SEATTLE — In order for Colorado to keep from falling from the Pac-12 into the Pac Ocean, the defense must improve in a hurry. And a lot.
How does it do that when every Saturday a young, terribly inexperienced, injury- and suspension-depleted roster gets barbecued by the best quarterbacks in the land?
One way that won’t work: Have arguably your best player, linebacker Doug Rippy, go out with a knee injury. Rodney Stewart, the school’s No. 2 career rusher, also hurt his knee at Washington and is surely out for Saturday’s home game with Oregon.
The pair will learn the results of their MRIs today, and a Colorado official said Sunday that Rippy’s “looks like a serious injury.” He could be out for the season.
The Buffs have lost nine cornerbacks, a position that was already one of the least experienced in the country. Over a six-week period, Colorado will have faced five of the top 20-rated quarterbacks in Stanford’s Andrew Luck (third), Washington’s Keith Price (fifth), Oregon’s Darron Thomas (11th), USC’s Matt Barkley (19th) and Arizona’s Nick Foles (20th).
Throw in Arizona State’s 6-foot-8 Brock Osweiler, who has already thrown for nearly 2,000 yards, and you have a gauntlet that would challenge Alabama.
Having to learn on the job is the likes of former walk-on Jason Espinoza, who switched from receiver to cornerback only three weeks ago.
“There’s nothing magical you can tell them,” said first-year coach Jon Embree, whose Buffs are 112th nationally in pass efficiency defense. “We have what we have, so we have to understand that when you’re out there, know what you can’t do as a player. If you can’t run, then come up and jam the guy.
“If you can run, then run. Whatever it is you do well, you do that, and whatever you struggle with, try to keep yourself out of that situation.”
How depleted is the cornerback corps? The veteran is Greg Henderson. He’s a true freshman. He has started seven games.
“You’ve just got to practice hard,” Henderson said. “Just gain experience with every game. We’re young. We’re going to make mistakes. We just have to make more plays than mistakes.”
Colorado (1-6, 0-3 Pac-12) may catch a break if Thomas is sidelined with the knee injury he suffered Saturday. Losing Rippy, however, puts even more pressure on the secondary.
The Buffaloes should get their best pass rusher back when Josh Hartigan returns from a shoulder injury, but the young corners need more help than one player. Maybe they need another year.
“The more mistakes you’re going to make, the better you’re going to get,” said junior safety Ray Polk, who is playing through ligament damage in his wrist. “The thing is you’ve got to keep your head up and learn from your mistakes. If you go into self-pity, you’re not going to get any better and you’re not going to help the team get any better.”
