Shedeur Sanders refuses to criticize Buffs offensive line after UCLA loss

CU's "Grown" QB took heat for another loss as the struggles continue

Shedeur Sanders wasn't pointing fingers after the 28-16 loss to No. 23 UCLA on Saturday night. The Buffs quarterback took everything in stride after having a noticeable limp throughout most of the second half. He was sacked seven times and took even more hits as the night progressed. It was another bad night for the Buffs upfront trying to protect against the top Bruins defense.

"I'm a little banged up right now," Sanders said after the game. "That's just what happens when you go against a great defense."

Colorado looked one-dimensional without a true rushing attack in the game. Sanders was hampered by being a step slower, and it was detrimental to his ability to scramble with little protection, allowing UCLA's defense to pick everything apart with ease.

Coach Prime and his staff go back to the drawing board to try and figure out how to stop the bleeding on the Buffs offensive line. Tyler Brown being ruled ineligible prior to the season hurt worse than originally expected, but that's what happens when you lose your strongest player. A shuffle of players in and out of the lineup hasn't helped, and at this point, it's time to reevaluate everything.

Colorado managed only 25 rushing yards on 24 attempts and 242 total yards. Shedeur struggled because of the woes but still made outstanding plays while playing hurt.

"I'm a little biased because I'm his father, but I think we have the best quarterback in the country," Deion Sanders said. "I don't think any other quarterback could put up with having to stand and deliver like he has to every week in, week out, taking a beating."

Sanders admitted his son took a painkiller injection at halftime. 

"Overall, we just don't have the fight and the passion to do what we want to do," Sanders said of the Buffs offensive line. "The line has to improve. We have to have enough depth to be able to accomplish the goals that we set out to accomplish."

Colorado returns home to face Oregon State next Saturday. The 11th-ranked Beavers will fall in the Top 25 rankings after a 27-24 late night loss to Arizona in Tucson. Another nationally televised game at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.