Colorado Needs a Better Offensive Plan for Texas Tech

Colorado changed quarterbacks at Baylor and still finished with 13 points. Before hosting Texas Tech on October 3, coach Deion Sanders and offensive coordinator Brennan Marion have to decide what else changes with the player taking the snap.

The Buffaloes are 2-2 after a 23-13 loss in their Big 12 opener. Quarterback Isaac Wilson replaced starter Julian Lewis at halftime and led the tying touchdown drive, but the offense produced nothing further. A promising replacement inherited several of the same problems.

CBS Sports reported Tuesday that Wilson was expected to start. Sanders, however, declined to announce his choice during his weekly news conference in Boulder. “We’ll see how practice plays out this week,” he said. Whatever Sanders announces, his quarterback will inherit an offense that has scored 20 points across its past two games against Northwestern and Baylor.

Colorado must give its quarterback a workable run game

Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire offered little encouragement to anyone hoping a quarterback switch would confuse his defense. At his Monday news conference in Lubbock, he said, “We’re expecting and preparing for both quarterbacks, but the offense really doesn’t change that much.” McGuire’s priority remains stopping Marion’s running game, then staying disciplined against passes designed to look like runs.

Baylor held the Buffaloes to 83 rushing yards on 39 attempts. Running backs Micah Welch, JaQuail Smith and Richard Young divided 27 carries and finished within four yards of one another. The rotation gave several players work without establishing a runner Baylor struggled to contain.

The team rushing total also includes sacks, so it cannot serve as a verdict on the backs alone. Both quarterbacks finished with negative rushing yardage. Protection belongs in the review alongside the rotation, rather than letting a change at quarterback absorb the blame.

Marion needs to identify which combinations can handle particular situations. Short-yardage carries require dependable blocking and a decisive runner. Passing situations add protection responsibilities. A rotation should answer those questions instead of keeping the carries close.

The Baylor evidence points beyond the starter

The problems identified before the Baylor game included wasted possessions and failed fourth downs. The loss in Waco supplied another set of examples for the staff to examine. These are the assignments suggested by the game statistics and scoring sequence.

Wilson gave the Buffaloes a reason to believe improvement can come from the current roster. He finished a 12-play, 95-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Williams, tying the game at 13. But his first three possessions ended in punts, so changing the name under center did not provide instant repairs.

A competitive season requires more completed drives

Texas Tech arrives at Folsom Field 4-0 and 1-0 in conference play. Its defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns against Sam Houston. Yet Red Raiders quarterback Will Hammond threw three interceptions in that same game, leaving a reason for the Buffaloes to believe opportunities will exist.

Colorado cannot count on receiving them, and another conference loss would leave it chasing from 0-2. The goal is to turn the offense’s available talent into possessions that end with points, while giving the defense enough support to make its stops useful.

Asked about the quarterback change after the Baylor loss at McLane Stadium, Sanders described Wilson settling into the game. “Just get the ball to the guys, and we’re fine, ‘cause we got some guys,” he said. Williams and Farrakhan supported his faith with their receiving production, but the offense still needed help converting it into touchdowns.

One assignment is waiting on the Baylor film. Facing fourth-and-one near midfield, the Buffaloes handed Smith the ball and lost a yard. The staff must decide which runner, blockers, and call it trusts when the next possession depends on gaining that yard.