Bear Down Wildcats

BOULDER — For the second straight week, the Colorado Buffaloes will be catching a team whose offense snapped out of a slump the previous week and put up big numbers.

A week ago, it was Arizona State. This week, it’s the 4-2 Arizona Wildcats, who ended a two-game drought last weekend with a 44-7 win over Oregon State.

Here’s what the 3-3 Buffs will need to do to stop the Wildcats in Saturday game at Folsom Field (7 p.m., Fox Sports 1) and end a 13-game Pac-12 winless stretch:

Contain Solomon. The Wildcats have a powerful running game, but their offensive success revolves around quarterback Anu Solomon, whose run-pass option skills are terrific. The UA sophomore completed 17 of 30 passes last week for 276 yards and did not throw an interception.

Solomon has great feet and the scrambling ability to keep plays alive, and thus can lure a defense out of position. The Buffs’ pass rush can’t allow Solomon to escape to the outside and the interior has to maintain its gaps. In the secondary, CU’s pass defenders have to be disciplined and not let Solomon pull them out of coverage.

Made Wildcats work for scores. Of Arizona’s 32 touchdown drives this season, 17 have lasted two minutes or less, and the ‘Cats have 42 plays of 20 yards or longer.

That’s been a bugaboo for the Buffs. CU has given up 15 plays of 30 yards or longer this season; and in the Buffs’ three losses this year, opponents have seven scoring plays of 25 yards or more. If the Buffs can limit the big plays and make Arizona put together sustained drives for its scores, it will be a game they can win.

Turnovers/takeaways. Some simple statistics: The Buffs are 3-0 when quarterback Sefo Liufau does not throw an interception and they’re 0-3 when he throws one. Arizona is 4-0 when forcing at least one turnover and 0-2 when not forcing any. And, when the Buffs win the turnover/takeaway battle, they are 3-0.

The Wildcats have been solid with their ball security. They’ve lost just four fumbles this year, Solomon hasn’t thrown an interception in 145 attempts and backup QB Jerrard Randall has just one.

It means takeaways won’t come easily for the Buffs — but if they’re going to take this one into the fourth quarter with a chance to win, they’ll have to figure out a way to pry the ball out of the Wildcats’ hands at least a couple of times.

Running game. This goes both ways. The Wildcats have an extremely capable back in Nick Wilson, who has rushed for 683 yards and eight touchdowns this year. Wilson has six rushes of 20 yards or longer and is averaging almost 6 yards per carry. If the Buffs don’t keep Wilson in check and complete the tackle on first contact, it will be a long night.

CU, meanwhile, has to establish a consistent ground game, and it should be better this week with tackle Sam Kronshage back in the lineup. Arizona’s run defense hasn’t been great. The Wildcats have given up an average of 185.7 yards per game, and yielded 213 to UCLA and 314 to Stanford in back-to-back losses. With Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright still out, the Buffs need to establish a rhythm with Phillip Lindsay, Christian Powell and Patrick Carr.

Pass protection. The Buffs have given up 13 quarterback sacks in the last two games. While Liufau has missed his share of open receivers, more than a few of his throws have been off target because he’s been hit just as he released the ball.

This is also where a consistent run game comes into play. If the Wildcats have to respect the running game, they can’t simply tee off on Liufau every down.

Liufau did complete a couple of long balls last week, including a 68-yard touchdown pass to Devin Ross. He's also looked sharp in practice this week. If he gets some protection and improves his short game — particularly to his tight end — he could have a big game against the Wildcats.

UAEebs86 wrote:

UAEebs86 wrote:

The Colorado Buffaloes started the week Sunday with a players-only team meeting.

They hope to finish the week Saturday with a win over the visiting Arizona Wildcats (7 p.m., Fox Sports 1).

Players-only meetings are seldom held when things are going well, and the Buffs’ Sunday get-together was no exception. Coming in the wake of a disappointing 48-23 loss to Arizona State, the meeting was a forum for the Buffs to clear the air and make sure the locker room attitude wasn’t ready to head south.

Early reaction was positive. Defensive end Derek McCartney said some of the things said “got some guys fired up.” Quarterback Sefo Liufau said the Buffs “came out with a better feeling and better understanding of what needs to be done.”

But the proof, as they say, will be in the pudding — or more specifically, the performance, as the Buffs take aim at ending a current two-game losing streak and a 13-game Pac-12 skid that stretches back to late in the 2013 season.

Newportcat wrote:This game to me says everything about this season. We come out and dominate, then you feel like the excuses for why we lost to UCLA and Stanford were justified and we still have a shot for 8+ wins. We play them close but win, then you feel like WSU is a must win as we will be underdogs in every game past that one and we pretty much know it is a low end bowl year.

We lose, well about 38,000 fans show up for the homecoming game against WSU and that becomes the biggest game of Rich Rod's career as it becomes the epitome of must win. However most fans write the season off and move on to basketball season.

I think we win. Big if Nick Wilson plays (45-20), closer but still a win if he doesn't (31-28). Maybe I put too much stock into Nick Wilson, I think Rich rod could even turn me into a good RB based on his track record.

Newportcat wrote:

Newportcat wrote:This game to me says everything about this season. We come out and dominate, then you feel like the excuses for why we lost to UCLA and Stanford were justified and we still have a shot for 8+ wins. We play them close but win, then you feel like WSU is a must win as we will be underdogs in every game past that one and we pretty much know it is a low end bowl year.

We lose, well about 38,000 fans show up for the homecoming game against WSU and that becomes the biggest game of Rich Rod's career as it becomes the epitome of must win. However most fans write the season off and move on to basketball season.

I think we win. Big if Nick Wilson plays (45-20), closer but still a win if he doesn't (31-28). Maybe I put too much stock into Nick Wilson, I think Rich rod could even turn me into a good RB based on his track record.

I would say my prediction was fairly accurate. Close game but we had enough offense to win and Rich Rod deserves a lot of credit sticking Randall in there. Defense showed up at the end too, well not that last drive giving up the TD and 4th and 15

cats101 wrote:38-24 Arizona

OSUCat wrote:

OSUCat wrote:Arizona rushing attack is solid. Top 7 solid. I predict a 275 yard rushing game. I think this is one of those 42-17 win type of games.

I'm changing this. Colorado is 101 is in rushing defense (1 worse than UCLA which we ran over 300 yards). Arizona will hit 300 yards rushing.

Gimino wrote:My two cents about winning ugly ... who were those guys? ... and MacGyver-ing a victory.

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azcat49 wrote:What was the deal with Bradshaw not playing and McCall getting limited minutes? Are they hurt as well