Colorado University Athletics
Coach Prime Says Buffs Learning To Face Adversity
November 07, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado's Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders is confident that his Buffaloes are on the verge of curing their recent ills.
The Buffs (4-5 overall, 1-5 Pac-12) have lost three in a row and five of their last six — but the average margin of defeat in four of those losses is just more than seven points.
"I wish you could only understand how close we are to being what we want to be and doing what we want to do," Sanders told the media at his weekly Tuesday press conference. "We have to learn how to win. We got to seize the moments, we got to take advantage of the opportunities presented — and we can't faint in the midst of adversity. We got to stand tall in the midst of adversity and we're learning that. That's the process."
The Buffs will have another opportunity to make that leap Saturday when they play host to No. 23 Arizona (6-3, 4-2) in a noon game at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Networks).
"I'm truly as impatient as you are, and the young men in that locker room they're impatient as well, but they want it," Sanders said. "I can't say they don't want it — they truly do, because they have not given up."
Sanders and his staff took the time this week to present the team with some positive reinforcement in the way of statistics. He reminded the Buffs that they are nationally ranked in a number of categories — one reason they started the season 3-0 and were ranked in the nation's top 20 after the first three weeks of the season.
CU coaches reminded the Buffs that they have forced 18 turnovers, tied for fourth in the nation. Their eight fumble recoveries are also tied for fourth in the country, their 10 interceptions are tied for seventh best and CU's 23 sacks are tied for 12th.
Offensively, Colorado is averaging 16 more points per game than the Buffs were managing at this point of the season a year ago and Colorado's passing game has produced 24 touchdowns and three interceptions, compared to eight and eight one year ago.
"There's a tremendous amount of positives that we must lean on with these young men because they're playing their butts off," Coach Prime said. "There's no quit in them and that's one thing that draws me closer and closer to them and I love it. They have not shut it down."
One of the major positives in the last two weeks has been a dramatically improved effort from the defense. The Buffs have yielded an average of 27 points in the last two games — both against ranked opponents — and have forced six turnovers in those contests.
Most importantly, coordinator Charles Kelly's defense kept the Buffs in both games down to the end.
"The defense is getting it, they're understanding the scheme," Sanders said. "They understand the expectation and they have constant, consistent energy … They're tough-nosed and tough-minded. And when we get everybody on the same page, it's going to be extraordinary."
But the offense has been struggling the last few weeks — something most observers probably didn't expect after Colorado's hot start to the season.
Early in the year, CU was among the national leaders in a number of offensive categories. But over the last two weeks, Colorado hasn't broken the 20-point barrier, the running game continues to be one of the nation's least productive (now averaging just 69.1 yards per game) and quarterback Shedeur Sanders continues to be subjected to relentless pressure (45 sacks, the most of any FBS quarterback in the nation).
Those struggles led to Colorado making a change in play calling duties last week. Sanders elevated analyst Pat Shurmur to co-offensive coordinator and handed him play calling responsibility.
The immediate result didn't prove to be much different than the previous few weeks. The Buffs offense finished with 238 total yards in a 26-19 loss to Oregon State and produced just one field goal in the first three quarters before tacking on two long scoring drives late in the game.
But Sanders said the Buffs "got better" last week.
"We did some positive things that you're one play away," he said. "You're one block away, you're one missed assignment away. You're one step too deep on a route. You're one drop away from accomplishing what you desire to accomplish. But we have to stop that. We have to have a consistency and make those plays happen instead of allowing those plays to escape us."
HUNTER HONORED: Buffs cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter was named to the Paul Hornung Award weekly honor roll for the fourth time this season for his efforts against Oregon State.
Hunter played 126 snaps in the game, including 75 on offense, where he was the Buffs' leading receiver with 8 catches for 98 yards.
Hunter is just the third player in the last 25 years to catch at least 30 passes and record three interceptions in the same season, joining Chris Gamble (2002) and Champ Bailey (1998).
FIRST LOOK ARIZONA: The Wildcats jumped back into the top 25 this week for the first time since 2017 after beating No. 19 UCLA 27-10, their third straight win over a ranked opponent and their fifth game in a row against a ranked foe.
Arizona has made steady progress under head coach Jedd Fisch, now in his third year at UA. The Wildcats were 1-11 in his first season, then improved to 5-7 last year.
Now, they are nationally ranked and bowl eligible. Their two league losses were to Washington by seven points and USC by two in three overtimes. Then came wins over Washington State, Oregon State and UCLA.
Fisch and CU's Sanders crossed paths in the NFL, when Sanders played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2004-05 and Fisch was an offensive assistant there.
The Wildcats have made their ascension with an offense that is averaging just more than 30 points per game and a defense that is giving up less than 20 per game.
Maybe the biggest story for the 'Cats this season has been the development of freshman quarterback Noah Fifita, who stepped into the starting role after Jayden de Laura was injured against Stanford.
In the five games since, Fifita has led the 'Cats to a 3-2 record with 1,452 yards and 14 touchdowns, including three-score games against UCLA and Oregon State.
Arizona's top receivers are Tetairoa McMcMillan (52 catches, 753 yards, 7 touchdowns) and Jacob Cowing (69-510, 9 TDs). Former Buff Montana Lemonious-Craig, who transferred to UA after spring ball in Boulder, has 20 catches for 183 yards and two scores.
Defensively, linebacker Jacob Manu leads UA with 79 tackles, including 7.5 for loss. Defensive lineman Taylor Upshaw — who transferred from Michigan to Colorado last spring, then left CU for Arizona after spring ball — leads the Wildcats with 7.5 sacks.
Arizona does not force many turnovers. The 'Cats have just two interceptions this season and have recovered just six fumbles.
But they are fourth in the Pac-12 in rush defense, allowing just more than 101 yards per game on the ground.
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