Here is Michigan's Preview on Colorado going into Saturday
By: Ryan Tice of The Wolverine.com
Full Link Here
https://colorado.rivals.com/news/opponent-preview-veterans-have-led-colorado-to-2-0-start
Michigan has put up incredible numbers through the first two weeks of the season on both sides of the ball. The Wolverines’ scoring offense (57.0 points per game) ranks fifth nationally, while the defense is ranked ninth nationally in points allowed per game (8.5). The outstanding all-around performance has led Jim Harbaugh’s squad to a No. 4 national ranking in the AP Poll.
Few teams have such impressive results through two games, but Colorado is one of them. The Buffaloes rank in the nation’s top 11 for points (50.0, 11th) and yards per game on offense (587.5, seventh), in addition to leading the country in total defense (160.5) and ranking sixth in points allowed (7.0) while outscoring opponents 100-14.
Granted, Colorado’s opponents — rival Colorado State and FCS foe Idaho State — have been over-matched so far, but the numbers are eye-catching. A dip in the statistics is nearly guaranteed, but can the Buffaloes continue to perform at a high level after moving through the cupcake appetizer on the schedule to the meaty main course that begins Saturday in The Big House?
“That’s the million-dollar question,” CUSportsNation.com publisher Kyle Henderson said. “I think the stat reads that they’re 2-25 in Pac-12 play under [head coach Mike] MacIntyre, so he needs to win. He knows that, we know that, the fans know that.
“They really have struggled against the Pac-12, and though it’s only been two weeks of play against two not-strong teams, it’s good for where they want to be. Obviously looking from the outside-in, they’re a big underdog this week, but I don’t think they’re trying to shock the nation … they’re trying to make strides, and I think they’ve done that early on.”
Henderson admitted fans, who haven’t seen a winning season since 2005 and last went to a bowl game in 2007, are rightfully excited about the 2-0 start but remain “as skeptical as you can get.”
The Buffaloes also started 2-0 in 2013 (with wins over Colorado State and an FCS foe), but stumbled afterwards and finished 4-8 in MacIntyre’s first year at the helm. However, this year’s squad is more experienced, which could prove to be the difference with 20 returning starters, including both specialists.
“A lot of these guys have been here since MacIntyre got here four years ago, and they have a lot to prove still,” Henderson said. “A lot of these guys are on the field together for the last time being seniors, and I think veteran leadership has been a team strength on both sides of the ball.”
It all starts with senior quarterback Sefo Liufau, a four-year starter who has opened 31 games so far in his career and already owns 78 school records. He set 51 of them in 2014 while throwing for 3,200 yards and 28 touchdowns against 15 interceptions in 11 starts. He also started 11 times last year before a Lisfranc foot injury ended his campaign but threw for just 2,418 yards and nine scores with six picks.
He’s playing his best in his final campaign and has really benefitted from the up-tempo offense new co-coordinator Darrin Chiverini brought with him from Texas Tech. So far, Liufau has completed 74.5 percent of his passes for 522 yards and three touchdowns. He hasn’t been intercepted yet and ranks second on the team in rushing, with 120 yards and another score — but Henderson notes that the running quarterback label commonly placed on Liufau due to his stats isn’t entirely accurate.
“I think they put him in some positions to use a little bit of the mobility that he has, but I wouldn’t say he’s a dual-threat guy; I think that’s far off,” he explained. “He’s athletic enough to maybe rip off a 30-yard run, but I don’t think any of their offense is predicated on [his running].
“He’s going to take advantage when he’s in position to pull the ball and reading the defense correctly.”
Still, quarterback runs have been one of the Wolverine defense’s few vulnerabilities shown through two games. Hawai’i backup Dru Brown was the Rainbow Warriors’ leading rusher with 49 yards on five totes, while UCF signal-callers Justin Holman and Nick Patti notched rushes of 35, 30 and 26 yards.
Liufau is operating behind an offensive line that lost just one starter from last year — and the vacancy at left tackle was filled by the return of redshirt junior Jeromy Irwin, who started 11 games there in 2014 but tore his ACL in the second tilt of 2015.
Henderson called Irwin the team’s best offensive lineman, but admits the Colorado front hasn’t seen a lineup across the trenches yet like the one Michigan will send out Saturday.
