The Sports Xchange
NCAAF Team Report – Colorado – INSIDE SLANT
For the fifth year in a row, Colorado will not get through the season with one starting quarterback.
Jordan Webb started the first nine games, but with the Buffs at 1-8 with five losses in a row, coach Jon Embree said Webb will be replaced by either Nick Hirschman or Connor Wood this week at Arizona.
“We will let (Hirschman and Wood) compete for it, it is between them,” Embree said. “We will let Jordan sit back and watch some things and see if that will help him some. We will see how that goes during the week and make a decision at the end of the week.”
Webb, a junior transfer from Kansas, has completed just 55.4 percent of his passes for 1,401 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions this season. He was benched during both of the last two games, when he combined to complete 11-of-21 passes for 50 yards. He has not thrown a touchdown in the last three games.
“Jordan won the competition each week, but we just want to get a different look at some guys,” Embree said. “Sometimes when you are in a competition like that, especially at that position, you can learn more and see more when you are on the sideline watching what the other guys are doing.”
Colorado has not had one quarterback start every game since 2007, and only eight schools have gone longer without doing that.
Hirschman, a sophomore who started one game last year, and Wood, a sophomore transfer from Texas, have put up similar numbers in backup duty this year.
Hirschman has completed 13-of-29 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions in six games.
“I try to go in every week looking for a chance to start,” Hirschman said. “It makes you better when you are out there working. That decision is up to the coaches, and the best guy is going to play.”
Wood, a sophomore transfer from Texas, has completed 14-of-29 yards for 164 yards with two interceptions in five games.
Embree said the coaching staff is also looking for new ways to make the quarterback successful.
“We will continue to simplify and find ways to get guys the football that have opportunities to make plays for us within our scheme,” Embree said.
Embree and his coaching staff are under fire from the fan base after five straight blowout losses by at least 28 points. Colorado was outscored 168-20 in its last three games.
“We have to be better as coaches on the offensive side to help us find ways to move the football,” Embree said. “We have to be better at our preparation and what we are doing to help our kids win.”
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NCAAF Team Report – Colorado – NOTES, QUOTES
–Colorado’s 48-0 loss to Stanford marked the first time in 150 home games that the Buffs did not score a point. Colorado was last shut out at home against Oklahoma in 1986.
–Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn told the Boulder Daily Camera after the loss to Stanford that the administration is concerned about the team’s struggles. “We’re not where we want to be,” he said. “No one is happy with what has happened on the field, players, coaches, staff, fans.”
–RB Christian Powell has moved up to sixth on the school’s rushing list for a freshman with 488 yards. Next up on the list is Eric Bieniemy, Colorado’s current offensive coordinator who ran for 508 yards in 1987. Lamont Warren holds the school rushing record for a freshman with 830 yards in 1991.
SERIES HISTORY: Colorado leads Arizona 13-1 (last meeting, 2011, 48-29 Colorado).
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Colorado’s offense was pathetic in a 48-0 loss to Stanford, and that is the main reason why coach Jon Embree is making a change at quarterback. The Buffs finished with 76 yards total offense and ran just two plays in Stanford territory compared the Cardinal running 37 plays in Colorado territory. Colorado had minus-21 rushing yards on 21 carries, the second-lowest rushing total in school history. Colorado passed for 97 yards, marking the first time in three years that CU had fewer than 100 yards rushing and passing in a game. Colorado had six first downs, its fewest since 2006, and held onto the ball for a season-low 23 minutes, 43 seconds.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: On the bright side, Stanford’s 48 points were the fewest allowed by Colorado in its last four games and snapped a school-record streak of three straight games allowing at least 50 points. However, the Buffs still rank last in the nation by allowing 46.2 points per game, nearly four points more than any other school. Colorado is giving up 497.3 yards per game, which ranks 115th out of 120 schools. Colorado is giving up 204.2 yards on the ground, making it the only school in the Pac-12 allowing more than 200 rushing yards per game.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “No football player wants to go out there and give up that many points. We want to pitch a shutout every game. It’s discouraging, but at the same time, we are going to come back every week.” — Colorado LB Brady Daigh
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NCAAF Team Report – Colorado – STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
THIS WEEK’S GAME: Colorado at Arizona, Nov. 10 — The Buffaloes are 7-0 all-time in Tucson, but most of those games were more than a half-century ago. Colorado won 12 straight against the Wildcats from 1931-85, but the current group also had success against Arizona with a 48-29 win over the Wildcats last season. That was one of only three wins last year for Colorado, and the Buffs probably need to win this week to have a chance at matching that total.
KEYS TO THE GAME: Colorado needs to run the ball better to let its new quarterback get comfortable in the offense. The Buffs ran for minus-21 yards against Stanford and have no chance to win if they can’t gain positive yards on the ground. Whether Nick Hirschman or Connor Wood gets the start, Colorado does not want to have to throw the ball a lot, so it needs to find success on the ground. The Buffs also need to protect Hirschman or Wood after giving up seven sacks last week.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
LB Brady Daigh — The sophomore made his first career start against Stanford and had a team-high 10 tackles, including eight solo tackles. He broke up a pass and had two tackles for loss, including one sack.
DE Will Pericak — The senior defensive end has started every game since he arrived at the school. He will start his 47th straight game this week to tie Ryan Miller, an offensive lineman from 2007-11, for the most starts in school history.
WR Gerald Thomas — Coach Jon Embree has made it clear that the 5-11, 175-pound true freshman could be one of the team’s top playmakers, but it hasn’t happened yet. Thomas has just 14 catches for 149 yards in nine games and has rushed seven times for 44 yards. Look for Colorado’s new quarterback to try to get Thomas more involved in the offense.
ROSTER REPORT:
–DT Justin Solis suffered a scary neck injury against Stanford and was taken to the hospital for tests. He is questionable to return this season.
–CB Kenneth Crawley was sick and did not play against Stanford.
–LB Jon Major suffered a hyperextended elbow in practice last week and did not play against Stanford.
–DT Nate Bonsu also missed the Stanford game after suffering a sprained ankle in practice last week.
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