Colorado Buffaloes Football: Rocky Mountain Showdown Recap and Central Arkansas Preview

The 2013 Rocky Mountain Showdown between RIVALS Colorado Buffaloes and Colorado State Rams on Sunday September 2nd was more than fans of both teams and college football fans could have expected or asked for.  A week before these two teams faced off, it appeared as if reaching 50,000 fans in the stadium would be a reach and people expected two teams with little to no talent to have an ugly game.  A couple days removed from the Rocky Mountain Showdown, there seems to be a change of tune from the masses.

In tailgate alone you could tell there was a bigger buzz this year than there had been in the previous two for Colorado fans though about the same amount of Colorado fans.  While people were excited to have John Embree take over for Dan Hawkins, everyone knew that team, they knew the quarterback, the running back and saw promise in a young sophomore in Paul Richardson.  They knew what the offense would look like.  Nothing was tickling the fans curiosity.  This year it was: How would this new offense look and work?  Is coaching that much better?  Is Paul Richardson fully recovered and really that big of a difference maker?  Could Connor Wood show he is actually a Division I quarterback?  How could we compete in the front seven and how was our secondary?

Colorado State fans also stepped up with almost the entire allotment of their 10,000 student tickets being sold and at least 6,000 more tickets being used by the Colorado State side.  Colorado State's main questions to be answered is who is the starting quarterback in this 3-headed race?  Is Colorado State good enough to be a bowl team and could they make it consecutive wins for a Rams team over the Buffs for the first time since 1999-2000?

After a quick 3 and out, the new Pistol offense opened in the Buff era.  On the second play, Colorado State made the biggest mistake possible, having no one to help over the top on one of the most electric players in college football when Paul Richardson stood 20 yards from a Rams defender awaiting a Connor Wood pass.  Richardson never looked back in route to the tenth (tied) longest passing play in CU history of 82 yards. 

The first half appeared to show CU was up for this game putting together a better half as a whole and ability to cruise when the Buffs took a 20-10 lead into halftime.

By the time the 3rd quarter started, there was an excitement on the Colorado side and the crowd appeared to be closer to 60,000 than the 50,000 that was expected a week before (final attendance was 59,601) and both sides were hoping for different things.  Colorado fans were hoping for what they had seen the first half and were hoping another touchdown would put the Buffs up by 17 and Colorado State was hoping for a defensive stand to open the second half and the big plays that pull CSU back in this game what seems like on a yearly basis.  Well, history has a way of repeating itself and it did for CSU again with the Buffs going a quick 3 and out and the Rams getting a 74-yard punt return by Joe Hansley for a Touchdown and causing the student section for CSU to erupt and the cannon to go off.  Hansley did the same thing to the Buffs the previous year when he made some great moves on a pass in the flat to be what put confidence back in the Rams in 2012. 

Colorado State's third quarter and domination in special teams was what so often catapulted the Rams to a win in this game and put CU away.  The 4th quarter started with CU down 24-23 and the Buffs on the ropes but the fight got put back in them with Will Oliver's 4th FG (keep in mind he only 6 makes on 8 attempts) and tied for his career long with a sure as heck 52 yarder.

The Buffs coaching and emphasis on the turnover battle showed when Chidera Uzo-Diribe got his big mitts on a short pass to the flat and years of being Mr. Consistent paid off for Greg Henderson and he took it home for a 9-point lead.

CSU made it interesting getting within a score but like CU had done to start the 4th, they put the game away when Paul Richardson made CSU pay with another lack of cover over the top when he took a back shoulder pass (I hate that phrase but had to use it to show I could do play by play or color commentary) for 75 yards and sent the Rams fans out in masses.

It officially ended with the jubilation, fist pump and huge sigh of relief from Mike MacIntyre on the fumbled punt by CSU put the seal on the game and after a final kneel down, by Connor Wood, MacIntyre continued that celebration by running out to his quarterback and celebrating with him.  The doubt of Wood, the doubt of IF this offense could work, if the Buffs had the talent to win even one game against a FBS school and so many other questions were lifted off the shoulders of Buffs fans even if only for that night.

