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Brooks: Buffs Secondary Braces For All-Night Air Assault By Bruins
November 01, 2016 | Football, B.G. Brooks
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UCLA’s ground game limping along at 85.5 yards – last in the Pac-12
BOULDER – Defensive backs live for challenges, for pass coverage on nearly every snap and for swarms of balls thrown in their direction(s). But jack-of-all-DB positions Chidobe Awuzie is cautious about Colorado's Thursday opponent at Folsom Field; UCLA presents a legitimate "be careful what you wish for" scenario.
"We know they pass the ball a lot, but we also know they're good at passing the ball," Awuzie said the other morning after practice.
Asked if this seemed to be the kind of game that might find a DB salivating just a little or maybe a lot, "Chido" responded, "A little bit, but you always want to be humble toward it. We always face great opponents in the Pac-12 . . . at the same time you want those opportunities but sometimes opportunities can expose you."
Through eight games, the exposure hasn't been anywhere close to indecent. The Buffs' gifted and mostly unyielding backend is a major reason that CU ranks first in the conference in pass efficiency defense (97.9 rating) and second in pass defense (178.7 yards allowed a game – a mere 7.3 behind Washington).
So the Bruins, who do indeed live up to Awuzie's scouting report of being a proficient passing team, won't find the air travel easy on Thursday night (7 p.m., FS1). But here's the other half of the Buffs' defensive equation: The Bruins haven't been so good recently at running the ball; they're last in the conference in rushing (85.5 yards a game).
In its last game – a 52-45 loss at Utah on Oct. 22 – UCLA ran its tailbacks only 10 times for 23 yards while backup quarterback Mike Fafaul attempted a school-record 70 passes, completing 40 (another school mark) for 464 yards and five touchdowns. He was intercepted four times, sacked twice and rushed six times for 23 yards.
Fafaul has started the last two games in place of highly acclaimed Josh Rosen, who is recovering from a right shoulder injury. The No. 21 Buffs will likely face Fafaul; reports out of Los Angeles on Tuesday said Rosen will miss the rest of the season. However, CU safeties coach Joe Tumpkin matter-of-factly says whatever, whoever.
"It doesn't matter," Tumpkin contended. "That's one of the things we're trying to impress on our defense; it doesn't matter who we play, it's about us, how we go about our business, how we practice, how we focus, how we go about preparing. I've been really excited and proud of how they've handled every situation they've been in. They've just been completely locked in – and it's been fun."
Buffs safety Tedric Thompson, who is tied for the conference lead in interceptions (four of CU's 11), said the Bruins' lack of recent ground productivity shouldn't shade UCLA's rushing capabilities: "Early in the season they were running the ball really well and they still can run the ball well. They've got a great offensive line and three or four great running backs. So we've got to be prepared for anything."
To Thompson's point, UCLA (3-5, 1-4) did show promise on the ground in its first two games, rushing 40 times for 125 yards in the opener against Texas A&M and 40 times for 219 yards against UNLV. But in the six games since the Bruins have surpassed 100 yards rushing only once (125 on 32 attempts against Arizona) before suffering a minus-1-yard outing (on 23 attempts) against Arizona State.
That woeful performance dropped the Bruins' rushing average over the last three games to 29.1 yards on 21.1 carries, including a 16-carry, 46-yard afternoon against Utah (including QB Fafaul's six runs for 23 yards). To amp up the Bruins' Thursday night challenge, they'll be facing the Pac-12's top overall defense (307.8 yards allowed a gamed), the No. 2 scoring defense (18.1 points allowed), and the No. 4 rush defense (129.1 yards).
But CU's defensive uncertainties surrounding UCLA are plentiful. Will Fafaul indeed start? Is he primed for another 70-pass sling-fest? Is that what the Bruins have in mind; have they abandoned any idea of running the ball in November as they battle for bowl eligibility?
"You never go into a game thinking that," Tumpkin said, adding that the focus of CU's secondary is on "us being disciplined and focused on our keys."
Awuzie, meanwhile, remains focused on what actually is a weekly goal: render the opponent's offense one-dimensional. "We know if we stop the run – even if they're running only ten times (a game) – but if we only let them get two yards on those ten runs then we can really make them one dimensional and focus on bringing some pressure on third downs and trying to get a pass rush and playing our coverages. That's the main thing.
"We know they're not going to run the ball a lot but we do know it's going to be a big game for the DBs to play in space. They'll still run some screens, which are basically run plays. We have to make tackles and we're going to have to play the ball in the air."
Even if Awuzie, Thompson and their backend mates don't encounter a 70-pass barrage from the Bruins, it likely will serve as a primer to what the Buffs will experience in two weeks when Washington State visits Folsom. The Cougars average 50 passes a game and trail only Cal's 52 for the highest number of weekly attempts in the Pac-12. WSU's Luke Falk is the conference's passing leader, averaging 365.8 yards with 24 TD passes against only five interceptions and a league-best 72.6 completion percentage.
But you can put all those numbers on hold. As they have been since the first week in September, the Buffs are immersed in their weekly 1-0 mode. All eyes this week are on the Bruins, and that resolute focus has made November a rare relevant month for CU football and the 2016 season more fun than any of the older Buffs can remember.
