| Colorado is fighting Nebraska to see who can be more responsible for making everyone forget just how epic their Big 8 battles in the 80s and 90s were, particularly during the down Oklahoma years, when they played a de facto conference title game seemingly every year. Just how hard the Buffs have fallen were part of an Athletic article over the summer, and now an ESPN article just this week. Yes, Colorado is struggling to keep up with spending. Can they get back to their peak? Probably not. But that doesn't explain away getting blown out by Air Force, in a game where they were outgained 443-162. The Falcons completed just 1 pass, but only attempted 5. J.T. Shrout, Colorado's starter, only completed 4 more, but he threw the ball 21 times. Air Force ran the ball 70 times for 435 yards, 6.2 ypc. Five different players averaged over 7.0 ypc. The offensive struggles are not a one year thing, as Colorado had the 2nd least efficient offense in the FBS a year ago, one that Minnesota took advantage of in shutting out, while limiting to just 63 yards. It was so bad that Karl Dorrell brought in Mike Sanford Jr., who Minnesota just fired for generating a bottom 30 offense just a year ago. But if the defense is truly this bad, uh oh. They returned 4 players from a front seven that was at least a middling Pac 12 defense in terms of limiting scoring and rushing. Somehow they have hopelessly regressed, to where they are last in the FBS in rushing yards allowed per game, by over 80 ypg, and 2nd worst, ahead of only Hawaii, in terms of ypc allowed. As long as the Gophers are focused, this shouldn't be an issue. Problem is, under Fleck, that has too often been the issue. Last year they gave Ohio State all kinds of issues in the season opener, and followed it by getting outgained by Miami(Ohio), and needing a +2 turnover margin to win by 5. After a dominating shutout of Colorado, they turned around and lost to Bowling Green. A 4 game winning streak to take control of the Big Ten West, was followed by scoring just 6 points in a home loss to Illinois. As long as Minnesota avoids a Fleck gag game, this should be easy. |
