Buffs Defense Aims To Continue Takeaway, Fourth-Down Trend
September 13, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Along with four "conventional" defensive takeaways this year, Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre likes to count fourth-down stops by his defense as a turnover.
MacIntyre has a point. Such stops not only result in CU's offense getting the ball back, it also means the opponent didn't punt. That can mean as much as a 40-yard gain in field position.
So far this year, Colorado's defense has produced four takeaways — two interceptions and two fumbles — with the offense converting three of those into touchdowns. That includes a pair of fumbles in the first quarter of last week's 33-28 win over Nebraska.
The Buffs would no doubt like to have more of the same Saturday in their 3 p.m. season opener against New Hampshire at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Mountain).
Along with three takeaways by the defense at Nebraska, CU also had three fourth-down stops against the Huskers. Meanwhile, Colorado converted two of its three fourth-down tries and did not have an offensive turnover.
It all added up to a healthy advantage for the Buffs.
"I figure we caused three turnovers, we had zero, and then we stopped them three times, so that's six (turnovers)," MacIntyre said. "We had one (turnover), so that's 6-1. That to me was the biggest tell-tale difference in the football game."
Three different Buffs have produced takeaways. Linebacker Nate Landman has a pair of interceptions while defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson and Buff back Davion Taylor each have a fumble recovery. Johnson also had a tipped pass that resulted in one of Landman's interceptions.
"They're active, they're doing well, they're rallying to the football and making plays," MacIntyre said. "They're doing a really good job there. Our guys are corralling the football. When we get to the football we're being aggressive with it."
Johnson, a sophomore transfer from Modesto Junior College, has been particularly active for a defensive lineman. Along with 16 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two other tackles for loss, he also has a pass breakup to go with his fumble recovery.
He admits he has surprised even himself with his rapid adjustment to the Division I level.
"I wasn't expecting to make as big of an impact as I am right now," he said. "I'm doing well, but I have a lot to learn, a lot to get better at. Without my teammates and all the other guys — last game I had a lot of coverage sacks, other D-linemen pushing the pocket — without them, I wouldn't have any of those things. It's definitely a team effort."
What Johnson and his defensive mates have found is that there is a friendly competition among themselves during a game — especially among the linebackers and defensive line. The result is defenders feeding off of each other's plays.
"We're all competing to get to the ball," Johnson said. "It's a fun game when we're all competing, trying to get to the ball. They're happy when we're making the plays, we're happy when they're making the plays. But at the end of the day, we're all competing, trying to make plays and have fun while we're doing it out there. It's a brotherhood that we have. We know and we trust each other that we're going to get our gap and we're going to make the play when it comes to us."
COLORADO-NEW HAMPSHIRE CONNECTION: Every year, the UNH football program annually presents the Todd Walker Teammate Award in honor of a fallen Wildcat, Todd Walker , who was murdered in Boulder on March 18, 2011.
Walker was walking a female friend home from a St. Patrick's Day party when the two were approached by someone (later identified as Kevin McGregor) who attempted to rob her near 10th and Pennsylvania on Boulder's "University Hill." He pulled a gun on the woman and Walker stepped in front to protect her and was shot in the chest.
McGregor was arrested two days later. Walker attended Battle Mountain High School in Edwards, Colo., (the same high school as legendary CU wide receiver Jeff Campbell) and was home on winter break at the time. The lead detective in the case told Walker's father, Mark, Â "Todd went out a hero." The football program established the award in Walker's memory, and it has been presented annually since the fall of 2011 to recognize a player who displays the attributes of selflessness and dedication as the ideal teammate.
BROADCAST CREWS: The Pac-12 Network crew for Saturday's game will include Jim Watson on the play-by-play and former Buffs All-American linebacker Chad Brown on color commentary. The 850 KOA broadcast will have Mark Johnson, Gary Barnett and Andy Lindahl.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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