Takeaways From Buffs Win Over Bears

BOULDER — First things first:

It was a touchdown. When replay officials overruled the initial decision from the field Saturday and called Montana Lemonious-Craig’s 22-yard reception from J.T. Shrout a touchdown in Colorado’s overtime victory against Cal, they did so for good reason.

The officials had clear evidence that Lemonious-Craig made the catch with one foot in bounds.

Touchdown.

Replay officials don’t overturn calls on the field without conclusive evidence that the initial call was wrong. They especially don’t overturn calls of that magnitude — a touchdown in an overtime game — without definitive proof that the original call should be reversed.

Touchdown.

Had the call from the field been a completion and had replay officials merely upheld the call, there would be at least a little wiggle room for controversy.

But the fact that they reversed the call makes the final verdict even more concrete. They had conclusive confirmation that Lemonious-Craig caught the ball and dragged his foot in bounds.

Initial call reversed.

Touchdown. 

Now, on to the order of the day, that being our takeaways from the Buffs’ dramatic 20-13 win over the Bears:

1. Keep it simple. When Mike Sanford took the reins as CU’s interim head coach two weeks ago, he elevated Gerald Chatman to defensive coordinator. The two wanted to simplify the defense, focus on the strengths of their personnel and allow the Buffs to play fast instead of worrying about making a mistake.

For one game at least, mission accomplished. The Buffs played fast and recorded 10 tackles for loss — more than half of their total in the first five games combined. They played loose, with confidence and with a purpose. They made big plays, reduced “chunk” plays and overall dictated the pace and tempo of the game.

Sanford and Chatman did make some schematic weaks. That added a “big nickel” defender and an extra linebacker on occasion. But the Buffs had no trouble executing the new scheme because it wasn’t overly complicated. The message was simple: execute your assignment, stay in your gap and trust that the guy next to you will do the same.

As a result, CU’s defense was a step ahead of Cal most of the day. The Buffs managed to not leave their young corners on a man-to-man island very often — but still managed to bring pressure from all angles while…