“I think we’re going to find out [how good the line is] this week,” he said. “When you look at that Michigan front, they’re built to stop anything up the middle. I think they have one of the best defensive fronts in the entire nation.”
Also running behind the experienced line is redshirt junior running back Phillip Lindsay, who led the team with 653 yards and six touchdowns on the ground in 2015. He may not be elite in any category but is a well-rounded and versatile option.
“Colorado hasn’t had a running back go for 1,000 yards in several years, Lindsay probably has a shot to this year,” Henderson noted. “He’s really improved from last year … I don’t want to say it’s necessarily swagger, but maybe it’s confidence.
“The way he’s running the ball, he’s been putting his head down a little and against Colorado State, he buried a defensive tackle to pick up another four yards. He’s not a huge power back, but he’s definitely strong. He doesn’t have high-caliber breakaway speed, but he can get going. He’s a good receiver out of the backfield, he can block.”
The Buffaloes have thrown only two passes to tight ends so far this year and wide receiver was one of the biggest question marks coming into the season after losing last year’s top pass catcher. No. 2 wideout Shay Fields, a 5-11, 180-pound deep threat with six career plays of 50 yards or more, has stepped up to fill the void along with 6-2 target Bryce Bobo, owner of oneSportsCenter Top 10 appearance already this year, and 5-9 dynamo Devin Ross, who leads the team with 11 grabs.
The other side of the ball is led by defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt, who was the San Francisco 49ers’ linebackers coach under Harbaugh before arriving in Boulder prior to the 2015 campaign. The unit made drastic strides last fall — going from 39.0 points per game allowed to 27.5 — and should be even better after the return of nine starters.
The rocks of the unit are senior defensive backs Chidobe Awuzie and Tedric Thompson, who combined for 170 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 19 passes broken up and five interceptions in 2015. Both boast two pass breakups, including one interception, and one TFL this year while Awuzie is currently the team’s top tackler.
“Their defensive secondary honestly might be tops in the Pac-12,” Henderson said. “They’re fantastic, they’re ballers. Chidobe Aquzie is probably an NFL prospect … he can play cover corner, nickel, safety; he’s very versatile.
“I think when you look at that 100-14 scoring margin, you have veteran play at quarterback and the same thing in the secondary. They’ve only allowed 130 yards passing, so whoever it’s against those stats stand out.”
Perhaps the most important defender in the front seven is mammoth nose tackle Josh Tupou, who isn’t asked to rack up huge numbers but rather occupy blockers with his listed 325-pound frame (which might be lower than his actual body weight).
Leavitt’s defense was incredibly opportunistic last year — they were one of just six schools to force a turnover in every 2015 contest and the only one from a Power Five conference, which ties them for the nation’s longest streak of 15 consecutive games with a forced turnover.
“It’s that veteran leadership and they have playmakers,” Henderson said. “The turnover margin doesn’t surprise me at all.”
Colorado made headlines in the lead up to the game by distributing a depth chart full of movie characters and real-life celebrities since Michigan doesn’t release a public two-deep. It’s a cute decision, but by the time Saturday evening rolls around, the Buffaloes might really wish it was the likes of Jake and Elwood Blues, Eric Cartman, Clark W. Griswold and “The Dude” Lewbowski taking snaps inside of Michigan Stadium instead of their actual players receiving bruised egos.
The Wolverines are rolling, and Saturday could be a welcome back to the real world moment for the Colorado players riding high after a 2-0 start.
“My prediction is Michigan is going to be Michigan,” Henderson concluded. “If Colorado can be consistent and stay turnover-free, have some momentum going into halftime, I think they’ve got a puncher’s chance.
“With that said, I watched both Michigan games and I honestly think they’re the best football team in the country. It’s hard to predict an upset, especially at The Big House, but we’ve seen some crazy Saturdays so far and it’s only going to be week three.”
Offensive Players To Watch
Senior QB Sefo Liufau: The competition has been questionable at best, but there are no doubts about the performances of the senior quarterback who missed this spring while still recovering from his season-ending foot injury. He has completed 74.5 percent of his passes for 522 yards and three touchdowns against zero interceptions while also rushing for 120 yards and an additional score. In his career, he has thrown for 7,969 yards and 53 scores (against 29 interceptions) while rushing for 565 yards and six touchdowns.
