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In Week 7, the Colorado Buffaloes are chasing what would be the hallmark win of the Deion Sanders era, but they face a formidable test against the No. 11 Utah Utes. Despite boasting considerable star power across the roster, a few individuals have underperformed, and their improvement is critical if Colorado is to defy the odds.
Isaac Wilson Must Protect the Football
Quarterback Isaac Wilson, named the starter by Sanders on Tuesday for a second consecutive game after redshirt freshman Julian Lewis was benched, will face his former team. Wilson's early showings have been uneven: he has thrown for 443 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, completing 56.3 percent of his passes. All three picks came in Colorado's Week 5 loss to then-No. 12 Texas Tech, ultimately costing the Buffaloes the game. Against a stout Utah defense, Wilson must play mistake-free football for Colorado to have a chance—a tall order, but an essential one.
Santana Hopper Needs to Dominate Up Front
Defensive lineman Santana Hopper delivered a standout performance against Texas Tech, recording 10 total tackles, six solo stops, and an impressive 5.5 tackles for loss. Sanders praised Hopper's effort, saying, "Santana Hopper balled out against Texas Tech, challenged him to do it again and again and again. He had a little something against that Texas Tech, but we want him to have that same mindset. I want to challenge him. I want him to play like he played last week because that was a pro's performance." With edge rusher Lamont Lester Jr. once again questionable, Hopper may need to compensate for his absence. His hybrid defensive line style could be the perfect counter to Utah's dual-quarterback offense and strong running game if he rises to the occasion.
Micah Welch Key to Reviving the Run Game
Colorado's rushing attack has faded after a strong start. The Buffaloes opened the season with three straight 180-yard performances but have failed to reach 100 rushing yards in each of their last two games. Running back Micah Welch has led the backfield all season, and if offensive coordinator Brennan Marion hopes to reignite the ground game, Welch must be at the forefront. Utah is likely to stack the box as Baylor and Texas Tech did, but Welch and his team cannot be deterred. They must trust their run scheme and ride the hot hand. As Colorado's leading rusher, Welch should be up to the challenge. A strong performance on the ground would open up other facets of the offense, giving the Buffaloes a genuine fighting chance in this year's Rumble in the Rockies.
Originally reported by headtopics.