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

Updated Sep. 8, 2024 4:10 p.m. ET

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

That much was apparent in the Buffaloes' 28-10 loss at Nebraska on Saturday night. The Cornhuskers had six sacks and 10 quarterback hurries and allowed just 16 yards rushing.

“Protections were,” coach Deion Sanders said, pausing, “were a problem. Trying to be polite and say it, because, you know, I can say the same thing you're thinking, but if I said (it), you would say I'm throwing my guys under the bus. I'm not doing that whatsoever. Protections were a problem."

The Buffaloes hoped to show improvement on the offensive line after allowing 56 in 12 games last season, second most in the Football Bowl Subdivision behind Old Dominion's 62 in 13 games.

Phil Loadholt, an offensive analyst at Oklahoma the previous two years, replaced Bill O'Boyle as offensive line coach.

The offensive line was revamped and now is made up of tackles Tyler Brown and Jordan Seaton, guards Justin Mayers and Kahlil Benson and center Hank Zilinskas.

Brown redshirted and didn't play last season for the Buffs. Seaton is a true freshman who was a five-star recruit and rated by ESPN as the No. 1 high school tackle in the nation. Mayers (UTEP) and Benson (Indiana) are transfers. Zilinskas started two games and appeared in nine others for CU.

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

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

Nebraska, a fellow power-conference team, exposed the Buffs' line. Shedeur Sanders was sacked once on each of CU's first four possessions and running back Charlie Offerdahl also got stuffed twice for a loss on fourth-and-1s.

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola, meanwhile, never got sacked and was hurried only four times, and the Huskers rushed for 149 yards.

Shedeur Sanders has proved he can escape trouble and make big plays, but with no running game against the Huskers, those were at a premium Saturday.

“How many times did Raiola get touched?” he said. “Of course whenever you're able to run the ball consistently, it opens up the pass. But you have to understand what you're team is good at. Why we keep running the ball if we're out there and get in a situation where it's a must-get and we don't get it?"

The Buffs' 75 total rushing yards through two games are fewest in the nation, and five of CU's 16 non-sack rushing attempts against Nebraska went for no gain or a loss.

“Very rarely do you have a great running offene and a great passing offense,” Deion Sanders said. “One is going to have to be the lesser of the two. We have to figure out a way to have some type of running game because we have backs who can flat-out do it. We really do.”

Colorado ranks 120th in the FBS with seven sacks allowed in two games and will go into its road meeting with Colorado State ranked 127th out of 134 FBS teams in pass blocking efficiency, according to Pro Football Focus.

By PFF's count, Brown has allowed 11 pressures in two games, tied for second most in the FBS, and Seaton's nine are tied for fifth.

“We have to be able to handle the pressure,” Deion Sanders said. “I'm not saying (the pressure of) rushing the passer. The pressure of the game, the pressure of the moment, the presure of the time. Everybody wants to be ‘him’ until it's time to be ‘him.’ We got to be able to handle the pressure.”

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