BOULDER — Colorado football fans, and perhaps coaches as well, must wonder who will show up between the lines Saturday afternoon at Folsom Field.
That goes for players on both sides, for Colorado (2-3, 0-2 Pac-12) and for visiting Oregon State (3-1, 0-1).
Will the Colorado defensive secondary play as it did two weeks ago when it recorded nine pass breakups? Or will the CU defensive backs resemble the unit that yielded seven touchdown passes last weekend in the Buffaloes’ wild 59-56, double-overtime loss at California?
Will Oregon State senior quarterback Sean Mannion look like an NFL prospect, as he did a year ago while passing for a school-record six touchdowns in a 44-17 victory over Colorado? Or will Mannion look rather pedestrian, as he did last weekend while throwing for a paltry 123 yards in a 35-10 loss at Southern California?
That’s the battle to watch Saturday: Colorado’s pass defense against Oregon State’s pass offense. Both sound determined to show vast improvement over their most recent performance.
Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre has worked individually with his team’s cornerbacks. During his playing days, MacIntyre was a defensive back at Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech.
“We only had one (of the seven allowed touchdown passes) that was a busted coverage,” MacIntyre said, referring to California’s score in the first overtime last weekend. “The rest of the time, we were all over their guys and they made some good catches. We just have to make those plays when we can.”
Oregon State enters Saturday’s game ranked only ninth among Pac-12 teams in passing offense, averaging 256.5 yards per game. But Mannion (6-foot-5 and 220 pounds) is more than capable of filling the sky with spirals.
Mannion has thrown for 11,462 yards and needs just 866 more to pass former USC star Matt Barkley and become the Pac-12’s all-time leader. But Mannion no longer can target 2013 consensus All-America wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who earned the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver last fall and became a first-round draft choice of the New Orleans Saints.
“Certainly it’s nice as a quarterback to have a guy like Brandin who you think can win every one-on-one battle,” Mannion said. “With him leaving, we’ve tried to simplify things with our offense and open it up to different guys.”
Also, Mannion is working with a new offensive coordinator in John Garrett, brother of Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett.
CU’s MacIntyre believes Mannion is sometimes overlooked in the conversation of top Pac-12 quarterbacks because he is a classic pro-style passer and not a dual-threat QB such as Oregon’s Marcus Mariota or UCLA’s Brett Hundley.
“In today’s college football, (dual threats) have a little more flash, so to speak, because they ‘wow’ you with their ability to use their feet,” MacIntyre said. “Mannion is a drop-back, can-make-every-throw quarterback. He can throw it 25 yards on a dart or launch it 60 yards.”
Which means another big challenge is in store for the Colorado secondary — just a typical weekend in the Pac-12.
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
When the Buffs run
Lost amid seven touchdown passes was Colorado rushing for 175 yards in the double-overtime loss at California. Trouble was, only one run went for more than 15 yards — a 39-yard QB keeper by Sefo Liufau. CU backs seem to get extra juice at home, and Oregon State has yielded a Pac-12 high of nine touchdown runs despite a so-so schedule. Edge: Buffaloes
When the Beavers run
Oregon State is placing a greater emphasis on the running game this year, and Sean Woods and Terron Ward both average more than 5 yards per pop. CU’s rush defense has improved in recent weeks but overall has yielded 4.9 yards per carry. Stopping the Beavers’ ground game and making them one-dimensional could be key to the game. Edge: Beavers
When the Buffs pass
Liufau set numerous single-game school records last weekend in the Buffs’ 59-56 loss at California, including seven TD passes and 527 yards of total offense. CU’s Nelson Spruce is the nation’s hottest receiver. Oregon State’s pass defense is sound, but the Buffs should move the chains. Edge: Buffaloes
When the Beavers pass
Although the Beavers struggled last weekend in their loss at Southern California, Sean Mannion is considered a future NFL quarterback. He passed for six touchdowns last year against CU. Edge: Beavers
Special teams
CU improved on kickoff coverage last weekend. Good thing, because the Beavers lead the Pac-12 in kick-return average (32.5 yards) and got a 97-yarder for a TD by Ryan Murphy against USC. The Buffs have a punting advantage for field position. Edge: Even
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