Redshirt junior RB Phillip Lindsay: The 5-8, 190-pounder is not big, but he’s extremely productive. He entered the year with over 1,000 career rushing yards, plus 40 receptions and more than 1,000 yards on kickoff returns. Coming into 2016, he had lost just 34 yards on 219 career totes, which ranked sixth-fewest nationally for returning players with 200-plus rushes. He has not been tackled in the backfield yet in 2016, gaining 125 yards and four scores on 27 attempts, good for a 4.6-yard average, and catching four passes. However, his longest rush has also been just 13 yards, the shortest long of the Buffs’ top four rushers.
Junior WR Shay Fields: The big–play weapon has needed just five catches to total his team-best 157 yards receiving, good for a jaw-dropping average of 31.4-yard average. Amazingly, 6-3 Kabion Ento betters that clip with his two catches for 88 yards, but Fields is the go-to option out wide. Since starting as a true freshman in 2014, he has notched 97 catches for 1,241 yards and scored nine times.
Defensive Players To Watch
Senior CB Chidobe Awuzie: Normally, it’s not a good sign when a defensive back is a unit’s leading tackler, but that is not the case (at least not yet) with Awuzie and Colorado. The 6-0, 205-pounder entered the season ranked the No. 89 overall player in college football by NFL.com and currently leads the team with 10 tackles — all have been solo stops. His one interception is also tied for team-high honors, and he has a reputation for being a big hitter.
Redshirt senior DT Josh Tupou: After starting 31 of the last 34 games prior to the start of the 2015 campaign, he redshirted last year while being suspended from the team. The listed 6-3, 325-pounder might not rack up big-time numbers — he has six tackles, including one for loss, on the season — but his battle with the U-M interior might be one of the most intriguing Saturday.
Senior OLB Jimmie Gilbert: Although he started just three times and played 394 defensive snaps last year (down from 485 in 2014, when he played one less contest), the 6-5, 230-pounder paced the Buffaloes in sacks, with six. Gilbert is tied with linebacker Kenneth Olugbode for the team lead with two tackles for loss, and the son of a former NBA Draft pick (of the same name) also has forced a fumble this fall.
Special Teams Player To Watch
Sophomore P Alex Kinney: After a fine debut in Boulder in which he averaged 40.1 yards per attempt, the 6-1, 205-pounder was named an All-Pac-12 preseason choice by Athlon Sports(third team) and Phil Steele’s College Football (fourth). His net average last year was 38.1, thanks to 73 percent of the tries going unreturned. So far this year, he has averaged 42.8 yards per punt with only one of his six being returned (for six yards).
By The Numbers: Colorado
1 Is The Buffaloes’ national rank for total defense, surrendering an average of just 160.5 yards per game. They are also tied for sixth in scoring defense, allowing just seven points per game. Among Power Five teams, only Miami (Fla.) and Ohio State have allowed less points.
6.0 Yards per carry is senior quarterback Sefo Liufau’s rushing average this season.. Not counting the loss to USC last year where he suffered a season-ending injury in the second quarter, he has netted at least 43 yards on the ground in his last five appearances. It helps that he has been sacked just once so far this year.
12-27 Is head coach Mike MacIntyre’s record in his three-plus years with the Buffaloes after a 2-0 start to year four. It’s just the second time in nine years that they have reached 2-0.
100-14 Is the combined score of Colorado’s first two games — they beat Colorado State 44-7 in the opener and FCS competitor Idaho State 56-7 last weekend. Michigan’s differential is 114-17 against Hawai’i and UCF.
130 Passing yards have been allowed by Colorado (an incredible average of just 1.8 yards per pass attempt) — that number could be surpassed in one half, or even a quarter, alone Saturday.
412 Is the number of career starts Colorado entered the season with, an all-time best.
1,175 Yards of offense have been totaled by the Buffaloes. Michigan’s total sits at 959 heading into Saturday, although the Wolverines have scored more points.
1994 Was the year that Colorado beat Michigan, 27-26, on a hail mary from Kordell Stewart to Michael Westbrook at The Big House. The Buffaloes have announced on Saturday they will wear the same uniform combination they sported that day, trying to recapture the magic of “The Miracle In Michigan.”
