The Buffs played their best game of the season last Saturday as they outlasted the Oregon State Beavers in double overtime and while it was a big win on the season, the victory over the Beavers could come to show that the future of the Colorado Buffaloes’ football program is now.
It suffices to say that Brendon Lewis struggled throughout the first month of the season. Through the first five games of the season, Lewis was completing only 53% of his passes and had thrown as many touchdowns as interceptions with two. The four games to follow (including Saturday’s victory vs. Oregon State) saw Lewis elevate his game as he completed 65% of his passes and boasts an 8:1 touchdown pass to interception ratio.
The growth in Lewis’ game has been apparent and a strong last month of the season could be enough to prove that he is the one who will lead this football program for the foreseeable future.
As a team, the Buffs really played well in their win over the Beavers but Lewis’ calm demeanor and ability to deliver in crucial moments was the deciding factor overall.
Entering the game, the Buffs were +10 point underdogs but were quickly able to put Oregon State on notice that they were going to be tough to beat early when Lewis found Daniel Arias for six.
The Buffs’ offensive line has also seen a dramatic uptick in performance the last two weeks and plays like this are reasons why. The Buffs are going with a max protection play-action shot that allows the offensive line, tight ends and Jarek Broussard to build an extremely clean pocket for Lewis to navigate. Arias’ route running on this play was spectacular creating nearly ten yards of separation
As a football team, you only get so many chances per season where a receiver is that open and Lewis took advantage by making this pass look routine as he hit Arias in stride.
Lewis has also demonstrated confidence when asked to move outside of the pocket and throw on the run.
Offensive coordinator, Darrin Chiaverini helps Brendon Lewis out here with the rollout to the boundary to cut the field in half and a simple read with a curl/flat concept.
Being able to stress defenses in different situations through the use of Lewis’ athletic ability allows for versatility and flexibility in terms of playcalling and it seems both Lewis and the Buffs coaches have just started to find their groove in this regard.
There was no greater example of this than midway through the third quarter where the Buffs would go up by ten points for the second time in the game.
Lewis is smooth and controlled when he is asked to rollout across his body and he does very well to reset his base, not force a throw and show patience as Brenden Rice eventually maneuvers his way open in the end zone.
As Lewis has improved as a passer over the last month, his production in the run game has dropped but his impact has still been felt as he was able to score a go-ahead touchdown in the first overtime with ease.
It was an encouraging sight to see that this aspect of Lewis’ game can still be effective but it would only make him and the Buffs harder to defend against if the offense is able to embrace the athleticism in Lewis’ game.
There have still been some growing pains when it comes to Lewis’ development but one of the more impressive aspects of the Oregon State game was how Lewis was able to learn from those mistakes in-game.
As previously mentioned, you only get so many shots to throw to wide-open guys behind the defense and Lewis missed on this shot play early in the second quarter.
I want to give this play a pass due to the trick play aspect but it’s worth mentioning how Lewis rushes this throw and the next.
This was a potential turning point of the game where the Buffs goes three and out after the Beavers were able to score touchdowns on the two previous drives.
The pass doesn’t stand a chance on this play as it is obviously late and before the first down marker. Lewis had a lapse in composure on this play as he drifts in the pocket and nearly takes a sack or worse before getting the pass off to Deion Smith.
Fortunately, the Buffs defense came up with a stop and when faced with another third and long on the ensuing drive, Lewis and the offense delivered.
Lewis almost looks like a completely different player on this play, he is so much more confident and sudden with the football in his hands. When the pressure leaks through on the left side Lewis responds by attacking the line of scrimmage and then makes a gorgeous throw while remaining square and stepping up in the pocket.
After the success against Oregon State, it’s worth asking if the Buffs found a rhythm offensively that they could sustain throw the end of the season. While Lewis’ development produced some offensive stinkers in the first two months of the season, his athletic ability and knack for taking care of the football have begun to pay dividends for the Buffs as a whole.
The Buffs schedule for November will prove just how much progress they have been able to make as they take on UCLA, Washington and Utah to end the season. Lewis and the Buffs were able to keep their slim bowl eligibility hopes alive with the win over Oregon State.
Last Saturday’s victory was a huge boost of momentum for this football program as they search for building blocks for the near future. Continuous improvement in Lewis’ game will prove to be the catalyst in how fast those blocks are placed.
