Buffs Notes: CU Prepares for UA's Dawkins; MacIntyre Criticizes Hit On Laguda
October 02, 2017 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Last week, the Colorado Buffaloes saw a prototype pocket passer in UCLA's Josh Rosen.
This week, they'll see a dual-threat quarterback in Arizona's Brandon Dawkins, a player equally capable in the run and pass game. The 3-2 Buffs (0-2 Pac-12) will get their chance to slow him down Saturday when they host the Wildcats (2-2, 0-1) in a 6 p.m. game at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Networks).
Thus far, Dawkins has been the major catalyst for an Arizona offense that is averaging more than 41 points and nearly 480 yards per game on the ground. In four games, he has completed 66 of 105 pass attempts for 670 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions, while also running 52 times for 341 yards and six touchdowns. In a 63-16 win over UTEP earlier this season, Dawkins ran for 143 yards and three touchdowns, passed for 143 yards and three touchdowns — and even punted once for 36 yards.
It means CU's defensive line will not only have to contend with Dawkins from a pass rush angle, but also do their best not to allow him to escape from the pocket and turn broken plays into big plays.
"You always have to account for him in the run game, you always have to account for him in your pass rush lanes, making sure you're not getting too far up the field and giving him a lane to tuck it and run it," Buffs defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot said. "Those things are always in consideration in your game plan and your techniques for that week for an athletic quarterback."
It won't be CU's first look at Dawkins. In last year's 49-24 Colorado win in Tucson, they limited Dawkins to a 9-for-19, 107-yard day in the air and 76 yards on 18 rushes, which included two sacks.
MACINTYRE CRITICIZES HIT ON LAGUDA: Early in the second half in last week's game against UCLA, Colorado safety Afolabi Laguda was knocked out of the game after taking an illegal hit from Bruins wide receiver Jordan Lasley.
Lasley and Laguda were trailing a play on which UCLA's Austin Roberts caught a long pass. As Roberts was heading out of bounds, Laguda pulled up, only to have Lasley come from the blind side and deliver a crushing block. Lasley was penalized but stayed in the game; Laguda came out and did not return until the fourth quarter.
"He took a very vicious, illegal, malicious hit," MacIntyre said. "Those guys on those situations should be thrown out of the game. That's as much as targeting is and it put (Laguda) out of the game. I think that should be looked at. To me, that's a lot more vicious than a lot of the targeting calls that kids are getting thrown out of the game for. Some of the targeting calls they're not meaning to hit the guy … (but) standing late after a play and you maliciously try to take a guy out and you hurt him? That guy should be thrown out of the game. That's what they should be doing. We need to look at that as a rule and we need to refocus on the targeting. That was truly intent. I think there's a difference."
Laguda was at practice Monday, but, MacIntyre said, "He is like he's been in a car wreck. He's really sore and beat up."
OREGON STATE GAME TIME: The Pac-12 announced Monday that CU's Oct. 14 game at Oregon State will kick off at 2 p.m. (1 p.m. PDT) and will be televised by the Pac-12 Network.
Saturday's Pac-12 Networks crew for the Colorado-Arizona game will consist of JB Long (play by play), Yogi Roth (color commentary) and Jill Savage (sidelines reporter).
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
