Colorado coach Deion Sanders has never been reluctant to adjust his approach.
After building explosive offenses around Shedeur Sanders and a deep collection of receivers, Coach Prime believes this season’s Buffaloes may need to win differently.
“Once upon a time, we threw the heck out of the ball,” Sanders said earlier this weeh during the Colorado Coaches Show. “It was fun. It was exciting. You were on the edge of your seat. You knew that quarterback and those receivers were going to light it up.”
That identity changed during Colorado’s season-opening 14-13 victory over Georgia Tech. The Buffaloes rushed for 183 yards while repeatedly attacking the Yellow Jackets between the tackles.
“Right now, at this point in time in the season, we’re leaning heavy on the run,” Sanders said.
Colorado’s success on the ground was not a surprise inside the program. Sanders said the Buffaloes had been building toward that performance throughout the offseason but chose not to publicize their plans.
“We knew we could do it,” Coach Prime said on the Colorado Coaches Show. “We knew we had the line to do it. We’ve been doing it since spring camp. We’ve been doing it during the fall. We hadn’t said anything like, ‘Hey, we’re going to run the heck out of the ball.’ No, man. You’ll find out.”
Micah Welch and Damian Henderson helped Colorado control the game on the ground, while the offensive line delivered the kind of physical performance that had been missing at times during Sanders’ first three seasons in Boulder.
“We’ve got to go with what’s working,” Sanders said. “Flat back, low pads, and let’s go.”
That does not mean Sanders or offensive coordinator Brennan Marion intends to abandon the passing game. Colorado still has a talented group of receivers capable of punishing defenses that commit additional players to stopping the run.
“If you’re a team that prides itself on stopping the run, we can throw the ball, too,” Sanders said. “We’ve got to get to that point where we’re consistent with that. Or, if you’re a team that’s a little lackadaisical on the run, we’re going to run it down your throat.”
Colorado needed its passing game when the Buffaloes trailed 13-7 late in Atlanta. Julian “Juju” Lewis delivered on the final drive, completing five of seven passes and finding Charlie Williams for the winning touchdown with 42 seconds remaining.
The comeback displayed Lewis’ potential, but Sanders made it clear that Colorado’s young quarterback will continue to be judged by his execution.
“We don’t take shortcuts, and we don’t play games,” Sanders said. “You’ve got to do your job. You do your job…that’s what we expect at all levels.”
Colorado’s offense may eventually become more balanced as Lewis develops and the passing game finds greater consistency. Until then, Sanders intends to follow the clearest path toward victory.
“You want to win, but you want to be intelligent with the winning,” Sanders said.
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