Colorado left guard Tyler Brown blocks against Kansas State at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., on Oct. 12, 2024.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)
More than halfway through the season, it’s clear that the Colorado offensive line is going to be a continual work in progress.
On Saturday, however, the line played an integral role in the Buffaloes’ 34-7 dismantling of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz.
“That’s something that we focused on, as well,” head coach Deion Sanders of the line’s performance. “We just gotta stop the little mistakes. You know, we’re having at least three mistakes (per game) up front, and we gotta just eliminate those things.”
Against Arizona, the line did that for the most part. The Buffs (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) hope to keep it going when Cincinnati (5-2, 3-1) visits Folsom Field on Saturday (8:15 p.m., ESPN).
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders was sacked just once at Arizona and that came on the second play of the game. And, the line was penalized only two times for 10 yards, the fewest yards given up on penalties by the group since the season opener. It was also the first time since the opener that no linemen were flagged for holding.
CU’s success up front came on a day when it rotated its guards.
Tyler Brown (left guard) and Kareem Harden (right guard) started, but late in the first quarter they were replaced by Justin Mayers (left) and Kahlil Benson (right). In the third quarter, the Buffs went back to Brown and Harden and then shifted back to the Mayers/Benson combination in the fourth.
“Trying to find that click, trying to find that fit,” Coach Prime said. “It’s like when you put a key into the ignition and turn it. If it don’t work, it ain’t the one, right? So you just trying to find that mesh there, who works well with others and who could come in on short notice.
“And in this day and age of (transfer) portaling, you want to kind of keep guys happy as well that can possibly play. You don’t want dawgs sitting over there on the sideline because they don’t get an opportunity to get in the game.”
It worked, as all the guards played well. In fact, Brown posted the highest single-game grade of any CU lineman this year on Saturday, according to Pro Football Focus (76.9) and Mayers had his best single-game PFF grade of the year (66.2).
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With the Buffs in firm control, they also got to use some backups. Overall, 12 offensive linemen played against Arizona, including freshmen Yahya Attia and Cash Cleveland making their collegiate debuts.
Players rewarded
Attia and Cleveland weren’t the only reserves who got to enjoy some playing time against Arizona. Because the game was a rout, there were several players who normally don’t get on the field who got an opportunity on Saturday.
The group included, among others, quarterbacks Ryan Staub and Destin Wade; tight end Morgan Pearson; cornerback/receiver Isaiah Hardge; linebackers Brendan Gant, Gage Goldberg and Bo Simmons-Lapenna; defensive end Tristan Marois; defensive backs Ben Finneseth and Braden Keith; and kicker Daniel Gerlach, who kicked off twice.
Coach Prime said it’s a boost to overall team morale when those on the bench can get into a game.
“Tremendous. First of all, a multitude of those guys are on the scout team, and they’re always giving us a look (in practice),” he said. “So they’re the guys that are preparing us to go do what we just did. So to get to see them out there, and to see Ben Finneseth, to see Braden Keith … They get an opportunity to fulfill their dreams. Sometimes it’s just their dream, man, they just want to run out there in that CU uniform.”
Third-down success
In the end, CU wound up just 9-of-18 (50 percent) on third downs against Arizona, but they started 6-for-7, and converted on fourth down after the one missed third down.
“I think that’s why the first half looked the way it looked, getting those crucial third downs,” receiver Will Sheppard said, referring to CU’s 28-7 halftime lead.
CU was 9-of-12 at one point but missed its last six third-down attempts.
Notable
CU gave up a school-record 56 sacks last year (4.7 per game) and while the number is still high this year, at 25, the Buffs have cut the per-game average down to 3.6. Saturday was the fourth time this season that Shedeur Sanders was sacked less than three times. Last year, he was sacked at least three times in every game. … CU’s defense leads the Big 12 in sacks, with 21 (3.0 per game) and tackles for loss, with 49 (7.0 per game). … The Buffs also lead the Big 12 in red zone defense, allowing scores only 68% of the time (17 on 25 trips).