What we learned from the CSU game are these things:

For CSU

• There is a reason there is a question mark at QB.  Grayson has work to do to show he is  better than Conner Smith.  While he made some nice plays, he often ended drives by not being able to make that third down throw the Rams needed where the Rams finished third downs 2 of 14.
• The Rams best rusher may be neither of their top two rushers from 2012 in Chris Nwoke or  Donnell Alexander, but a JUCO transfer that had to finish his necessary credits and sit out 2012 in Kapri Bibbs.  Bibbs made some excellent runs.  Nwoke had no burst and looks to be the 3rd back at CSU.
• Offensive playmakers.  Colorado State had Hansley and Rashard Higgins that had some big plays but they lack the needed speed to compete against the top teams. 
• They have a solid secondary with great plays made by Blake and Pierre-Louis throughout the game.  Shaq Barrett is a playmaker and one CSU should lean heavily on in.  Shaq Bell was almost non existent and maybe that's because he didn't get thrown against but I didn't notice him except on when he had tackles and celebrated after CU first downs.
• CSU has a tough schedule this season.  The Mountain West Conference has improved.  CSU showed to have a solid offensive line that pass blocked well and a solid defense.   CSU fans would like to see a bowl game but will need to show something against a solid Tulsa program and to take care of FCS school Cal Poly in order to set themselves up for that opportunity.  A bowl season would make for the CSU support to be there for next seasons Rocky Mountain Showdown but another 4-8 or even 5-7 season could make Rams faithful question if they will ever get back to even a shade of the program Sonny Lubick had them in throughout the 90s and early 2000s.  I believe McElwain and crew recruits very well and are very good coaches.  They look prepared and coach well during the game.  They know how to get there players ready, but lacked talent.  This is a very solid CSU team with a lot of seniors and experience.  Unfortunately, their lack of explosive playmaking ability means they are going to have to win by pounding the ball and hitting a big play defensively or with a defense over committing to the run.  I expect them to be 2-3 going into conference play after losses to Tulsa & Alabama.  They can be competitive in almost any game but Boise State.  The Rams are going to have to fight to get to 6-6 but I believe it is possible and they are between a 5-7 and 7-5 team.  It rests on how their QB situation shakes out.  They need to be better and sustain drives.  To make this series competitive and entertaining and to give college football some air time on the radio, TV and through people talking about it, the quicker CSU gets to a bowl game, the better off the state of college football is in Colorado.

For CU

• Paul Richardson is electrifying and the game changer CU needs to keep defenses honest
• Connor Wood has the ability to win games and be CUs starting quarterback.  The road to ho only gets tougher from here, but he played beyond expectations.  For those that really watched the spring game and practices Wood looked confident and able to be THE GUY!
• DD Goodson is finally in the right position and is a wild card in every game and can be used in many ways.
• Nelson Spruce is Mr. Reliable and sure handed and a stick moving machine.
• Offensively, they are going to have to get some better push to show they can effectively run the ball and keep defenses honest but I felt like the offensive line pass blocked really well.  Christian Powell has the ability to run between the tackles and pick up the first but Tony Jones should only be used for the outside plays and receiving.  In his career, he has shown that he can't get the extra yards pounding the ball but on the edge and in receiving he can be a playmaker.
• Added: I was very impressed with how well their TEs and RECs blocked on passes in the flat and in general.  This was an area that you saw that were being missed during the last two years to where they were in position but not sure how to drive correctly and hold a block without worrying about a penalty.  Obviously a point of emphasis.
• Defensively, Colorado had a true freshman two years removed from high school that sat out school last year show why he is a defensive force.  Addison Gillam was all over the field and had 14 tackles with 2 Tackles for Loss and a pass break-up.  He stopped many drives and is a sure tackler.  If he can stay healthy Gillam shows why MacIntyre turned it around at San Jose State, he finds diamonds where others don't look.
• Colorado's secondary looked improved.  Greg Henderson has always been solid and it was good to see him get a highlight play and Kenneth Crawley looked good as well.  Another true frosh in Chidobe Awuzie played great in the nickel.  It appeared that even when Grayson had a long time to pass, he didn't make a throw because the Buffs had tight coverage.  CUs secondary didn't look bad against CSU last year though so there is reason to have reservations.  That said, after observing practice and spring ball the staff has the experience and knowledge that pass defense is key.  Parker Orms is a great local kid but there are reasons coaches grilled him during fall camp, they expect a 5th year guy to be better.  He still seems a step slow in pass protection and it is a concern.
• They were facing a very experienced offensive line and didn't get a ton of sacks or pressures but played solid upfront.  Uzo-Diribe will get sacks, he often got completely held with an arm across his throat.  The Defensive line was not a liability but will need to continue to learn on the fly.
• The LB corp is solid with the emergence of Gillam and the strength of two seniors on his outside on Derrick Webb and Paul Vigo.
• Colorado's biggest weakness Sunday was special teams.  This can often be seen early in the season where these teams haven't seen enough live action.  The concerning issue was Colorado didn't cover punts or kicks well.  Will Oliver, their kicker, made 2 or 3 tackles on kickoffs and the Buffs had many big returns against them with 2 potential game changers in the punt return for a TD and kick return for what turned into a short TD.  I am sure the staff will put an emphasis on this.

