If you had asked Coach Jon Embree, pre-season, where he expected his team to be after the first four games of the season, his answer probably wouldn’t include a 1-3 start.
Unfortunately, that is reality for the CU Buffs. For the most part, the Buffs have been on the losing side of their games this season, minus a victory against in-state rival CSU. Last week, Colorado was embarrassed on national TV for the second time this season by a depleted Ohio State team that has seen its share of issues this season.
Next up for CU is Washington State, a team who has averaged 49 points per game this year and 540 yards of total offense (160 yards rushing and 380 passing).
Colorado’s defense has struggled this season and those numbers aren’t very comforting.
Head Coach Jon Embree during the Rocky Mountain Showdown with CSU. (CU Independent/James Bradbury)
“Their stats are PlayStation kind of numbers,” Embree said.
“When you watch them, they are explosive,” Embree said. “They are doing it really with a backup quarterback. They lost their starter—I think it was in the first game or early in their second game. They are very explosive on that side of the football and they rotate their tailbacks in.”
A number of defensive starters are missing from the lineup for CU, most importantly in the cornerback position. Given how well Washington State has thrown this season, this could prove to be troublesome for the Buffaloes.
CU will be putting two freshmen on the field to defend Washington’s receivers. Freshmen Greg Henderson and Josh Moten will be called on to step it up. While Henderson has seen some time on the field this season, Moten has not.
“Josh is a competitive guy. His issue has just been consistency,” said Embree. “He will get a nice long look this week and we’ll see where he ends up at the end of the week. But he is a kid that has been maturing.”
Henderson had issues last week against Ohio State against receiver Devin Smith. The Buckeyes targeted him all game due in part to his inexperience. So far this season however, Henderson has done well for a freshman.
“I tell him every week, ‘If you are a freshman, every week you go out with a target on you,’” Embree said. “They got him last week. Obviously there are going to be times where they make plays on you, but he has been very good. With their attack being a four-wide attack, everybody back there is a target.”
Colorado’s offense only put up 17 points against the Buckeyes. Luckily, Washington State has nowhere near the same caliber of defensive weapons as OSU does. Quarterback Tyler Hansen threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, but only gained 76 yards on the ground.
Embree commented on why the Buffs have struggled to run the ball.
“I would rather not say because I don’t want to talk about players and I don’t want to say anything that makes it sound like excuses,” replied Embree. “We are just not running it well—I’ll just leave it at that.”
For the Buffs to grab a win this Saturday, the offense must find an identity in the run department.
Despite the disappointing start, CU still has time to recover. If the veteran players do their best to carry the team and inspire the younger players to step up, they may still save the season. Heads are still being held high. Embree still has high expectations.
“There are a lot of expectations that I have, but to me, it is getting the rest of the team to truly have these same expectations,” Embree said. ”To truly have the same feeling and passion that I have for it. There are guys that do, don’t get me wrong, there is a decent amount that do, but obviously not enough of us feel that way. So I have to continue to find a way to get everybody to feel that same way.”
He’ll have to start quick, as time is running out on his season.
The Colorado Buffaloes will face the Washington State Cougars Saturday, Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m. at Folsom Field.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Shay Knolle at shay.knolle@colorado.edu.
