Blog

College Football Week 4: Wrap Up

If you didn’t know already, I love watching college football!

Week 4 was just as I suspected. From start to finish, there were games that kept my attention glued to the tv. Even when I had to leave the house, I had my phone in hand and the ESPN app up.

Before I get into a few of the games I wrote about my blog last week, I would be remised if I avoided my predictions and the actual results.

My Results

RIGHT vs WRONG

Above are my predictions based strictly on a winner of said matchup. A group of friends and I play college pick em’ on the weekends for fun. With these rules, we have to pick correctly on the matchups taking into account the spread.

My results from above are easier to discuss and give my perspective on a clear cut winner.

Matchup Results Overview

CU vs OREGON

I tried to told y’all.

No really, Oregon poured it on CU early and often throughout the first half. Both sides of the ball got pushed around for CU and there was absolutely nothing they could do about it. It wasn’t by mistake or happenstance, it was already written like Slumdog Millionaire.

Oregon set the pace with plenty runs mixed with RPO’s (run/pass option) to get the ball on the edge and in space. They ran multiple empt/bunch sets to spread Colorado out and create matchups in their favor.

The Ducks did so well early, the first incompletion from Bo Nix didn’t come until the 3rd possession while CU ran only nine (count em’) nine plays in the first quarter. Much of that is attributed to going three and out. I said CU would need to avoid this in order to give themselves a chance.

Oregon dominated with 15 plays of 10+ yards in the 1st half while rushing for 161 yards. Their defense had four sacks, forced five punts, four tackles for loss, and gave up 21 TOTAL YARDS.

Not much changed in the 2nd half for the defense while their offense finally took their foot off of the Buffaloes neck.

There was an interesting point where Oregon started going for it on 4th down in the 2nd half. They definitely didn’t need to, but they were trying to make a point.

When you’re trying to send a message to the other team, you go for it on 4th down. I didn’t have a problem with this per se, but the message I’ve always been told is…

“If you don’t like it, stop it.”

Multiple Coaches, In My Lifetime

What Can Colorado Do From Here?

It’s very challenging when you can’t do anything up front. It’s up to the coaches to do a better job scheming and putting players in the right position to be successful. But the players aren’t exempt.

The better the offensive line can be, the better Shedeur Sanders can be. This doesn’t mean they have to bowl people over, but they must know who they are blocking and working to in protection. Whether this is spending more as a group outside of actual football activities or collectively watching film and OVER communicating the looks. They have to accept greater responsibility for their performances on Saturdays.

As for the quarterback, he could help himself out in a few ways.

I know Shedeur is not a run first quarterback. Never has been. I actually like that about him.

He wants to throw the ball. He will take off only in the most dire situations AFTER he has gone through his progressions and/or extends the play. It’s admirable.

Mixing the lack of protection with the extended time surveying the field for a receiver equals automatic sacks. He can take partial blame for this by getting rid of the ball when an throw isn’t there. Going through his 2nd and 3rd progression then getting rid of the ball would help immensely.

He always drifts back in the pocket. This makes sacks devastating. A QB that steps up in the pocket suffers a 3-5 yard losswhen sacked. A QB that drifts back and away from the rush, creates 7-10 yard losses. This can take the offense from 2nd and 15 to 2nd and 20.

The odds of earning a 1st down greater than 10+ yards has a very low probability. There just aren’t very many play calls for big chunks of yardage. The defense has the advantage here.

If Shed. Sanders can work on climbing in the pocket and getting rid of the ball when he feels pressure, it can help the Buffs stay on the field with more manageable situations to overcome.

Special Teams

Here an excerpt from my blog last week, discussing this game and special teams:

“CU has a been playing below average on the special teams side of the ball. Penalties and mistakes aren’t good for special teams because they end up costing you big. Oregon knows this and they will do their best to give themselves an edge whether with a big return, trick play, or blocked kick. The odds of winning a game with either of these improve significantly for the team that can execute.”

Drew Jay Davis, College Football Week 4 Preview

Football is a tricky thing but there are some certainties. Here are a few…

CU not only allowed Oregon to convert on a fake punt backed up in their own 17 yard line, they also allowed a blocked field goal on their lone extra point attempt late in the 4th quarter.

The fake punt was snapped directly to Casey Rogers, a 305 pound lineman (that could move). It was drawn up perfectly from something Oregon had previously seen on film. Just when it seemed like Colorado was going to get the ball back, the Ducks said “black black no trade back” and kept on pushing.

