BOULDER — Unlike many of the teams around the nation, the Colorado Buffaloes don’t have the luxury of opening the season with a cupcake.
North Dakota State will give Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ Buffs everything they want in a season-opening test Thursday at Folsom Field (6 p.m., ESPN).
Don’t let NDSU’s FCS designation lull you into a false sense of security. The Bison — who made it to the national semifinals last year and are ranked No. 2 in the FCS preseason poll this season — are a deep, talented team. They have key returning starters on both sides of the ball and a new head coach, Tim Polasek, who is quite familiar with the approach that has made NDSU a regular national title contender.
The Buffaloes are definitely not taking the Bison lightly. Coach Prime and his staff have prepared their team for a tough, physical battle that should test CU offensively and defensively.
Thursday’s game will give the nation its first look at Coach Prime’s retooling effort. In his second year at the helm in Boulder, Sanders rebuilt CU’s offensive and defensive lines while also adding key pieces at just about every other position. He also made significant staff changes, including the addition of new coordinators Robert Livingston (defense) and Pat Shurmur (offense).
But the most important pieces of CU’s attack are the returning players, beginning with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, two-way star Travis Hunter, wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., safety Shilo Sanders and linebackers LaVonta Bentley and Trevor Woods. They give CU a foundation on which the Buffaloes believe they can build a winning record this year and earn a postseason berth.
So how do they get off on the right foot and open the season with a win? Our first edition of our weekly Fast Five:
1. Give QB Sanders time to operate. OK, no secret here. CU’s fate all season will depend greatly upon how much time Sanders has to work in the pocket.
Sanders is one of the nation’s best quarterbacks. He has great accuracy at all ranges, has a penchant for big plays, doesn’t turn the ball over and can keep plays alive with his feet.
But if the Buffs are going to take a step forward this season, they need to cut last year’s total of sacks allowed (56) roughly in half — and that won’t be easy against an NDSU defense that returns nine starters from last year. The group includes the top four tacklers and four quality defensive linemen.
The Buffs’ new offensive line has to give Sanders a clean pocket. That will give time to keep the ball moving and put the Bison on their heels early.
2. Make the most of their team speed. In terms of pure physicality, especially in the trenches, the Bison will be a match for Colorado. They are used to playing tough, hard-nosed ball and the Buffs won’t be able to bully them.
But what the Bison don’t usually see in their FCS schedule is the team speed CU harbors, especially on the outside. From Horn to Hunter to LaJohntay Wester to Will Sheppard, the Buffs have better speed in the big-play area. If CU can utilize that speed, Colorado will make the difference with big plays.
3. Don’t let NDSU dictate the tempo. The one way to make sure QB Sanders and Co. don’t dominate the game is to keep them off the field — and you can bet the Bison will do their best to establish a run game with that in mind.
North Dakota State last year averaged nearly 240 yards per game on the ground (fourth in FCS). While they do have to replace their starting running backs, they have a pair of quarterbacks who make things happen with their legs. Cam Miller passed for 2,688 yards and 19 touchdowns last season and also ran for 629 yards and 13 touchdowns. Fellow QB Cole Payton, a physically imposing presence (6-3, 230-pounds), ran for 615 yards and also tallied 13 scores.
Count on the Bison to try to establish a run game, dictate the tempo and run the clock. They’ll throw just enough to keep CU’s secondary on its toes and not cheat up to help the run defense.
To combat that, Colorado’s pass rush has to stay honest, protect the edge and not let the quarterbacks get outside. The interior, meanwhile, has to keep the Bison from establishing a power run game between the tackles.
Overall, it should be a great test for a CU defense that knows it must improve dramatically against the run.
4. Produce momentum-shifting moments. The Bison won’t be intimidated by a full house at Folsom. They won’t be bullied by an FBS team.
But the Buffs can establish control early with some big plays, whether it be a couple of long balls early or a takeaway by the defense. If Colorado can put the Bison on their heels, they will be forced to play catchup — a game they’re not used to playing.
The atmosphere at Folsom promises to be electric. If the Buffs can use that to their advantage, they can take control early.
5. Don’t make silly mistakes. The Buffs can’t afford to commit unforced errors that keep the Bison in the game. That means limiting penalties and missed assignments and eliminating turnovers.
NDSU will be looking for those opportunities. Every Colorado mistake will give the Bison a boost of confidence — and the Buffs don’t need to give them any unearned help in that department.
Odds are this will be a game in which separation won’t happen until the second half. If Colorado plays error-free ball, the Buffs should be able to take complete command down the stretch and put the game away.
But this isn’t a game in which CU wants to give the opponent hope in the fourth quarter. The Buffs need to make sure they are in command in the decisive moments.
If they can do that, they’ll be 1-0 heading into next week’s crucial tilt at Nebraska.
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Story by Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor for CUBuffs.com. Content courtesy of the University of Colorado at Boulder.