BOULDER — Colorado’s offensive line took a step forward Saturday, giving up just three quarterback sacks in the Buffaloes’ 34-31 loss to Arizona.
Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders entered the game as the most-sacked quarterback in the nation. Saturday’s three sacks matches the fewest given up by Colorado in any game this year.
” I feel like it’s improvement,” said Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. “I praised the line all game long. They gave us a clean pocket at times and there were times (Shedeur) had to scramble. You’re going to do that because the opposing team is going to blitz sometimes. But overall, I really think they’ve improved tremendously.”
Saturday was the second game with recently promoted Pat Shurmur calling the plays. CU seemed to focus a little more on quick drops and getting the ball out of Sanders’ hands quickly, but he was still under pressure for much of the game. His ability to scramble was also a major factor in limiting the number of sacks and he finished as CU’s leading rusher with 42 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown run.
“We’re not as (up) tempo as we once were,” Coach Prime said. “Instead of going fast, I wanted to get it right. And they did a phenomenal job. They did a good enough job to win. We just have to support them defensively. I think he called a phenomenal game. He really did.”
Shurmur was named co-offensive coordinator alongside Sean Lewis.
“They called a phenomenal game because it’s a collaborative effort,” Coach Prime said. “When you hear it on the set, they’re working together as one and they’re unified.”
10 GRAND: Colorado’s Sanders surpassed the career 10,000 yards passing milestone Saturday. Sanders entered the day needing just 155 yards to hit the number and he did it with plenty of room to spare. A 12-yard completion to tight end Michael Harrison in the first half put him over the mark and he finished with 262 yards in the air with two touchdowns.
Sanders now has 3,144 yards passing this season, making him just the third QB in Colorado history to surpass 3,000. He joins Sefo Liufau (3,200 in 2014) and Koy Detmer (3,156 in 1996). Barring misfortune, he should put his name atop that list next Friday at Washington State.
SEASON A SUCCESS? Sanders was asked whether he thought this year has been a success.
“In many aspects, certainly,” he said. “I…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Colorado Athletics…