Boulder CO – Coach Prime, asked the question after the Buffs won their third game last season, do you believe now? All of that was in part by the Buffs Sean Lewis offense which was able to average 479 in their first three games of the season.
The early success of the Buffs offense allowed opposing team defenses the opportunity to make the necessary changes to keep the Buffs offense from getting into a groove. The running game was subpar due to their lack of running the ball last season. The Buffs have added some new pieces in the backfield after losing their three top rushers from last season. Dylan Edwards, transferred to Kansas State, Anthony Hankerson transferred to Oregon State and Sy’veon Wilkerson is now at Georgia State and Alton McCaskill has transferred to Arizona State. The Buffs averaged 2.3 yards per carry and with the additions coming in the major question is will the Buffs run the ball or depend on Sanders arm once again.
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Something else to keep in mind is this will be Sanders 5th offensive coordinator in his four-year collegiate football career. Pat Shurmur took over last season going 0-4 with the offense averaging 273.5 yards per game, averaging 28.17 points per game.
The defensive side of the ball didn’t fair too well last season even with the play of Shilo Sanders, Levonta Bently, and Travis Hunter allowing 34.3 points per game in the PAC 12. Hopefully, Sanders can get back on the field soon from his shoulder injury. Wishing the young man a speedy recovery, but don’t want to see him on the field before he is fully healed. The addition of Warren Sapp to the coaching staff could pay off with the defensive linemen being prepared to get after opposing team quarterbacks to generate turnovers for the Buffs to score more points and slow down opposing teams’ offenses.
Coach Prime going into his 4th year of coaching college football has yet for adjust the formula of getting the best talent to go out and compete against other teams thinking that will win games. If he hasn’t caught on by now the phrase “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard”. The marine training, downs, and running stadium stairs may have the team in shape, but scheme and hunger will have teams coming to knock the buffs off when they line up in front of them.
Comparing what the Buffs were able to accomplish last season as a team when it comes to points allowed vs points against, the Buffs are considered MID. Even though Texas and Oklahoma have moved onto the Southeastern Conference (SEC) the current top team in the Big 12 last season averaged 37.1 points per game and the defense allowed 21.0 points per game. This is going to be a fun season to watch unfold, because the Buffs fans want to see a winner, and getting a bowl invite is a plus, but they want to raise a championship trophy in the air.