Deion Sanders must address Colorado's costly penalties and offensive identity before Texas Tech
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The Colorado Buffaloes are 2-2 as they await Texas Tech next Saturday. There were some that believed this team could be 4-0 before the Texas Tech game. However, this has been four weeks of inconsistency and self-inflicted wounds.
The Buffs have 30 penalties in the last three weeks, averaging almost 100 yards per game. Deion Sanders' team did not win the turnover battle, but they didn’t lose it either. Unless we count turnover on downs again. Colorado was 0-for-2 again on 4th down conversions in the 23-13 loss to Baylor on Saturday.
Despite owning time of possession, total yards and passing yards, there could be an answer here as to why these games keep turning out this way. Which could spell bad news for those expecting a high-powered, vertical passing offense that can put up big numbers and lopsided scores. Colorado needs to embrace the run.
This team is built to be a pass-happy offense. Vertical threats as well as quick and shifty guys who should be able to turn short, quick passes into big gains. However, that approach has not worked well regarding full game results. Joseph Williams and Quanell Farrakhan Jr did have highly productive performances against Baylor, but don’t let that confuse the larger concern.
Read More: Former five-star Colorado QB Julian Lewis benched in Baylor loss
Through the first half of this game, Colorado was able to cross the 50-yard line only once. They reached the Baylor 48. That was on Colorado’s first possession of the game. Of the 55 yards gained on that drive from the kickoff, 34 of them came on four run plays of 9, 14, 7 and 4 yards, respectively. That drive stalled after a 7-yard sack on quarterback Julian Lewis.
The next possession included a receiver option pass from Williams to Farrakhan Jr for 49 yards. They kept on the run after that and it was productive. A false start penalty and 3-yard run forced a field goal in the first quarter. The 4th possession started with a Baylor offsides penalty, but they only netted 3 yards on that possession, including a net positive of no yards over three consecutive plays.
Over the next four possessions, Colorado all but abandoned the run. Over that time, Baylor built a 10-3 halftime lead. Did those run-less possessions include big pass plays? Yes. 63 receiving yards on less than ten pass attempts. However, this becomes a situational football, time clock management, beating them down slowly. Sometimes Sanders and his staff haven't mastered the art of Year four in Boulder.
Baylor’s inability to put together consistent drives is the only thing that prevented this score from being wider than it was. If Colorado plays against Texas Tech the way they played against Baylor, the score has the potential to be much worse.
Colorado tried to make this a game late though. They pulled even at 13-13 with 11 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Colorado needed a stop on the following possession to create an opportunity to win. After three consecutive runs by Baylor, the Bears gained 54 yards through the air in the next two plays. Giving Baylor a 20-13 lead. They would add a field goal late for scoring insurance.
Colorado had opportunities in this game to take care of business. It never happened down the stretch. Now comes the Buffs toughest stretch of the season. A back-to-back home stand against No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 15 Utah.
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