Buffaloes vs. Rams
When: Saturday, 5:05 p.m.
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver
TV: CBS-Sports Sports Network
Radio: KOA 850 AM
CU vs. CSU
Series fact: Colorado leads the all-time series with CSU, 62-22-2. The series started with CU’s 70-6 win in Fort Collins on Feb. 11, 1893. The Buffs won the first eight meetings, from 1893 to 1904, outscoring the Rams 335-18.
CU player perspective: “I didn’t realize, coming from California, how big this game was. But, my last season, I don’t know if I’ll be able to live with myself if we don’t come away with a win.” – CU receiver Nelson Spruce
During a victory against Massachusetts on Saturday, Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau didn’t look like the player he was in 2014.
Not that the junior played poorly. Quite the opposite, in fact.
What made it different was that Liufau spent the bulk of his time watching his tailbacks gallop for big yards, rather than relying on his right arm to move the Buffaloes down the field.
“We haven’t thrown it as much,” CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said when it was suggested that the passing game was off to a slow start. “If we need to throw it 50 times a game to win it, I bet you our passing game would look good.”
So far, the Buffs (1-1) haven’t needed to do that. It’s the running game that’s looking better than it has in years as CU prepares to face Colorado State (1-1) on Saturday.
Two games into the season, CU has the nation’s ninth-ranked rushing attack, racking up 302.5 yards per game. Junior Michael Adkins II is fourth in the Pac-12, averaging 104.5 yards per game.
In the 48-14 win against UMass, the Buffs racked up 390 yards on a whopping 59 rushing attempts. It was the highest rushing yardage total by a CU team in nearly 13 years, and the 59 attempts was the most since a Sept. 22, 2007, win against Miami-Ohio.
“We’re able to run the football and we’re able to get the teams on their heels,” MacIntyre said. “If you can run the football consistently like that, you’ve got a good chance of winning a lot of football games.”
CU has had at least 53 rushing attempts in both games. The Buffs didn’t have more than 47 rushes in any game during MacIntyre’s first two years, and it’s the first time since late in the 2002 season that they’ve had back-to-back games with 50-plus carries.
Although 18 of their 53 attempts against Hawaii in the opener came from Liufau — several on scrambles — the rushing attack was pivotal in the Buffs’ scoring drives in that game.
For several seasons, CU coaches have tried — and failed — to establish a dominating run game. Now, it appears the Buffs have it.
In addition to Adkins, Liufau (26 carries, 117 yards), Christian Powell (13 for 114) and Phillip Lindsay (18 for 108) are all over 100 yards for the season, while freshman Patrick Carr (10 for 55) had a nice game against UMass.
“I think it’s real important,” MacIntyre said of establishing the run early in the season. “We improved from the first year to the second year in rushing, and we’ve improved this year.”
While the Buffs have a stable of talented running backs, Lindsay said a large chunk of the credits goes to the CU offensive line, which has been good in both games with its run blocking.
“The defense is giving it to us, but it’s the offensive line,” Lindsay said. “The offensive line has worked hard this whole offseason. We go how they go. If they can continue to roll like they are, it’s going to be easier for us to roll. The CSU game is going to be really important for our offensive line to get off on.
“It takes the air out of teams when you’re able to run.”
There are no plans to take the air out of the CU offense, though. Liufau doesn’t have big numbers (38 of 64, 324 yards, one TD, one INT) right now, but his big days are coming. MacIntyre, in fact, believes CU’s newfound rushing attack is going to help those big passing days come along.
“We’re going to play some teams that are going to stop the run some and we’ll be able to throw it,” MacIntyre said. “But they’re going to have to commit to stop the run, which helps the passing game. If a team loads the box up and we’re going to throw it, we can throw the football, too.”
Notable
CU will wear all-white uniforms against CSU and will debut its new white helmets. … CU already has seven rushing touchdowns, more than half of the total they had in 12 games last year (13). … CU already has three runs of at least 35 yards, and its longest pass play (34 yards) went to a running back (Lindsay).
Brian Howell: howellb@dailycamera.com, on Twitter: @BrianHowell33.
