It’s the kind of gut-wrenching play that causes college football coaches to skip sleep and lose games. Colorado’s Jon Embree might have yanked out his hair, if he had any.
Days after last Saturday’s overtime loss to California, the first-year CU coach remained furious about letting Cal off the hook early in the fourth quarter, after his Buffaloes had rallied for a four-point lead.
After two incompletions, Cal faced third-and-10 from its 45-yard line when, on an out pattern toward the right sideline, Bears senior wideout Michael Calvin found a seam wide enough to accommodate a marching band. Unchallenged, he grabbed a Zach Maynard spiral and raced 27 yards before CU safety Ray Polk arrived.
It might as well have been 77 yards. Not only did the third-down conversion keep the drive alive, it led to a Bears touchdown.
“That’s a reflection of our team,” Embree said. “We’ll make (the opponent) go three-and-out, and then we go stretches where you say, ‘What are we doing?’ “
That breakdown was not an isolated case. Colorado (0-2) ranks 105th among the nation’s 120 FBS (major-college) teams in third-down conversion defense heading into today’s Rocky Mountain Showdown against rival Colorado State. Combined, CU opponents Hawaii and California have combined to convert 15-of-29 third downs. That’s 51.7 percent — horrid defense at any level, including Pop Warner.
CSU (2-0) is a 7-point underdog in today’s 11:30 a.m. game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. But if the Rams convert half of their third downs, Embree’s wait for his first college victory may continue.
“We just haven’t made enough plays to get off the field, and that’s a huge bell that we have to answer this week,” CU defensive coordinator Greg Brown said after a recent practice.
In total defense, Colorado actually rates a bit better than average. Playing a more difficult early schedule than most teams, CU has yielded 356 yards per game to rank 55th among 120 teams.
All but five of the 54 teams above the Buffs in total defense have at least one victory, reinforcing the importance of being stout on third down. It’s also a reason for the disparity between CU ranking 55th in total defense and 101st in scoring defense. The Buffs have allowed 35 points per game.
“Our third-down defense hasn’t even been close to being good enough, not even close,” said senior safety Anthony Perkins, a team captain. “That one of the things we’ve focused on all week. We’ve been going at that real hard.”
There isn’t enough depth, particularly at cornerback, to make personnel changes. So what can be done? For one thing, the front seven needs to do a better job of pressuring the QB. That’ll help take the heat off the cornerbacks.
And it would help, Brown added, if Colorado’s third-down defense became effective enough using just four pass rushers, leaving three linebackers (or two linebackers and a nickel back) to help out in pass coverage.
“You can’t let a quarterback stand back there for 20 seconds deciding who he is going to throw it to,” junior linebacker Douglas Rippy said.
The front seven and the back four need to have each other’s back, defensive line coach Kanavis McGhee said.
“It’s a give-and-take,” McGhee explained. “We have some veteran guys on the line and they’re beginning to make some pacts with the younger guys by saying: ‘Look. Give me three seconds (of tight pass coverage) and I’ll get to the quarterback.’
“Those kind of things give you a continuity,” McGhee added. “When I was a freshman (at CU in 1987), I had seniors with me. They’d say: ‘I got you. You just maintain this, and we’ll take care of everything else.’ That’s how you bring the younger guys along.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
A defense on its heels
CU’s defensive rankings after two games:
Category Rank Avg.
Scoring defense 101st 35 ppg
Total defense 55th 356 ypg
Pass defense 67th 224 ypg
Run defense 63rd 132 ypg
3rd-down conversion def. 105th 51.7 pct.
Note: There are 120 FBS (major-college) teams.
Source:
CSU DEPTH CHART
OFFENSE
Pos. Starter Backup
WR Lou Greenwood Lee Clubb
WR Matt Yemm T.J. Borcky
LT Joe Caprioglio Mason Hathaway
LG Jake Gdowski Brandon Haynes
C Weston Richburg Tyler McDermott
RG Jordan Gragert Mason Myers
RT Paul Madsen Ty Sambrailo
TE Crockett Gillmore Blake Jones
QB Pete Thomas M.J. McPeek
TB Raymond Carter Chris Nwoke
FB Austin Gillmore Joe Brown
DEFENSE
LDE Nordly Capi C.J. James NT Nuku Latu Te’Jay Brown
DT John Froland Curtis Wilson
RDE Davis Burl Curtis Wilson
SLB Max Morgan Eric Niederberger MLB James Skelton Shaquil Barrett
WLB Mike Orakpo Aaron Davis
LCB Momo Thomas Marcus Shaw
FS Austin Gray Trent Matthews
SS Ivory Herd Drew Reilly
RCB Elijah-Blu Smith Shaq Bell
SPECIALISTS
P Pete Kontodiakos Chad VanderMolen
PK Ben DeLine Chad VanderMolen
PR Momo Thomas Charles Lovett
KR Derek Good Lee Clubb
H Matt Yemm Chad VanderMolen
LS Tanner Hedstrom T.J. Borcky
