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Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs Colorado Buffaloes

By Michael Chavez

Sep 24, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) warms up prior to the game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Josh Rosen (3) warms up prior to the game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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October 22, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Shay Fields (1) catches a touchdown against Stanford Cardinal cornerback Alijah Holder (13) during the second quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
October 22, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Shay Fields (1) catches a touchdown against Stanford Cardinal cornerback Alijah Holder (13) during the second quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

The Colorado Offense

The Buffalo offense is predicated on the run game. Behind starting RB Phillip Lindsay and his 6.2 yards per carry average, Colorado has proven to be a tough team to slow down as they suck you in to stop the run and then hit you with the play action pass. Even from four receiver sets the Buffaloes will pull offensive linemen for some added power. It isn’t just Lindsay running the rock either.

Related Story: UCLA Football: UCLA Football vs Colorado 3 Keys to Victory

Liufau has the potential to take off with the ball and despite his ankle injury is still a threat to tuck it and go. Colorado uses his athletic ability to deadly effect in some of read option concepts that the Buffs run. He’s not a burner and won’t run away from many linebackers in the open field but his mobility means he has to be accounted for and takes a man out of pass coverage.

Where Liufau really can hurt you though is through the air. That’s an area he has steadily improved in during his college tenure and we can see the results of it this season. He’s found a go to in Shay Fields who has 35 catches this season but blew up against Oregon State for 7-169-3tds when Liufau was replaced by backup QB Steven Montez.

This offensive line although not the best in the country might as well be an NFL line compared to the poor play UCLA has displayed. They get to the second level quickly on run plays and give better than adequate protection in the pass game. They’re aided by effective run game and read option calls that force defenses to analyze what they see instead of just hitting the gas pedal.