Colorado University Athletics
BUFFS BRACE FOR TECH ATTACK, QB SYMONS
BOULDER ? As the University of Colorado football team (3-5, 1-3 Big 12) continued its preparations for this Saturday’s game at Texas Tech (5:10 p.m. MST, Fox Sports Net), the Buffs remained focused Wednesday evening knowing they are about to encounter the country’s most dangerous passer.
Led by quarterback B.J. Symons, Texas Tech (5-3, 2-2 Big 12) will host CU in Lubbock this weekend, ready to showcase its nation-leading passing attack, which is averaging 513.5 yards per game. The Red Raiders?who have thrown the ball 320 more times than they have run it?are considered one of the most explosive offenses in college football this season, capable of striking with an unyielding aerial force.
“As we try to get ready for this team this week, we have to use every body that can run a pass route in practice and everybody that can rush a passer as well,” CU head coach Gary Barnett stated Tuesday. “You have to prepare your mind for (TT’s pass assualt) because you know they’re going to get yards, you know they’re going to complete passes and you’ve got to be somewhat patient in understanding that that’s just the way this game is going to go.”
Symons, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior, has completed 304-of-459 attempts on the year, tossing for 3,914 yards, 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions through just eight games. Last week in TT’s 62-31 loss to Missouri, the Texas native (Houston) threw for 408 yards and four touchdowns. Against Mississippi in the fourth game of the season, he set the NCAA’s third best single-game passing total, netting 661 yards and six touchdowns. Currently, the Tech gunslinger leads the nation in passing yards, completions, attempts, touchdown passes, yards per game (489.2) and total offense per contest (501.9).
Come Saturday, as the Buffs look to take the lead in the all-time series (currently tied 3-3), CU will be locked in on Symons and his arsenal of potent weapons. Knowing it’s inevitable that Tech will post gaudy pass numbers, Barnett and his defense’s main priority will be to keep Symons and Co. off the field as much as possible.
“You have to find a way to keep their offense off the field, and you have to make plays on defense in order to win this game,” Barnett said. “You have to stop them from scoring too many points in this type of game.”
“We understand that it’s important for our offense to eat up as much time as possible while we’re on the field,” sophomore quarterback Joel Klatt added. “We must make sure that we sustain our drives and put points on the board when we get the chance.”
With numerous targets to choose from, Symons has hooked up with five different receivers 40 or more times this season. Led by Wes Welker and Carlos Francis, the Raiders receiving corps has three players who rank in the Big 12’s top five in receptions per game. Welker has 63 catches for 735 yards and six scores on the year, while Francis has reeled in 51 for a team-high 846 yards and seven touchdowns. Rounding out the talented trio is Taurean Henderson, a 5-9, 179-pounder who serves as a dual threat out of the backfield. The sophomore has caught the ball 50 times for 393 yards and three touchdowns thus far, and has also gained 434 yards on 64 rushing attempts. He has scored four times on the ground.
“This is my type of game,” said senior safety Medford Moorer, who returned an interception for a touchdown last year against Tech in CU’s 37-13 win in Boulder. “They are going to throw it a lot and we’re going to have to defend it a lot. We know it’s going to be hostile down there and that their offense will be in full force.”
“They are going to throw it 65 to 70 times a game,” freshman cornerback Terrence Wheatley added. “That means 65 times in the air and 65 interception possibilities. I get really excited about that.”
Wednesday Practice Notes: Barnett said the Buffs’ practice was “good, enthusiastic" especially on defense. On defense we had good spirit and a great go.”