The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Colorado – INSIDE SLANT
Colorado couldn’t manage to get even half as many yards as Arizona State in a 51-17 home loss to the Sun Devils on Thursday night.
The Buffaloes passed for 180 yards and ran for 75 against the Sun Devils for a total of 255, while giving up 593 yards.
Colorado has struggled to find playmakers to run or pass the ball all season.
With leading rusher Christian Powell sidelined against Arizona State because of a deep thing bruise, no Colorado running back had more than 38 yards on the ground.
Quarterback Jordan Webb completed less than 50 percent of his passes and Nick Kasa was the only receiver to get more than 31 yards.
“I’m not happy where we are offensively,” coach Jon Embree said. “There are some things we would like to do, and there are some guys we have recruited that will come in and help some of it.
“But I’m not happy at all with what we have done offensively, and so as an offensive staff we will take a look at some of that.”
Colorado scored all 17 of its points in the second quarter before being outscored, 31-0, in the second half.
“I thought we mixed the run and pass well (in the first half),” Embree said. “We were able to convert some third downs and stay on the field, and that allowed us to get opportunities.
“We didn’t do well on first down, in particular, in the second half. We had a lot of second-and-longs, and you can’t be in that situation and have an opportunity to be successful.
“In the first half, I thought it was getting first downs and guys making plays.”
Colorado had eight possessions in the second half, but did not reach Arizona State territory until the final play of the game.
“We just stopped moving the ball,” tight end Nick Kasa said. “We worked on a lot of stuff and nothing they did changes how we should attack them. We just couldn’t do it when it mattered in the second half.”
Webb said the Buffs need to look back at the second quarter to see how to get into a better rhythm on offense.
“The second quarter we really got some momentum going,” he said. “We got something we could build off. But the second half we just couldn’t get into a rhythm. We’ll have to look at tape and learn from it.
“Our skilled players were making plays. The O-line was protecting well against a pretty formidable opponent. We need to try to build momentum with that.”
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NCAAF Team Report – Colorado – NOTES, QUOTES
WHAT’S AHEAD: The bad news for the Buffs is that they are 1-5 with the toughest part of their schedule ahead. Colorado hits the road to play conference favorites USC and Oregon in back-to-back weeks followed by a home game against Stanford. The good news is that Colorado has a few extra days to prepare for USC after playing on Thursday.
–Colorado’s 17 points in the second quarter against Arizona State were its second-most in a quarter this season, behind the 21 scored in the fourth quarter of a victory over Washington State. Tony Jones had a two-yard touchdown run and Nick Kasa caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Webb, before Will Oliver kicked a 36-yard field goal on the last play of the quarter.
–DL Chidera Uzo-Diribe was not expected to play against Arizona State because of a foot injury, but had three tackles in the game including a sack. It was his sixth sack of the season and the 15th of his career, which ties him for 12th in school history with his position coach, Kanavis McGhee, and former teammate, Josh Hartigan.
–When Nate Bonsu blocked an extra point in the first quarter, it was Colorado’s third blocked kick of the year. Before getting one last year, the Buffs had gone five seasons without blocking a kick.
KEEP AN EYE ON: Sophomore LB Woodson Greer III had his first career sack against Arizona State. He also had seven tackles in the game, including two for losses. He had only three tackles in his previous four games this season.
LOOKING GOOD: P Darragh O’Neill continues to get plenty of work and perform well. He averaged 44 yards on nine punts against Arizona State and put five of them inside the 20-yard line. He is averaging slightly under 44 yards per punt this season, but Colorado wishes it did not need him so much. His 45 punts are the most in the conference and ranked sixth in the nation entering the week.
STILL NEEDS WORK: Colorado’s opponents continue to convert on third down on a regular basis. Arizona State converted 9-of-15 third downs. Colorado has allowed its opponents to convert on 38-of-87 third downs this season, a success rate of 43.7 that ranks 10th in the conference.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “Any time you don’t win, it’s frustrating, whether it is at home or on the road. There are three opportunities left for our seniors to (win at home) and were running out of time to get them a win at home.” — Colorado coach Jon Embree.
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NCAAF Team Report – Colorado – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
PLAYER NOTES:
–RB Tony Jones had a team-high nine carries against Arizona State and totaled 37 yards. The sophomore became the 91st player in school history to rush for at least 500 yards, finishing the night with 515 yards. He ranks second on the team with 218 rushing yards this season.
–TE Nick Kasa caught his team-leading third receiving touchdown pass, a 20-yarder, against Arizona State. It was only his seventh game at tight end after moving over from the defensive line last year. He had four catches for 71 yards, giving him 11 for 239 this season, and six of those receptions have gone for at least 20 yards.
–DT Samson Kafovalu made his first career start for the Buffs and had one tackle against Arizona State.
ROSTER REPORT
–LB Brady Daigh suffered a serious neck injury against Arizona State and was taken to the hospital for precautionary tests. He had movement and is expected to be OK.
–RB Christian Powell missed the Arizona State game because of a deep thigh bruise.
–CB Yuri Wright and DT Justin Solis were not able to play against the Sun Devils because of concussions.
–S Ray Polk, who has not played since the opener because of an ankle injury, was expected to return against the Sun Devils, but did not play.
–LB Paul Vigo missed the game because of a foot injury.
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