Will the Colorado offense be better, worse, or about the same?

The passing numbers might not improve over last season, but rushing numbers will definitely be better in 2015.

Last season, quarterback Sefo Liufau set over two dozen school passing records, including the record for the most passing touchdowns in a season (28). Liufau, however, also threw 15 interceptions and was sacked 18 times, with the latter numbers contributing to the Buffs’ 2-10 final record. Liufau’s accuracy reportedly improved this spring, but, as most practices were closed to the public, Buff fans will have to wait and see if the junior-to-be comes into his own this fall.

Liufau will not be lacking for weapons, with Nelson Spruce, the first CU player to post over 100 catches in a season (106 for 1,198 yards and 12 touchdowns) back for his senior season. Finding a compliment to take some of the pressure off of Spruce will be an important factor in CU’s success. A long list of sophomore wideouts – Shay Fields, Devin Ross, Donovan Lee, Bryce Bobo and Elijah Dunston – will be given the opportunity to make a name for themselves this fall.

The Colorado rushing game will almost certainly be improved in 2015. Last year, four backs posted rushing totals between 391 and 448 yards, with injuries keeping any one player from taking over the starting spot. Three of the four backs from last year – senior Christian Powell, junior Michael Adkins and sophomore Phillip Lindsay – will vie for the role as the No. 1 back.

Whoever assumes the feature back position will be rushing behind an offensive line which returns starters at both tackles and at center. Settling on the two new starting guards will be a battle which will continue into August.

 

Will the Colorado defense be better, worse, or about the same?

The Colorado defense will be much, much better in 2015 … if only because it can’t get much worse.

Colorado has ranked 100th or worse nationally in both total defense and scoring defense for the past four seasons. In 2014, the Buffs were 111th in total defense (461.0 yds/game) and 116th in scoring defense (39.0 ppg.).

So why would there be any reason for optimism for 2015?

Two reasons: First, there has been a huge influx of talent along the defensive line. Three of the four starters from 2014 return: Derek McCartney (former head coach Bill McCartney’s grandson), Jimmie Gilbert, and Josh Tupou (who missed the spring after being arrested for assault … the charges have since been dropped). Joining that trio are a pair of former starters – Tyler Henington (who missed all of 2014 with an ACL) and Samson Kafovalu (out last season for personal reasons). Those five players would form a good nucleus, but they have been supplemented by three junior college transfers (Jordan Carrell; Leo Jackson and Blake Robbins) and a host of returning contributors.

Numbers alone do not a quality defensive line make, but the unit is far deeper, and far more talented, than in any time in the recent past.

The second reason for optimism this fall is the hiring of CU’s new defensive coordinator, Jim Leavitt. The former defensive coordinator at Kansas State and head coach at South Florida has made a name for himself in building defenses from scratch (K-State was, quite literally, the worst team in college football when Leavitt arrived to help Bill Snyder build up the Wildcats in the early 1990’s, and USF was a brand new D-1 program when Leavitt took on the challenge in 1996). Leavitt’s style and enthusiasm has received rave reviews from players and fellow coaches.

 

Are you buying or selling this team in 2015? (How many games they winning this year?) 

Colorado is a “buy and hold” team in 2015. The Buffs will be much improved, but the college football world may not take much notice, as Colorado will face one of the toughest schedules in the nation.

Take a look … In 2014, Utah finished in fifth place in the Pac-12 South … with a 9-4 record. Every team in CU’s division finished with nine or ten wins last fall, so it is hard to see a CU team which went 2-10 in 2014 jumping immediately into the mix as a contender in the Pac-12 South.

That being said, the early season schedule does allow Colorado to make a fast start. Colorado opens the season on the road against Hawai’i, and college football fans know how well Hawai’i plays at home. If the Buffs can get past that game, though, there are very winnable games at home against UMass and Nicholls State, along with the annual grudge match against Colorado State in Denver (series note: since the rivalry was resumed in 1983, CU has lost only once to CSU when the game was not the first game of the season – 8-1 … Translation: When the Rams don’t have the entire month of August to prepare for their biggest game of the year, CU wins).

If Colorado can get through its non-conference schedule 4-0, then a six- or even seven-win season is not out of the question.

If Colorado starts out 2-2, however, then another nine- or ten-loss season is in the offing … and head coach Mike MacIntyre will be on the hot seat in 2016.

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Stuart Whitehair, CU grad and editor for CU at the game provided the information for our Colorado Football 2015 Spring recap.  For more Buffalo  football information, commentary and analysis, you can follow Stuart on Twitter @cuatthegame1.

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