They went on to score a touchdown on this drive which is an absolute backbreaker for the defense.

FSU vs CLEMSON

This game was one of the best of the day.

Clemson looked very different than when I saw them week 1 against Duke. Offense looked a lot better running and passing, defense flew around and did special things, and the Clemson fans made that stadium LOUD.

A major change in the game came as Clemson was driving with the score 24 -17 and threatening to extend their lead. A blown pass protection assignment by the running back allowed the blitzer with a free shot on the quarterback.

And boy did he make it count.

Sack

Forced fumble

Fumble recovery

Reservations for six in the opposite end zone all by the same player, Kaleb Deloach #4

As quickly as Clemson was driving, it was over.

The Tigers did have a chance to win it with 1:49 left in regulation. The feel good story of kicker Jonathan Weitz, who decided to come back after a call from coach Sweeney, sailed left of the goal post.

Dabo said it best before the game, this is either going to go really good, or really terrible.

I wouldn’t go as far as to say it was terrible but the result was not what they wanted it to be after being in a position to win the game.

I can tell you right now, the kicker Jonathan Weitz was in one of the most high pressure situations a person can be in. A week before Saturday, he was prepping for a job in the real world. Come that afternoon, he’s kicking to knock off the number four team in the country FSU.

For someone to take this opportunity says a lot about them. He wasn’t afraid to swerve and come back into the unknown by finishing out his college career. I know he will win Clemson a couple games at some point this year. I’ll guarantee you that.

After FSU got the game into overtime, they wasted no time before throwing a fade down the sideline to Keon Coleman. Dude made a spectacular catch. Grown man status.

Clemson was unable to convert on 4th down on there drive and FSU was able to escape with a W in Death Valley.

Big games always come down to a couple plays. FSU made a few more in the second half than Clemson did.

Just that simple.

IOWA vs PENN ST

Yo! What’s going on with Iowa!?

I swear to you I thought this game was going to be close.

I was unable to see this game but keeping tabs on it I was astonished.

There needs to be an APB out for the Iowa offense. They rank in the 100’s when it comes to most statistical categories.

Whatever is going on up there, they better find a way to get it going before there are for sale signs in front yards.

Nice win for Penn State. I’ll be elated when they play some worth while competition that can answer the bell.

OREGON STATE vs WSU

Two words: Cameron Ward

This young dude can throw the ball!

WSU jumped on the Beavers early and from there they were playing catch up.

Ward ended up with 404 yards passing and 4 touchdowns.

What makes me excited about Pac 12 football is the endless quarterback talent they seem to have. Look left, look right, there’s a good QB standing there. I count on my fingers 8 QB’s (Penix Jr., C. Ward, Nix, Uiagalelei, Rising, Shed. Sanders, Williams, and Moore) who can put up big numbers and give opposing defenses a long week of game prep.

OSU can score some points, but they aren’t built to battle back from behind. They like to run the ball and be balanced. Getting behind early forced them to throw the ball more than they were comfortable with.

The score was 35 to 14 going into the 4th quarter. The Beavers made it look close with the final score, but it was out of reach.

Oregon State has a short week before they meet Utah at home on Friday night.

It will be good to see how they respond after their first L of the season.

UCLA 7 vs UTAH 14

Boy! Boy! Boy!

Defense in the Pac 12 on full display (never thought you would hear this huh).

I watched this game simultaneously while the Ducks beat up on the Buffs.

Both defenses gave up 7 points each. Jockeying for field position all day brought back memories of old SEC football before they accepted the new terms of the Wild Wild West.

The difference of the game ended up being the first pass/play of the game. Dante Moore threw a pick six right into the hands of an Utah linebacker that he never saw. Walk in touchdown.

I take that back, it’s hard to say the difference of the game was this play. There was a whole game played after this but it’s a very difficult way to start a game as a quarterback.

Especially a young quarterback.

All that junk I was talking last week and how he only had one INT and the first thing that happens is an interception on the first play.

I cursed him, I’ll take the blame for that.

Dante Moore didn’t look comfortable throwing the ball in the pocket.

Utah was able to get to him early and often with a four man rush. They pushed the pocket back. When they weren’t sacking him, they were pressuring him. When they weren’t pressuring him, they were sacking him.

