There weren't a lot of positives to spin out of Colorado's 53-7 mollywhopping to Utah in Salt Lake City on Saturday night. Credit to Jack Freeman with Buffaloes Wire for trying to find the silver linings, however thin and difficult to see they may be.
One thing you can say about Colorado is that they didn't hang their heads and quit in the second half. Utah demolished the Buffs in the first half, leading 43-0 after the game's first 30 minutes and holding the Colorado offense to negative total yardage.
And while some of it was certainly the fact that Utah's Kyle Whittingham called off the dogs, Colorado only lost the second half 10-7. They showed a little bit of pride and character, something that could allow them to quickly bounce back this weekend at home against Arizona.
To do so, however, it might take a change at QB. Again.
In Freeman's article, he talks about believing in second chances and how redshirt sophomore QB Ryan Staub, who provided a small spark in the second half against Utah last week, deserves another crack at the job.
"Ryan Staub lit a spark when he entered the game for the second time this season," Freeman wrote. "As much as Kaidon Salter's running ability has won the Buffs some games, his lack of arm strength has hurt them more times than I'd prefer to recall. Staub has led the Buffaloes' most competent passing attack and seems to have a knack for finding Omarion Miller, the team's best weapon, more often than not."
Could Ryan Staub make his second start this weekend?
Staub came off the bench and provided a boost to the Colorado offense in a Week 2 win over Delaware. That earned him the start the following week on the road against Houston, but he struggled in Colorado's 36-20 loss to the Cougars. Staub threw a couple of picks and the game was never really in doubt in the second half.
Coach Prime elected to go back to Kaidon Salter after that, and he's stuck with Salter through the rollercoaster ride despite plenty of Colorado fans wanting to switch back to Staub or finally hand the keys to true freshman Julian Lewis.
Sanders has been apprehensive about burning Lewis' redshirt this season, which means we are probably at least a week away from the freshman getting his chance. You can play up to four games in a season and maintain your eligibility. With only three guaranteed games left after this week, Sanders could choose to hand the keys to Lewis starting next week for the final three games of the season without burning his redshirt season.
Staub was 4-of-8 for 65 yards against Utah last week and led Colorado's only touchdown drive. He has the ability to provide a needed spark in the passing game.
With Colorado in desperate need of a win to keep bowl hopes alive, all options should be on the table for Coach Prime.