Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Focus On Details As They Prepare For Washington State
November 14, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado's Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders is by no means ignoring the Buffaloes' current four-game losing streak.
But while the big picture isn't the image Coach Prime imagined early in the season, he is also quick to note that the Buffs (4-6 overall, 1-6 Pac-12 play) are making steady progress — and getting closer to changing that big picture with a little more attention to the details.
"We might not be where we want to be but we ain't where we used to be," Sanders said at his Tuesday press conference. "It's progress."
Indeed, the Buffs have been knocking on the door of getting back to their winning ways for several weeks. Four of Colorado's last five losses — including three of the last four — have been one-score affairs decided by just a handful of plays.
If the Buffs can make those critical plays at crucial moments, Sanders sees no reason they can't end their skid in Friday's 8:30 p.m. (MT) game at Washington State (FS1).
"We just can't seem to make that play when we have to make that play," Sanders said. "That tackle, that block, that interception, that kick … We just got to be ready for the moment. We never know when the moment is and you have to be prepared."
Colorado's current losing streak started when the Buffs gave up a 29-0 halftime lead to Stanford and lost in double overtime. Since then, CU has lost another game by three points, one by seven and one by 12.
The Buffs had their chances to win every one of those contests well into the fourth quarter — but came up short.
"We have to take care of the little things," Sanders said. "Let's get started with tackling. We got to start tackling better, we got to block better. We got to run the football better. We got to make the plays that we need to make. The third down plays offensively, the third down plays defensively. We have to take advantage of situational football as well. And we just got to be wise. We got to be wise out there on the field and not beat ourselves with foolish penalties at the most opportune times."
But the Buffs won't be getting any sympathy from the Cougars (4-6, 1-6), who have experienced a very similar season to Colorado's this year. After winning their first four — including a victory over Oregon State that pushed them into the nation's top 25 — the Cougars collapsed and have now lost six in a row.
"They're so similar to us statistically, physically, they're really similar," Sanders said. "They really are when you look at this team and what they're capable of doing."
And Sanders remains fully confident in what his team is capable of achieving.
"Real football enthusiasts and just football people who know football know what we're really doing here," he said.
SOLID STATS: Colorado punter Mark Vassett has now placed 11 kicks inside the opponent's 10-yard line and five inside the 5-yard line, both school records … Tight end Michael Harrison has caught five touchdown passes, the most scores by a walkon in CU history … Quarterback Shedeur Sanders now has 3,144 yards passing this season, making him just the third QB in Colorado history to surpass 3,000. He joins Sefo Liufau (3,200 in 2014) and Koy Detmer (3,156 in 1996). Barring misfortune, he should put his name atop that list at Washington State … Colorado is also third in the nation in turnover ratio, with the defense having recorded 18 takeaways this year while the offense has given the ball up just seven times.
FIRST LOOK WSU: The Cougars and Buffs are similar in more ways than just their identical records and recent skids.
Like the Buffs, Washington State has made its offensive living on the efforts of its quarterback. WSU signal caller Cameron Ward has thrown for 3,127 yards, 20 touchdowns and just five interceptions this season, and he's also rushed for 114 yards and six touchdowns.
But if he has a weakness, it has been his tendency to put the ball on the turf. Ward has fumbled 11 times this year and lost seven, a stat that has no doubt caught the CU coaching staff's eyes.
"We have to affect their protection," Sanders said. "We got to get the ball out of his hands. We got to make him fumble the ball."
Also similar to Colorado, the Cougars have had trouble running the ball this season. WSU is 11th in the Pac-12 in rushing yards per game (78.6), ahead of only CU's 69.9 average.
Washington State boasts three receivers with at least 47 catches, led by Lincoln Victor (73 catches, 723 yards, four touchdowns). Kyle Williams has 53 catches for 711 yards and four scores while Josh Kelly has 47 receptions for 687 yards and seven TDs.
Defensively, the Cougars have struggled in their six-game losing streak. WSU allowed at least 38 points in four of the losses, including last weekend's 42-39 loss to Cal. The Cougars are allowing 161 yards per game on the ground — 10th in the conference and just ahead of the Buffs' 172 per contest.
"I'm not gonna say they're not great against the run, but we should have opportunities to run the football as well," Sanders said.
Linebacker Kyle Thornton leads WSU with 76 tackles, including 4.5 for loss. The Cougars have just 17 sacks this season, with edge rusher Brennan Jackson leading the team with 6.5. Defensive back Sam Lockett III leads WSU with two of the Cougars' six interceptions.
RUMOR MILL: One thing that was almost guaranteed this year after Sanders put Colorado back on the map almost overnight was that his name would be attached to coaching openings as soon as they occurred.
That has indeed happened over the last few days, but Sanders brushed those aside.
"I'm here," he said. "My mother's here. My sister's here. My dog is here. My daughter is here, my three sons are here. My other daughter comes to every home game. I get mail here, pay taxes here ... I'm here."
