Well, this is a tough week to do the 5 keys to victory. CU is officially missing several starters and key players and there are more that have not been mentioned due to competitive disadvantage. This is truly a 'B' team for our game today. A season that started off with so much promise in October has been whittled down to the knuckle. Other teams would have opted out and in some ways I wouldn't mind if CU did. Saving face and having people remember you for an off season for what you were, not what you were in the end. Coach Dorrell believes in his guys though. He just needs 53, any 53, to put a team out there. 7 linemen, and 4 defensive linemen plus a QB and you can play as he said. Well, he'll get that. They have found 53 to play with. I commend the man for having such integrity and strength of character. This would be a totally different game, team, and confidence level if we weren't missing so many players now. We've been fighting the uphill battle all year and finally just ran a guy or 2 too short against Utah. Now we're multiple guys too short. Can this team pull it together and do the impossible? I felt better about our opportunities when we lost 70-3 in the Big XII title game truth be told.
The only good news I see is Texas is also putting out their 'B' team. Yes, this will look ultimately like a JV game. Texas will be without their best defender, their best defensive lineman, both safeties, 3 OL, a WR, and some depth. Texas has also already played a game with several of those players out already, the result of a 69 point offensive output thrashing of KSU. Can't imagine CU ever putting up 69 points even if it was against a I-AA team. The 48 on UCLA was mind blowing, but that was a millennium ago. Texas is no where near their top shape coming into this game. Talent wise, they should be a top 10 team. They have half a dozen opting out just to prepare for the draft. CU has opt outs just pouting at home. The difference here is that Texas will have players in the front line that they are excited to play as they are guys that were expected to start next year or push for starting time next year. CU doesn't quite have that privilege in some cases. Depth is still an issue for CU while depth is the strength of Texas.
Looking at it match up per match up, this is a lopsided game. Had both teams had all of their guns, I actually think CU has a good chance in this one. Russell, Fontenot, Miller, Landman, Stefanou, others... could have been fun to watch against Texas' best. I would have even leaned CU's way in that one. CU would have been the better 'team' IMO. We would certainly have been better than USC. CU will have to be creative, extremely well coached, and execution will need to be as good as it has ever been. CU is also going to have to get lucky in this one.
Here are the 5 keys to victory:
1.) Stars need to show up
Noyer, Broussard, Stanley, Mustafa, Rakestraw, Wells. All 5 of those guys need to have the games of their lives. The entire game hinges on their performances. CU needs to lean on them heavy and they need to produce. They need to come up with key plays all game. Can't disappoint today and can't have average games. We just don't have enough guns to have our big guns firing blanks. It's a bowl game so it depends on the stars anyway. They need to show up big and show they have a big future ahead of them. Our big time players used to show up in bowl games. We need them badly today. We've never won this bowl game. Ran out of players in 2002 in a devastating OT loss to Wisconsin and in 2016, we ran out of defensive coaches and players that day. This game is always against the best of the P5 in another conference (Big 10, or Big 12) that isn't in a BCS type bowl game. Texas is probably the most talented team in the Big XII. Just didn't play up to those standards but they have more bullets in their holster than any team in the Big XII.
2.) Must slow down Ehlinger's running ability
If he just runs at will, then CU will have to cover their wide outs 1 on 1 which will be a mismatch and a lot of big plays in the passing game. They need this guy to work for every yard. Have to hit him often in the back field and more often when he crosses the line of scrimmage. When he is hit, guys have to hang on and hold him up for the cavalry to put him down. He doesn't go down on first contact so we really need to gang tackle. Slow down his running attack, and you can really put their offense in a bind. They will throw a lot of screen passes and bootlegs using his legs as weapons drawing defenders to him or the wrong way. We have to be smart with how we attack that, something we weren't against Utah. Watch the linemen getting out, pulling, etc. so that we diagnose what the play is and take away the concept. We're also going to have to take the QB more times than we would like on read options. They run deep hand off read options to give the QB enough time to read the defensive end and outside linebackers to know when to keep. It's a well run concept and we'll have to really be on our keys to stop it.
