Whereas Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter obtain many of the reward for Colorado getting off to a 6-2 begin this season, the most important purpose for the varsity’s turnaround probably has extra to do with the efficiency of its protection.
Based on ESPN’s Max Olson, first-year Buffaloes defensive coordinator Robert Livingston has helped the group considerably enhance its cease price (share of drives that finish in punts, turnovers or a turnover on downs) and step up their second-half efficiency this season.
In 2023, Colorado allowed its opponents to common 34.8 factors per matchup, which ranked 124th within the nation. This season, the Buffaloes rank forty sixth within the nation in factors allowed per recreation after their first eights contests.
Colorado’s go protection was particularly egregious final yr, and it has been a lot better this season. After permitting opponents to go for a median of 277 yards per recreation in 2023, the Buffaloes are giving up solely 209 passing yards per matchup this season.
This should not come as a lot of a shock, although, since Livingston was beforehand the defensive backs coach for the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals for eight years earlier than becoming a member of Colorado’s employees final February.
The Buffaloes’ defensive backfield rising as a power of the group was on show throughout the college’s most up-to-date win over Cincinnati final Saturday.
Within the victory, Colorado security Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig led the group in tackles with eight, Hunter racked up a team-high 4 go breakups, and the Buffaloes held the Bearcats to simply 180 passing yards.
With Colorado’s protection performing a lot better than it did a yr in the past, there’s far much less stress on the group’s offense to place up as many factors as doable.
The Buffaloes offense continues to be enjoying effectively this season (31.4 factors per recreation), however the unit failing to attain on a drive is not as detrimental because it was in 2023.
With Colorado extra balanced on each side of the ball, it has a 6-2 report for the primary time since 2016. The Buffaloes’ newest win was additionally adequate for them to earn a spot within the AP High 25 ballot for the primary time this season, and now they will head into their subsequent contest ranked No. 23 within the nation.
Nevertheless, Livingston’s fast success with Colorado may lead to him leaving subsequent yr for a head-coaching job at one other college. However for now, he is with the Buffaloes, and they are going to see how far they’ll get with him serving to prepared the ground.
