Colorado football report card, grades after three-point loss to Utah

Despite the loss to Utah, the Colorado Buffaloes put together their best all-around performance of the season. Colorado's elite red zone defense in the first half gave their offense time to get going, and they put up 17 unanswered points in the third quarter.

Unlike their last game against a ranked team, Colorado took this game down to the very last play. If the Buffaloes had managed to come down with the hail mary, they would have won and finally gotten their first Big 12 win of the year.

Here is the report card from the Buffaloes' third Big 12 loss of the season: 

Quarterback

Grade: B+

Isaac Wilson played pretty well for most of the game, though the interceptions were ugly. His best play came on the final drive. He never put the ball in harm's way, scrambling for a first down because he couldn't afford a sack. He also threw a quick strike to Joseph Williams to get the Buffaloes into Hail Mary range at the end of the game. His stats aren't good, with only a 37.9 quarterback rating. But his increased maturity isn't reflected in the QBR, an area he improved during the bye week.

Running Backs

Grade: A

Colorado only had 138 rushing yards. But they averaged nearly six yards per carry and, late in the third quarter, senior running back DeKalon Taylor scored an 18-yard rushing touchdown. Their running backs were also key in the passing game, especially JaQuail Smith, who caught the 68-yard touchdown that got Colorado's momentum going in the second half. The Buffaloes needed a big day from their running backs to have a chance, and they got exactly that.

Receivers and Tight Ends

Grade: B+

I have no major complaints about the receivers or tight ends. The biggest takeaway from this position group was DeAndre Moore Jr. leading Colorado in receiving yards. This shows the Buffaloes have receiver depth, but they will need other receivers to step up throughout the season to get four more wins this year.

Offensive Line

Grade: A+

The run game performed well, and Isaac Wilson never got sacked. That is about as perfect a day as an offensive line can have. They gave Wilson enough time to find open receivers most of the time, and the line also helped drive Colorado's nearly six yards per carry. The offensive line has been a strength for the Buffaloes all season, and they stepped up in this game as well.

Defense

Grade: A

This defense generated two turnovers against Utah, both coming off interceptions from quarterback Devon Dampier. They kept running back Wayshawn Parker in check, with under 100 rushing yards and minimal involvement in the passing game. The only issue was that Colorado struggled against Utah's passing game, especially on Utah's critical fourth-quarter touchdown drive. That ended up being the difference in the game, though it is hard to criticize the defense for that, since they also kept the team in the game by holding the Utes to 13 points in the first half despite four trips to the red zone.

Special Teams

Grade: B

Colorado's special teams weren't perfect, but they weren't terrible either. Punter Damon Greaves was a weapon, averaging 44.6 yards per punt, including a 55-yard punt and three punts inside the 20-yard line. In a game this close, a punter who can change the course of a game matters. Kicker Elliott Arnold also made his only field-goal attempt and all three extra points, so the Buffaloes didn't lose any points due to their kicking game.

Coaching

Grade: A-

Honestly, the coaching was rather good in this game, particularly in the second half. Whatever adjustments they made at halftime worked, because the offense looked completely different in the final 30 minutes. They did not take any unnecessary risks on fourth down. The play when they tried to drive Utah offsides was smart because if the Utes jumped, it would become fourth and two, which would have been worth attempting. Colorado also handled the final drive incredibly well, especially after Utah mismanaged the clock and gave them a chance.

Overall

Grade: B

Unfortunately, Colorado lost this game because it was their best overall performance of the season. The offense started slow but got going in the second half. The Buffaloes' red zone defense was elite all game, especially in the first half. Colorado actually played well on special teams. They were one hail mary or one more defensive play away from a victory.

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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football report card, grades after three-point loss to Utah