"Most definitely," a grinning Awuzie said. "Seeing everybody succeed is really a big joy for me. A lot of people have seen the struggles here, have gone through hard times, have thought about not wanting to play anymore. But they stuck with it and now they're ballin' and having great years. I'm really proud of everybody – and that makes this a fun year."
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
"We know they pass the ball a lot, but we also know they're good at passing the ball," Awuzie said the other morning after practice.
Asked if this seemed to be the kind of game that might find a DB salivating just a little or maybe a lot, "Chido" responded, "A little bit, but you always want to be humble toward it. We always face great opponents in the Pac-12 . . . at the same time you want those opportunities but sometimes opportunities can expose you."
Through eight games, the exposure hasn't been anywhere close to indecent. The Buffs' gifted and mostly unyielding backend is a major reason that CU ranks first in the conference in pass efficiency defense (97.9 rating) and second in pass defense (178.7 yards allowed a game – a mere 7.3 behind Washington).
So the Bruins, who do indeed live up to Awuzie's scouting report of being a proficient passing team, won't find the air travel easy on Thursday night (7 p.m., FS1). But here's the other half of the Buffs' defensive equation: The Bruins haven't been so good recently at running the ball; they're last in the conference in rushing (85.5 yards a game).
In its last game – a 52-45 loss at Utah on Oct. 22 – UCLA ran its tailbacks only 10 times for 23 yards while backup quarterback Mike Fafaul attempted a school-record 70 passes, completing 40 (another school mark) for 464 yards and five touchdowns. He was intercepted four times, sacked twice and rushed six times for 23 yards.
Fafaul has started the last two games in place of highly acclaimed Josh Rosen, who is recovering from a right shoulder injury. The No. 21 Buffs will likely face Fafaul; reports out of Los Angeles on Tuesday said Rosen will miss the rest of the season. However, CU safeties coach Joe Tumpkin matter-of-factly says whatever, whoever.
"It doesn't matter," Tumpkin contended. "That's one of the things we're trying to impress on our defense; it doesn't matter who we play, it's about us, how we go about our business, how we practice, how we focus, how we go about preparing. I've been really excited and proud of how they've handled every situation they've been in. They've just been completely locked in – and it's been fun."
Buffs safety Tedric Thompson, who is tied for the conference lead in interceptions (four of CU's 11), said the Bruins' lack of recent ground productivity shouldn't shade UCLA's rushing capabilities: "Early in the season they were running the ball really well and they still can run the ball well. They've got a great offensive line and three or four great running backs. So we've got to be prepared for anything."
To Thompson's point, UCLA (3-5, 1-4) did show promise on the ground in its first two games, rushing 40 times for 125 yards in the opener against Texas A&M and 40 times for 219 yards against UNLV. But in the six games since the Bruins have surpassed 100 yards rushing only once (125 on 32 attempts against Arizona) before suffering a minus-1-yard outing (on 23 attempts) against Arizona State.
That woeful performance dropped the Bruins' rushing average over the last three games to 29.1 yards on 21.1 carries, including a 16-carry, 46-yard afternoon against Utah (including QB Fafaul's six runs for 23 yards). To amp up the Bruins' Thursday night challenge, they'll be facing the Pac-12's top overall defense (307.8 yards allowed a gamed), the No. 2 scoring defense (18.1 points allowed), and the No. 4 rush defense (129.1 yards).
But CU's defensive uncertainties surrounding UCLA are plentiful. Will Fafaul indeed start? Is he primed for another 70-pass sling-fest? Is that what the Bruins have in mind; have they abandoned any idea of running the ball in November as they battle for bowl eligibility?
"You never go into a game thinking that," Tumpkin said, adding that the focus of CU's secondary is on "us being disciplined and focused on our keys."
Awuzie, meanwhile, remains focused on what actually is a weekly goal: render the opponent's offense one-dimensional. "We know if we stop the run – even if they're running only ten times (a game) – but if we only let them get two yards on those ten runs then we can really make them one dimensional and focus on bringing some pressure on third downs and trying to get a pass rush and playing our coverages. That's the main thing.
"We know they're not going to run the ball a lot but we do know it's going to be a big game for the DBs to play in space. They'll still run some screens, which are basically run plays. We have to make tackles and we're going to have to play the ball in the air."
Even if Awuzie, Thompson and their backend mates don't encounter a 70-pass barrage from the Bruins, it likely will serve as a primer to what the Buffs will experience in two weeks when Washington State visits Folsom. The Cougars average 50 passes a game and trail only Cal's 52 for the highest number of weekly attempts in the Pac-12. WSU's Luke Falk is the conference's passing leader, averaging 365.8 yards with 24 TD passes against only five interceptions and a league-best 72.6 completion percentage.
But you can put all those numbers on hold. As they have been since the first week in September, the Buffs are immersed in their weekly 1-0 mode. All eyes this week are on the Bruins, and that resolute focus has made November a rare relevant month for CU football and the 2016 season more fun than any of the older Buffs can remember.
"Most definitely," a grinning Awuzie said. "Seeing everybody succeed is really a big joy for me. A lot of people have seen the struggles here, have gone through hard times, have thought about not wanting to play anymore. But they stuck with it and now they're ballin' and having great years. I'm really proud of everybody – and that makes this a fun year."
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
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