3 Questions Heading Into the Showdown with USC
By Craig Harper (I don’t where this article is from to link so I will republish the entire text)
Rick Neuheisel told us Carson Palmer would play his
college football in Boulder, and finally that day
arrives on Saturday.


Trouble is, Palmer will be wearing a University of
Southern California road uniform, not the
black-and-gold of CU that Neuheisel had envisioned
when he tried to sign the star quarterback in 1998 –
and, privately, at least, all but promised that he
would..
Palmer, who threw passes to former Buff John Minardi
in high school, hasn’t quite lived up to the hype as
he embarks on his senior season.
Neuheisel wound up signing Taylor Barton and Zac
Colvin at quarterback in CU’s ‘98 class. Barton
transferred after Neuheisel left in 1999. Colvin
started the first two games in 2000 (including a loss
at USC), left CU briefly and now would be Robert
Hodge’s backup if Craig Ochs cannot play because of
the concussion he suffered last Saturday against San
Diego State.
The quarterbacks definitely are a big key this week as
the Buffs reach the heart of their non-conference
schedule, stepping up from the Mountain West
Conference duo of Colorado State and San Diego State
to the Pac-10’s USC and UCLA.
CU is 0-4 against the Trojans, including the 17-14
loss at the Coliseum in 2000. In that game, Palmer
directed a 72-yard drive that led to the game-winning
field goal with 14 seconds left. CU’s Mark Mariscal
had missed a 40-yard field goal 59 seconds earlier.
With that in mind, here are three key questions for
Game 3 for Colorado:
How will not having Craig Ochs at quarterback affect
CU’s offense this week?
It most definitely will hurt the passing game.
Ochs seemed to be more effective throwing the ball in
the first half before suffering the concussion against
San Diego State, but his replacement, Robert Hodge,
struggled when forced to put the ball in the air.
What Hodge brings to the offense is running ability.
Ochs is a scrambler who can improvise and turn a
busted play into a long pass, as he did on his long
touchdown strike to Derek McCoy early in last week’s
game. Hodge is smaller and faster, more of a Mike
Moschetti type with better speed. He’ll make more big
plays running with the ball than Ochs.
Hodge was a good passer in junior college, hitting
just over 60 percent of his attempts for 3,395 yards
and 26 touchdowns in 2000, but he’s unproven at this
level. Maybe with a week of practicing as the No. 1
quarterback, he’ll show dramatic improvement in the
passing game against USC.
The Buffs will need him to do that, or Trojans head
coach Pete Carroll, who is a defensive specialist,
will stack his defense to stop CU’s running game.
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson turned conservative
with Hodge in the second half, but he can’t afford to
do that this week. Look for Watson to get Hodge on the
perimeter more often, where he can take advantage of
his running ability.
Who is the one key Trojan defender the Buffs must keep
track of?
Safety Troy Polamalu might be the best defensive back
CU will face this year.
He’s not real big, but he’s very strong and had over
100 tackles last season. The Trojans like to move him
around and put him in position to make tackles, so it
will be important for the Buffs to recognize where
he’s lined up and get a blocker on him. Presumably
tight end Beau Williams will have primary
responsibility.
Polamalu is part of an attacking USC defense that will
take some chances with its excellent secondary. San
Diego State gave the Buffs some protection problems
with blitzes, so that’s an area that CU needs to
address this week.
CU’s best line of attack might be the same as it was
last week — straight ahead with its bigger offensive
line leading the power running of Chris Brown and
Bobby Purify. Auburn’s Carnell Williams, a tough
runner like Brown but with more speed, had success
early against the Trojans before leaving with an
injury.
Will USC’s passing game pose as many matchup problems
for Colorado as San Diego State’s did?
No, but Carson Palmer & Co.will provide a serious
challenge. Norm Chow, a long-time assistant at BYU for
LaVell Edwards, is the offensive coordinator, and,
based on the opener, he seems to have gotten the
talented Palmer off to a good start. Inconsistency has
plagued Palmer throughout his college career, but he
was 23-of-32 for 302 yards and a touchdown against
Auburn.
A big difference this week is the Buffs can adjust
their defensive personnel to down-and-distance. They
were unable to do that against San Diego State’s
no-huddle offense, going with a dime alighment for
almost the entire game.
This week they’ll have back linebacker Sean Tufts and
safety Roderick Sneed. Both should boost the defense
as it tries to contain USC’s inconsistent running
game, which still will be a far more difficult
challenge than San Diego State’s. The Trojans’ top two
backs combined for just 97 yards in 30 carries against
Auburn. Sultan McCullough, one of the fastest players
in college football, has been battling a minor injury,
but Michigan transfer Justin Fargas could be ready to
play, giving the Trojans three tailback threats.
CU’s defense will have to be careful with Palmer. He’s
a big quarterback at 6-5, 225 pounds, but he’s also
quite mobile and throws on the run.

Related posts:

  1. Here come the Trojans
  2. Big Questions Face Buffs
  3. Two CU assistants heading to UCLA