Buffs' Rushing Attack Steadily Building Consistency

BOULDER — Without much fanfare, the Colorado Buffaloes are slowly but surely building a steady run game.

While the numbers are by no means overwhelming, the impact has been an important piece of the Buffs' offense. Simply, when Colorado is running the ball with authority, the offense is at its best — including the passing game.

It is a trend they would like to continue Saturday when the Buffs plays host to Arizona in a 2:30 p.m. game at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Network).

After four games, the 3-1 Buffs are averaging a relatively modest 143.8 yards per game on the ground, seventh-best in the Pac-12. But while the passing game has been grabbing headlines, the rushing attack has pounded out some important yardage, particularly on some key scoring drives.

In Colorado's most-recent win, a 34-31 victory at Arizona State, the run game helped set the tone. CU's running backs accounted for 45 of Colorado's 145 yards on its first two scoring drives, then picked up 27 yards in a 67-yard touchdown drive late in the game before adding 21 of 57 yards on the game-winning field goal drive.

"That's like the best feeling ever," said sophomore running back Alex Fontenot, who leads CU with 298 yards and four touchdowns on 67 carries for a healthy 4.45-yards per carry average. "You just keep driving and wearing down the defense. It's good when you hear the defense and they're tired and just trying to get off the field and we just keep going, trying to score."

Unlike recent years, when the Buffs have leaned heavily on one feature back — Colorado has had a 1,000-yard rusher in each of the last three years — CU is calling upon several backs to carry the load. After Fontenot, freshman Jaren Mangham has rushed 39 times for 163 yards and three touchdowns, junior wide receiver Laviksa Shenault Jr. has added 66 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, and redshirt freshman Deion Smith has chipped in 21 yards on four carries.

"I love it," running backs coach Darian Hagan said. "There's not a lot of expectations being put on our guys because they're so young and not a lot of game experience, but when you put them out there, they are playing like vets. That says a lot. They're paying attention in the meeting room, they're doing extra film study, they're prepared and they're working hard when they get out here on the practice field."

Obviously, a big part of the run game's growing success is due to an offensive line that is gaining cohesion and continuity with each passing week. 

"Coach Kap (O-line coach Chris Kapilovic) has always talked about being physical, and that's something we're trying to incorporate, just playing physical every single play," center Tim Lynott said. "Make sure we finish through the whistle and I think that's showing. When we play well, the offense plays well. When the offensive line is firing on all cylinders, everyone is going."

That includes the passing game. When opposing defenses have to respect Colorado's running backs, they can't bring extra pressure with their pass rush. That, in turn, gives CU quarterback Steven Montez time in the pocket.

"Once we get that running game open, that opens up the pass game because we can do play action," Montez said. "It really keeps a defense on their heels. They don't know what to expect because if we're running the ball well, they'll want to load the box up, then we can just run play action over the top. The run game definitely opens up the pass game."

The numbers also bear that out. When the Buffs were controlling the tempo with their run game at ASU, Montez also had one of the best nights of his career, throwing for 337 yards and three touchdowns while not being sacked once.

Hagan, a former quarterback, knows what a solid run game can mean to Montez.

"When you have to focus on all phases of our offense — run game and passing game — it helps Steven," Hagan said. "When he doesn't have to do everything by himself, it helps not only because he's deadly accurate, but it also helps his confidence. He has a lot of weapons at his disposal. As a quarterback, the weight is off your shoulders and you're able to go out and execute the game plan and be a decision-maker."

One thing the Buffs have also done this year is not abandon the run game early if it isn't producing right away. That was evident against Nebraska, when CU had zero yards rushing — and zero points — in the first half before running for 89 yards in the second, a big reason Colorado was able to wear down NU's defense and put 34 points on the board after halftime.

READY FOR RAPID TEMPO: Colorado's conditioning — a major emphasis of head coach Mel Tucker since his arrival — could play a major role in Saturday's game against Arizona. The Wildcats love to run a "tempo" offense, averaging roughly 10 to 12 seconds between snaps in an effort to wear down defenses.

"They can run on the edge and tire defenses out, and then come right back to another play within 10 seconds," CU linebacker Nate Landman said. "I think that's going to be how they're going to attack us."

PREPARING FOR TAYLOR: While much of the attention this week has been focused on which UA quarterback will take the field, the Buffs are also expecting to see another Wildcat who missed last week's game with an injury, running back J.J. Taylor.

Last year, Taylor carried 40 times for 192 yards in the Wildcats' 42-34 win in Tucson.

This year, Taylor has not been as much the main focus, as the Wildcats have spread out duties in the backfield among several backs. But Landman remembers very well what Taylor can do if he's healthy this week.

 "They have tremendous speed with their backs and agility," Landman said. "They can turn from the inside and run it to the outside real quick. That's what they do well, they extend plays, and their backs have great vision.  J.J. being the main back, he runs hard. I found that out last year. It's a good battle."

After missing last week's game, Taylor is just third on the team in rushing yards with 208 yards on 35 carries. Gary Brightwell leads UA with 259 yards on 33 carries, but 94 of those came on one touchdown run. Second is quarterback Khalil Tate, who missed last week's game with a leg injury and may not play this week. Tate has 238 yards on 32 carries.

The Wildcats, who lead the Pac-12 in total yards per game (552.3) also lead the league in rushing yards, averaging 255.5 per game on the ground.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu