Norman, Okla. – Oklahoma media were so impressed, they flinched with every hit and praised nearly every play.
On the field, Colorado linebackers Thaddaeus Washington and Jordon Dizon were up to their old tricks: running down ballcarriers and putting the hurt on them.
Nothing new. But the pace they are on hasn’t been seen in years for two CU linebackers in the same season.
The official stats after the game said Washington had 17 tackles and Dizon finished with 15, but Colorado doesn’t use the game stats for their records. Instead, tackle stats are used from CU coaches’ tallies from watching the game film. But either way, Dizon and Washington’s games will be gaudy.
The fact linebackers are getting tackles isn’t earth-shattering news. On any good defense, the linebackers and safeties should be the leading tacklers. But the duo is on a crash course to having the best seasons of their careers, and in the process the best seasons by two CU linebackers in 12 years.
Updating their stats using Saturday’s game numbers (which are subject to change from CU), Dizon has 91 tackles and Washington has 77. They are poised to become the first CU linebacking duo to get more than 100 tackles each since Ted Johnson and Matt Russell had 147 and 105 tackles, respectively, in 1994.
For Washington, it would be his second straight season of 100 tackles or more. He had 112 last season. For Dizon, it will be his first; he had 61 last season.
Dizon credits the defensive line for occupying would-be blockers.
“When no one is blocking you, you better make the tackle,” Dizon said. “That’s your main goal, to make the tackle. They’ve been doing that, keeping us free to roam and do what we’ve got to do.
“Whether we have five down linemen or three, they are doing what they have to do. For them to eat up two blocks with one person is amazing. It’s not one-for-one, it’s two-for-one. When you get that, the linebackers are free.”
Dizon has had 10 or more tackles in six of Colorado’s eight games. Washington has four double-digit tackle games. Saturday’s total was his first time with more than 10 tackles since the Arizona State game Sept. 16 at Folsom Field.
They lead a CU defense that has played well for the most part all season long.
“Our whole defense scrapped and played well,” coach Dan Hawkins said.
Footnotes
None of what the Buffs experienced at OU was due to overconfidence from winning their first game, Hawkins said. “I don’t think that’s the case at all,” he said. “I don’t know that you ever walk into a place like (Oklahoma), with a program like (the Sooners) and you’re overconfident.” …
When offensive lineman Edwin Harrison was flagged for a false-start penalty at 7:13 in the first quarter, it was the first CU penalty in 67:47 of game time. The Buffs have just three penalties for 20 yards in the past two games. …
The Buffs are 0-4 this season against ranked opponents. They likely will have one more chance to stop the losing streak, Nov. 24 at Nebraska.
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
EYE ON … The Jayhawks
COLORADO AT KANSAS
Noon, Saturday
For the record: Kansas 3-5 overall, 0-4 Big 12
Streaking: Kansas has lost four consecutive games, all in Big 12.
Who’s hot: Senior RB Jon Cornish has six 100-yard games.
Who’s not: KU has committed 19 turnovers, tied for 108th in the nation for fewest in Division I-A.
Key stat: Coach Mark Mangino is 0-4 against Colorado at Kansas.
FYI: Kansas has lost 18 of the past 21 games to CU. The Jayhawks haven’t beaten CU in Lawrence since 2000.
Injury report: Starting quarterback Kerry Meier left KU’s game against Baylor over the weekend with an injured shoulder. His status for Saturday’s game against CU is unknown.
Coachspeak: “If I had an explanation, we’d have corrected it awhile back, wouldn’t we?” – KU coach Mark Mangino, on why his team continues to lose sizable leads
CHRIS DEMPSEY
