BOULDER — To gash and to not get gashed, that’s been a continuing challenge for Colorado.
Through four games, Colorado’s offense had recorded 19 gains of 20 or more yards, including two of more than 40 yards. By comparison, CU’s opponents combined for 23 plays of at least 20 yards, and 11 of 40-plus.
College coaches, including CU’s Dan Hawkins, call big plays “gashers.” Texas is as athletic as any team in the Big 12 and prone to gashing its opponents. This season, senior quarterback Colt McCoy has thrown for touchdown passes of 78 and 42 yards, and junior tailback Vondrell McGee has a 51-yard TD run.
Colorado is allowing a conference-worst 6.3 yards per play.
“There’s been a couple of plays where we were out of position,” CU senior linebacker Jeff Smart said. “There’s also a couple of plays where we just missed a couple of tackles. Like last week against West Virginia, you miss a tackle against those guys and they can take it the distance. It will be the same this week.”
CU coach Dan Hawkins said the Buffs’ defense must make sure to get players in the right spots so they can develop “a little intuition of what’s going on. We have to get a little confidence and continuity in there.”
Time right for Wright?
Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau said sophomore receiver Anthony Wright is fully recovered from an ankle injury that slowed him for more than two weeks.
“He’s been getting better every week,” Kiesau said, “and we just have to find more opportunities to get him on the field. I think we’re going to do that.”
Kiesau said Wright, who converted from cornerback in August, is further ahead than junior college transfer Andre Simmons or freshman Will Jefferson.
“I’m anxious to do something out there,” said Wright, who has one catch for 42 yards, against Toledo.
Footnotes.
Five Colorado coaches were scheduled to leave early and recruit today in the Lone Star State. . . . CU is 7-6 in Big 12 openers. The Buffs stand 3-14 all-time vs. teams ranked No. 2 in the national polls. The last victory was the 62-36 home win over Nebraska in 2001. . . . CU did not suffer any new injuries last week against West Virginia. Starting center Mike Iltis, who sat out the WVU after suffering a concussion in practice, is listed as probable for Saturday. . . . Under coach Mack Brown, Texas is 14-4 after bye weeks.
