'We Coming' takes on a new meaning in Buffs' final four games
Watching the Colorado Buffaloes talented quarterback Shedeur Sanders continue to take a beating behind a beleaguered and injury-riddled offensive line is difficult to watch. The junior was sacked another seven times in the loss to No. 23 UCLA on a beautiful night for football at the Rose Bowl.
Well, it was a beautiful night for fans in the iconic setting. It was anything but for Sanders and makes you wonder, “What can Coach Prime and staff do to protect, outside of two-way standout Travis Hunter, the team’s greatest asset?
It’s been reported the 6’2” signal caller took a pain injection at halftime. Observing the games makes you cringe in fear for the young man’s health. Here’s some unsolicited advice from an observer of Colorado football for almost 40 years: Adjust the offense.
Run the ball more often, if nothing else to preserve the health of your quarterback until off season recruits and transfers bolster the offensive line talent and depth. Sanders is an easy target and already taking pain-killers at halftime? This is a recipe for disaster if the talented passer goes down with a major injury.
Four games remain. It’s probable the Buffs will be underdogs in each. 16th-ranked Oregon State rolls into Folsom Field for another of those undesirable late-evening starts this Saturday. The Beavers, 6-2, lost to the fast-improving University of Arizona in Tucson last weekend. The Wildcats come a calling the following week in the Buffs home-finale before road contests against Washington State and Utah end the regular season.
Realistically, winning two of four games and becoming bowl eligible seems remote. How about making adjustments designed to preserve Sanders’ health? Commit to working on developing a running game (only 38 yards against the Bruins) and give the woeful offensive line a chance to do what most big fellas up front really enjoy: fire off the football, smack the guy across the line and see who can win the battle.
Admittedly, this might be a sacrificing CU’s chances of victory. However, what’s the ol’ saying, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” Pass blocking is a difficult skill to master. The Buffs are flunking the test.
Watching the gutty Sanders take shot and after shot takes your correspondent back to the 2004 Big 12 Championship game. It was a cold and raw night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. So damn cold that I declined the usual sideline observation post and retreated to the warmth of the press box. As we age, we get softer, maybe more smart. Anyway, Buffaloes’ quarterback Joel Klatt was taking a similar beating at the hands of the Oklahoma Sooners. Time after time the now stellar FOX college football analyst received rough treatment from a superior opponent.
It was impossible not to admire the grit the Arvada, Colorado native displayed in rising from the turf, grass-stained and bloodied, in trying to rally his team. However, it seemed like a sacrifice in waiting similar to the Roman Colosseum of long ago. #2 Oklahoma smacked the Buffaloes all over the field in a 42-3 romp.
Klatt survived the mauling, returned to lead the 2005 Buffs to another Big 12 North title before they were overmatched against eventual national champion Texas and quarterback Vince Young in the Big 12 championship game. In that game, the senior took a vicious helmet to jaw hit, suffering a severe concussion precluding the record-setter from playing in what should have been a career-ending bowl appearance against Clemson in the Houston Bowl.
I can remember interviewing Klatt after games where the affable guy emerged bruised and battered. Never a complaint. I’m paraphrasing here but it seems the answer was always, “The guys up front are trying their best.” Sanders is similar. Despite the season-long suffering, never is heard a discouraging word. Admirable traits a team needs in its quarterback but at some point sanity must prevail. Commit to establishing a running game, keep Sanders upright, reduce the beatings and recruit better offensive linemen.
“We Coming” was a popular phrase earlier this season. Who knew it would be the opponent’s pass rush?
