Boulder – Simpler will be better for the Colorado Buffaloes when they play Clemson in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 27 in Orlando, Fla., to end their season of torment.
With the prospect of untested James Cox playing quarterback and knowing there will be some inexperience on the offensive line, offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said Sunday he envisions a simplified game plan as the best remedy for CU’s offensive woes in the last two games of the regular season.
CU is 7-5 after losing 30-3 to Nebraska and 70-3 to Texas.
“If we’re not playing with confidence, we’re not going to have the execution we need,” Watson said. “That’s just the way it is. … We’re going back to bare-bone basics of what we were doing last spring. Right now, we’re beat up in the offensive line. We have to go back to what we can execute with some inexperienced players. The execution part is the key element. A simplified game plan isn’t a handicap if you execute it.”
Record-setting senior quarterback Joel Klatt may be unable to play against Clemson because of a concussion. The loss of tackle Clint O’Neal to a suspension and the questionable status of injured freshman guard Daniel Sanders will restrict some of the offense even if Klatt plays.
Focus back on the field
The Buffs practiced for three hours in chilly weather, turning their attention to Clemson and away from the firing of coach Gary Barnett.
“Getting back to practice and putting the focus on the game has helped the attitude here immensely,” defensive coordinator and interim head coach Mike Hankwitz said. “Clemson presents a great challenge for us, but it would be a heck of a win for us to beat a quality team like that.”
CU lost 23-3 at Miami, which won 36-30 at Clemson in three overtimes.
“Clemson has a lot of team speed both on offense and defense,” Hankwitz said. “It’s what you would expect from a team that beat Florida State and lost to Miami in triple overtime. They’re more like Miami than any of the other teams we’ve played. They aren’t teams with the talent top to bottom as Texas, but they’re in that league.”
Not counting on Klatt
Hankwitz said the Buffs are practicing as if Klatt will not play against Clemson.
“If he’s not practicing by the time we get to Orlando, we’ll have to go without him,” Hankwitz said.
CU wide receiver Dusty Sprague isn’t dwelling on the quarterback situation. “In every game we’ve played we’ve had other factors. It’s just part of the game,” he said.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
