Boulder – Colorado defensive backs heard the talk. They know any concerns about how good CU’s defense could become were there because no one was sure what to expect from the secondary, which has been porous in recent years.
Right now, they are here to say that the first round goes to them.
The secondary is playing with a chip on its shoulder, going about matters as if it has something to prove this season. Collecting three of CU’s four interceptions in a 31-28 victory against Colorado State wasn’t a bad start to answering some of the critics.
“I think the interceptions definitely proved something,” cornerback Lorenzo Sims said. “Last year, we didn’t get our first interception until the third game of the season. This was big. It is a statement that people should know and respect us.”
Giddiness isn’t Colorado secondary coach Craig Bray’s style, particularly after one game. His initial reaction to CU’s play in the defensive backfield against the Rams was a shrug of his shoulders.
“We were OK,” Bray said. “Not good enough. Simple as that. Coverage was pretty good. But the two touchdown passes, the bootleg to (David) Anderson and the one at the end of the game were inexcusable.”
But he added: “There was improvement, there’s no question. If we would have played the same game plan as we played last year playing the way we played this year, it would have been a much different game in regards to (CSU quarterback Justin Holland’s) throwing the football. So I’m pleased with that. But there’s just some things they can’t look at and say it’s OK, because it’ll kill you.”
The Buffs allowed 291 yards through the air, 80 of which came on a drive late in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 28.
“I think all the way up to the last drive we played good,” Sims said. “There were a couple of key mistakes that can be easily fixed.”
Everyone has noticed a difference from last season to this one under Bray. Sims credited his interception to the position Bray put him in, and said Gerett Burl’s interception came from good placement as well.
“You can read the receivers’ routes,” Burl said. “You know what the offense is trying to do, know what you’re going to do. You’re more concentrated and more relaxed. You can actually play how you want to, play fast, because you know what you’re doing.”
But Bray is a perfectionist. One game doesn’t make a season, and the film he studied showed many mistakes that need correcting.
“We’re way off, way off,” Bray said. “Far from perfect. So that’s what I’ll tell them, and that’s what they’ll look at. Our goal is perfection, and if we’re not there, there’s no reason to think you’re OK.”
Footnotes
Place-kicker Mason Crosby was named Big 12 special- teams player of the week. He made all three of his field goals, including a 47-yard, winning kick with four seconds left against Colorado State. … Guard Brian Daniels (broken rib) has been ruled out of Saturday’s home game against New Mexico State. Safety Dominique Brooks (ankle) said he’ll likely sit out the game, too. … Linebacker Brian Iwuh will undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and is scheduled to be out eight or nine days.
