Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
The Buffaloes might be the most underrated road team in the nation.
The Colorado Buffaloes made a statement against the Arizona Wildcats in Tucson. Picked to finish 11th in the Big 12 in the preseason media poll, the Buffs are now 3-1 in conference play. After their dominant 34-7 win over Tetairoa McMillan, Noah Fifita, and the Wildcats, it’s not crazy to suggest this is the best team CU has fielded since 2016.
The Buffs looked like a complete football team in all three phases of the game. Colorado’s offense lit up the Arizona secondary, the defense got to the quarterback with easy, and Alejandro Mata didn’t miss. This domination has been a reoccurring theme this season since getting embarrassed by Nebraska in Lincoln, especially on the road. In Colorado’s last three road games, they’ve outscored their opponents 110 to 37.
Deion Sanders doesn’t know why his team has been seemingly unstoppable on the road over the last month, but he’s not complaining. The team is especially focused on the road, and that hasn’t gone unnoticed by Sanders.
“I can’t pinpoint [the reason], but we’re focused,” said Sanders postgame when asked about the team’s road dominance. “We’re really focused on the little things. The night before, the meetings that we have are phenomenal. The walkthroughs are phenomenal.”
While Colorado’s fanbase has grown extensionally across the country after bringing in Deion, the program’s brought in an equal amount of haters and naysayers. Every road game is an opportunity to prove those fans wrong, and Colorado has seized those opportunities and fed off them.
“Sometimes, we like to be booed and naysayed,” said Sanders. “We get that on the road, and I think we’re attracted to that somewhat.”
Seven games into the season, the Buffs have begun to hit their stride. They’ve found their identity. This Buffaloes team will spread and air the ball out, picking apart secondaries all game long. They have a pension for playing man coverage, leaving their corners on islands to fortify their stellar front seven.
The Buffs are a team that wins when they come flying out of the gates but have trouble playing from behind after slow starts. Deion Sanders knows that, and made it a focal point this week. The team answered that call, scoring 28 first-half points against Arizona.
“We really challenged the coordinators on both sides of the ball about the starts,” said Sanders. “We showed statistics of our two losses about the starts and how we started, and the productivity that we didn’t have in the first half... It was imperative that we get off to a tremendous start in the first half.”
Admittedly, Arizona did help the Buffs out with the fast start, giving them the ball at the 50-yard line on the opening kickoff from a surprise onside kick. Colorado scored a touchdown five players later, but it seemed that Sanders wasn’t happy with Brent Brennan’s decision to kick onsides to start the game.
“That’s kinda disrespectful to start it off like that,” said Sanders when asked about the onside kick. “[Thinking] we’re gonna get an onside kick because you’re thinking that we’re not prepared. We prepared for a lot of situational throughout the week, especially on Friday. Hats off to the special teams and the guys up front.”
After putting up 28 points in the first half, Sanders and Colorado’s staff made the decision to pull several key players from the game. Running back Micah Welch and tight end Sam Hart sat for the second half, but Travis Hunter was the most notable player to miss the last 30 minutes of football. Hunter’s absence was due to “preventive measures” according to Colorado’s athletic communications department, as he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury after the Kansas State game.
“[Travis is] a little sore, a little banged up,” said Sanders. “Travis wanted to play. I don’t know if he was quite 100 percent ready, but a half of Travis is a whole of somebody. It affects us on two sides of the ball, but he went out there and showed face and tried his best to do what he’s capable of doing.”
Deion said he noticed Travis wasn’t himself on the first offense drive of the game and ultimately made the decision to pull Colorado’s candidate after things got out of hand just to be extra careful.
“The first fade we threw to [Travis], and he couldn’t extend to go get it, and he kinda reacted late, that’s not Travis.” said Sanders. “I said ‘Man, that’s not you. What are you doing? Are you okay?’ He didn’t wanna come off the field, you know how he is. But I’m proud of him.”
Travis or no Travis, the Buffs showed up on Saturday in Tucson. Now with a 3-1 record in conference play, Colorado can realistically make a run at the Big 12. If the Buffs win out and get a little help, they’ll be playing in Dallas in December.
“This was a tremendous opportunity to start a run that we want to go on,” said Sanders. “I’m proud of the young men. I’m proud of the staff, along with the support staff.”
Colorado, with a hopefully fully healthy Travis Hunter, will face off against the Cincinnati Bearcats next Saturday night at 8:15 pm local. Fans can watch the game broadcast nationally on Fox. The Buffs are currently only 3.5-point underdogs to Cinci, so take advantage of the line while you can.
by RylandScholes
Continue reading...
