In this frenetic era of college football, when shootouts are the norm and scores resemble those of video games, Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre has revised his gauge of what qualifies as a successful defensive effort.
The days of completely halting an offense are all but over. Limiting the damage is good enough.
That’s why MacIntyre was pleased with his team’s defensive effort Saturday in a The visitors managed just four field goals.
“That’s the way college football is to me – you have to make teams kick field goals in the red zone,” MacIntyre said.
Colorado (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12) resumes conference play Saturday at California (2-1, 0-1), and odds are practically nil that the Buffaloes will prevent another opponent this season from crossing the goal line. Hawaii became the first CU opponent without a touchdown since the Buffs defeated Colorado State in the 2010 opener, 24-3.
“If we’re making teams get 50 percent scoring when they get inside the 20, and half of those are field goals, then we are going to be OK,” MacIntyre said. “How we were (against Hawaii), I consider that ‘100 percent’ stops in today’s football, I really do.”
CU faces a Cal team that absorbed a stunning 49-45 defeat Saturday night at Arizona. The Golden Bears led by 22 points at halftime but yielded 36 points in the fourth quarter. They lost when Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon connected with wide receiver Austin Hill for a 47-yard “Hail Mary” touchdown on the game’s final play.
Offensively, Cal did whatever it wanted. The Bears scored six touchdowns — by five different players — and all but one of the scores went for 26 yards or longer.Highlights included an 80-yard reception by Bryce Treggs from quarterback Jared Goff, a 50-yard run by Khalfani Muhammad and a 44-yard run by Daniel Lasco.
Colorado likely won’t want to get into a shootout with California, or with any Pac-12 team. Since joining the conference three years ago, the Buffs have reached 40 points only twice in league games – a 41-24 win over California in 2013 and a 48-29 victory over Arizona in 2011, with both games played in Boulder.
If California’s Goff and his running backs stay hot, the Buffs could be in trouble. But in line with MacIntyre’s thinking, if CU can hold Cal to field goals on half of their red zone possessions, the defense can give the Buffs a chance.
Of course, Colorado’s offense must start doing its part. The Buffs went scoreless in the second half against Hawaii.
“If we want to win some of these Pac-12 games, we’re going to have to execute at a high level for all four quarters,” said wide receiver Nelson Spruce.
MacIntyre said one thing he won’t have to worry about his effort.
“Since the second half of the UMass game, I’ve seen a whole different fight, a whole different mentality, a whole different stage to handle everything that is thrown at them,” MacIntyre said.
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or twitter.com/tomkensler
