Brooks: Tuesday Tidbits

TARGET ON THEIR BACKS (AND FRONTS): The Buffs have lost two players in their first three games due to enforcement of the targeting rule penalty, which is automatic ejection. Targeting is defined as initiating contact "with the crown (top) of the helmet" while tackling and/or initiating contact "to the head or neck area of a defenseless opponent with the helmet, fist, elbow or shoulder."

Starting in 2013, ejection from the game became part of the targeting penalty. CU lost cornerback Afolabi Laguda for targeting against Massachusetts and defensive end Jimmie Gilbert for the same call against CSU. Gilbert is scheduled to sit out the first half of Saturday's game, with his replacement to be determined.

Coach Mike MacIntyre said enforcement of the targeting rule can't make coaches deemphasize aggressiveness. Rather, tacklers have to adjust their "aiming points," he added. "It's tough, a judgment call, a bang-bang play. You have to protect players . . . it's a debatable subject now and it'll be debatable all year."

Players, added safety Tedric Thompson, generally "don't think about it (targeting) . . . but, yeah, sometimes it changes the way you approach the game. Sometimes (enforcing an ejection) it's out of the refs' hands. You don't think about that; you just go out and play."

REINFORCEMENT AT RB: The Buffs left Sports Authority Field Saturday night with two running backs – Michael Adkins II and Phillip Lindsay – ailing. Christian Powell was the lone back standing among CU usual three-man rotation.

With the status of Adkins and Lindsay for Nicholls State unclear, MacIntyre said sophomore receiver Donovan Lee would shift to running back for at least this week. Lee rushed for 1,979 yards and 37 touchdowns as a high school senior (Chaminade College Prep, West Hills, Calif.) and has been used as a kick returner in CU's first three games.

Also available at running back this week are freshman Patrick Carr and redshirt freshman Kyle Evans.

CSU GAME BALLS AWARDED: MacIntyre handed out a pair of game balls after Tuesday's practice. One went to Thompson for his critical field goal block in overtime, the other went to kicker Diego Gonzalez, whose 32-yard field goal ended the OT. Thompson said he would give his game ball to his grandmother.

Gonzalez is one of quarterback Sefo Liufau's roommates and maybe, indicated Liufau, the quietest of the bunch and is "camera shy." But he eventually warmed up to his roommates and his game-winning kick endeared him to his teammates. Liufau said he's now known by roommates as "Rico Suave . . . he's the man."

"I was very excited (for Gonzalez)," Liufau said. "I think especially for him to get a redemption shot (after his 48-yard miss at the end of regulation). I was happy for him to make it, especially with his parents here. It's a great moment for him and them. I'm ecstatic for him."

NOTEWORTHY: Through three games, the Buffs are averaging 424.7 yards in total offense (243.3 yards rushing, 181.3 passing). Liufau called the offensive productivity "up and down" and said consistency as a whole had been spotty week to week. "There have been weeks where (execution) has been really good and other times when it's missing something." The Buffs' run game has been more productive than at this point last season, which pleases MacIntyre. "We're not having to throw as much, which to me is a good thing . . . (but) if we have to throw it 50 times to win the game we'll do that." . . . . Liufau has thrown 80 passes without an interception, a streak he attributed to better protection (no sacks in the last two games) and the improved run game. He also said he was "being smarter with the ball . . . throwing the ball away at times is the smartest play to make." . . . . After Sunday's short practice, MacIntyre went for a run on the Boulder Creek bike path. A fellow runner in his late 50's stopped him, asked if he was CU's football coach and ran with MacIntyre "for about half a mile . . . he thanked me, asked me to thank the players (for the CSU win). It was a neat experience, but I'm glad he didn't continue running with me. I couldn't have kept up." . . . . Late night with the Buffs: The Oregon kickoff at Folsom Field on Saturday, Oct. 3 has been set for 8:07 p.m., with the game nationally televised by ESPN. CU is winless (0-5) against Oregon since joining the Pac-12. The Buffs' last win against the Ducks was in the 1998 Aloha Bowl.

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU