From: ethan@earl.scd.ucar.edu (Ethan Alpert)
Subject: BUFF article
Organization: Scientific Computing Divison/NCAR Boulder, CO
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 20:26:35 GMT


By B.G.Brooks
--------------
Rocky Mountains News Staff Writer

Copied without permission

CU's DEFENSE A SAFETY NET FOR HIGH-RISK PASS OFFENSE

Boulder--

	When Colorado fans begin their postseason number crunching, it's likely 
to start with those accumulated by the new passing offense.

	It's a logical starting point -- what with CU already having broken or 
inching toward a multitude of school records. Kordell Stewart, a prominent 
figure in the success, can see past passing yards and touchdown passes.

	"With all the turnovers we've had (35 in ninegames), if the defense 
hadn't been playing the punch-in-the-mouth foorball like they've been playing, 
we wouldn't have had the breaks we've goten," he said. "When you have a good 
defense, you'll always have a good team..."

	At 7-1-1 and nurturing a remote chance to win the Big Eight, the Buffs 
aren't where they hoped to be. Still, they're ranked No. 13 nationally and 
could be within one win of a New Year's Day bowl (Fiesta).

	And as expected, defense has been the safety net while the new and often
risky offense sometimes pushed the Buffs to (and over) the edge. Oh, CU has had
its dark defensive moments; Baylor's bombbs and Minnesota's Marquel Fleetwoord 
immediately come to mind.

	But in the past month, the Buffs have crept toward fulfilling their 
preseason projections. They lead the Big Eight in total defense (yielding 273.8 
yards a game) and are No. 7 nationally. If they finish the season yielding fewer
than 300 yard a game, they'll be only the third CU team to do so under Bill 
McCartney.
	
	Even befoer Cu unplugged his Oklahoma State offense last weekend, Pat 
Jones was a believer. After CU's 28-0 victory, his admiration swelled.

	"They're the most athletic group I've seen this year," he said. "Their 
defensive unit gives them a chance to beat anybody. I won't say they're a 
Top 10 team, but their defense gives them a chance to be."

	The Cowboys came to Boulder averaging 373 yards in total offense in 
their previous three games. The Buffs allowed them 118, limiting them to zero or
minus yardage on 30 of 58 plays. It was the third conference game ( Kansas 
State, Missouri were the other two) that at least half of CU's opponents' 
plays gained zero yardage.

	The Buffs shut out Missouri 6-0 and didn't allow Kansas State's offense 
to score in a 54-7 victory.

	"At times we've been good, really good," said outside linebacker Chad 
Brown, a defensive co-captain. "We've just gotten our stuff together. We're 
playing as we should have been."

	The Buffs lead the conference (No.2 nationally) in pass defense, are 
third (No.40 nationally) in run defense and third (No35 nationally) in scoring 
defense. The 52-7 loss at Nebraska, in which the Huskers rushed for 373 yards, 
damaged CU's averages in run(140.3) and scoring(18.9) defense.

	Turnovers ( 14 total against Oklahoma and Nebraska) have been fatal.

	"You take out those turnovers and people scoring on our offense, and 
our scoring defense would look a lot better," he said. "You can't help but 
wonder what would have happended."


--
Ethan Alpert  internet: ethan@ncar.ucar.edu | Standard Disclaimer:
Scientific Visualization Group,             | I represent myself only.
Scientific Computing Division               |-------------------------------
National Center for Atmospheric Research, PO BOX 3000, Boulder Co, 80307-3000
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college