Buffs Defense Prepares For Balanced Stanford Attack

BOULDER — While the most-important statistic of all may not show it, the Colorado Buffaloes' defense has continued to make strides the last few weeks, despite battling injuries.

Colorado still hasn't held an opponent under 30 points this season. But the Buffs' defense has kept CU in games, including last week's 31-14 loss at UCLA. After giving up 17 points in the first quarter — with one Bruins touchdown coming after a Colorado turnover — the CU defense came up with four straight stops, including an interception in UCLA territory.

But the Colorado offense wasn't able to fully capitalize on those opportunities. CU managed just one touchdown and a pair of missed field goals in that stretch, opportunities that could have pulled CU to within 17-13 (at least). But after those missed chances, the Bruins finally put the game away with another touchdown late in the third quarter, then one more in the fourth.

"I think we're improving a lot," said Buffs defensive coordinator Tyson Summers after Wednesday's practice. "Anybody that comes to practice and knows what we're doing and is here day in and day out is able to see that. Over the last three or four weeks, I think you've seen steady improvement … but what we've got to be able to do is get over the 10 percent."

That "10 percent" are the instances when the Buffs allow an explosive play or a third-down conversion to keep an opponent's drive alive.

Explosive plays — gains of at least 20 yards — have no doubt been an issue for CU's defense. Colorado has allowed 53 explosive plays this year, with 18 of those resulting in touchdowns. Against the Bruins, the Buffs yielded just four of those plays, but two went for scores.

Those are the plays the Buffs (3-6 overall, 1-5 Pac-12) will be aiming to eliminate Saturday when they play host to Stanford in a 1 p.m. Homecoming game at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Network), as well as force a few more defensive takeaways.

The Cardinal (4-4, 3-3) are for the most part a "typical" David Shaw team — big and physical with a run-oriented offense and a defense predicated on stopping the run. Senior quarterback K.J. Costello is back after missing several games with a thumb injury, and he has some solid weapons in running back Cameron Scarlett (159 carries, 700 yards, five touchdowns), wide receiver Connor Wedington (40 catches, 371 yards, one touchdown) and tight end Colby Parkinson (31-358, 1).

"Scarlett does a fantastic job," Summers said. "(He's) one of the best guys we'll have seen all year as far as yards after contact. Their ability to be able to run the ball, have multiple sets with tight ends, multiple formations, and the ability to throw the ball with Costello — they do a really good job with all of those things."

Scarlett is indeed adept at picking up tough yardage, as he has picked up 513 of his yards this season after initial contact. Parkinson, meanwhile, poses a matchup problem for defenses, as the 6-foot-7, 251-pound junior can line up tight and add extra blocking for the run game, and also line up wide in the slot where he becomes a problem for much smaller defensive backs.

"He is one of the more dynamic players we've played all year," Summers said. "He has created matchup issues for defenses throughout the season. "He's a huge part of their offense and a huge part of what they're trying to do, particularly on third down. It'll be a big challenge for us going into the week."

TAYLOR TO SENIOR BOWL: Colorado outside linebacker Davion Taylor has been invited to participate in the annual Senior Bowl All-Star game, the first Buff to receive a postseason invite thus far this season.

Taylor, who arrived in Boulder as a junior college transfer in 2018, plays what amounts to multiple positions for the Buffs. He plays a true outside linebacker in some defensive sets, lines up at the "star" spot in others (a hybrid safety/linebacker spot) and plays what amounts to defensive back in other sets. He also rushes the passer on occasion, and is currently third on the team in tackles (49), with five tackles for loss, nine third-down stops, one fumble recovery and six pass breakups.

"The volume of what he has to master from a technique standpoint is very, very high, probably more than anybody else on our entire defense," Summers said. "For him to be playing at the high level that he is is a real compliment to him, and how hard he's worked to be able to learn and understand the concepts that we have. He's very, very talented, obviously, but he's he's taking this game to a whole new level because of that."

BUFFS BITS: Of CU's 15 quarterback sacks this year, 11 have come on third down … After producing at least three defensive takeaways in their first three games this season, the Buffs have not forced more than one turnover in any of the last six games … The Cardinal, though, doesn't turn the ball over. Stanford has just six turnovers this year (three fumbles and three interceptions), the sixth-lowest total in the nation … After six straight games of improving their rushing totals every game, CU took a step back against UCLA, finishing with just 88 yards on the ground, the lowest rushing total of the season for the Buffs.

BROADCAST CREW: The Pac-12 Network crew this week will be Guy Haberman (play by play), Anthony Herron (color commentary) and Jill Savage (sidelines).

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu

Players Mentioned

Davion Taylor

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