There's not a more popular player on most football teams than the backup quarterback. That's doubly true after a loss. Kaidon Salter won the Colorado starting job, which means he also "won" the criticism that comes with it. He's a senior. Experienced with the ups and downs that come with playing the position, and all the armchair quarterbacks sitting at home who have an opinion.
He also has the inenviable task of sitting in front of a true freshman savant. And after one game - and one mediocre offensive performance - Colorado fans are already dreaming of what things would look like with Julian "JuJu" Lewis at the helm.
In Friday night's 27-20 loss to Georgia Tech, Salter managed just 159 yards through the air, a far cry from the prolific Shedeur Sanders' passing attack of the last two seasons. Colorado was much improved on the ground, racking up 146 yards, a number they reached only once a year ago.
Salter, at times, seemed unsure of himself. He had some opportunities to run the football, and instead launched ill-advised passes. His throwing on the run left much to be desired, consistently sailing passes over his receivers' heads.
Coach Prime wants Salter to trust what he sees and use his legs more. Outside of that, the Colorado head coach thought his QB played well.
“Kaidon played well .. couple of times he should’ve ran but he threw," Sanders said. "We want him to be a dual-threat.
“We didn’t lose the game because of Kaidon Salter … he put us in a position to win.”
Colorado has to get its WRs more involved - one way or another
No Colorado WR caught more than two passes. The Buffs' leading pass-catchers were RBs Dekalon Taylor and Micah Welch with three each. Some of the issues were play calling. It didn't seem like Pat Shurmur had much of a feel for what to do with Salter. He seemed apprehensive to allow Salter to push the ball down the field, even when he made a couple of nice throws, none better than a 39-yard strike to Omarion Miller late in the first half.
But Colorado has too many talented WRs not to get the ball in their hands. If the coaching staff doesn't trust Salter to do that, then maybe giving Julian Lewis a shot wouldn't be the worst thing. The competition was supposedly close enough that a decision wasn't made until game week. Sanders even mentioned in the lead-up to the game that they hoped to get the true freshman into the game.
Lewis will make some freshman mistakes that Colorado coaches and fans will have to live with. It would be better for all parties involved if he sits back and learns behind Salter this year. But Colorado needs more out of its offense. They need more out of Salter. If he can't give it to them, then the freshman phenom has to get a chance.