Colorado's leaky offensive line is exposed again as Nebraska records 6 sacks

LINCOLN, Nebraska (AP) — Colorado's offensive line has five new starters, 11 new additions and a new position coach – and when it comes to blocking up front, the results remain the same.

This was reflected in the Buffaloes lose 28-10 in Nebraska on Saturday night. The Cornhuskers had six sacks and 10 quarterback hurries and allowed just 16 rushing yards.

“The safeguards were,” coach Deion Sanders said, pausing, “a problem. I try to be polite and say it because, you know, I can say the same thing you said, but if I said it, you'd say I'm throwing my guys under the bus. I'm not doing that in any way. The safeguards were a problem.”

The Buffaloes were hoping for an improvement on the offensive line after allowing 56 points in 12 games last season, the second-most in the Football Bowl Subdivision behind Old Dominion's 62 in 13 games.

Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma's offensive analyst for the past two years, replaced Bill O'Boyle as offensive line coach.

The offensive line has been reorganized and now consists of tackles Tyler Brown and Jordan Seaton, guards Justin Mayers and Kahlil Benson, and center Hank Zilinskas.

Brown was sidelined for the Buffs and did not play last season. Seaton is a true freshman who was named a five-star recruit and ranked as the nation's top high school tackle by ESPN. Mayers (UTEP) and Benson (Indiana) are transfers. Zilinskas started two games and appeared in nine others for CU.

Of the 15 offensive linemen on Sunday's online roster, only four were on the team in 2023.

The Buffs were pleased with their pass defense in their opener, allowing a sack and two quarterback hurries in a 31-26 win over North Dakota State of the second-tier Championship Subdivision. According to Pro Football Focus, four of the five starting linemen were above average in pass blocking. But only one, Zilinskas, received an above-average grade in run blocking, as the Buffs managed just 59 yards rushing against NDSU.

Nebraska, another power conference team, exposed the Buffs' offensive line. Shedeur Sanders was sacked once on each of CU's first four possessions and running back Charlie Offerdahl was also stopped twice on a fourth-and-1 attempt, resulting in a loss of yardage.

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, on the other hand, was not sacked once and was only pressured four times, and the Huskers ran for 149 yards.

Shedeur Sanders has proven he can get out of trouble and make big plays, but with no running game against the Huskers, those were especially in demand on Saturday.

“How many times was Raiola touched?” he asked. “Obviously, if you can move the ball consistently, it opens up the passing. But you have to understand what your team is good at. Why do we keep moving the ball when we're out there and in a situation where we really need it and we don't get it?”

The Buffs' 75 total rushing yards through two games are the fewest in the country, and five of CU's 16 rushing attempts against Nebraska that did not result in a sack resulted in neither a gain nor a loss.

“It's very rare that you have a great running offense and a great passing offense,” Deion Sanders said. “One of the two has to be the weaker. We have to find a way to have some kind of running game because we have backs that can just do that. We really do.”

Colorado ranks 120th in the FBS with seven sacks allowed through two games and enters its road game against Colorado State, which ranks 127th out of 134 FBS teams in pass blocking efficiency, according to Pro Football Focus.

By PFF's count, Brown has allowed 11 pressures through two games, second-most in the FBS. Seaton has allowed nine, fifth-most.

“We have to be able to handle the pressure,” Deion Sanders said. “I don't mean the pressure of putting pressure on the passer. The pressure of the game, the pressure of the moment, the pressure of time. Everybody wants to be 'him' until it's time to be 'him.' We have to be able to handle the pressure.”

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