Colorado University Athletics
Fast Five: Keys For Buffs vs Bears
October 27, 2017 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Two teams that have experienced their fair share (and maybe more) of Pac-12 frustrations this year will attempt to get their seasons back on the right track Saturday at Folsom Field.
Colorado and Cal both enter Saturday's noon homecoming game with identical 4-4 overall and 1-4 Pac-12 marks. Two of the Buffs' conference losses have come by a total of seven points; two of Cal's losses have come by a total of 11 points, including last week's overtime 45-44 decision at the hands of Arizona.
Of course, only one team will emerge from Saturday's game with its second conference win — and if the two teams' last meeting is any indication, it will go down to the wire.
The last time the two teams played, Cal escaped with a 59-56 double-overtime victory at home in 2014 when quarterbacks for both teams threw for seven touchdowns.
What the Buffs must do today to collect their second win over the Bears since joining the Pac-12:
1. Stop the Bears' rushing attack. Yes, this is getting a little repetitive and yes, this is rather obvious — but it doesn't negate the importance.
The Buffs are allowing nearly 194 yards per game on the ground this year — and nearly 300 yards per game over the last three.
The Bears haven't exactly been a ground-gaining machine, averaging just 108 yards per game. But last week, Washington State — a team that was averaging barely 71 yards per ground — put 194 on the Buffs in a 28-0 WSU win.
The Bears have two quality backs in Patrick Laird and Vic Enwere. Laird, a 6-0, 200-pounder, has run for 530 yards and six touchdowns this year while averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Enwere is a bruiser — 6-0, 245 pounds — who has run for 304 yards and four TDs. While the Bears have been far more effective throwing the ball, the Buffs still need to stop Cal's run game and force the the Bears to become one-dimensional.
2. Practice good ball security. The Bears lead the conference in defensive takeaways with 21. They have had at least one in every game this year, and came up with seven in a 37-3 win over Washington State two weeks ago.
Colorado has been good in this department, with just nine turnovers this year (fourth-best in the conference). But the Buffs can't give Cal any extra possessions, particularly at a time when their offense is struggling.
3. Get the quarterback in a rhythm early. This doesn't matter if it's Steven Montez or Sam Noyer behind center — the key will be to get whoever is calling the signals some confidence early.
That doesn't mean the Buffs have to come out slinging the ball all over the field. But it does mean they will need to produce some early completions and get the quarterback into the tempo. If the Buffs can manage that early, it should give whoever is at quarterback some confidence as the game progresses — and that's something that will be a big help after last week's difficult loss at WSU.
4. Get after quarterback Ross Bowers. After being blanked in the sack department for two weeks in a row, the Buffs did get a pair last weekend at WSU. But the Cougars' Luke Falk still had time to throw on too many occasions, something CU's coaches say they know they must address.
The Bears have given up 26 sacks this year, but Bowers can move when necessary. He has thrown 10 interceptions, and if the Buffs can get some pressure on him consistently, they could increase that total.
5. Run the ball consistently. Last week at WSU, the Cougars stacked the box with the intent of stopping Phillip Lindsay and dared the Buffs to throw — a challenge the Buffs couldn't answer in the wet, windy conditions.
It's why getting the quarterback on track early will be so important. If the Buffs can force the Bears to respect the CU passing game, it will open up opportunities for Lindsay and allow Colorado to control the tempo of the game.
That tempo is especially important against the Bears, who have shown the ability to rally from a deficit. Cal came back from 14 points down in the third quarter last week to force overtime against Arizona. The Buffs don't want to give them that opportunity again.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
