Pat Shurmur continues to evolve in first full year as Colorado offensive coordinator

BOULDER If youve got the time, Pat Shurmur is happy to sit down with you and explain all thats different between the NFL and college football.

After two decades in the pros, the Colorado offensive coordinator is in his first full season as a coordinator and play caller in college.

If last season, one in which Shurmur started out as an analyst for the Buffaloes before becoming the co-coordinator in November, was just Shurmur getting his feet back in a different game, hes fully in the water now.

In the NFL, because of the way the rosters are designed, I always really thought of it as, it was three or four different games within the game, Shurmur said Wednesday during CUs second of two bye weeks.

The first of those games within the game that Shurmur mentioned is first and second down.

The next is third down.

And the final one is the red zone.

There was distinct differences between the three that Shurmur got used to in his over a decade as a play caller, either as a coordinator or head coach, in the NFL.

Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur speaks with members of the media during NFL football practice at the team's training facility, Tuesday, Sept.

23, 2014, in Philadelphia.

(AP Photo/Matt Rourke) What Ive found in college so far, there isnt quite as much of that, Shurmur said.

Its kinda like one fluid game.

So, as an example, youll find teams thatll play the same coverage concepts on third down and in the red zone as they would on first and second down, with exceptions, dont get me wrong.

In the NFL, its very distinct.

Heres it just kinda one fluid game and I think theres a reason for it.

Teams play no huddle, so youre lined up ready to go and you dont have the time in the huddle to organize all that stuff you might want to do.

The former Broncos offensive coordinator can feel himself evolving and refining as this 2024 season has worn on.

The Buffs offense hes in charge of is nowhere near the same unit now in late October as it was in the disappointing loss to Nebraska in early September.

I have a better feel for the players we have.

I feel like were playing better and better each week, but that can all come to a screeching halt if we dont keep working, Shurmur said.

I like to try to run four or five things each week that (our opponents) havent seen, but then, the refinement piece is, you want to be able to run some of the same things every week and do it better.

Thats the advantage of practice.

If youve got the right players and youre doing the right things, you can refine and evolve.

Having one of the top quarterbacks in the country certainly helps.

I think better players make everybody look a little bit smarter, Shurmur said.

But he and Shedeur Sanders have worked together to find a formula that works based on the personnel CU has.

Our journey together has been short, but we got very close very quickly and we sort of think alike, Shurmur said.

Were able to come to the same conclusion about what it should look like.

Hes gotta go out there and execute it.

Thats been fun.

Weve kinda got a west coast offense in a no huddle format, inspired by the mountain air, I guess.

Were able to tweak things.

Its been very inspiring and fun for me.

I really dont care what we run, as long as I know what it is and we have success running it.

Im the same as (defensive coordinator) Rob (Livingston), I take responsibility for it and, quite frankly, anything that goes well for us, I credit the players for their execution.

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) confers with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, center right, after running for a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor, Saturday, Sept.

21, 2024, in Boulder, Colo.

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Led by Sanders, the Buffs offense has been doing just that on a day-to-day basis and its showing up on Saturdays.

(Shedeur) is, really, pretty much daily task-driven, which I am (too), Shurmur said.

I try to go out there and call a practice where our players can have success and win.

Then we take a break, have lunch, look at it.

Ill go home, have dinner, visit with my wife and get up in the morning and do it again.

He does a good job of playing the game, kinda taking a breath and coming back and getting into the next process (of) preparing for the next team.

You have to be that way or, trust me, it can blow up on you fast.

He understands that.

Hes done that his whole life.

Thats why I think hell have a bright future.

There might not be a national award Travis Hunter isnt in contention for at this point.

The Colorado star cornerback/wide receiver was recently named as one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the nations top defensive back.

Hunter currently leads the Big 12 with seven pass breakups to go with his two interceptions.

The Buffs have had two players win the award Deion Figures (1992) and Chris Hudson (1994) previously since it was first given out in 1986.

Air Forces Trey Taylor won the award last season.

Hunter was also named as a midseason addition to the watchlist for the Maxwell Award, given annually to the top overall player in the country.

He is widely considered to be one of the top candidates for the Heisman Trophy and the favorite to repeat as the winner of the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the nations most versatile player.

He became the first CU player in over 20 years to win a major college football award when he won the Paul Hornung Award in 2023..

This article has been shared from the original article on gazette, here is the link to the original article.