Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Aim For Fast Start Vs. Nicholls
September 25, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — One of the major points of emphasis for the Colorado Buffaloes this year has been to finish strong.
They've now added "start fast" to their to-do list, something they'll be aiming for Saturday when they play host to the 0-2 Nicholls Colonels in an 11:30 a.m. contest at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Networks).
Thus far this year, the first quarter has been the Buffs' worst on the defensive side of the ball. In each of their last two games, the 2-1 Buffs have allowed 14 points in the first 15 minutes, including last week against Colorado State, when the Rams jumped out to a 14-0 lead.
Offensively, it hasn't been a whole lot better. The Buffs have scored just 14 points in the first quarter this season, and all of those came in a 48-14 win over UMass.
"We've just got to start faster," safety Tedric Thompson said earlier this week. "For whatever reason, we're letting teams get a jump on us early. Once we start playing fast, we're hard to slow down, but we can't let teams score early like that because it puts our offense in a hole."
There hasn't been one specific reason for the fast starts by opponents. Hawai'i capitalized on a blocked punt to get an early touchdown. UMass drove to two scores mostly on the arm of quarterback Blake Frohnapfel while CSU used a strong running game for its first score, then put the ball in the air for its second.
But whatever the problem, the Buffs need to find a solution.
"We can't get in a hole like that," Thompson said. "We've got to stop people earlier."
The visiting Colonels — owners of a 20-game losing streak — haven't exactly been an offensive juggernaut this year. The FCS member of the Southland Conference dropped a 47-0 decision to Louisiana-Monroe in the opener; then fell 20-10 to Incarnate Word in their last game.
But CU coaches and players insist they won't take the Colonels lightly.
"I think they're a good team, despite their record," CU quarterback Sefo Liufau said. "They're going to be really fired up to come up here and play us. From what I've seen on film, they're a good team and we'll have to come out ready to play."
Just in case his players might not be preparing properly for the Colonels, CU coach Mike MacIntyre this week showed the Buffs a short film clip from from CU's 30-28 loss to FCS squad Sacramento State in 2012.
"You know, they say a picture is worth a thousand words," MacIntyre said. "I think that might have been worth a million words. That's all I needed to say."
The Colonels are led by quarterback Tuskani Figaro, who has completed 23 of 35 attempts this year for 214 yards and a touchdown, but he was relieved by Landry Klann in last week's loss to Incarnate Word. The Colonels' top receivers are 6-foot, 190-pound senior Terry Lucas (8 catches for 80 yards) and 6-1, 200-pound senior C.J. Bates (5-92 and one touchdown).
"You can't take any game for granted, especially us," Thompson said. "Every game is important. They have some great, fast, athletic receivers."
Saturday's game offers the Buffs a chance to win their third straight contest — something they haven't done since opening the 2008 season with three consecutive victories.
"We want to keep going," Liufau said. "We aren't satisfied with where we are right now. We're still a little frustrated with how we've been playing. I know we've played better but I think we expect more from ourselves. We expect ourselves to keep going and be prepared for the tough games coming up."
One streak the Buffs would like to continue is one of not turning the ball over or allowing a quarterback sack, something they've accomplished in each of the last two games, the first such back-to-back efforts in CU history. On the defensive side, the Buffs would also like to continue a streak of forcing turnovers, something they've done with much more regularity this year. CU's defense has already picked off five passes — two more than all of last year — and also recovered a fumble.
As for areas of improvement, the Buffs will be looking at their downfield passing game and their special teams. The Buffs did have a long completion for a touchdown last week — a 65-yarder to Shay Fields — but also missed on a couple of other tries. CU's special teams, meanwhile, have been inconsistent.
"I think we're going to need to be able to throw the football and take some shots down field," MacIntyre said. "Those are the areas that we need to do well. We need to do well in our special teams. We've had some big plays in our special teams, and have had some bad plays. We haven't put a consistent, full game together on special teams, so I think that'll make a big difference in the game."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