3.) Keep the ball in front of us - no big plays
We're going to have to be a bit conservative on defense today. Texas' offense's main weapon are gashing plays. When they are at their best, they are gashing you. They get you sucked into the run and hit the TE over the top or wide receivers on flag and fade routes. They get you attacking the QB and hit you on screen plays that gash you big with Robinson. The QB will drop back and then take off when things open up. Blitz too many and he gets away from it and it's trouble. Drop LBs deep into zones and he runs for big gains in open field. Keep spies on him and he picks you apart with easy throws to wide open WRs. Not a lot of room for error defensively when playing Sam and he's hot. The best thing to do is to make them methodically go down the field because they are prone to the silly mistake. The missed block, the dropped pass, the overthrow, etc. You can force them into field goals if you can keep the gashers out of their game summary.
4.) Hold onto the ball
Ehlinger has thrown 5 picks. That's the same number of picks Noyer has thrown in half the amount of games. He doesn't turn the ball over very often. Texas doesn't hand over games very often (see their game against WVU). You have to go out and beat them. In order to do that, you can't beat yourself. I think Texas realizes quite well what Noyer struggles with. They will have a very simple plan for what they see as a very simple offense. They will stack the box on 1st and 2nd down, then force us to throw against a deep zone where Sam will thrown into coverage since he can't look off WRs. Obviously we can't have that happen. Obviously, we can't fumble the ball in the running game either like we did against Utah. No freebies. We need a zero turnover game including 4th down plays. We can neither give it up on downs nor onto the ground. We won't get many opportunities to stay in this one so a clean game is required.
5.) Score touchdowns in the red zone
This last one is going to be very important. I don't think we are going to keep the score down in this one. If we do #3, we can at least force more field goals as they move down the field. Score will nevertheless, be high. That means offensively, we can't settle for field goals. We need to score touchdowns when we're in the red zone. This is going to be increasingly tough without a TE. That was our big play in the red zone. Get the ball to the TE. Without that, we have not been able to score many points. Clayton seemed to have some ability in the red zone as well but he's gone. Going to have to find a way to score. WR drag routes maybe. QB runs. Boot legs. I don't envy the coaches in figuring this one out, but I believe they know good and well that points need to be scored in bunches in this one. They know we need touchdowns so I expect they will be more aggressive than we've seen in the prior games. A lot rests on Noyer's shoulders in this game. This could be his coming out party. He showed he was capable against UCLA. Now he needs to show that he is for real and a player to be reckoned with for 2021 with this game. With all that CU has to overcome, never a better time for your QBs game of his life. Plus, him playing well will allow Broussard to get open. Texas will be after Broussard all game and we have no backup to him. That means Sam's feet and his passing arm will be on full display. We need him to hit those accurate passes for TDs and break tackles for TDs.
Again, this one overall looks bleak. Looks about as bleak as any bowl game I can remember. Tough competition with a team lacking a ton of players. Let's keep our fingers crossed in this one. It's not impossible, but certainly looks like a large mountain to climb.
The only good news I see is Texas is also putting out their 'B' team. Yes, this will look ultimately like a JV game. Texas will be without their best defender, their best defensive lineman, both safeties, 3 OL, a WR, and some depth. Texas has also already played a game with several of those players out already, the result of a 69 point offensive output thrashing of KSU. Can't imagine CU ever putting up 69 points even if it was against a I-AA team. The 48 on UCLA was mind blowing, but that was a millennium ago. Texas is no where near their top shape coming into this game. Talent wise, they should be a top 10 team. They have half a dozen opting out just to prepare for the draft. CU has opt outs just pouting at home. The difference here is that Texas will have players in the front line that they are excited to play as they are guys that were expected to start next year or push for starting time next year. CU doesn't quite have that privilege in some cases. Depth is still an issue for CU while depth is the strength of Texas.
Looking at it match up per match up, this is a lopsided game. Had both teams had all of their guns, I actually think CU has a good chance in this one. Russell, Fontenot, Miller, Landman, Stefanou, others... could have been fun to watch against Texas' best. I would have even leaned CU's way in that one. CU would have been the better 'team' IMO. We would certainly have been better than USC. CU will have to be creative, extremely well coached, and execution will need to be as good as it has ever been. CU is also going to have to get lucky in this one.
