Colorado’s trip to Georgia Tech on Thursday brings plenty of curiosity about the Buffs’ new-look offense, but the bigger test may come on the other side of the ball.
With Brennan Marion unveiling his Go-Go offense in his first season as CU’s offensive coordinator, the storyline in Boulder has plenty to do with speed, creativity and new faces. Still, defensive coordinator Chris Marve believes the foundation for a road win starts with how Colorado handles Georgia Tech’s rushing attack.
Marve, also in his first year at CU, said he has seen his defense move in the right direction while he’s worked to build a more physical edge.
“We’re really excited about the opportunity and challenge in front of us,” Marve said. “Obviously we have to shore up the game plan that we have in place, so that we feel really good about the plan going into (Georgia Tech).”
That challenge is a familiar one. In last season’s opener at Folsom Field, Georgia Tech piled up 320 rushing yards against Colorado.
This time, the rematch comes in Atlanta on Thursday at 6 p.m. MT on ESPN, and the Buffs will be relying on an entirely different cast of defenders to try to change the script.
Marve said the development he’s seen has been steady across the board.
“I think at every level of the defense there’s been what I’d characterize as incremental progress,” Marve said. “That’s what you want to see. As long as there’s progress on a daily basis, we’re getting better both individually and collectively, we like the opportunity you have in front of you to go accomplish the mission.”
On offense, Marion is leaning on some familiar pieces from his Sacramento State days. He brought three players with him to Boulder who know the Go-Go system well: receiver Ernest Campbell, plus running backs JaQuail Smith and Damian Henderson II.
Marion said Campbell has flashed the kind of speed that can change a defense’s plan.
“Ernest, he really has turned it on at camp,” Marion said. “He really got back to what makes Ernest special, being that deep threat outside the hashes that can really stretch the defense.
On any great team you have to have one of those guys. It’s been good to see Ernest stretch the field again and get running.
He has get-out-of-jail-card speed.
“Dame, I’m just proud of where he’s at as a man. He’s always been able to play football.
His problem has been the off-the-field stuff. So his growth, his maturity, his character … he’s just being like a grown man.
He’s a good human, especially coming where he came from, Compton, California, and all the things that he’s seen. And JaQuail, we just call him ‘green.’
He’s a young buck. JaQuail can do anything with a football.
When he came to Sac State, I was like, ‘I don’t know how we got him.’ The guy that got him for me is now working at Auburn, so he had a great eye for talent.
He’ll be ready to roll.”
Another major variable for Colorado is the offensive line. Marion said the Buffs’ front needs to bring a hard-nosed attitude no matter which five players end up starting Thursday.
“Violence and effort up front. In the trenches, it has to be nasty.
There’s only one way it can be up there,” Marion said. “You can work on all the cute stuff - your footwork, your pass set - but if you’re not violent, if you’re not attacking off the ball, if you’re not trying to take another man against his will and take his soul, then you just can’t be on our offensive line.
We won’t put anybody out there that does not have (that mentality).”
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