Colorado’s first game left head coach Deion Key with plenty to clean up, but not a loss of faith.
Asked about GT getting pushed around, Key pushed back on the idea that it was a major long-term concern. “I would say concerning is not the right word.”
He pointed to a handful of snaps where Colorado got knocked off the ball and admitted there were also moments when the team wasn’t down in its stance. Even so, his outlook on the group remains strong.
“I'm still bullish on this team. I'm very confident in this football team.”
At the same time, he didn’t soften the reality of what happened on the field. “We failed across the board tonight.”
Key expects the team to look much better by Saturday.
The biggest issue, in his view, was execution. Key said he was a little worried about players working together for the first time, especially when it came to trusting defensive adjustments quickly enough to make the play.
He also pointed to defenders not having their eyes in the right spot when opponents cut back against the grain. “We have to really drill these guys to play their responsibility.”
There was praise, too, for Alberto’s night at quarterback. “I thought he did a really nice job getting us in and out of the right play.”
Key said the passing game still needs better protection, noting that the line was beaten in man-to-man situations and by blitzes in the second half. Even with that pressure, he came away encouraged by what he saw from his quarterback.
“I thought he had poise. I'm really excited about Alberto's future as our quarterback.”
In Other News...
Colorado Needs To Figure Out Ernest Campbell Before This Becomes Bigger
Ernest Campbell barely factored into Colorados season opener against Georgia Tech, finishing with limited playing time and no catches as the Buffaloes worked through their first live look of the year. Even so, the receiver remains an intriguing piece of Colorados offense because of the speed he brought from Sacramento State and the familiarity he already has with the current offensive coordinator.
Colorado does not need to force Campbell into a starring role right away, but his skill set is the kind that can change how defenses line up if the staff finds the right spots for him. Whether that comes in situational packages or on special teams, his lack of involvement in the opener feels more like the start of a question than the end of one. [Read more 🡒]
Brennan Marion Just Gave Colorado Fans A Reason To Believe
Brennan Marions first game as Colorados offensive coordinator came with the kind of road test that can tell a staff a lot about itself. Facing Georgia Tech, the Buffaloes leaned into a physical, run-first plan and found enough balance to survive a tough opponent, with DeKalon Taylor giving the offense a needed spark and tight end Charlie Williams coming through with a go-ahead touchdown catch.
Marion said the challenge was matching the moment with the right strategy, and Colorados answer was to keep pressing with the run game and let the defense and special teams finish it off. Boo Carters late block on a field goal attempt sealed the win, leaving the impression that Colorado may have found a blueprint it can trust when games get messy and the margin gets thin. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Tech Has One Defensive Problem It Must Fix Fast
Georgia Techs season-opening loss to Colorado left a sour finish in front of the home crowd, but the bigger concern came from how the game unfolded after halftime. The Yellow Jackets defense had trouble controlling the middle of the line, and the Buffaloes took advantage by turning to a physical ground approach that started to tilt the game in their favor.
Colorado finished with 183 rushing yards in the second half, with Damian Henderson leading the way as the Buffaloes kept attacking inside. Georgia Techs coach pointed to the interior play of the defensive line as a problem that has to get corrected quickly, because if that weakness lingers, opponents are likely to keep probing it until the Yellow Jackets prove they can stop it. [Read more 🡒]