To wrap up the CSU game, Mike MacIntyre and staff showed that they have coached their butts off and made these young men better.  They are putting the belief in their players through these past 8.5 months together that they don't have to be the team that hasn't had a winning team in 7 years or the butt of all the jokes but win, be successful and CARE about each other.  This offense is exciting and the defense seems to rally together rather than pointing fingers.  There was no arguments or yelling but an extreme focus that could be seen throughout the game and an air of confidence.  That hasn't been seen for far too long on the Colorado sidelines.

Central Arkansas Bears Preview
Central Arkansas is a Football Championship Series (FCS) team.  Week 1 of college football showed that FCS schools are up for the challenge against the FBS (Football Bowl Series) schools with 7 FCS teams upsetting their "big brother" division.  The Colorado Buffaloes know all too well about FCS schools with losses to Montana State in 2005 in Hawkins first game and a loss last year to Sacramento State.  Additionally, Eastern Washington put a scare in the  Buffs a few years back and Eastern Washington upset Pac 12 school Oregon State this weekend.  One thing Mike MacIntyre and staff is emphasizing is not overlooking the Bears and all they have to do is to look at last week and last years tape against Sacramento State for great reasons.  The Bears are coming off a 9-3 campaign and are a Top 6 FCS school so the Buffs will have to keep on their toes and be up for this game.  A win against Colorado would be a big next step for a program that put Ole Miss on the ropes at halftime last year leading 20-14 before being outmanned in the second half of that game.

Central Arkansas is led by Wynrick Smothers at Quarterback.  He has the ability to run the ball but is first and foremost a fairly accurate passer.  The Bears also have a dynamic true freshman playmaker in speedy returner and receiver Jatavious Wilson who had 2 receiving TDs and a kickoff return for the other in their opening week win.  Central Arkansas spreads the ball around on offense and can hit big plays.  On top of that, they have a running corp, led by Blake Veasley, that helps out in the passing game.

On defense, the Bears appear to emphasize on stripping the ball.  They had three forced fumbles and completely outmanned their opponent in their 58-7 thumping.  Their defense is going to have to deal with much more speed and talent from the Buffs but an emphasis should be put on protecting the ball.

Special teams was big for Central Arkansas in their win Week 1.  They had 2 blocked punts to go with their big kick return.  Special Teams was nearly the kiss of death for the Buffaloes against CSU so the Buffs will have to really focus on their coverage units and protections.

Prediction for Central Arkansas and Beyond:
Mike MacIntyre and staff are great coaches.  They played these sort of opponents at San Jose State.  They know not to overlook opponents.  They don't want their Folsom Field debut to go from jubilation and celebration that comes with Sunday's Rocky Mountain Showdown win to the boo birds and questions brought on by losing to what is SUPPOSED to be an inferior opponent.  The Buffaloes will not overlook Central Arkansas.  The Bears have speed and playmaking ability the Rams did not.  They don't have the size up front that CSU did, so the pressure should be there from the Buffs that we did not see against the CSU wall.  This is a dangerous game, but the Buffs offense looked good and should be able to outgun the Bears defense.  CSU has a fairly solid defense and the Buffs took advantage of that throughout the game.  The Buffs should be able to be in the 40s to 50s again.  The Buffs Special Teams will need to step up or else they could cause fans, coaches and teammates a significant amount of anguish and anger.  The defense will give up big plays but should be able to play the Bears tough.  Prediction:51-24 Buffaloes over the Bears.

The Buffaloes season only becomes much more difficult after this week.  Mike MacIntyre coaches to win each game in its own right so he believes every game is winnable by preparing his guys and game planning for each opponent.  Great coaching can often be the difference and I believe we are FINALLY seeing great coaching.  However, the realist in me still has my worries for the overall aspect of the season.  Fortunately CU's following week opponent lost its tailback that Colorado made look like Emmitt Smith on 1994 Madden but they still have under-heralded Derek Carr.  Currently I still have the Buffs as a 4-8 team since I had these first two as wins, but I believe the Buffs have a more likely opportunity to win in games I didn't initially think they had a chance in (such as Oregon State) and the ability to make a bowl game so 4-8 realist, but 8-4 Buffs optimist.   Whatever the outcome of the season is, the Buffs appear to have the right staff to continue to improve and bring the ability to make games entertaining and competitive which could not be said at all the past 24 months and much of the Hawkins era.  Buffs fans seem to be more into the program than they had with the Buff group in Embree and Company and since Year 2 of Hawkins.  A win in your Colorado Head Coaching debut will do that.  It was 3 coaches and 18 years since that had happened under Slick Rick.  As I've said before, I felt like this was the right hire and direction for this program in taking a coach that builds players and programs through great coaching.  Keep impressing the naysayers, you have a supporter and believer in many of us that have seen what this team has lacked the last 7 years, COACHING ABILITY and PROWESS!