Tuesday Buff Bits: CU Prepares For Falk, Hercules; Other Notes

BOULDER — One week ago, Washington State's offense looked to be virtually unstoppable.

Led by fifth-year senior quarterback Luke Falk, the Cougars were 6-0 and averaging nearly 40 points per game. Falk had completed nearly 72 percent of his passes (188-for-262) for 2,000 yards, 19 touchdowns — and just two interceptions.

But that unstoppable offense hit a major roadblock last week at Cal. The Bears harassed Falk all night long, sacking him nine times and collecting five interceptions (to go with two WSU fumbles) while also holding the Cougars out of the end zone in a stunning 37-3 Cal win.

This week, the 4-3 Colorado Buffaloes (1-3 Pac-12) have a chance to try to follow that blueprint when they travel to Pullman for a Saturday matchup with the 6-1, 3-1 Cougars (8:45 p.m., ESPN).

Of course, following such a blueprint is easier said than done.

"The thing about Cal is they just came out and played hard," Buffs defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot said Tuesday morning. "They really got after them with their effort."

A strong pass rush has not exactly been a strength of the Buffs since they began Pac-12 play. CU has not registered a sack in its last two games, and has just two in four conference games. But if any team offers the opportunity for the Buffs to rekindle a sack attack, it would seem to be the Cougars, who have allowed 32 quarterback takedowns this year, the most of any team in the Pac-12.

"You have to get them in third-and-long situations," Eliot said. "That comes with the run defense. You get them in passing situations, then you get a chance to get after the quarterback. That's got to be the emphasis. … You have to get them in third and long where they're going to drop back and pass and it's a predictable pass and you can get after the quarterback."

Thus far this season, WSU has not shown much interest in running the ball. The Cougars have rushed for more than 100 yards only twice in seven games, and leading rusher Jamal Morrow has just 339 yards on the season — more than 100 yards less than CU's Phillip Lindsay has accumulated in his last two games.

On the flip side, Colorado's run defense has not been a pillar of strength in recent weeks, allowing nearly 700 yards on the ground in the last two games.

"We have to improve on that," Eliot said. "We have to continue to play hard and play physical and continue to fit things up right. That's what I'm hoping, moving forward, is we can get that run defense back where it belongs."

Still, Colorado coaches and players believe containing Falk will be the key. If they can put pressure on him, they might be able to force a few more interceptions this week.

"It's important to create some hurries on him, there's no doubt," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "It's important to be able to hit him a little bit, too. They do an excellent job. Their offensive line is huge. He's able to get rid of it when he wants to and when he's trying to get something down field he'll hold on to it a little bit. We definitely need to be able to get to him a little bit, there's no doubt."

One player who will likely get his chance to put pressure on Falk is inside linebacker Drew Lewis. The Buffs junior does not have a sack this year, but he is second on the team in quarterback "hurries" with six — including one last week against Oregon State that resulted in a big third-quarter interception for the Buffs.

"There have been multiple times where I've gotten close (to a sack)," Lewis said. "I'll get in the pocket and be able to put pressure but I can't finish it so I want to change that stat, definitely."

PREPARING FOR HERCULES: While Falk is the talk of WSU's offense, the Cougars' defense has a star in defensive lineman Hercules Mata'afa. The redshirt junior leads the Pac-12 in tackles for loss with 12, and shares the conference lead in sacks with 6.5.

"I don't know how Mike Leach does it, but when you get the son of Zeus to play D-line for you it really helps you," MacIntyre said. "Hercules is an amazing player. He's so active. They do a great job with how they use him."

BOBO THE QB: Colorado wide receiver Bryce Bobo, who threw a touchdown pass last week to quarterback Steven Montez — Bobo's second career TD pass — said his opportunity to throw in a game came after CU director of quality control Daniel DaPrato saw him throwing in practice.

"When I got here I would throw the ball 60 yards, just playing around jokingly with some of the other receivers," Bobo said. DaPrato commented on Bobo's arm one day and Bobo said he jokingly told DaPrato to tell the coaching staff to put him in at quarterback.

The next week, DaPrato told him, 'Hey, against USC we have a pass play for you.' We practiced it and it worked so I guess they kind of rely on me for trick plays like that."

That play against USC resulted in a 67-yard Bobo touchdown pass to Phillip Lindsay. Bobo's career passing stats are now 2-for-2 for 78 yards and two touchdowns, giving him a gaudy passer rating of 757.6.

FRESHMAN SPECIALIST: Freshman outside linebacker Jacob Callier continues to fill a role as a pass rush specialist for the Buffs in their nickel defense, meaning he'll likely see plenty of time this weekend.

Callier has been on the field for just 112 defensive snaps, but leads the team in quarterback pressures with seven, and also has a sack, six third-down stops, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery.

"Jacob has a knack to pass rush," MacIntyre said. "He's getting better and better every game. He's playing a little bit more every game. We're excited about Jacob throughout the rest of this year and the rest of his career. He's a very good pass rusher, but I think he can end up being an excellent pass rusher as he keeps getting better and better and keeps improving and understanding how to go against college tackles every day. He's starting to show that."

MORE SNAPS FOR GAMBOA: In the eighth game of the year this week, Colorado linebacker Rick Gamboa will likely surpass the number of defensive snaps he played all of last season.

A year ago, Gamboa was in for 499 defensive snaps (not counting the Alamo Bowl), finishing with 79 tackles. In last year's scheme, he often gave way to reserve Addison Gillam in likely passing situations.

This year, however, Gamboa has played 473 of CU's 492 defensive snaps, and he has already recorded 69 tackles. Lewis leads the team in defensive snaps (482) and tackles (75).

SUCCESS ON FOURTH DOWN: The Buffs have converted on seven straight fourth-down attempts, dating back to the second half of the UCLA game. CU was 4-for-4 against Arizona on fourth down and 1-for-1 last week against Oregon State. For the year, the Buffs are 8-for-11 on fourth-down tries.

BIG GAME FOR McCARTNEY: Senior OLB Derek McCartney had 15 tackles, two sacks and an additional tackle for a loss in the first six games of the season. Against Oregon State, he had his best game of the year, finishing with 10 tackles (just missing a sack).

"He made a couple really big plays the other day," MacIntyre said. "He is doing better and better. He's a phenomenal kid and he'll make some big plays here as we go."

LEACH ON FALK: Washington State head coach Mike Leach is never at a loss for words, but he seldom follows the script set by most head coaches.

Asked earlier in the week why he thought Falk had a bad game, Leach said, "It's the worst game that everybody's played under me. It's not simplified by Luke played bad and everybody else played good. … Luke didn't sack himself nine times. … Luke also didn't punt it one yard … Luke didn't give up any of those points as far as marching up and down the field … We didn't play good anywhere."

WET WEATHER AHEAD: The forecast for Saturday in Pullman is not pretty, calling for showers in the morning, followed by winds from 20 to 30 mph and a steady rain by the afternoon. The high temperature is predicted to hit just 46 degrees, with that number no doubt dropping significantly by kickoff.

The Buffs, though, don't seem to be bothered by the forecast.

"I feel like I play better in the cold anyway," Buffs running back Phillip Lindsay said. "Cold doesn't bother me at all."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu