BOULDER — Speaking after a Wednesday morning practice, Colorado football coach Mike MacIntyre said it will be important Saturday (4 p.m., Pac-12 Network) that the visiting Buffaloes can establish their ground game at No. 22 Southern California.
That would keep the host Trojans defense from making CU one-dimensional on offense.
“I sure hope (CU can run the ball), we need to be able to. I think we’ll be able to,” MacIntyre said.
The good news for the Buffs is that Southern California (4-2, 3-1 Pac-12) is yielding 150.5 ground yards per game. That ranks in the middle (sixth) among Pac-12 teams.
The bad news: Since yielding an astounding 452 rushing yards in a 37-31 upset loss at Boston College on Sept. 13, USC’s defense has become rather stingy against the run.
Oregon State netted just 58 yards on the ground against the Trojans, followed by 31 by Arizona State and 77 by Arizona.
“(Southern California’s) defensive front is pretty dominant,” MacIntyre said. “You have to be able to get on the perimeter a little bit against them. If you catch them when they’re stunting (on a pass rush), that’s when you can pop one.
“In their secondary, the safeties are good tacklers. So that prevents the long run,” he added. “When you’re playing against a team, you have to see how they’re playing you and then you take what they give you.”
Colorado (2-4, 0-3) ranks eighth among Pac-12 teams in rushing offense, averaging 156.3 yards per game. The Buffs have junior starter Christian Powell back this week from a concussion.
Tom Kensler: tkensler@denverpost.com or