By the way, Utah’s linemen are HUGE (both side of the ball). Always have been, always will be. Those Polynesians that they have up front definitely are a disturbance in the run and pass game. Resulting in a long day for offensive lineman.

The Utes shut out the Bruins in the first half and encored with allowing only 9 rushing yards. I don’t think there’s been anyone to date to accomplish this feat against coach Kelly.

Utah’s defensive coordinator did a phenomenal job mixing up the coverages and pressures. They often had a free rusher causing a headache for the Bruins. Utah registered 7.5 sacks. That’s a proficient season for some teams, let alone a great game.

Moore is young and this was a tough place to play his second road game. He will learn from this and be an exceptional quarterback.

You have to take your hat off and give credit where credit is due. That’s the best defense they will play this season and it’s not even close.

UCLA’s defense played lights out as well.

They stepped up to the challenge and you really saw two elite defenses barely budge. It looked as if they were both trying to outdo one another. And they both were successful in this feat.

Each team punted the ball eight times and had under 250 total yards.

If you really enjoy football, you have to respect defenses of this caliber in an age where they are pretty much obsolete.

OLE MISS vs ALABAMA

Note to self.

Never go against Nick Saban again!

I was unable to watch this game but the offense made some adjustments and is finding their footing.

I don’t know why I chose Ole Miss. Really y’all I must’ve been sniffing bath salts or something.

Every time someone doubts Coach Saban, he doesn’t do anything but win 10+ games, play exceptional defense, and send his players to the NFL. What more do you want from the man (oh and he does Aflac commercials).

When things get tough, you can always count on the Alabama defense to turn it up a notch. They have too much talent not to. With one of the best coaching staffs in the nation.

Alabama isn’t falling off, they’ve just sustained a high level of success over the last 20 years or so. I said it before, that’s fucking hard to do (excuse my language). We can count on them being Alabama. Take that for what it is.

I really don’t know why I bet anything on the side of Lane Kiffin. Quick story…

One time in high school, Lane Kiffin was supposed to come and watch me practice. He was coaching at USC at the time and it was the one school I would’ve said yes to on the spot.

Well… he never came to practice.

No biggie.

I’m pretty sure he went to see the top offensive lineman in our state by the name of Ryan Miller (eventual CU Buff).

Bad thing was, Lane hit me with a no call no show.

Aight bet.

Then the next day which was a Saturday, he asked if I would be willing to meet him at the high school so he could see me before he left back to California.

No bet.

For one, I was at work.

For two, you stood me up the other day homeboy.

If you ask him about this today, he probably has no clue whatsoever. But the truth is, I remember this like it was yesterday.

When someone shows you who they are, believe them.

That’s as far as I will go with that story. Moments like this stay with you for a while. I forgive him, but I won’t forget.

OHIO ST vs NOTRE DAME

Such a boring game that ended in the most exciting fashion.

Coming down to the one yard line with one play left.

On the final play of the game, Notre Dame had 10 men on the field.

More ironically, the 11th person that should’ve been on the field, would’ve been the lineman that was in the gap the game winning touchdown was scored.

Football is so ironic sometimes, it hurts.

Why couldn’t the missing player be a cornerback or a safety or Rudy for that matter!

To add more insult to injury, they had 10 players on the field the play before this as well.

Sigh… football man…

You’ll be excited to know The Fighting Irish have since in enacted a plan in case this happens again during the season or Coach Freeman’s time as the coach.

I don’t necessarily blame him for doing this, but it bit you at the worst possible time in your career.

It won’t happen again… anytime soon.

Let me explain something.

There is usually a coach in the coaches box overlooking the field, whose sole job it is to count the players. It’s one of the first things they do as players take position before the ball is snapped.

If Notre Dame had this person and they were doing their job, Coach Freeman should’ve been notified before the last play. This might’ve enabled him to run a lineman on after the completion by Ohio State to the one yard line.

These crazy situations football scenarios are tough, because once it happens to one team, now the rest of the country start practicing it.

It’s actually a good thing.

Players are able to get reps in this situation during practice so that it can pan out differently than it did for The Irish. That’s what good coaches do, they TEACH.

Once again, I don’t blame Coach Freeman. He was between a rock and a hard place. With so much going on and having no timeouts, you’re pretty much helpless.

Notre Dame was one yard and one person away from beating the Buckeyes.

It would’ve been their 1st victory against them since 1936.

(Granted, there have only been seven meetings between then schools)

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. I hope you’ll come back for your fix soon.

Best,

DD