Here are the 5 keys to victory:
1.) Stars need to show up
Noyer, Broussard, Stanley, Mustafa, Rakestraw, Wells. All 5 of those guys need to have the games of their lives. The entire game hinges on their performances. CU needs to lean on them heavy and they need to produce. They need to come up with key plays all game. Can't disappoint today and can't have average games. We just don't have enough guns to have our big guns firing blanks. It's a bowl game so it depends on the stars anyway. They need to show up big and show they have a big future ahead of them. Our big time players used to show up in bowl games. We need them badly today. We've never won this bowl game. Ran out of players in 2002 in a devastating OT loss to Wisconsin and in 2016, we ran out of defensive coaches and players that day. This game is always against the best of the P5 in another conference (Big 10, or Big 12) that isn't in a BCS type bowl game. Texas is probably the most talented team in the Big XII. Just didn't play up to those standards but they have more bullets in their holster than any team in the Big XII.
2.) Must slow down Ehlinger's running ability
If he just runs at will, then CU will have to cover their wide outs 1 on 1 which will be a mismatch and a lot of big plays in the passing game. They need this guy to work for every yard. Have to hit him often in the back field and more often when he crosses the line of scrimmage. When he is hit, guys have to hang on and hold him up for the cavalry to put him down. He doesn't go down on first contact so we really need to gang tackle. Slow down his running attack, and you can really put their offense in a bind. They will throw a lot of screen passes and bootlegs using his legs as weapons drawing defenders to him or the wrong way. We have to be smart with how we attack that, something we weren't against Utah. Watch the linemen getting out, pulling, etc. so that we diagnose what the play is and take away the concept. We're also going to have to take the QB more times than we would like on read options. They run deep hand off read options to give the QB enough time to read the defensive end and outside linebackers to know when to keep. It's a well run concept and we'll have to really be on our keys to stop it.
3.) Keep the ball in front of us - no big plays
We're going to have to be a bit conservative on defense today. Texas' offense's main weapon are gashing plays. When they are at their best, they are gashing you. They get you sucked into the run and hit the TE over the top or wide receivers on flag and fade routes. They get you attacking the QB and hit you on screen plays that gash you big with Robinson. The QB will drop back and then take off when things open up. Blitz too many and he gets away from it and it's trouble. Drop LBs deep into zones and he runs for big gains in open field. Keep spies on him and he picks you apart with easy throws to wide open WRs. Not a lot of room for error defensively when playing Sam and he's hot. The best thing to do is to make them methodically go down the field because they are prone to the silly mistake. The missed block, the dropped pass, the overthrow, etc. You can force them into field goals if you can keep the gashers out of their game summary.
4.) Hold onto the ball
Ehlinger has thrown 5 picks. That's the same number of picks Noyer has thrown in half the amount of games. He doesn't turn the ball over very often. Texas doesn't hand over games very often (see their game against WVU). You have to go out and beat them. In order to do that, you can't beat yourself. I think Texas realizes quite well what Noyer struggles with. They will have a very simple plan for what they see as a very simple offense. They will stack the box on 1st and 2nd down, then force us to throw against a deep zone where Sam will thrown into coverage since he can't look off WRs. Obviously we can't have that happen. Obviously, we can't fumble the ball in the running game either like we did against Utah. No freebies. We need a zero turnover game including 4th down plays. We can neither give it up on downs nor onto the ground. We won't get many opportunities to stay in this one so a clean game is required.
5.) Score touchdowns in the red zone
This last one is going to be very important. I don't think we are going to keep the score down in this one. If we do #3, we can at least force more field goals as they move down the field. Score will nevertheless, be high. That means offensively, we can't settle for field goals. We need to score touchdowns when we're in the red zone. This is going to be increasingly tough without a TE. That was our big play in the red zone. Get the ball to the TE. Without that, we have not been able to score many points. Clayton seemed to have some ability in the red zone as well but he's gone. Going to have to find a way to score. WR drag routes maybe. QB runs. Boot legs. I don't envy the coaches in figuring this one out, but I believe they know good and well that points need to be scored in bunches in this one. They know we need touchdowns so I expect they will be more aggressive than we've seen in the prior games. A lot rests on Noyer's shoulders in this game. This could be his coming out party. He showed he was capable against UCLA. Now he needs to show that he is for real and a player to be reckoned with for 2021 with this game. With all that CU has to overcome, never a better time for your QBs game of his life. Plus, him playing well will allow Broussard to get open. Texas will be after Broussard all game and we have no backup to him. That means Sam's feet and his passing arm will be on full display. We need him to hit those accurate passes for TDs and break tackles for TDs.
Again, this one overall looks bleak. Looks about as bleak as any bowl game I can remember. Tough competition with a team lacking a ton of players. Let's keep our fingers crossed in this one. It's not impossible, but certainly looks like a large mountain to climb.
