Colorado University Athletics
Fast Five: Keys For Buffs Vs. Rams In Season Opener
August 29, 2019 | Football
BOULDER — Colorado's recent stretch of success against rival Colorado State — four straight wins and five of the last six — is of absolutely no comfort to the Buffs' new head coach, Mel Tucker.
Tucker knows a thing or two about rivalries, having coached in some of college and pro football's most storied matchups. He knows funny things happen in such games and he knows emotions and adrenaline — particularly in season openers — can swing momentum at a moment's notice.
But Tucker also knows that in the end, the formula for rivalry games is no different than any other game: play physical, disciplined football, keep mistakes to a minimum and finish strong.
In our first installment this year of the weekly Fast Five, here's what Tucker's first Buffs team will try to do Friday in their 8 p.m. season opener against Colorado State in Denver (ESPN):
1. Stay fundamentally sound from beginning to end. Tucker told his team this week repeatedly that this would be a "rules" game. While the Buffs have a good idea what the Rams will do, CU will also no doubt see some new wrinkles from CSU.
When those do come up, Tucker has stressed, it will require the Buffs to follow their "rules" — in other words, react with the fundamentals they learned in camp. The most costly mistakes are usually mental errors, not physical. If the Buff can avoid those, they can greatly reduce the momentum swings that can have a huge effect — especially when the emotions of a rivalry are thrown into the mix.
2. Adhere to Colorado's principles. Tucker has made it quite clear since he arrived that the two top priorities for CU will always be to run the ball on offense and stop the run on defense.
The first might seem a little counter-intuitive, given that CU has an inexperienced running backs corps and one of the best wide receivers groups in the nation. Why run when you can throw?
But in order to open up the passing game, the Buffs have to make their opponents respect the rushing attack. If they can make CSU devote defensive resources to stopping CU's ground game, that will give Steven Montez and Co. a chance to put the ball in the air.
As for defense, it again might seem a little strange to concentrate on stopping CSU's run game when the Rams are much more dangerous in the air. But the Buffs can't afford to let Colorado State get its ground game going. If CU can force the Rams into the air early, it will help.
Which leads us to …
3. Get pressure on CSU quarterback Collin Hill early and often. Hill is an experienced, talented quarterback who can do damage when he has time to throw. He is now fully recovered from two ACL tears over a two-year span and he has some talented receivers to utilize, beginning with 6-6 junior Warren Jackson and continuing with a pair of big, experienced tight ends.
If Hill has time to throw, he will do his best to exploit a young CU secondary. To prevent him from doing that, Colorado has to get pressure on him from a variety of places. It starts with the defensive line, beginning with defensive tackle Mustafa Johnson and defensive end Terrance Lang, but also includes CU's outside and inside 'backers as well, along with some help from the outside edges. The Rams have some experience returning on the offensive line, but they also have a true freshman starting at left guard and a sophomore at right tackle. If the Buffs can get some pressure early, it will push Hill out of his comfort zone and will also force the Rams to add some help to their pass protection — meaning fewer receivers for Hill to find.
4. Produce manageable third-down situations for the offense. Last season, the Buffs found themselves in far too many third-and-long situations and the result was predictable: an inability to convert and an empty possession. On third-and-5 or longer, the Buffs converted less than 28 percent of their opportunities.
But third-and-4 is a defensive coordinator's nightmare. It's a distance that is manageable either by run or pass, and it gives the offense an automatic edge. But to get there, the offense has to be consistent on first and second down. If the Buffs can produce a steady run game, they can get there — and thus keep the ball in their possession and put together long, punishing drives.
That sets the stage for …
5. Be the more physical team. This isn't something that's easy to quantify. Every football team wants to be physical — it's the name of the game.
But it is also something Tucker has stressed since the day he arrived.
This is a CSU team that will play with a "nothing to lose" attitude. The Buffs have to do their best to not give the Rams any easy momentum or adrenaline boosts, and the best way to do that is play a punishing style of ball that steadily exacts a toll as the game wears on.
Tough, physical football teams wear opponents down. They win the fourth quarter because they are able to impose their will down the stretch. The Buffs have to make sure they are the team establishing the tone when the game is on the line.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
