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Deion Sanders to Reevaluate QBs After Loss
Developing
In Short: Colorado coach Deion Sanders criticized his team's offensive struggles, particularly at quarterback, after a loss to Texas Tech.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders expressed frustration with his team's offensive performance, particularly at the quarterback position, after the Buffaloes' 29-7 loss to Texas Tech.
In a press conference, Sanders repeatedly hinted at the team's struggles without directly naming the quarterback issue, telling reporters, "You know what it is. If I say it, you're gonna run with it."
Sanders emphasized the need for transparency, saying, "Don't sugarcoat it. We've been horrible. What'd we have? Seven points. You're not gonna win. Don't sugarcoat it no more. Just tell it how it is."
He also defended his approach to quarterback management, stating, "I'm not gonna badger the kid. I'm not gonna say nothing derogatory about the kid. He didn't play today.... I'm worried about our team and winning. You're trying to single out one kid. You can't do that."
Sanders noted that the Buffaloes have started three different quarterbacks this season, and he plans to use the upcoming bye week to evaluate his options. He said, "Every darn day is an open competition."
Isaac Wilson, who started Saturday's game, threw two interceptions, including a pick-six that sealed the loss. Wilson acknowledged his mistakes, saying, "I need to stop trying to be more than I am. We've got dogs all over the field, and I just need to get it to them."
Sanders highlighted the importance of finding a quarterback who can lead the team to victory, saying, "Somebody's got to step up and take hold of it and get it done."
Sanders also mentioned that highly touted prospect Julian 'JuJu' Lewis is in the mix to start again, along with Kaneal Sweetwyne and Wilson.
Despite the loss, Sanders maintained that the team's struggles were not solely due to the quarterback play, but he acknowledged that the position was a significant issue. He said, "That's the position that is somewhat disabling us and disarming us."
Sanders' comments reflect a growing frustration with the team's offensive inefficiency, particularly at the quarterback position, as the Buffaloes look to regroup during their bye week.
Sanders' approach to addressing the quarterback issue has been met with mixed reactions from the media, with some reporters pushing for more direct answers and others respecting his reluctance to single out players.
The Buffaloes will face No. 13 Utah on Oct. 17, and Sanders' decision on the quarterback position could have a significant impact on the team's future performance.
What this adds
Sanders' comments and gestures during the press conference indicate a desire for the media to acknowledge the quarterback struggles without him explicitly naming them.
The team's upcoming bye week provides an opportunity for Sanders to reassess his quarterback options and potentially make a change before the next game.
Background
Deion Sanders, head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes, clashed with media personalities over his criticism of college football media.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders hinted at a potential quarterback decision Tuesday, suggesting he may favor Isaac Wilson over Julian Lewis for the upcoming game against Texas Tech.
What's confirmed
- "That's the position that is somewhat disabling us and disarming us."
What's still developing
- "You know darn well what it is. Just write it yourselves. You know what it is. It's blatant. There's no ifs, ands or buts about it. I would respect y'all a lot more if you just said it yourselves. You know darn well what it is."
- It certainly doesn't help matters that Sanders is being intentionally vague about Julian Lewis -- who began the season as Colorado's starter.
- "I would love for JuJu to come here and he'd tell you what happened," Sanders said.
- Deion Sanders won't say it, but he wants everyone else to do just that.
- "So, 'You benched JuJu from first to third string.' No, that's not how it went down. It didn't happen like that."
- Wilson's night might be best remembered for his final interception -- a pick-six straight to Texas Tech linebacker John Curry, who caught the pass several yards deep in the Buffaloes' end zone. "I need to stop trying to be more than I am," said Wilson, who finished 26-for-44 for 290 yards. "We've got dogs all over the field, and I just need to get it to them."
- "Somebody's got to step up and take hold of it and get it done." Wilson made his first start Saturday -- the Buffaloes' fifth quarterback change in the past 13 months -- and engineered an opening nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.
- "We've got dogs all over the field, and I just need to get it to them." After the early touchdown against the Red Raiders, the Buffaloes' next 12 drives ended with two missed field goals, four interceptions, an unsuccessful fake punt, three punts and two turnovers on downs.
- "We kept stalling out, and I take full blame on that," Wilson said.
- But he threw two interceptions in a blowout loss to Northwestern then was benched at halftime for Wilson against Baylor on Sept.