Buffs Host Texas State With Eye On Improvement

BOULDER — Mike MacIntyre's Colorado Buffaloes put together a healthy checklist in their season-opening 17-3 win over Colorado State last week.

Outstanding defensive performance? Check.

Solid special teams? Check.

Offensive "explosion" plays? Check (but a few more would be nice).

Significant contributions from veterans and newcomers? Check.

Put a team away when you have the chance? Umm … not so much.

The Buffs started off well in that area, jumping out to a 17-0 lead with scores on three straight possessions early in the game, then had a chance to extend the margin on their next possession. But an interception at midfield derailed that drive, and from that point on, CU's offense never again generated the consistency needed to get to the end zone.

The good news is the Buffs' defense was on hand to make plays and keep the Rams at bay.

But that's not how most folks thought this year's script would play out — and while it was a successful storyline in the opener, MacIntyre would like to see his offense develop a knockout punch when the opportunity arises.

He wouldn't mind seeing such a chance come up Saturday when the Buffs host Texas State in their home opener in a noon game at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Networks).

"The thing you have to do once you get up is you've got to put a team away," MacIntyre said. "That's something we didn't do last week. We had our chances to and we let them keep hanging around. Give credit to CSU to keep fighting. Sometimes you've got to out-will the opponent and if their will breaks, you'll blow them away. We didn't get that done last week. CSU kept fighting and we kept letting them stay in the game and they kept making plays to do that. This week, if we get up, we've got to be able to put them away."

The Buffs are clear favorites to do that in today's game with their Sun Belt Conference visitors.

But the Bobcats, coming off a 2-10 finish last year in Everett Withers' first year in San Marcos, opened the season with a 20-11 win over Houston Baptist and the Buffs say they have plenty of respect for TXST. The Bobcats boast a solid defense spearheaded by a veteran, playmaking corps of linebackers, and an offense led by dual-threat quarterback Damian Williams (a graduate transfer from Mississippi State).

"They held Houston Baptist to 59 yards rushing," MacIntyre said. "We can't be held to 59 yards rushing and expect to win the game. I think they're very stout in the linebacking area. We're going to have to get to the second level."

Indeed, if there is any indicator of success for the Buffs over the last couple of years, it has been their rushing totals. Since the beginning of the 2015 season, Colorado is 15-3 when rushing for at least 100 yards in a game. When rushing for less than 100 in that span, CU's record is 0-10. Over the last 21 games, it's been even more indicative: the Buffs are 12-1 in their last 21 games when rushing for 100 yards; 0-8 when they don't hit that number.

One defender the Buffs will be keeping a close eye on is outside linebacker Easy Anyama. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder had two of Texas State's six sacks last week, five tackles and a forced fumble from his spot in the Bobcats' 3-4 defensive alignment, as well as a blocked PAT. The Bobcats also have a pair of stout defenders in the middle in 240-pound ILB Gabe Loyd and 232-pound Bryan London.

Defensively, the Buffs' aim will be to contain Williams, who ran for 43 yards and a score last week and also threw for 135 yards.

But most of all, the Buffs will be focused on correcting the mistakes they made in last week's opener. They know that if they take care of business on their end, they should come away with a win in their home opener. The goal is to make that first-to-second-game jump that coaches say is normally one of the biggest improvements of the season.

"I've been here for almost five years and I've seen it all," running back Phillip Lindsay said. "Once you start winning, you don't want to start losing again. For us it's about knowing we have a great fan base that's going to be there and we have to show out in front of them. That helps our defense too because it's a motivator. When the crowd is loud and starts getting excited, it gives us that extra energy."

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Texas State likes to move outside linebacker Easy Anyama into position where he can rush off the edge and get to the quarterback from both sides. How Colorado's offensive tackles handle him will be a key.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Colorado's offensive line. The Buffs had "flashes" up front last week, but came nowhere near the consistency that O-line coach Klayton Adams expects from his group. The Buffs yielded five quarterback sacks against CSU, a number Adams doesn't want to see again all year, and they weren't consistent in the run game. They figure to improve in both areas this week.

THE SERIES: It's the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Colorado has previously played three games against Sun Belt opponents, owning a 2-0 record against Louisiana-Monroe and a 1-0 mark against New Mexico State.

NUTS AND BOLTS:

Kickoff: Noon, Folsom Field.

Broadcast: The game will be televised nationally by the Pac-12 Network with Jim Watson on play-by-play, former Buffs star Jeremy Bloom on analyst duties and Camryn Irwin on the sidelines. The radio broadcast will be carried by KOA 850 AM with Mark Johnson, Gary Barnett and Bobby Pesavento.

In-game live blog, stats: A live in-game blog as well as continually updated statistics will be available on www.CUBuffs.com

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu