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CU report: Why change now?

By B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 26, 2008 at 9:02 p.m.

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Numbers game

113-10 cumulative score in the two most recent games between CU and Missouri, with the Tigers winning both (55-10 in 2007, 58-0 in 2008).

He said it

"It's been a long time coming. I think this is the best we've played all season."

Johnson, after Texas A&M's win against Iowa State on Saturday night.

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When it fashioned its initial scouting report on Texas A&M, the Buffaloes coaching staff believed 2007 returning starter Stephen McGee, a senior, would be the Aggies quarterback.

Instead, CU's defensive plans now center on sophomore backup Jerrod Johnson, who completed 31-of-39 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-35 win Saturday at Iowa State.

Before that game, Texas A&M coaches were hopeful that McGee would be nearly 100 percent recovered from an early-season shoulder injury that elevated Johnson into a starting role. McGee was said to be about 80 percent healthy when he was used in the Aggies' Oct. 18 game against Texas Tech, a 43-25 Red Raiders win.

But against the Cyclones, Johnson's productivity kept McGee on the sideline. Johnson, a 6-foot-5, 229-pounder who was a standout high school basketball player at Humble, Texas, also ran for a touchdown in the Aggies' first Big 12 Conference win this season.

High total, low mark

Odd, but Texas A&M's defense allowing the Cyclones 35 points (and still winning) was a high-water mark: It was the lowest number the Aggies have allowed this season in Big 12 play. They entered the game yielding an average of 47.2 points in three previous conference games.

Texas A&M (3-5, 1-3) and Iowa State (2-6, 0-4) accounted for 1,083 yards in total offense, with the Cyclones outgaining the Aggies 574-509. First-year Aggies coach Mike Sherman called the game "very unique. I've never experienced a game like this in my life."

One horrific start

Credit the Buffs' blink-of-an-eye, 14-point deficit Saturday night at Missouri to two decisions - giving the Tigers a short field (56 yards) on their opening possession, then providing an even shorter one (5 yards) after first-time punter Tom Suazo bobbled a snap and was overrun by Missouri defenders.

Suazo, a 2005 walk-on transfer from Arizona State who punted once in 2007 (ironically, when CU visited Arizona State), played when coaches last week determined they wanted him to ramp up the punting competition with regular punter Matt DiLallo.

Road dogs

Because of the mauling in middle Missouri and Texas A&M's surprising offensive output at Iowa State, CU was established as a 2 1/2-point underdog for the game Saturday.

That means the Buffs, who need at least two wins for bowl eligibility (six victories), likely will be favored in only one of their remaining four games - Iowa State's Nov. 8 visit.