Deion Sanders recently pushed back on the need for Colorado to find an offensive identity. He doesn't believe that's important; he just wants to find ways to win football games.
"I don't know coaches that seek identity," Sanders said. "I know coaches that seek winning."
Colorado assistant coach Brett Bartolone disagreed with that. He didn't outright say Coach Prime was incorrect, but he certainly gave a different viewpoint of it on Wednesday when asked about the offensive struggles.
"We gotta find our identity as an offense, who we are as an offense," Bartolone said. "Us coaches have to find that. We have to get that out of our players."
That runs directly in contradiction to what Sanders told the media earlier this week. It's also a similar viewpoint that you hear around the country from coaches every week. Contrary to what Coach Prime said, finding an offensive identity is vital. It starts at quarterback, and ending the musical chairs at the position will be key moving forward.
Reports on Wednesday stated that Colorado is expected to go back to Kaidon Salter at QB after Ryan Staub started at Houston. Regardless, settling on a QB - and calling the game in a manner that takes advantage of that QB's skill-set - will be just as important.
"We have to solidify the quarterback position," Bartolone said. "And make sure he's comfortable, and do things that maximize his skill sets. Once we find that, and I feel like we are truly on track in doing that, then we're going to be in a much better place."
It's on Pat Shurmur to put Kaidon Salter in a position to succeed moving forward
It seems obvious that Salter - the experienced Liberty transfer - would be the best option for this team. Sanders stated all offseason that he thought he had a team that could be physical running the football. That this team would win differently than last year's version, but they would win nonetheless.
Salter hasn't been great so far, but he also hasn't been put in a position to succeed by OC Pat Shurmur, who has drawn the ire of the Colorado fanbase for his lack of imaginative play-calling.
Along with coaching the tight ends, Bartolone is the pass game coordinator for the Buffs. His words about maximizing the QB's skill-set aren't exactly subtle. He's telling the media, and indirectly Shurmur, what needs to happen for Colorado to find success on offense.
This weekend against Wyoming is an important game. Colorado will need to play well to emerge victorious; the Cowboys are a well-coached team that are fully capable of coming to Folsom Field and walking out with a win if the Buffs don't play better than they have so far this season.
But it's also important in terms of finally establishing that identity. Because after this week, Colorado's final eight games are against Big 12 opponents. And if Coach Prime wants a chance at another winning season, time is running out on figuring things out.