Deion Sanders isn’t allowing the Colorado football team to have a relaxing bye week.
The Buffs (2-3) are practicing all week after their third straight loss and for good reason. No. 12 Utah is waiting for them after the bye week and Deion Sanders can’t afford another poor performance in front of the home crowd.
As bad as the vibes have felt during the Buffs’ three-game losing streak — mostly due to QB play — there have been some bright spots, particularly on defense.
Here’s a closer look at how DC Chris Marve’s unit has responded since giving up 41 points to Northwestern in Week 3, and how Colorado’s offense is now holding them back.
Deion Sanders’ defense is better than you think
The Week 3 loss to Northwestern was a wake-up call for the Buffs’ defense. They gave up 423 total yards and five total TDs to QB Aidan Chiles, who threw three TDs to RB Joseph Himon II.
It was an embarrassing night for DC Chris Marve but since then, his unit has responded the right way.
Colorado held Baylor QB DJ Lagway to a season-low 221 passing yards on 49% completion as the Bears averaged a measly 3.3 yards per rush in Week 4. Lagway went on the road seven days later and completed 62% of his passes for 306 yards vs. Arizona State.
The Buffs then held Texas Tech QB Will Hammond to a season-low 134 passing yards while limiting the N0. 12 Red Raiders to just 3-for-12 (25%) on 3rd downs. They did that without their sack leader (Lamont Lester Jr.), a starting linebacker (Tyler Martinez) and a starting cornerback (Jason Stokes Jr.)
In its two conference games so far this season, Colorado’s defense has allowed 22.5 points per game. Big 12 QBs are completing just 55% of their passes and conference opponents are converting just 31% of their 3rd downs.
The Buffs have 20 tackles for loss in that span and lead the Big 12 in TFLs (43) so far this season. That total ranks third in all of FBS (behind only Virginia Tech and SMU). Colorado might also have the best edge-rushing duo in the conference.
Only eight Big 12 players have at least three sacks so far this season and two of them are Buffs: Lamont Lester Jr. (four sacks) and Toby Anene (three sacks). Colorado safety Randon Fontenette is the Big 12’s second-leading tackler (39) and linebacker Gideon ESPN Lampron is third (38).
DL Santana Hopper was Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded defensive player after he totaled 10 tackles, five TFLs and six QB pressures vs. No. 12 Texas Tech.
“I like many aspects of it,” Deion Sanders said of his defense after the Texas Tech game. “We still broke at the end and a good defense, a great defense, doesn’t break.”
Talent isn’t an issue for Deion Sanders’ defense. Depth might be, but Chris Marve has his unit playing winning football at the moment, even in the midst of a losing streak.
Deion Sanders’ offense is worse than you think
If the Buffs weren’t having a QB crisis, their defense would be getting a lot more credit.
Take last week for example when 19 of Texas Tech’s 29 points were a direct result of Colorado turnovers. No Big 12 team has more giveaways (11) than the Buffs.
Not only does Colorado have the lowest-scoring offense (18.6 points per game) in the conference, it also has the Big 12’s worst red-zone offense (64%). Only six of their 14 red-zone trips have ended in TDs and only nine of them have ended in points.
Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense has scored points on just five of its last 40 offensive drives. Seventeen of those drives have ended in turnovers. Only 19.4% of the Buffs’ offensive drives end in TDs which ranks 124th in FBS.
A big problem for Deion Sanders’ team is how they finish first halves and how they start second halves. The “middle eight” is the final four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half. This crucial time can swing the result of a game one way or another, and Colorado’s offense has been brutal in it.
The Buffs average zero points per drive during the “middle eight,” the only FBS team to do that.
“We have one glaring problem,” Deion Sanders said after the Texas Tech loss. “You guys know what that is. Let’s stop the foolishness, man. We have one glaring problem.
“We have to play better at one position.”
Colorado has too many problems to pin it on just one player or position. Deion Sanders will have to figure out a way to get good QB play and jumpstart this offense, or else an underrated defense will go to waste.
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