The
Buffs got blown out as expected by Oregon last week, although it was not nearly
as bad as it could have been. They were
still just way overmatched by the Ducks, which leaves one last game to wash the
dirty taste out of our mouths and get one, just one conference win. On paper,
the Utes are the more talented, successful team that has adjusted much better
to the new conference and are looking forward to a bowl game this year, plus
the 15 extra practices that go with it to further improve their team. However, they have lost three out of four,
will be traveling for a morning kickoff , and Colorado will be celebrating
their seniors. I will remind everyone
also that this is the Pac12 conference where almost everything out of the
ordinary has happened this season, that is, except for a CU conference win.
Senior Day: There appear to be 19 total
seniors (although I have seen the number listed as high as 21) on this roster (including
two graduating walk-ons who could have had another year of eligibility), and
highlighted by five brave players who have endured the two coaching changes and
three different staffs, without ever tasting a winning season or bowl game, but
they deserve to be commended for sticking through it all and helping build what
looks to be a decently bright future for the Buffs. . [Note: DB Jered Bell is also a senior, but
is all but expected to receive a waiver and a sixth year of eligibility since
he missed two full years with ACL injuries.]
Hopefully this team finds a way to win it for them. For a thorough look
at all the seniors, check out Stuart’s tribute (they will all be posted by
Saturday): http://www.cuatthegame.com/2014/a-tribute-to-the-2014-seniors/
§ Buffalo Heart Award: Voted on by fans
around the tailgates and stadium, but started and facilitated by the sections
behind the Colorado bench, the Buffalo Heart Award is given out after the last
game each year to the graduating Buffalo who has shown the most grit and heart,
enduring hardship and overcoming adversity, and representing what it means to
be a Colorado Buffalo. It has been won
by the likes of backup QB Gabe Leonard as well as star WR Scotty McKnight, and
last year it was presented to DB Parker Orms.
Any of the seniors could be recognized as such for what they have endured,
but especially those who have been here since he who must not be named,
including DB Terrell Smith, OL Daniel Munyer and Kawaii Crabb, RB Tony Jones, and
TE Kyle Slavin (ok maybe not him). Some have argued that CB Greg Henderson
might be deserving for having been thrown to the wolves from day one and having
survived on the corner ever since.
Punter Darragh O’Neill came from absolutely nowhere to possibly being
the most valuable player of these last four years, having even been the subject
of a Heisman campaign by a local student podcast: The Silver and Gold Show. I
think that S Terrell Smith is very worthy for having been counted out as too
small every year in camp, but somehow always finding a way to get on the field
and make plays. Jered Bell would have been a candidate, but instead should
return as the frontrunner next season.
§ However,
my number one choice this year has to be LB Brady Daigh, who came in and turned
some heads as a freshman, was slated to be the man under Greg Brown’s defense
as a junior, but was totally derailed by the new staff and a freshman phenom in
Addison Gillam. Embree’s staff had asked
Daigh to put on weight to serve as a run-stopping middle linebacker, but
MacIntyre’s group emphasized speed and had their man in Gillam. Daigh was suddenly
left in the cold as a backup and special teams contributor instead of a team
leader. Yet, we never once heard him
complain, he never wavered in his lifelong dream to be a Buff, and always gave
it his all on the field, no matter what role he was asked to fill. This year he was one of the special teams
leaders, not expected to see the field much on defense. Unfortunately, Gillam
had a disappointing season, between illness and injury, and Daigh came up big
every time his name was called on defense, recognized as one of the better players
in each of those games.
§ Make
sure to cheer all the seniors and vote for the one you think gave the most to
the program through these last four or five trying years. My vote for the Buffalo Heart Award goes to Mullen’s Brady Daigh.
§ Line: Utah is ranked #25 and opened as a
10 point favorite on the road.
§ Injuries/Depth Chart moves: There are
always a lot of injuries by this time of the season and both teams are
affected, but a few stand out…
§ The
biggest question for this game is: “Who is going to start and play at safety
for the Buffs?” They lost their leader
and senior starter Jered Bell in camp; Tedric Thompson took over the leadership
role, was leading the team in tackles while healthy and still leads team with
its only three interceptions, but has been sidelined since overtime of the UCLA
game; Chido Awuzie was poised to take
over and became the new tackling leader, but lacerated a kidney in practice
leading up to Arizona; backup Marques Mosley had already blown out a knee in
special teams play; next up was true frosh Evan White, but he has been battling
concussions; this leaves Terrell Smith (was also banged up but is now “healthy”)
and walk-ons Richard Yates and Ryan Moeller, who actually led the team in
tackles against Oregon, to pick up the slack. White is listed as “day to day”,
and hopefully can play, but I am personally skeptical. CB Akhello Witherspoon is also questionable.
§ RB
Michael Adkins has been ruled out with a knee/ankle. This is very unfortunate, as he was really starting
to look good (=healthy) before coming up lame again after just a few plays in
Tucson. When he was at or near 100%, he
was by far their best back but that was not that often this year. The trio of Jones, Lindsay and Powell will
pick up the slack in whatever strange rotation the offensive coaches have lined
up for this week.
§ What
happened to FB George Frazier, who has seemingly disappeared from the offensive
game plan after having quite a bit of success for a few games? He has been
getting his handful of snaps on defense, but has not touched the ball on
offense in a while.
§ For
Utah, their biggest loss has been WR Dres Anderson, who is done for the
season. However, this has opened the
door for young speedster Kaelin Clay to become a bigger part of the offense
(although he is best known for dropping the ball on the one yard line after
what should have been a 79 yard TD and a 14-0 lead that was instead returned
100 yards the other way, a 14 point swing that tied the game and jumpstarted
Oregon to victory).
