder "has bailed me out twice now (in the past two games)" on seam routes in the middle of the field. In reviewing Irwin's 52-yard catch last weekend, Liufau said his read on the play "wasn't the worst in the world but I definitely think there was a better option . . . he went out there and made an athletic play."

"Which," Liufau added with a laugh, "is rare for him."

WHATEVER, IRWIN'S SIX CATCHES THROUGH seven games are only one short of his 2014 total and two short of his career total. He entered his junior season with eight career receptions, so maybe his and the tight ends' involvement in the offense is indeed on the rise.

"I hope so," he said. "But I just do as I'm told. I play my role and do what I can to help the team win."

In its three Pac-12 losses, CU's total offense output has been 308, 450 and 467 yards, respectively. The bulk of that yardage has come via the pass; the ground game has accounted for 77, 49 and 128 yards, with CU's 84.7 rushing yards a game the worst in conference play.

Irwin said "getting the running game going" has been his and the offense's point of emphasis this week. "I'm trying to do my best to get on my blocks and get to the second level so we can make some big runs happen. Our offense starts with the run game."

The Beavers are the league's only other winless (0-3) team in league play, which Irwin acknowledges raises this weekend's stakes.

"We're both struggling right now and it's going to be a fight to the end," he said. "We have to walk in there with the mindset that you're going to fight and you better start throwing punches or you're going to start taking some. I know we'll come out and compete."

The Buffs' latest near miss against the Wildcats, said Irwin, has left them wanting "to get that taste out of our mouth" as they head to Corvallis, Ore. "We're trying to get our minds right and get that energy going. We're there; we just have to get angry and play with some more passion and intensity."

Saturday's game at Oregon State is the first of consecutive road contests for CU. The Buffs travel to Los Angeles to play UCLA on Saturday, Oct. 31, then play consecutive home games against Stanford (Saturday, Nov. 7) and USC (Friday, Nov. 13). The regular season ends with back-to-back trips to Washington State (Saturday, Nov. 21) and Utah (Saturday, Nov. 28).

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU