I can still not get over that drive; I really enjoyed watching it again. Up until the culmination of that drive, this game really was a roller coaster though; for as many nice plays the team made, there was always another bonehead penalty, drop, overthrow or other mistake to taint it. However, down the stretch, when it counted, they flat out dominated an opponent they should beat, building a foundation for the rest of the season. I haven’t seen it mentioned anywhere in the post game yet, I think that as a rivalry game and the first win of the era, this should count for a “Brick”. I can’t wait to see that wall restored! Here's a general review of the sweetest game of the year.
§ The first few offensive drives made some progress but were always halted by a penalty and/or mistake; they even had to burn a timeout early. They couldn’t seem to get in a rhythm and couldn’t convert a key third down. Although Rodney was superman again, he again had some nice runs called back for O-line penalties. Richardson got a couple of early touches, but a few balls were badly thrown or dropped by others.
§ After that first, very scary drive (CSU gained 1/3 of their yardage on that drive-that first screen was killer), the Buffs adjusted well to some new looks by dropping a safety down low, leaving their corners to cover the wideouts on their own and took away the run. CSU used a ton of different formations to start the game, but that was only confusing for so long. By the 3rd screen, they had it figured out and pretty much stuffed them after that. Thomas rarely even tried to go very long. The only other TD after the opener was a trick play with someone else throwing; but that was the only one of many trick plays that succeeded.
§ I had mentioned in the last post that Chad Brown said CSU would ride the momentum for a quarter and a half but then things settle down in a rivalry game like this. This was very prophetic. At almost exactly half way through the 2nd quarter when Colorado took over and Ryan Dannewitz entered the game at LT for TFr. Alex Kelley after 2 holding calls (Not sure why Dannewitz didn’t just start) . It was about this time I remember Mark Johnson saying on KOA that CU had only 13 plays and 37 yards (he restated it after the game as well.) Then Clemons and Stewart combined for five consecutive first downs and found that rhythm for the first time. FB Evan Harrington had some nice blocks along the way. The excellent drive ended with a Hansen 2 yard keeper and the Buffs were in business!
§ The Lambs next drive started ominously as we gave up a cheap interference, then Rippy got into it with a CSU lineman-luckily it was offsetting penalties. On 2nd and 10, one of the few times Thomas threw it deep, Ray Polk leveled the WR with a textbook hit that we could hear on the 5th level. I think that energized the team even more and the next play was a completely busted screen that Thomas threw into the dirt.
§ Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t do much with the ball, but then Darragh O’Neill’s punt was blocked (2nd in 3 games?!), and then incredibly touched by a CSU freshman, and eventually pounced on and recovered by Ryan Deehan. This was a huge play as it completed the shift of momentum in the Buffs favor, and ultimately led to a 10-14 point swing. They almost ran out of time after a bad sack. Tyler made up for it on the next play with a great scramble for a 1st (plus 5 for CSU’s ridiculous 2nd “sideline
interference” call). With only 16 seconds in the half, Tyler whipped a ball into the endzone to a well-covered Kyle Cefalo, who hauled in his 1st ever TD catch. Sometimes you just have to make the play. Additionally, they knew they would get the ball back to start the 2nd half. I was feeling quite confident getting my burger and fries at halftime.
§ Unfortunately, again they could not come out and pound it down CSU’s throat. The 3rd quarter was generally uneventful, both teams gaining some yards, stalling out and punting, until late. That’s when Tony Clemons made his best and worst play of the game, scoring a nice TD when the safety bit on the play fake, but then doing a little dance to draw the celebration flag. That allowed CSU great field position after the kickoff which they promptly returned the score with their 5th or 6th trick play, a double pass that finally worked for them. But that was pretty much it.
§ The Buffs took over with 11:18 on the clock and everyone just wanted them to eat some time and maybe get FG. When I watched the recorded game I just let this drive run without fast-forwarding at all. Even when they held twice, they kept coming back, Rodney, Tony (yes!) and Tyler pounding down the field behind a dominant and confident line. When they got hit for the 2nd hold, they responded with a swing pass that Speedy took for 20+ and the first down at the 14, with 3:40 on the clock. After a few great runs, Tyler finally pushed it in from the 2. The O-line dominated the middle of the field on that last 85 (or 105) yard drive.