When the Buffs have the ball:
§ The
Colorado offense has been record-setting this season, but for all their
success, they have not been able to make the play when they need it most to
extend a drive, failing often on “and one” situations and late in games, making
costly turnovers at the worst times. It’s
not the first time someone says it, but they need to eliminate these mistakes
and take advantage of the opportunities they are presented.
§ With
that being said, the Jordan Gehrke experiment appears to be over as Sefo Liufau
has once again been named the starter.
We could still see some Gehrke though.
§ Although
WR Nelson Spruce still leads the country in receptions (101), he has been
slowed way down from his scorching start, mainly by defenses just being more
aware of him and not giving him as much room to operate. The Buffs have too many other decent weapons
not to take advantage of that attention.
Shay Fields and Bryce Bobo have especially been way too quiet.
§ TE
Kyle Slavin had his best game as a Buff last week and maybe they continue to
get the tight ends more involved. This is an area where they are sorely lacking
for this offense-a threat at TE would open up so much more for the rest of the
skill positions.
§ The
offensive line has turned out to be pretty good, with the running game picking
up and the QBs getting adequate protection (giving up least amount of sacks in
the Pac12-20). That being said, they are
by no means world beaters and Utah will look to take advantage with a strong
defensive line that leads the nation in sacks with 49. Nate Orchard is the national individual
leader with 17.5, plus he is supported by Hunter Dimick, ninth in the country
with 10 of his own (for comparison sake, Derek MacCartney leads the Buffs with
four).
§ Utah
has had a strong defense all year, although they have been less so recently. LB Jared Norris is 3rd in the
conference in tackles and anchors the middle of the field. Safety Brian Blechen leads the secondary and
converted receiver Dominque Hatfiled is their best corner who will likely cover
Spruce most of the time.
§ The
Buffs will be looking to find some room to run after watching last week’s film
of Nick Wilson running for over 200 yards. Sr. RB Tony Jones will certainly get
the start for Senior Day, but we know that quick Phillip Lindsay (fumbling
problems hopefully behind him) and bruising Christian Powell (snaps limited due
to multiple concussions?) will complement him.
I hope that if someone gets rolling that they stick with the hot hand,
although they have stuck to their rotations and have suffered as a result. No matter what, they will miss Adkins, who
even with his injuries is still leading the team in rushing yards with
398. The other three are each within 37
yards of that mark and whoever leads the team on Saturday will likely end up as
the team leader for the season.
When the Utes have the ball:
§ Utah’s
strength is a stellar running game led by Devontae Booker, who has got to be
licking his chops for this one against one of the weaker defensive fronts in
the conference, one that has routinely given up huge chunks of yardage on the
ground. I expect the Utes to run early
and often (MacIntyre expects upwards of 30 touches), daring the Buffs to stop
them, while taking some play action shots over the top. That may sound like a pretty simple game
plan, but I think that is all they need.
§ QB
Travis Wilson doesn’t need to do anything fancy, just play mistake free ball,
and take a few shots to Kaelin Clay down field. Kenneth Scott is another player
who can make plays.
§ It
would be a great day for Addison Gillam to return to his freshman form. Kenneth Olugbode has gotten better as the
season has progressed and might be due for a breakout game. With the focus on the run game for Utah,
Woodson Greer may even make his second start of the year and see a lot of the
field. This linebacking corps needs to
make a few more tackles so the secondary doesn’t have to continue leading the
team every week.
§ The
secondary will obviously be key with backup safeties and expect Utah to test
them. It is Greg Henderson’s record-setting 45th start and as he is
without an interception this year, look for him to take some chances and make a
play.
§ The
defensive line has overall been disappointing outside of Derek McCartney and
the occasional Jimmie Gilbert sighting. Everyone else, from senior Juda Parker,
to juniors Josh Tupou, to the true frosh Christian Shaver and Eddy Lopez have
been relatively quiet. They will need to
get some push and make some tackles on the running backs so that Utah does not
control the game.
Special Teams:
§ Utah
owns all advantages in this phase. Ute
punter Tom Hackett, and not our own Darragh O’Neill, has made the final three
for the Ray Guy Award. Andy Phillips is
one of the best kickers in the conference if not the country. If Kaelin Clay catches one in play with any
kind of space in front of him, he is a threat to take it the distance (4 return
TDs this year), and I doubt he will drop the ball on the one again.
§ Phillip
Lindsay is now nationally ranked as a kickoff returner and one of the only
saving graces for Toby Neinas. Actually,
the punt returns have been much improved, but they were all but non-existent
last year.
§ However,
the CU acoverage teams have been awful
whenever the senior punter and kicker (the other saving graces) let an opponent
field a return.
§ Overall, this looks like a Pac12 game that will have some crazy
swings and go down to the wire, but some way, somehow the Buffs are going to
find a way to finally make that one play and win a fucking conference
game! Buffs 37-Utah 33
§ If
you really need some more before one
last ungodly kickoff time:
Stuart’s
TIPS: http://www.cuatthegame.com/2014/utah-at-colorado-a-preview/
Rumblin’
Preview: http://rumblinbuff.blogspot.com/2014/11/2014-utah-football-preview-finish-line.html
Ralphie
Report One Key Matchup: http://www.ralphiereport.com/buffaloes-utes/2014/11/26/7290863/colorado-buffaloes-vs-utah-utes-one-key-matchup
RR
Preview: http://www.ralphiereport.com/buffaloes-utes/2014/11/28/7289855/buffs-vs-utes-the-final-preview
Plati’s
CU Game Notes: http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/gameday/utah14/cunotes.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=600
Utah Game
Notes: couldn’t find these but they might be available on the CU site now
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