What to Expect From Julian Lewis Against Weber State

Julian Lewis had 64 passing yards when Colorado took over at its own 25 with 1:40 remaining in Atlanta, then completed four of six throws for 60 yards on the possession that turned a 13-7 deficit into a 14-13 win. Tight end Charlie Williams caught the 20-yard touchdown with 37 seconds left, and defensive back Boo Carter blocked Georgia Tech’s final field goal attempt. Weber State now gives Lewis a chance to show whether the decisions and accuracy from that final possession can appear before the final two minutes.

Before Colorado’s final possession, Lewis was 10 of 21 for 64 yards. He finished 14 of 27 for 124 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, and his longest completion was the winning 20-yard score. Lewis explained the play afterward by saying Georgia Tech looked like it was in man coverage. “It looked like they were in man. We saw man,” Lewis said. “Coach Marion beat them with the play. I beat them with the ball.” His explanation matters because Weber State defensive coordinator Gavin Fowler deliberately changes fronts and pictures to make quarterbacks reconsider what they see.

The Matchup

Lewis at Georgia Tech

Source: Colorado Athletics box score and drive chart

Georgia Tech Showed How Colorado Can Help Lewis

Colorado gave Lewis room to survive an uneven passing night by rushing 49 times for 183 yards. Running backs Damian Henderson II, Micah Welch and JaQuail Smith kept Brennan Marion’s offense moving without forcing Lewis into a high-volume passing game. At the same time, the Buffaloes held the ball for 34:09. For us, the split between the first 58 minutes and the final drive says more than the 124 yards total. Colorado already showed it can support Lewis when the passing game stalls.

Head coach Deion Sanders supported him in another way. Sanders said he challenged Lewis at halftime in front of the team, telling him, “You’re that man. We believe in you.” Lewis eventually answered on the final possession. Five days later, Sanders described the Weber State preparation as a chance to “fix what was broken” and improve areas that failed in Atlanta. He also said the receivers and quarterback must do a better job of “seeing the game” and making the necessary plays. The staff is correcting identifiable problems rather than searching for a new offensive identity.

Weber State Gives Julian Lewis a Different Test

Weber State gives Marion a clear reason to keep the running game involved. Northern Colorado rushed for 259 yards against the Wildcats in the opener, and Southern Utah followed with 368 yards in a 47-42 win. Weber State has allowed 627 rushing yards through two games. You can see why Colorado would be comfortable making the ground game part of Lewis’ protection again instead of asking him to throw 40 times simply to prove he can.

The rushing numbers make Weber State look vulnerable, but Fowler gives Lewis a different problem before the snap. Fowler told the Standard Examiner during preseason camp that his goal is to keep offenses uncomfortable by changing what they see. “My idea is just to keep offenses uncomfortable by not letting them sit there and know what we’re in all the time,” Fowler said. His influences include BYU coach Kalani Sitake, Kyle Whittingham, Ed Lamb, and Bronco Mendenhall, which gives you some sense of how many defensive ideas Lewis may have to sort through.

Efficiency Will Matter More Than Passing Yards

Lewis’ progress should appear first in his efficiency. He completed 51.9 percent of his passes at Georgia Tech and averaged 4.6 yards per attempt, while Colorado scored on only two four-red-zone trips. A cleaner afternoon would include more completed routine throws, a few successful intermediate passes, and more touchdowns after sustained drives. Ball security matters here because Lewis has yet to throw a college interception. Fowler’s changing pictures will test whether he can protect that habit without becoming hesitant.

Lewis has already shown he can produce a large passing total. In his first college start at West Virginia last season, he completed 22 of 35 passes for 299 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. If we are looking for development, the final yardage total may be the least interesting place to start Saturday. Colorado travels to Northwestern on SPet 19 and opens Big 12 play at Baylor on Sept. 26. Sanders has already named the standard (the quarterback and receivers have to see the game better and make the plays Colorado leaves on the field).