Boulder – It is weeks like this, when Colorado plays at No. 12 Miami, when Buffs coaches strain to do their best balancing act.
Miami has more speed on both sides of the ball. It has more overall talent on both sides. The challenge for CU coaches is to devise schemes that can negate those advantages and give the Buffs a chance. It has been a week of long nights of watching film.
Like their players, CU’s coaches are interested to find out how thoroughly they have done their homework.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to play them and see if our creativity and what we come up with works,” offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said.
This is what CU coaches see:
Defensively, the Buffs know what any fan who has watched Miami’s first two games knows: The ‘Canes’ offense was simplified after an opening loss to Florida State to better accommodate sophomore quarterback Kyle Wright, a first-year starter. Much of the “imagination” was curbed, particularly in the second half of the victory over Clemson a week ago, for a more straightforward approach and an emphasis on running the football.
“I don’t think their mentality is to win with the throwing game,” CU secondary coach Craig Bray said. “I think their mentality is to try to get a big play with the throwing game, or get a big first down with the throwing game when they can’t get it by run or play action.”
Despite Miami’s speed at wideout, don’t look for Colorado to shy from playing man-to-man coverage.
“We’re going to do it,” Bray said. “We have to.”
The Buffs say they believe they have to free up enough defenders to slow the run, mix coverages and pressure Wright. The secondary’s success will likely hinge on CU’s ability to pressure the quarterback. For all of their strengths, the Hurricanes’ offensive line has struggled to protect Wright. Florida State got nine sacks and Clemson had five.
If CU is able to get pressure from its front four, that will allow the Buffaloes to vary their coverages with their back seven in an attempt to confuse Wright. If CU has to attack with zone blitzes, an additional strain will be placed on the secondary.
But the Buffs think they may have found a key on film to slowing Miami’s wide receivers.
“I’ve emphasized studying the body language,” Bray said. “Because they do tell you when they are trying to run deep and they do tell you when they are trying to run controlled routes.”
Said cornerback Lorenzo Sims: “They are fast, but you can cover them. It’s all technique, just knowing what to expect by great film study. That can put you in great position to play the ball.”
Offensively, CU will likely try to establish an inside running game first. Coach Gary Barnett said the best way to run at Miami appears to be attacking the teeth of the defense instead of continually trying to spring tailback Hugh Charles to the outside, though he has shown the speed to break big runs.
“You try to create the best angles that you can in blocking schemes to avoid the speed that they use to get off blocks,” Barnett said. “You try to take advantage of their speed. There’s certain things that speed does that lets you, offensively, take advantage.”
Against Miami’s man-to-man pass coverage, CU has studied film to find soft spots to get its receivers open. Without much luck.
“They play a very complicated man-bracket,” Watson said. “They do a good job of passing off the man coverage to the next player. I’m really impressed with them defensively.”
Footnote
CU will host a watch party at the Stadium Club lounge at Folsom Field. The event is open to the public, food will be provided and doors open at 9 a.m. There is no admission charge.
COLORADO AT NO. 12 MIAMI
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Colorado (2-0): Running back Hugh Charles has dazzled in his first two starts with 206 yards and two touchdowns, but he faces his stiffest test yet against a speedy Miami defense. Quarterback Joel Klatt has managed the offense the way he has been asked by CU coaches, but he needs to play mistake-free Saturday if CU is to win. He has passed for 469 yards and two touchdowns, completing nearly 70 percent of his passes.
Miami (1-1): Quarterback Kyle Wright is improving at a rapid rate. The sophomore, who looked shaky in the opener against Florida State when he tossed two interceptions, did not make a big mistake in the victory over Clemson last week. With speedy wide receivers such as Sinorice Moss, all Wright has to do is solve CU’s zone coverages to have success. Cornerback/kick returner Devin Hester is the game-breaking kind of player who can make an impact on defense with superior cover skills, as a punt and kick returner with exceptional speed, and perhaps even on offense in a gadget-play scenario. Hester has 116 all-purpose yards.
KEY STAT
Miami is 7-0 in home openers the past seven years. The ‘Canes rarely lose at home, and almost never against unranked teams.
KEY FOR COLORADO
Efficiency. If Colorado is to leave the Orange Bowl with a victory, it needs to minimize mistakes and take advantage of any opportunities. Sloppy play will lead to an ugly loss.
KEY FOR MIAMI
Focus. After playing Florida State and Clemson, CU is the first nonranked team the Hurricanes play. Miami, a huge favorite, must resist the urge to view the game as a respite.
Staff writer Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
