Colorado
UCLA
Fast Five: Keys For Buffs At UCLA
October 27, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk
PASADENA, Calif. — The last two weeks have been long ones for Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders' Colorado Buffaloes.
That's how long the Buffs have had to chew on their last outing, a 46-43 double overtime loss to Stanford that no doubt left a bad taste in their mouths.
But Saturday, they finally get the chance to sink their teeth into another game, a 5:30 p.m. (MT) matchup with No. 23 UCLA at the Rose Bowl.
Truth is, it's more than just the Stanford game that has been gnawing on the Buffs. After a 3-0 start that vaulted CU into the nation's top 25, Colorado (4-3, 1-3 Pac-12) has lost three of its last four.
The biggest issue for Colorado in that stretch has been consistency on both sides of the ball. CU's offense has been incredibly productive at times — and ineffective at others. The defense, meanwhile, has struggled to produce big stops on a steady basis.
The bottom line? Colorado is averaging more than 34 points per game while giving up nearly 36. Not since early in the season has CU managed to put together a solid 60-minute effort.
It won't be easy to get back on track against the Bruins. UCLA's defense has been outstanding this year, holding six opponents to fewer than 20 points and currently ranked 10th in the nation in scoring defense (14.9 points per game).
Meanwhile, the UCLA offense has been productive, averaging more than 31 points per game with a balanced attack that has produced 216 yards per game on the ground and 249 in the air.
So how do the Buffs get back to that point against Chip Kelly's Bruins?
Our weekly Fast Five:
1. Win the third- and fourth-down conversion battle. Prior to the Stanford game, Colorado had been solid in this area. But the Buffs were just 6-for-13 on third downs and 0-2 on fourth-down tries against the Cardinal — with both of those failed fourth down attempts leading to Stanford touchdowns.
UCLA, meanwhile, has been excellent in this area on defense, allowing opponents to convert just 31 percent of their third-down attempts (32-for-103) and only three of 11 fourth-down tries.
Colorado's defense has also been susceptible here, allowing opponents to convert 45 percent of their third downs (46-102) and more than 50 percent of fourth down attempts (7-13).
The Buffs have to flip the script here. Colorado has to keep drives alive by converting those third downs — and also be judicious when electing to take those fourth-down gambles.
The key will be …
2. Give QB Shedeur Sanders time in the pocket. It's no secret Colorado's offensive line has had trouble protecting the quarterback. The Buffs have given up 35 sacks this year — the most in the country among Power 5 teams — and UCLA is well aware of those issues.
"We need to disrupt the timing and the routes," Kelly told reporters. "We really need to get pressure on him."
When Sanders has time, he has a host of weapons and knows how to use them. But the Buff have to make sure he's not under pressure from the get-go Saturday, which won't be an easy task. UCLA has recorded 56 tackles for loss this year, including 24 sacks.
Colorado can't allow the Bruins to significantly increase that total Saturday.
3. Stop UCLA's run game. The Buffs are giving up an average of 157 yards per game on the ground — not good news against a UCLA team that is averaging just under 216 per game.
But CU has to contain the Bruins' one-two punch of Carson Steele and TJ Harden, who have combined for 987 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
If the Buffs can force UCLA to go to the air, they'll be in the game. CU will likely see veteran quarterback Ethan Garbers, who replaced freshman Dante Moore as the starter last week and guided the Bruins to a win over Stanford.
Garbers is solid but not spectacular, and he can be forced to make mistakes — he has two interceptions and just three touchdown passes this season. For his career, he's thrown seven TDs and six picks.
That leads us to …
4. Rediscover their takeaway mojo and get to the quarterback. In their first three games this year, the Buffs' defense forced 10 turnovers — six interceptions and four fumble recoveries.
But since then, the takeaways have been few and far between. In CU's last four games, the Buffs have forced just two turnovers (two interceptions) — and they've come up empty in each of the last two games.
Meanwhile, UCLA has been susceptible to offensive mistakes. The Bruins gave up seven sacks in a 14-7 loss to Utah and threw three interceptions (including a pick six) in a 36-24 loss to Oregon State.
The Buffs need to get their early season takeaway trend back in place. If they can force some UCLA mistakes — especially early — they can take a sellout Rose Bowl crowd out of the game.
5. Play a 60-minute game. Colorado has put together outstanding stretches on both sides of the ball this year. The offense was spectacular in a 45-42 win over TCU, put up huge numbers in the first half against Stanford and second half against USC and had a memorable fourth quarter against Colorado State.
The defense has also had its moments, setting the table for rallies against USC and Colorado State, and keeping Nebraska at bay until the offense could find its footing.
But, much to the chagrin of Coach Prime and his staff, the Buffs haven't put together a solid effort on both sides of the ball for four quarters this season. It has led to some heart-stopping moments and finally, two weeks ago, the biggest comeback by an opponent in Colorado history.
Eight games into the season, it's critical that CU find a way to produce a solid 60-minute effort. If the Buffs can do that, they'll have a great chance at being in the game down the stretch — and possibly walking away with their second road win over a ranked team this season.
