Boy does it feel good to be wrong! The Colorado Buffaloes went to Salt Lake City and played their best game of the season, winning all three phases of the game. There is a lot to celebrate, with the end of “the streak” and not having to carry it over until next season. Embree called it a springboard for the program moving forward to next season and I agree. I was able to listen to the second half of the game on shoddily connected internet radio from Mexico while it was raining and have since watched the tape. Here are a few thoughts on the last game and the end of the season.
§ OC Eric Bienemy really started coming into his own with some strong playcalling toward the end of the season, including some great opening drives. This game’s opener was great (although helped along by a Utah personal foul on third down) and put the team up 7-0, the first time they had led a game on the road all season. I can’t wait to see him develop more in this aspect in his second season in the booth.
§ From the outset Tyler was spreading the ball all over the field, hitting 10 or 11 receivers througout the game, including getting P-Rich involved early and often. DeVaughn Thorton had a big 52-yard catch (and a bad hold) and FB Evan Harrington got his first career TD!
§ Tony Clemons had another big day although he did have the sloppy fumble on the second drive that could have really put the Buffs in the driver’s seat if they had gotten in the endzone. He was one of the few bright spots down the stretch, however it’s unfortunate he wasted so much of his time here and waited for the last four games of his career to finally decide to play. He even said so in a post game interview.
§ Speedy (wish he a 4 more years of eligibility) was solid and had some good moves at times but re-injured his ankle. Tony Jones came in to spell him early and then replace him and overall looked really good. He gives some hope for next year as he can make all the short RB catches (he did drop one open screen with space) and had some nice runs, but could still use some work on his pass protection.
§ Overall the line gave Tyler some time and opened some decent holes for the RBs. However, they were confused by Utah’s D-line shifts and had 5 or 6 false starts (including two by LG Ethan Adkins)?!
§ The Defense also had a fabulous start with two straight three-and-outs. They had four in the first half and limiting Utah less than 100 yards and zero points. They didn’t get their first first down until less than three minutes remained in the first half.
§ Although Utah ran it down their throat after two injuries to ignite them to start the second half, the D then had two stellar deep stands to twice force missed FGs late. On the last one the Jon Major contributed two losses to set them back for a much longer attempt (of course Josh Hartigan was offsides on that series as well).
§ Everyone was flying around the field and making plays-the TV commentators mentioned it a few times early in the game. Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week LB Jon Major (9), DB Travis Sandersfeld(10) and S Anthony Perkins(10)(who was able to play the whole game) combined for 29 tackles.
§ Utah QB Jon Hays rarely tried to throw at CB Greg Henderson and when they did the true freshman made the play, including a great knock down late in the game. Again, he had some nice one-on-one tackles to go with his tight coverage.
§ The Utah kicker and Kyle Winninham’s gambles gave the special teams to CU! The three missed field goals were obviously key to the final outcome. Derrick Webb made a nice recovery on the ballsy onsides kick, but TFr. WR Tyler McCulloch made the key play when he tagged the kicker who was supposed to make the recovery. Wil Oliver and Darragh O’Neill did their jobs for the Buffs and will be even better next year. The return game was average and can certainly improve next season, likely manned by some freshmen.
§ The worst part of the Pac-12 is the officiating. They are absolutely awful, blowing plays left and right, flagging many phantom fouls and ignoring blatant penalties, as well as taking forever to sort out their confusing calls. I have to totally agree with Joel Klatt on the travesty of personal foul call on Parker Orms’ actually beautiful TEXTBOOK hit late in the game (thankfully that didn’t change the outcome). It was perfectly clean-he led with shoulder, to the body, nowhere near the receivers’ head and his head turned away-he just nailed him really f%*&!ng hard! It’s just scared, reactionary refereeing and they were likely also affected by the play a few snaps previous when LB Patrick Mahnke (great four years of his body and heart given to the program!) destroyed another receiver, again perfectly legally but super hard, and the crowd wanted an (unwarranted) call. I know that Embree and Brownie and the boys will continue to encourage that type of football!
§ Other notes: DB Deji Olatoye and LB Liloa Lobriga will not return to the program next season-they were the last two from the suspended five and just couldn’t fulfill the requirements to make it back onto the team. WR Austin Vincent will likely join them as he was charged with indecent exposure for going into the dorm’s women’s restroom naked-can’t imagine Embree will stick with him; he was not aware of anyone wanting to transfer.
§ The win is huge for the program to show recruits it has turned the corner and with 28 seniors, has a lot of spots to fill for those that want to come here and contribute immediately. This will be a very important class, as it is Embree’s first full recruiting cycle and he has a lot of scholarships to fill that will be the bulk of his roster for the next few years.
§ As grateful as I was on senior day, I am ready to close this chapter and bid adieu this ugh 3-10 season. Time for someone new to run the O (Thanks Tyler and Hello Connor Wood!), time for some young talent to man the TE spot, time for young faces to take over the offensive (see ya Ryan Miller) and defensive lines (time for Juda Parker), time for the real Embree era to commence. He’s already said that a bowl game is the goal for next season and I can’t wait to go with him!
Spring Practices begin March 10 with the Spring Game on April 14.
Go Buffs!
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