By: Ryan Tice of The Wolverine.com
Full Link Here
https://colorado.rivals.com/news/opponent-preview-veterans-have-led-colorado-to-2-0-start
Michigan has put up incredible numbers through the first two weeks of the season on both sides of the ball. The Wolverines’ scoring offense (57.0 points per game) ranks fifth nationally, while the defense is ranked ninth nationally in points allowed per game (8.5). The outstanding all-around performance has led Jim Harbaugh’s squad to a No. 4 national ranking in the AP Poll.
Few teams have such impressive results through two games, but Colorado is one of them. The Buffaloes rank in the nation’s top 11 for points (50.0, 11th) and yards per game on offense (587.5, seventh), in addition to leading the country in total defense (160.5) and ranking sixth in points allowed (7.0) while outscoring opponents 100-14.
Granted, Colorado’s opponents — rival Colorado State and FCS foe Idaho State — have been over-matched so far, but the numbers are eye-catching. A dip in the statistics is nearly guaranteed, but can the Buffaloes continue to perform at a high level after moving through the cupcake appetizer on the schedule to the meaty main course that begins Saturday in The Big House?
“That’s the million-dollar question,” CUSportsNation.com publisher Kyle Henderson said. “I think the stat reads that they’re 2-25 in Pac-12 play under [head coach Mike] MacIntyre, so he needs to win. He knows that, we know that, the fans know that.
“They really have struggled against the Pac-12, and though it’s only been two weeks of play against two not-strong teams, it’s good for where they want to be. Obviously looking from the outside-in, they’re a big underdog this week, but I don’t think they’re trying to shock the nation … they’re trying to make strides, and I think they’ve done that early on.”
Henderson admitted fans, who haven’t seen a winning season since 2005 and last went to a bowl game in 2007, are rightfully excited about the 2-0 start but remain “as skeptical as you can get.”
The Buffaloes also started 2-0 in 2013 (with wins over Colorado State and an FCS foe), but stumbled afterwards and finished 4-8 in MacIntyre’s first year at the helm. However, this year’s squad is more experienced, which could prove to be the difference with 20 returning starters, including both specialists.
“A lot of these guys have been here since MacIntyre got here four years ago, and they have a lot to prove still,” Henderson said. “A lot of these guys are on the field together for the last time being seniors, and I think veteran leadership has been a team strength on both sides of the ball.”
It all starts with senior quarterback Sefo Liufau, a four-year starter who has opened 31 games so far in his career and already owns 78 school records. He set 51 of them in 2014 while throwing for 3,200 yards and 28 touchdowns against 15 interceptions in 11 starts. He also started 11 times last year before a Lisfranc foot injury ended his campaign but threw for just 2,418 yards and nine scores with six picks.
He’s playing his best in his final campaign and has really benefitted from the up-tempo offense new co-coordinator Darrin Chiverini brought with him from Texas Tech. So far, Liufau has completed 74.5 percent of his passes for 522 yards and three touchdowns. He hasn’t been intercepted yet and ranks second on the team in rushing, with 120 yards and another score — but Henderson notes that the running quarterback label commonly placed on Liufau due to his stats isn’t entirely accurate.
“I think they put him in some positions to use a little bit of the mobility that he has, but I wouldn’t say he’s a dual-threat guy; I think that’s far off,” he explained. “He’s athletic enough to maybe rip off a 30-yard run, but I don’t think any of their offense is predicated on [his running].
“He’s going to take advantage when he’s in position to pull the ball and reading the defense correctly.”
Still, quarterback runs have been one of the Wolverine defense’s few vulnerabilities shown through two games. Hawai’i backup Dru Brown was the Rainbow Warriors’ leading rusher with 49 yards on five totes, while UCF signal-callers Justin Holman and Nick Patti notched rushes of 35, 30 and 26 yards.
Liufau is operating behind an offensive line that lost just one starter from last year — and the vacancy at left tackle was filled by the return of redshirt junior Jeromy Irwin, who started 11 games there in 2014 but tore his ACL in the second tilt of 2015.
Henderson called Irwin the team’s best offensive lineman, but admits the Colorado front hasn’t seen a lineup across the trenches yet like the one Michigan will send out Saturday.
