Fast Five Keys For Buffs Vs. Arizona

BOULDER — There's no secret sauce required this week for the Colorado Buffaloes to end their losing streak and turn their season back in the right direction.

The Buffaloes (1-4 overall, 0-2 Pac-12) simply need to find a way to put together all the things they've done well at different points of the season into one 60-minute package.

If they can do that Saturday against Arizona (0-5, 0-2) in their 1:30 p.m. matchup at Folsom Field, they have a very good chance of ending their four-game skid and giving themselves a chance to still make something good of this season.

CU's offense, while enduring more than its share of struggles, has moved the ball well on occasion, particularly on the ground. The Buffs' defense has kept the Buffs within striking range for most of the season. And Colorado's special teams have been solid, in particular a punting unit that has done its job in flipping field position on a regular basis.

But as for doing all those things consistently over the span of four quarters … that hasn't happened since an opening win over Northern Colorado.

Now the Buffs need to produce that consistency against an FBS team — and CU couldn't ask for a better opportunity than against a program that has lost 17 games in a row.

Our weekly Fast Five Keys for Karl Dorrell's Buffs:

1. Run the ball early, often and consistently. While it seems like a distant memory, it was just 10 months ago that the Buffaloes unleashed a 407-yard rushing performance on the Wildcats in a 24-13 victory in Tucson.

Jarek Broussard did most of the damage, rushing for 301 yards on a night that saw him pop runs of 79, 72 and 59 yards.

While no one is expecting another 300-yard game from Broussard, the chance for the Buffs to get their run game back on track is there. The Wildcats are giving up nearly 220 yards per game on the ground, with opponents averaging 5.04 yards per attempt. Last week, UCLA rang up 329 yards on the ground in a 34-16 win over the 'Cats.

Colorado's offensive line has struggled in recent weeks. Saturday would be a very good time for the unit to regain some of the push and continuity it has displayed at times this season.

2. Get aggressive on defense. Not that the Buffs haven't tried to force the issue this year — but this is a chance for CU's defenders to make up for lost time in the takeaway department.

In five games this year, the Wildcats have turned the ball over 12 times — nine interceptions and three fumbles.

The Buffs haven't been a takeaway machine. They have forced just three turnovers in five games. But the numbers suggest the opportunity will be there Saturday.

3. Disrupt Arizona QB Gunner Cruz early. The quarterback spot has been a bit of a merry-go-round for the Wildcats this year, with three different players getting at least one start.

Cruz started the first two games, then gave way to Will Plummer, who got just one start before the 'Cats handed the reins to Jordan McCloud. But McCloud suffered a season-ending injury last week against UCLA and Cruz is once again back in the driver's seat.

Cruz is not a big threat to run. He has a minus-33 yards rushing this season, thanks in big part to being sacked eight times in his two starts. He did have a 336-yard passing day in an opening loss to BYU, but a week later in a loss to SDSU, he had just 70 yards and an interception.

The Buffs need to make sure his head is on a swivel from the get-go. If they can knock him off his spot in the pocket a couple times early, they'll have him wondering from where the next hit is coming instead of looking downfield.

4. Be a fourth-quarter team. While the Wildcats haven't won this year, they've played their share of close games. They trailed UCLA just 17-16 in the third quarter and were within 24-19 of Oregon heading into the final period — only to see the opponent put the game away down the stretch in both games.

The Buffs, meanwhile, have had their own share of fourth-quarter woes. In the last four games, CU has been shut out three times in the fourth quarter and managed only a field goal in the other.

This is a game that could very well come down to who has the ability to close. If the Buffs can win the fourth quarter, they have a very good chance of winning the game.

5. Play with confidence. This is obviously easier said than done. Colorado has had a rough stretch over the last month.

But the vast majority of players on this year's team were around last season, when Colorado won its first four games and had everyone in the Pac-12 looking toward Boulder. When this season began, they had the confidence of a team ready to make some noise in the Pac-12 South.

They need to regain a little of that swagger. There's still time this season to produce some big moments and positive momentum.

But the clock is ticking — and Saturday is the perfect opportunity for the Buffs to give themselves a fresh start.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu

Players Mentioned

Jarek Broussard

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