Note: I am heading to Mexico so I won’t be fully in touch with the Buff World during the week (not even sure if I will be able to watch the game) and therefore will not make the regular posts. This post will combine some UCLA postgame items and an intro to the Utes. I will provide a full recap of the Utah game upon my return, as well as subsequent posts on the state of the CU program, recruiting and future outlook.
§ I was happy when CU won the toss and chose to take the kickoff for the first time this season. That was about it. UCLA was obviously pumped up and came out ready to play. Our D got beat on the 2nd play of the game-no push by the defensive line and Prince was able to dial it up to his receiver who ran right by Jason Espinoza while Terrell Smith started chasing way too late. Ridiculous amount of 30+ yard plays given up this year.
§ When senior TE Ryan Deehan let the ball bounce right through his hands for the easy pick (the second time he’s done that this year), he compounds the situation by ripping the LBs helmet off for 15 extra yards. Few more plays and its 14-0. The Buffs were awful in the first quarter and that’s all it took as they were behind 21-0 way too early and basically out of the game.
§ There’s very little positive to say-Clemons had some nice catches including the TD and Speedy ground out a few yards here and there; Patrick Mahnke had some nice tackles and the defense tightened up for while in the second and third-and Derrick Webb’s strip and Henderson’s recovery were nice but too little too late. Overall it is just not nearly enough. Numerous people on UCLA made plays on both sides of the ball.
§ Players with connections: P-Rich had only 2-3 short catches again; Joseph Fauria had a few catches and a TD, Taylor Embree got the W for bragging rights but couldn’t haul in a TD twice and had a few punt returns where he didn’t fair catch but ran it straight up the middle for a few extra yards; Josh Smith just had a few kick returns; Kai Maiva didn’t make any mistakes as UCLA’s center.
§ Another game giving up over 500 yards and 40+ points.
§ Very worried about defensive line as they were stood up all night long by the Bruin offensive linemen. Prince had lots of time and very little pressure, lots of space for the RBs. There is not much there and nothing else really in the stable.
§ Too many missed tackles by the front seven in general. Buffs DBs make way too many tackles-no wonder they are hurt so much.
§ Offensive line wasn’t much better as Rodney was bottled up and Tyler was running all over the backfield. He got injured when a defender came screaming in untouched. Kawai Crabb had to replace the ineffective Gus Handler at center for awhile. Loved it when senior captain Ryan Miller jumped offside on third-and-1 when the game was still at least hypothetically in reach; the follow-up 4-yard pass route by Deehan on third-and-6 was almost as stupid (was that really the play call?)
§ Anything positive I had to say last week is basically attributed to how bad Arizona is and senior adrenaline.
§ At least I am not aware of any significant injuries. Kyle Washington, Logan Gray and Brian Lockridge all were able to play. I really hope Anthony Perkins can somehow play in his last game as a Buff at Utah.
§ I am sadly just ready for the end of the season and moving forward toward 2012. I have very little hope of actually going into Utah and getting a win.
§ Utah doesn’t really feel like a rivalry does it? The powers that be would love it to become one for the symmetrical quality it would help the Pac-12 maintain on the last weekend of the season before the championship game. There will be all kinds of references throughout the week trying to justify it as a rivalry, but it is really just a game between two programs that have limped into the Pacific conference and could really use a win to end the season. At least they are red. The two teams do share a deep history, it’s just that its really deep, not just 100+ years old, but going back 50+ years since they actually last played, even though they have played 50+ times.
§ I thought that for the third straight week both teams would be thinking they can and should beat the other, but not sure the Buffs have any right to think they can win now. The two Pac-12 newbies would like to make their statement against each other while the most of the rest of the conference plays their obvious geographical and historical rival. Utah will show they definitely belong by finishing with a big win and a winning record in the conference but not so much if they give up our streak. Colorado can redeem themselves somewhat with a win that would feel way bigger than any win outside a championship should, or just limp into the bowl season with remote control in hand.
§ For the second straight week the Buffs will be facing a team on their Senior Day. It certainly worked for the Buffs and then UCLA so I don’t expect anything different from Utah. They too will come out fired up and with lots of energy. CU has had a lot of problems matching intensity at the start of games, especially on the road. I fear this too could be decided early.
§ Utah QB Jordan Wynn is still out and they are not the same team without him. I wonder what we could have been with him under center…remember, he was a CU commit until he realized it was going to be two seasons before he had any shot at playing with Cody here so he went to Utah and has shown he is very capable when healthy.
§ Without Wynn in the lineup, RB John White has been the savior of the Utah offense. When he rushes for 100 yards they win, when he doesn’t they lose. Seems like a simple game plan for Greg Brown then, no? However, once teams watch film of this defense, they will want to pass.
§ Utah is coming off a late win against Washington State in Pullman and riding with some confidence as they beat UCLA 31-6. Their offense has begun clicking with Jon Hays at QB and they too will be salivating at the film of the Buffs defense.
§ CU will have to do everything right, which is so doubtful at this point, to have any chance on the road at Utah. Embree and the staff and the returning players will likely have to suffer through a very long offseason, stewing on an embarrassing 2-11 record and the added pressure of a twenty-don’t-know-how-many-now road game losing streak.
Happy Thanksgiving! Go Buffs!
§ Please check out these websites if you are jonesing for some Buff news:
Stuart’s CU at the Game: http://www.cuatthegame.com/
The Ralphie Report: http://www.ralphiereport.com/
Daily Camera’s Buffzone: http://www.buffzone.com/
Utah’s fan site “Block U”: http://www.blocku.com/
Go buffs! Break the streak!
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