§ It was nice to see Cefalo and Clemons get involved, especially when CSU all but took P-(not so)Rich out of the game. Likewise, they finally got Tony Jones some carries and time. We will need him to spell Rodney to keep him fresh in games and as the season wears on (plus EB wants to preserve his record by a few yards), especially if Speedy will be returning punts also (28 total touches vs CSU). I would love to see them get the other two young TEs involved (still haven’t seen Slavin on the field) as they are the TEs next year with both Deehan and Bahr seniors. Overall, the offense was very solid for the latter half of the game. If they can get to a point where they can play the same 5 healthy lineman each week this offense has the potential to be very good. Sione Tau went the whole game at RT, playing okay, but he also allowed some LBs and DEs to blow right by him, as did Dannewitz, but now they both have a lot of experience and…LT David Bahktiari is now listed as probable for OSU!
§ The defense also played well, only getting beaten in the 2nd half by the double pass. Later in the game the D played a lot of nickel and dime and I would think they would have to continue to do so against some pass-heavy Pac-12 competition (although they probably won’t need to as much next week). When they are in the dime package, Deji is opposite Henderson at the corners with Orms and Terrel Smith in the middle as nickels or almost extra safeties and I really like this look against Pac-12 teams as we move through the schedule. Polk seemed more in tune with what was going on and of course delivered the huge hit. Perkins also laid some heavy hits all around the field. Rippy and Major were also solid but neither made the big plays they made vs. Cal. Webb even made some plays at the 4th LB spot;
Mahnke didn’t play on D and TFr. Brady Daigh wasn’t even in pads. The D-line all rotated a lot (didn’t notice Juda Parker); they didn’t give up a whole lot of rushing yards, helped sniff out the screens, and put some other pressure on Pete Thomas (a few sacks and many hurries and knockdowns), especially on that last failed drive. Josh Hartigan made a few plays like blasting a screen pass back in Thomas’ face.
§ I guess we’ll just have to expect special teams to be a roller coaster. The punts and coverage the most so; Ryan Iverson’s long snaps are taking too long to get to O’Neill, and he needs to quicken up his release as well. The three blockers in front of him in that formation must make sure they block their man to the sides and not let them get up in the air. This all needs to be tightened up. However, with teams seeing this on film, they should get aggressive and I would expect to see a fake punt sometime in the next few weeks, especially with O’Neill’s athleticism. CSU was able to manage some decent kickoff returns and Castor kicked the last one, supposed to be a low bouncer, out of bounds?! Wil Oliver only needed to kick 4 PATs, but very well may be kicking off again in Columbus. There was a little improvement on kickoff returns as TFr. S Kyle Washington burned his redshirt (at first I thought the #4 was Keenan Canty) and was out there with Tony Clemons (who also had a nice return to open the 2nd half). Washington looked pretty good for his first action, and, most importantly, didn’t make a stupid mistake or mishandle the ball. He is very fast and will be better with more reps and the experience under his belt.
§ Still the biggest problem: 10 Penalties, terrible and inexcusable. However, after the game Embree said he takes blame for some of the personal fouls, as he “took the leash off”; I would assume he put it back on, at least loosely, at halftime as both teams were warned about the “chippiness”. [I never heard anything else about this though.] Two of the holdings were on Kelley, who started at LT, but was replaced by the dinged up Ryan Dannewitz shortly after that 2nd penalty and never returned (and he never played a snap at RT as was reported elsewhere).
§ One great stat though: just 1 turnover in 3 games (238 snaps).
§ Injury update: LT David Bahktiari –probable, C Daniel Munyer and DE/JLB David Goldberg are day-to-day. Sandersfeld is out for a few weeks.
§ Lastly, there is always a lot of talk about where this game should be played, and after very poor attendance (57,000+ announced-tickets sold- but way less actually there) the call for moving it back to campuses is stronger than ever. Eight more years in Denver seems like a long time. Mike Bohn even said he would not have signed the deal if he had known we were leaving for the Pac-10/12 and would have 9 conference games each season. How about every other year, on campuses, mixing in some Air Force, Wyoming, New Mexico and NMSU, regional draws, winnable games…
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