Drew takes a look at the Colorado starters on offense and what they do well.
Starters
Quarterback
#2 – Shedeur Sanders – 6’2”, 215 – Sr.
Notes
- 1st in the Big 12 in Completion Percentage – 70.1
- 2nd in the Big 12 and 10th in the Nation in touchdown passes – 14
- 2nd in the Big 12 in Passing Efficiency Rating – 160
- 4th in the Big 12 in passing yards – 1630
Running Back
#7 – Dallan Hayden – 5’10”, 205 – So.
or
#29 – Micah Welch – 5’9”, 205 – Fr.
or
#23 – Isaiah Augustave – 6’2”, 210 – So.
Injury Notes
- Hayden is listed as questionable with an undisclosed injury
Notes
- Hayden is listed as questionable with an undisclosed injury
- Hayden leads team in attempts with 25
- Augustave leads team in yards with 117
- Welch leads team in touchdowns with 3
- Hayden led team in attempts against USF with 11
Wide Receiver
#14 – Will Sheppard – 6’3”, 210 – Gr.
#5 – Jimmy Horn Jr. – 5’10”, 175 – Sr.
#12 – Travis Hunter – 6’1”, 190 – Jr.
#10 – LaJohntay Webster – 5’11”, 170 – Sr.
Notes
- Hunter leads the Big 12 and is 3rd in the nation in receptions – 46
- Hunter is 4th in the Big 12 in receiving touchdowns – 4
- Hunter is 4th in the Big 12 in receiving touchdowns from scrimmage – 6
- Hunter is 3rd in the Big 12 and 9th in the NCAA in receiving yards – 561
- Webster is 2nd on the team and 3rd in the Big 12 in receiving touchdowns – 5
- Horne Jr. is 2nd on the team in receptions (23) and receiving yards – 327
- Sheppard leads team in yards per reception – 14.5
Tight End
#31 – Sav’ell Smalls – 6’3”, 260 – Sr.
Notes
- Used Primarily as a blocker
- 4 Rec, 31 Yards – 0 TDS on the season
Offensive Line
Right Tackle
#54 – Phillip Houston – 6’5”, 275 – Jr.
Right Guard
#55 – Kareem Harden – 6’5”, 315 – Jr.
Center
#58 – Hank Zilinskas – 6’3”, 285 – So.
Left Guard
#56 – Tyler Brown – 6’3”, 310 – Jr.
Left Tackle
#77 – Jordan Seaton – 6’5”, 285 – Fr.
Injury Notes
- Starting right guard Kahlil Benson is questionable after missing previous game to undisclosed injury
Notes
- Starting 5 went the distance vs UCF, all logging 61 snaps
- Seaton and Houston have both given up a team leading 3 sacks on the season
- Houston has giving up 3 sacks total in previous 2 games.
- Averages 40 passing attempts/game for 326 yards
- Averages 27 rushing attempts/game for 80 yards
Overall
It’s not hard to see what Colorado wants to do on offense. They want Sanders to stand in the pocket and sling it to their talented receivers. You’re always in the game with Colorado because you can catch up quickly if their offense goes cold, as they can’t run the ball. At the same time, Colorado is always in the game because they can score on almost any play with the talent they have on the outside.
They’ll occasionally run the ball because that’s something you’re supposed to do in football, but when it comes down to it, this team lives and dies by the arm of Sanders. Getting pressure on Shedeur early and often will be key for the Wildcat defense. In their only loss of the season against Nebraska, the Huskers got him on the ground six times and forced him to get rid of the ball early on multiple occasions. This led to a season-low 60.5% completion percentage and one touchdown in a 28-10 loss.
If Sanders is allowed to sit in the pocket unfettered, he will pick the defense apart with precision passes to an elite receiving group. While not a threat to run, he’s adept at breaking containment and making plays with his arm. The Wildcats will need to be disciplined in their rush lanes, surround him, and then bury the Colorado quarterback under an avalanche of purple. If you let him off the hook and miss a sack, he’s the type of player that punishes you with a long touchdown pass.
The game plan to beat Colorado isn’t a secret. You give safety help to whoever is matched up with Travis Hunter and hope your defensive linemen get to Sanders before he lets the ball go. Stopping Travis Hunter has proven to be a fool’s errand, but the ‘Cats have to make him work for it underneath and hit him when he catches the ball. While you can’t stop him, you might be able to slow him down as the game wears on, especially if the Kansas State offense can trap him on the field with their ball control offense. Stopping Hunter doesn’t mean you stop the Colorado passing attack, because they’ve got several wide receivers capable of going the distance on any given play. But if you don’t slow him down, he’s capable of beating you on his own.
In summary, pressure Sanders, double Hunter, and accept the fact that they’re probably going to bust a big play at some point. Nebraska didn’t give up anything big, but Hunter still went for 110 yards on 10 receptions.
The game will come down to this
Can the Kansas State defense get to Shedeur Sanders before he gets to their secondary?