Colorado fans have plenty to look forward to with the Buffaloes’ new-look offense.
Shedeur Sanders offers a chance for the Buffs to enjoy a level of quarterback proficiency that has been rare in Boulder for the better part of two decades. When he’s not playing cornerback, Travis Hunter expects to lead what could be a dynamic set of receivers. Same with the backfield, which is loaded with depth and versatility.
What folks won’t see when the Buffs kick off against No. 17 TCU on Sept. 2 (10 a.m. MT, Fox) is a scripted opening sequence from new offensive coordinator Sean Lewis.
With kickoff fast approaching and preseason camp winding down, Lewis met with the media following Tuesday’s practice to offer an update on his side of the ball. Asked if he is the sort of play-caller who enjoys going into a fray with a scripted game plan, Lewis gave a firm negative.
“I’m more of a feel guy,” Lewis said. “I’ve not been into scripting. I’ve done that one time in the past 12 years and it didn’t work out so well. Especially early on in the season. They have new pieces, they’re adjusting to new personnel, and you’ve got to get a feel for how pieces on the chess board are moving and playing out. And then be able to adapt and get to the answers you need to based on the problems that they’re presenting.”
Lewis didn’t offer details of how his one previous scripted start went awry, except to add, “There were a lot of punts involved. Just saying that four-letter word hurts my heart.”
Script or no script, the number of potential play-makers set to make their CU debuts against TCU could give the Buffs a small element of surprise. TCU head coach Sonny Dykes and defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie can break down several seasons of video from Kent State, where Lewis spent the past five years as the head coach. And they can cue up video from last year of Jackson State, the former home of Sanders and Hunter, and even hunt down footage of most of the Buffs’ transfers.
However, the Horned Frogs won’t know what exactly to expect out of CU’s Lewis-and-Sanders-led offense until the teams line up next week in Texas. Yet Lewis isn’t certain the unfamiliarity will produce an advantage.
“Week one, no matter where you’re at — whether it was year five at Kent State or year one here — there’s always some element of chasing ghosts,” Lewis said. “Philosophically, there’s stuff people put their stakes in the ground with. But, the same way that we challenge our kids to improve and compete on a daily basis, I think the best coaches in this business, they’re lifelong learners. So they probably went and did some professional development, and they probably talked to some people, and they’ve probably added some wrinkles that we’re going to have to adjust to as they move through. Because that’s what great coaches do and coach Dykes and coach Gillespie, their staff, they do a heck of a job.”
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Preseason camp has allowed Lewis and Sanders to get the newcomers up to speed, both figuratively and literally. At Kent State, Lewis deployed one of the most fast-paced attacks in the nation. The Buffs expect to play at a similar pace while maintaining a healthy balance between the passing game and the rushing attack.
“Go fast. Be efficient. Stay on schedule,” Lewis said. “With the teams we’re going to play, and how well defensive coordinators are able to scheme, you start getting those third-and-long situations because you’re not efficient on first and second down. Life gets pretty hard. We want to create space for our speed. We want to work and find ways to create a numerical advantage. And then if all those things are going to be even, then we want to create leverage and out-flank and take away the edge of the defense.”
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