Takeaways from Colorado football’s embarrassing loss to the Utah Utes

With the most significant half-time deficit in the Deion Sanders era, the Buffaloes had no chance against Utah. Here’s what we learned from the loss.

The Colorado Buffaloes suffered a significant 53-7 loss to the Utah Utes.
The article suggests major coaching changes may be needed, particularly for the offensive coordinator.
Calls are being made to bench quarterback Kaidon Salter for freshman Julian Lewis to prepare for the future.
Recurring mistakes, such as poor run defense and taking sacks, have plagued the team all season.

With a true-freshman under center for the Utah Utes and two weeks to prepare, the Colorado Buffaloes got dominated in an embarrassing blowout loss.

At halftime, the Utes had a 43-point halftime lead and 398 total yards of offense. Meanwhile, the Colorado Buffaloes had -18 yards. Utah kept the Buffaloes at bay, besides a window dressing touchdown from backup quarterback Ryan Staub.

With four games left in the season, and a record of 3-5, the Buffaloes are staring down what could be their worst season in the Deion Sanders era.

Here are three takeaways from Colorado’s humiliating 53-7 loss to the Utes.

Major changes are needed

This loss needs to be addressed with significant changes. With momentum from the upset win against Iowa State, and an extra week to prepare for Utah, the Buffs should not have taken this embarrassing a loss. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s seat has been hot all season, and after an abysmal performance, offensive changes are needed.

In Sanders’ first year with the Buffaloes, he moved on from his offensive coordinator after a loss where the Buffaloes failed to move the ball against UCLA. What is the difference? This loss was much worse and more embarrassing.

Time for JuJu?

With another performance that got him benched, when will it be time for Coach Prime to bench the fifth-year Kaidon Salter in favor of the five-star freshman quarterback Julian Lewis?

Salter went 9-for-22 with just 37 passing yards and an interception. With just four games left on the schedule, the offense needs to be turned over to the freshman. With just three wins, it will be hard to sneak bowl eligibility out of the season. It’s time for Sanders to prepare for the future and give players such as Lewis playing time.

Same old mistakes

Whether it’s defensive end Arden Walker biting on the option or Salter taking a 12-yard sack on third down, the same mistakes have killed Colorado all season.

Salter’s 12-yard sack on Colorado’s second drive was foreshadowing. On the heels of their own endzone before he officially took the sack, Salter threw it away for an intentional grounding in the endzone, which gave the Utes back the ball up 19 with the safety. Overall, in Utah’s 26-point second quarter, besides the safety, Salter took three more sacks for a total of 33 yards.

Since their Week 1 loss against Georgia Tech, where Haynes King and Co. gashed the Buffs with the option, teams have been running the option against the Buffaloes’ defense. And since Week 1, the Buffs have failed to recognize it. The Buffs’ star pass-rushers have been struggling to contain the run, especially the running quarterback.

The same issues have persisted all season, but the Buffaloes have done nothing to resolve them.

Source: Utah News