BOULDER — Another week, another difficult challenge for Colorado in preparing for a top Pac-12 quarterback.
Last weekend it was Stanford’s Andrew Luck, everybody’s choice to be the No. 1 overall pick in next spring’s NFL Draft. This week, the Buffaloes must prepare for Washington sophomore Keith Price, who ranks second only to Luck among the league’s quarterbacks in passing efficiency.
While Price (6-feet-1, 195 pounds) likely never will be compared to Luck, the Huskies leader presents his own problems to an opposing defense, CU coach Jon Embree said Tuesday during his weekly media luncheon.
“Washington has done a good job of bringing Price along,” Embree said. “Whether there is a turnover or something else bad that happens, he seems to have a good demeanor. That’s obviously important at that position.”
The Huskies (4-1, 2-0 Pac-12) have scored at least 30 points in each of their five games and seemingly haven’t missed a step with Price replacing Tennessee Titans first-round draft choice Jake Locker.
Price tops the Pac-12 with 17 touchdown passes. He has thrown just four interceptions.
Colorado (1-5, 0-2) ranks near the middle of the Pac-12 in pass defense, yielding 250.3 passing yards per game. But the Buffs, plagued by injuries in the secondary, have yielded 14 touchdown throws, tops in the league.
“Price has good accuracy,” Embree said. “He does a good job, like our guy (Tyler Hansen), in that when he scrambles, he scrambles to throw.
“There are quarterbacks that are eight yards deep and they take off and tuck the ball away (to run). You love that as a defense. It’s those guys that are still looking downfield (when they scramble), that you stay back and you’re not sure when to go after them.”
Embree also is wildly impressed with Washington running back Chris Polk, a 5-11, 222-pound junior from Redlands, Calif. Polk ranks second among Pac-12 rushers with 122.2 yards per game.
“He’s the classic big back that wears you down,” Embree said.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
