Op-Ed: Colorado's postseason hopes still alive in final weeks, but at what cost?
With only two games left in the season many are wondering what’s to come for Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes.
For the fourth straight game the Buffs suffered a terrible loss at the hands of a conference opponent. Colorado took a big hit to their bowl aspirations with a 34-31 loss to No. 21 Arizona. CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns on 22 completions. He was also the leading rusher with 13 carries for 29 yards and a touchdown.
We’ve all heard the discussions surrounding the success of this team and how it can be improved. Well, now we sit on the outside looking in as the team has to win out in order for their season to continue beyond the regular season. The real question is would it be worth it?
We already know Shedeur and Shilo Sanders won’t be entering this year's draft so shouldn’t the focus be on improving the team for the next season?
Now, don’t get upset and say this is a way to take shine away from any seniors or anything like that. I’m just saying it’s so many holes within the team that it would be no point to go to a bowl game and potentially lay an egg.
While the defense has made marginal improvements at certain points in the game, the overall product is still less than desired. With a good group of safeties and enticing linebacking corps, it was thought that this defense could cause some issues. Along with the swiss army knife Travis Hunter, the team was brimming with talent. The defense isn’t the only one that needs to be under the scope, CU's offensive line can share some spotlight as well. The lack of pass protection and run block has to be addressed.
That includes coaches as well. There is only so much that can fall on a player before we look at the coaching. If a team is ranked last in rushing and first in sacks it has to be some type of scheme issue as well. Play-calling is another issue that has to be addressed by the coaching staff. A change was made with Sean Lewis handing off to Pat Shurmur, and while they did manage more points, the rest of the offense still had some major issues to address.
Most of the lineman are seniors and won’t be on the team the next season, so it seems to be time to prepare for a crop of offensive lineman. The offense has some stars in the making beyond Sanders. Jimmy Horn Jr is second on the team in receptions and yards while leading the team in touchdowns with six. His NFL future might be closer than people anticipate as he might come out early. The leader in receptions and yards, Xavier Weaver, has been the ultimate opportunist and Sanders' go-to receiver.
This Buffaloes team has talent and has showcased it all season, so what would a bowl game do for them now? I guess that’s a question that has to wait to be answered.