“I think we’re going to find out [how good the line is] this week,” he said. “When you look at that Michigan front, they’re built to stop anything up the middle. I think they have one of the best defensive fronts in the entire nation.”
Also running behind the experienced line is redshirt junior running back Phillip Lindsay, who led the team with 653 yards and six touchdowns on the ground in 2015. He may not be elite in any category but is a well-rounded and versatile option.
“Colorado hasn’t had a running back go for 1,000 yards in several years, Lindsay probably has a shot to this year,” Henderson noted. “He’s really improved from last year … I don’t want to say it’s necessarily swagger, but maybe it’s confidence.
“The way he’s running the ball, he’s been putting his head down a little and against Colorado State, he buried a defensive tackle to pick up another four yards. He’s not a huge power back, but he’s definitely strong. He doesn’t have high-caliber breakaway speed, but he can get going. He’s a good receiver out of the backfield, he can block.”
The Buffaloes have thrown only two passes to tight ends so far this year and wide receiver was one of the biggest question marks coming into the season after losing last year’s top pass catcher. No. 2 wideout Shay Fields, a 5-11, 180-pound deep threat with six career plays of 50 yards or more, has stepped up to fill the void along with 6-2 target Bryce Bobo, owner of oneSportsCenter Top 10 appearance already this year, and 5-9 dynamo Devin Ross, who leads the team with 11 grabs.
The other side of the ball is led by defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt, who was the San Francisco 49ers’ linebackers coach under Harbaugh before arriving in Boulder prior to the 2015 campaign. The unit made drastic strides last fall — going from 39.0 points per game allowed to 27.5 — and should be even better after the return of nine starters.
The rocks of the unit are senior defensive backs Chidobe Awuzie and Tedric Thompson, who combined for 170 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 19 passes broken up and five interceptions in 2015. Both boast two pass breakups, including one interception, and one TFL this year while Awuzie is currently the team’s top tackler.
“Their defensive secondary honestly might be tops in the Pac-12,” Henderson said. “They’re fantastic, they’re ballers. Chidobe Aquzie is probably an NFL prospect … he can play cover corner, nickel, safety; he’s very versatile.
“I think when you look at that 100-14 scoring margin, you have veteran play at quarterback and the same thing in the secondary. They’ve only allowed 130 yards passing, so whoever it’s against those stats stand out.”
Perhaps the most important defender in the front seven is mammoth nose tackle Josh Tupou, who isn’t asked to rack up huge numbers but rather occupy blockers with his listed 325-pound frame (which might be lower than his actual body weight).
Leavitt’s defense was incredibly opportunistic last year — they were one of just six schools to force a turnover in every 2015 contest and the only one from a Power Five conference, which ties them for the nation’s longest streak of 15 consecutive games with a forced turnover.
“It’s that veteran leadership and they have playmakers,” Henderson said. “The turnover margin doesn’t surprise me at all.”
Colorado made headlines in the lead up to the game by distributing a depth chart full of movie characters and real-life celebrities since Michigan doesn’t release a public two-deep. It’s a cute decision, but by the time Saturday evening rolls around, the Buffaloes might really wish it was the likes of Jake and Elwood Blues, Eric Cartman, Clark W. Griswold and “The Dude” Lewbowski taking snaps inside of Michigan Stadium instead of their actual players receiving bruised egos.
The Wolverines are rolling, and Saturday could be a welcome back to the real world moment for the Colorado players riding high after a 2-0 start.
“My prediction is Michigan is going to be Michigan,” Henderson concluded. “If Colorado can be consistent and stay turnover-free, have some momentum going into halftime, I think they’ve got a puncher’s chance.
“With that said, I watched both Michigan games and I honestly think they’re the best football team in the country. It’s hard to predict an upset, especially at The Big House, but we’ve seen some crazy Saturdays so far and it’s only going to be week three.”
Offensive Players To Watch
Senior QB Sefo Liufau: The competition has been questionable at best, but there are no doubts about the performances of the senior quarterback who missed this spring while still recovering from his season-ending foot injury. He has completed 74.5 percent of his passes for 522 yards and three touchdowns against zero interceptions while also rushing for 120 yards and an additional score. In his career, he has thrown for 7,969 yards and 53 scores (against 29 interceptions) while rushing for 565 yards and six touchdowns.
