Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Turn Attention To Pac-12 Opener At Arizona State
September 16, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Win or lose, Mondays are always the same for Colorado coach Mel Tucker during the season.
They provide a chance to get back on the field and quickly address the issues from the last game, then dig into preparations for the next opponent — and that's exactly what the Buffaloes did Monday morning. The Buffs looked at Saturday's 30-23 overtime loss to Air Force and worked on correcting mistakes from that game, then began the process of installing a plan for Saturday's Pac-12 opener at Arizona State (8 p.m., Pac-12 Network).
"It was great to get back out on the field," Tucker said. "That's what you really look forward to after a game, win or lose. Make the corrections and start to put together a plan for the next opponent. It felt good getting out there and I feel even better coming off the field today about our focus and our resolve, just turning the page and getting ready for Arizona State. It was a good day for us."
The 2-1 Buffs certainly don't have time to wallow in the loss to the Falcons. The Sun Devils, ranked No. 24 in both polls after a 10-7 win at No. 18 Michigan State, pose a major challenge, especially on their home turf, where Colorado is 0-5 in their all-time series.
With three non-conference games against historic rivals, the Buffs didn't have to manufacture any motivation in their first three games. But with conference play now on the immediate horizon, Tucker said the intensity level might go up another notch..
"When you get into league play, it actually sometimes ramps up a little bit," Tucker said. "It's very important. Our league is very competitive. We have a lot of great coaches in our league, great players. Everyone's got guys. It's a tremendous challenge and we're preparing for that challenge."
While ASU's offense has sputtered at times this year, its defense has been outstanding. Herm Edwards' 3-0 Sun Devils have given up just seven points in each of their three contests, making them the second-ranked scoring defense in the nation.
"First and foremost they've got great coaches," Tucker said. "Great program. They know what they're doing. They have playmakers on both sides of the ball and special teams. They play really, really hard. You could tell they're very well coached and they're playing with confidence."
NEXT UP: With starting strong safety Aaron Maddox out for roughly a month with a severe leg laceration suffered against AFA, the Buffs will be looking for the "next man up" to play alongside free safety Mikial Onu.
The most likely replacement is junior Derrion Rakestraw, who stepped in after Maddox's injury and played 16 defensive snaps, finishing with two tackles.
"I was preparing all through the week," said Rakestraw, who saw plenty of time with the No. 1 defense in fall camp. "It's just the same as practice. Go in there, reading my keys, knowing what to do. You hate seeing one of your teammates go down like that. It's terrible. But the next man has to step up and go out there and make plays."
Maddox — who is Rakestraw's roommate — was back with the team Monday.
"Aaron's back with us and rehabbing," Tucker said. "Excellent young man who works really, really hard. Happy to see him right now back on the road to recovery."
Tucker also said junior Sam Noyer — who made the switch from quarterback to safety in fall camp — could also see some time against the Sun Devils.
"Absolutely," Tucker said. "Sam has made tremendous progress. I have a lot of respect for Sam and how he's gone about his business to learn what to do and how to do it and to compete. He's also a guy that can help us."
O-LINE ROTATION: Against Nebraska, Colorado's five starting offensive linemen played all 78 snaps.
But against Air Force, CU substituted at the guard spots, with redshirt freshman right guard Casey Roddick playing 59 of CU's 75 offensive snaps in relief of starter Colby Pursell, and sophomore left guard Chance Lytle getting in for 22 snaps in relief of starter Kary Kutsch.
Roddick played the entire second half while Lytle got some significant snaps on both of Colorado's final scoring drives in the fourth quarter. The other three starters — center Tim Lynott, left tackle Arlington Hambright and right tackle William Sherman — each played all 75 offensive snaps.
"Ou r interior three, we have to continue to get better there," said O-line coach Chris Kapilovic. "The only way you're going to get better is if you do get some reps in a game. So we have to do that. We're trying to rotate those guys in. Some guys really perform well in a game situation. Some it's too big for them. You're trying to see who are the guys who can rise up and what's our best combination inside."
Saturday provided the first extensive playing time for Roddick and Lytle.
Roddick, Kapilovic said, "Played solid, not great, but it's his first real reps in his career. If you're taking it from that perspective, then he did a pretty good job. If you're taking it from a perspective of what we need to be great, then he still has a little room to grow. I was pleased … he had a good week of practice."
Lytle, meanwhile, also had his moments on both ends of the spectrum.
"He did some good things and there's some things we didn't like, and he knows that," Kapilovic said.
DEFENSIVE STATISTICS: The weekly review of game film by coaches always provides some minor adjustments to the defensive statistics, and this week was no different.
Inside linebacker Nate Landman ended up as the Buffs' leading tackler with 15, including 10 solo stops. Safety Mikial Onu was credited with 12 (also 10 solo) and inside linebacker Akil Jones, who stepped in for a hobbling starter Jonathan Van Diest, had 10 tackles (seven solo and one for a loss).
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
