Fast Five: Keys For Buffs Vs. Oregon State
October 21, 2022 | Football, Neill Woelk
CORVALLIS, Ore. — When Mike Sanford took the reins as Colorado's interim head coach, the Buffaloes had seven games remaining — six against teams with winning records.
Now, after last weekend's 20-13 overtime win against Cal, the road doesn't get any easier.
Five of CU's remaining six opponents — beginning with Saturday's game at Oregon State — have winning records. Three are ranked in the nation's top 15 this week, with the Beavers in the "also receiving votes" category.
The Buffs (1-5 overall, 1-2 Pac-12) will kick it off against OSU (5-2, 2-2) in a 6 p.m. contest Saturday at Reser Stadium, with KOA Radio providing the broadcast and the Pac-12 Network televising the game.
The Beavers, in their fifth season under head coach Jonathan Smith, have slowly but steadily made the climb back to respectability in his tenure. OSU dominated Boise State, 34-17, in its opener this year, the beginning of a 3-0 start.
Then came a heartbreaking 17-14 loss to USC, followed by a 42-16 thumping at the hands of Utah.
But the Beavers have rebounded the last two weeks, knocking off Stanford (28-27) and Washington State (24-10).
The Beavers are by no means fancy. They boast a balanced attack that averages 184 yards rushing and 234 yards passing per game. After starter Chance Nolan threw eight interceptions in OSU's first five games, the Beavers turned to Ben Gulbranson, who has led them to wins in their last two games.
They also have an outstanding freshman running back in Damien Martinez, who ran for 111 yards in the win over Washington State. Big back Jack Colletto, a two-way player, has carried 17 times for 72 yards and six touchdowns this year (he has 22 scores in his career), and has also recorded 14 tackles and a fumble recovery as a backup linebacker.
But the Beavers have hung their hat on defense this year. OSU has allowed more than 30 points just twice and is allowing opponents just 125 yards per game on the ground. Sanford has known Oregon State defensive coordinator Trent Bray for years, and is familiar with his reputation for putting sound defenses on the field.
"They have good personnel, they play physical, they play tough, they don't give you a lot of gifts," Sanford said. "You have to earn everything you get."
For the Buffs, that will mean taking another step forward offensively. Colorado ran for just 118 yards and threw for 210 in the win over Cal, numbers that will almost certainly have to improve if the Buffs want to be in the game down the stretch Saturday.
The Buffs had four dropped passes against Cal, including a long one on the first play of the game that almost certainly would have been a touchdown had Daniel Arias managed to haul it in.
But the Buffs will also have to contend Saturday with a solid OSU pass rush, one that produced six quarterback sacks in last weekend's win over Washington State.
The series between the two teams is tied 6-6, and it's been a wild one in recent years.
Colorado won last year in Boulder, 37-34, in overtime. In the previous meeting, also in Boulder, Oregon State overcame a 31-3 deficit to collect a 41-34 victory in overtime in 2018.
The Buffs have had good luck in Corvallis, winning the last two (2015 and 2017).
The keys for CU on Saturday:
1. Win the turnover battle. Colorado actually lost that battle last week against Cal, giving up three turnovers and collecting two takeaways.
But the Buffs will need to give their offense every opportunity possible, which means creating some of those game-changing moments on defense and taking care of the ball on offense.
Turnovers have been a thorn in OSU's side this year. The Beavers' two quarterbacks have combined for 11 interceptions (eight by Nolan, three by Gulbranson). In their two losses they've committed eight turnovers, which have led to 31 points for the opponent.
The Buffs need to add to that total Saturday, and their best route to that goal is ...
2. Stop OSU's run game. When the Beavers run for at least 175 yards, they are 5-0. When held to less than that, they are 0-2.
OSU loves to control the tempo and clock with its run game. Freshman RB Damien Martinez (111 yards vs. Washington State) is the workhorse, but when the Beavers get close to the goal line, they turn to Colletto.
Colorado has to stop the run on first and second down, put the Beavers behind the sticks and force them to throw. That means more big games from linebackers Josh Chandler-Semedo and D-linemen Na'im Rodman, Jalen Sami and Terrance Lang.
3. Protect the quarterback. Sanford announced earlier this week that J.T. Shrout will get his third start of the season Saturday. The Buffs need to give him every opportunity to succeed.
It won't be easy. The Beavers had six quarterback sacks in last week's win over Washington State and four the previous week in a win over Stanford.
CU's offensive line had its best protection game of the year against Cal, allowing just one sack. The Buffs will need to replicate that effort against OSU's pass rush.
4. Win the explosive plays battle. Oregon State has 35 plays of 20 yards or longer this year; the Buffs have allowed 38 plays of 20-plus yards.
But Colorado's defense made a huge improvement in that department last weekend, allowing Cal just three plays of 20 yards or longer, with the longest just 24 yards.
Offensively, CU also made strides in that department, notching three explosive plays against the Bears, including gains of 41 and 37 yards.
The Buffs need to produce more of those "chunk" plays and limit OSU's big-play capability.
5. Play with passion. Anyone who watched last week's win over Cal could see the enthusiasm, excitement and passion on Colorado's sidelines. Sanford has injected some new life into the locker room and the Buffs have responded.
There will no doubt be some moments of adversity on Saturday. But if the Buffs can weather those storms, they can be in the game down the stretch — and thanks to last week's win, they now know they can win a close game.