Redshirt junior RB Phillip Lindsay: The 5-8, 190-pounder is not big, but he’s extremely productive. He entered the year with over 1,000 career rushing yards, plus 40 receptions and more than 1,000 yards on kickoff returns. Coming into 2016, he had lost just 34 yards on 219 career totes, which ranked sixth-fewest nationally for returning players with 200-plus rushes. He has not been tackled in the backfield yet in 2016, gaining 125 yards and four scores on 27 attempts, good for a 4.6-yard average, and catching four passes. However, his longest rush has also been just 13 yards, the shortest long of the Buffs’ top four rushers.
Junior WR Shay Fields: The big–play weapon has needed just five catches to total his team-best 157 yards receiving, good for a jaw-dropping average of 31.4-yard average. Amazingly, 6-3 Kabion Ento betters that clip with his two catches for 88 yards, but Fields is the go-to option out wide. Since starting as a true freshman in 2014, he has notched 97 catches for 1,241 yards and scored nine times.
Defensive Players To Watch
Senior CB Chidobe Awuzie: Normally, it’s not a good sign when a defensive back is a unit’s leading tackler, but that is not the case (at least not yet) with Awuzie and Colorado. The 6-0, 205-pounder entered the season ranked the No. 89 overall player in college football by NFL.com and currently leads the team with 10 tackles — all have been solo stops. His one interception is also tied for team-high honors, and he has a reputation for being a big hitter.
Redshirt senior DT Josh Tupou: After starting 31 of the last 34 games prior to the start of the 2015 campaign, he redshirted last year while being suspended from the team. The listed 6-3, 325-pounder might not rack up big-time numbers — he has six tackles, including one for loss, on the season — but his battle with the U-M interior might be one of the most intriguing Saturday.
Senior OLB Jimmie Gilbert: Although he started just three times and played 394 defensive snaps last year (down from 485 in 2014, when he played one less contest), the 6-5, 230-pounder paced the Buffaloes in sacks, with six. Gilbert is tied with linebacker Kenneth Olugbode for the team lead with two tackles for loss, and the son of a former NBA Draft pick (of the same name) also has forced a fumble this fall.
Special Teams Player To Watch
Sophomore P Alex Kinney: After a fine debut in Boulder in which he averaged 40.1 yards per attempt, the 6-1, 205-pounder was named an All-Pac-12 preseason choice by Athlon Sports(third team) and Phil Steele’s College Football (fourth). His net average last year was 38.1, thanks to 73 percent of the tries going unreturned. So far this year, he has averaged 42.8 yards per punt with only one of his six being returned (for six yards).
By The Numbers: Colorado
1 Is The Buffaloes’ national rank for total defense, surrendering an average of just 160.5 yards per game. They are also tied for sixth in scoring defense, allowing just seven points per game. Among Power Five teams, only Miami (Fla.) and Ohio State have allowed less points.
6.0 Yards per carry is senior quarterback Sefo Liufau’s rushing average this season.. Not counting the loss to USC last year where he suffered a season-ending injury in the second quarter, he has netted at least 43 yards on the ground in his last five appearances. It helps that he has been sacked just once so far this year.
12-27 Is head coach Mike MacIntyre’s record in his three-plus years with the Buffaloes after a 2-0 start to year four. It’s just the second time in nine years that they have reached 2-0.
100-14 Is the combined score of Colorado’s first two games — they beat Colorado State 44-7 in the opener and FCS competitor Idaho State 56-7 last weekend. Michigan’s differential is 114-17 against Hawai’i and UCF.
130 Passing yards have been allowed by Colorado (an incredible average of just 1.8 yards per pass attempt) — that number could be surpassed in one half, or even a quarter, alone Saturday.
412 Is the number of career starts Colorado entered the season with, an all-time best.
1,175 Yards of offense have been totaled by the Buffaloes. Michigan’s total sits at 959 heading into Saturday, although the Wolverines have scored more points.
1994 Was the year that Colorado beat Michigan, 27-26, on a hail mary from Kordell Stewart to Michael Westbrook at The Big House. The Buffaloes have announced on Saturday they will wear the same uniform combination they sported that day, trying to recapture the magic of “The Miracle In Michigan.”
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