Colorado’s matchup with Oklahoma State on Saturday puts a lot on the Buffaloes’ defensive front, and defensive coordinator Chris Marve isn’t hiding how much he trusts Dylan Manuel and Santana Hopper to carry part of that load.
The Cowboys bring in North Texas transfer Drew Mestemaker, who has piled up 1,940 passing yards and 16 touchdowns against six interceptions while completing 136 of 203 throws. Colorado’s secondary will need support against that passing game, and Marve’s answer starts up front with two linemen who have become central pieces for the Buffs.
Manuel and Hopper have been two of Colorado’s defensive anchors this season, and their production has helped power the Big 12’s top tackle-for-loss total. They’ve consistently lived in opposing backfields, and Marve said their impact comes from more than just size or raw talent.
“[They’re] twitched up, aggressive and very hungry players in terms of their approach every day in the facility and also outside,” Marve said. “I also think they both punch above their weight class.
You look at them, they’re not the biggest. I mean, they’re not the smallest, either, but when you cut on the tape, they play with their hair on fire.”
Manuel and Hopper aren’t exactly undersized by ordinary standards, either. Manuel checks in at 300 pounds, while Hopper is listed at 265. What stands out is how quickly they move at those sizes, and that burst shows up when they chase down runners and quarterbacks behind the line.
Marve also pointed to the work they put in away from the field. For him, their game-day production is tied to habits that start long before kickoff.
“That’s what we need, and I’d take 20 of them,” Marve said. “...
We knew what they were capable of as young people and how they’ve approached the game day in and day out. Things that you all don’t necessarily see.
So I can’t say that I’ve been surprised by anything. I am excited about whether they can continue to accept the challenge and really exceed everybody else’s expectations, because I know what they can do.”
Against Mestemaker, that charge could matter even more. The quarterback fits the mold of a pocket passer who does his best work when he can settle in and let plays unfold in front of him. Give him time, and he can dissect a defense.
That leaves Colorado’s edge and interior pressure with a clear job: make the pocket messy and force Mestemaker off his spot. Manuel said that’s exactly how the Buffs are approaching it.
“[Our mentality is to] just really pressure the quarterback and make him uncomfortable,” Manuel said. “Because when he has pressure in his face, he’s not really good.
He gets out of character. So just putting pressure on him, making him uncomfortable and not just letting him sit back there and dial us up.”
In Other News...
Oklahoma State's Secondary Just Took A Brutal Hit
Oklahoma States secondary took a significant blow this week, with Mose Phillips III now expected to be sidelined for the rest of the football season after an injury, according to a school official. Phillips had been a key piece in the back end, and the timing makes the setback sting even more for a defense trying to hold together through the grind of the schedule.
Wednesday night brought the confirmation, and it leaves the Cowboys adjusting on the fly as they move deeper into the year. The photo attached to the report, showing Phillips breaking up a pass against Tulsa, is a reminder of the kind of impact he had been capable of making before the season took this turn. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Added A New Threat To Its Big 12 Push
The Big 12 has reached its midpoint with three teams still undefeated in league and overall play, and all three sit in the AP Top 10, a sign of how quickly the race has tightened at the top. BYU added another rsum win by beating Notre Dame even while dealing with injuries, Houston kept showing real offensive punch behind Conner Weigman, and Texas Tech continued to look more balanced after a slow start.
For Oklahoma State, though, the weekend was another reminder of how hard it has been to find answers on defense. The Cowboys were on the wrong end of a game in which Houston moved the ball with ease, while other league problems kept stacking up around them, from Baylors offensive struggles to Arizona States quarterback change during the game. With the conference season still young enough for swings in the standings, Oklahoma States issues in the back end are becoming the kind of problem that can define the rest of the run. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Heads Into Oklahoma State With A Growing Injury Problem
Colorados injury report keeps getting longer at an inconvenient time, with the Buffaloes heading into Week 8 against Oklahoma State already dealing with a depleted roster. Micah Welch and Jayven Richardson were added to the out list after getting hurt against Utah, and Welchs situation is still unclear enough to leave the staff waiting on a better read. Coach Deion Sanders has also had to manage the fallout from several other health issues, making the weeks buildup more about availability than anything schematic.
Danny Scuderos status is the most concerning subplot as Colorado sorts through its offensive options, while Lamont Lester has been limited enough to keep his role in question. For a team trying to stabilize itself in the middle of the season, the challenge is not just who can suit up Saturday, but how many pieces are left intact after a string of injuries that has started to reshape the depth chart. [Read more 🡒]