Star Colorado football transfer Shedeur Sanders was an obvious factor in Coach Prime’s decision to switch up the play-calling duties among his Buffs coaching staff, taking the reins from Sean Lewis and handing them to offensive quality control analyst Pat Shurmur — which, as ESPN reports, will result in the loss of an on-field assistant.
“Colorado has stripped offensive coordinator Sean Lewis of his offensive playcalling duties and is elevating analyst Pat Shurmur to an on-field role where he will take over as the team’s playcaller, sources told ESPN,” the publication reported. “Shurmur and Lewis will serve as co-offensive coordinators, a source told ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. An on-field assistant would need to be removed to make room for Shurmur, who will also assist with the offensive line.”
While it seemed as though Lewis would be groomed to be Deion Sanders’ eventual head coaching replacement in Boulder, the underwhelming one-touchdown, 16-point offensive showing from the Buffs offense against UCLA — this after CU was held to just six points against Oregon — did Lewis in as the primary play-caller.
But why?
Shedeur Sanders’ NFL timeline makes Colorado football success more urgent
It’s clear that Sanders is going to follow in his father’s NFL footsteps one day, but his earnings potential will be at the mercy of the Buffs fixing their offensive line enough to let him showcase more than he’s been able to; having been sacked 41 times through Week 9 of the 2023 season. Besides the earnings Shedeur can lose with continued struggles in pass protection, the Buffs star may not be given an NFL role right away should he never ascend to “NFL first-round pick” levels in Boulder.
Coach Prime isn’t playing around with his son’s playing future, hence the drastic coaching switch being so urgent.
And viewing him through the lens of a parent, and not as much as a head football coach at a Power Five program, you can’t blame him. The results of the home stretch of the season will determine how this move will be viewed through the other lens.