Former Colorado star Joel Klatt has issued a withering assessment of the Buffaloes' dismal performance in Saturday's defeat to old rivals Nebraska, telling head coach Deion Sanders his team is no better than last year.
Klatt, a three-year starter in Boulder and FOX Sports' leading college football analyst, saw very few positives for Colorado in the 28-10 beatdown at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, where familiar flaws reared their head again.
Colorado's offensive line gave up seven sacks, with quarterback Shedeur Sanders rarely getting adequate time in the pocket to connect with his arsenal of weapons in the skill positions. Colorado native Klatt dubbed the Buffaloes' offensive scheme "maddeningly boring" and "totally unsustainable".
The 42-year-old says there are big questions for Deion and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur to figure out over the weeks ahead. Otherwise, it appears they might be headed for another losing season after going 4-8 in 2023.
"This looks like the exact same team from last year," Klatt said on his self-titled podcast. "This is a team that is maddeningly boring on offense and an offensive line that really struggles in protection. In fact it's the elephant in the room that even their head coach has to at address.
"They've got to figure out a better way to protect the quarterback. The O-line is not any better. I thought that they were going to be better and they're not any better.
"They're virtually the exact same offensive line, not in terms of names but in terms of play. This is a carbon copy of what we saw a year ago. Shedeur has like not even a second to read the defense. There are times that he holds the ball but it's not often. He's just constantly under duress.
"Overall is the team exactly the same? No, the defense plays harder and plays better than they did a year ago. For the second straight game they didn't give up any points in the second half and at least gave themselves a chance. But the offense, man. The offensive plan is just so uninspired and totally unsustainable."
Colorado gave up a huge 56 sacks last season, ranking as the second-worst offensive line out of the 133 FBS schools. Deion responded by recruiting five-star tackle Jordan Seaton and making a slew of additions in the transfer portal to beef up in the trenches.
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But based on the evidence of Saturday's defeat, with the quarterback under duress from start to finish and unable to move the ball with any efficiency, his efforts to upgrade his roster have not reaped immediate rewards.
In addition to calling for improved play on the offensive line, Klatt slated the lack of motion and trickery in Shurmur's offense, saying he must catch up with the new wave of innovative coordinators or the Buffs will be left behind.
"A static offense that puts a quarterback on a tee is totally unsustainable and I think they know that. Pat Shurmur is the offensive coordinator, I think he knows that. Pat's an NFL guy and an old-school guy and the guys in college football are more new school," he explained. "I think he needs to get more into the movement, particularly before the snap to help that offense out."
Colorado (1-1) is back in action on Saturday, making the short trip to Fort Collins to take on Colorado State. A showdown with Baylor at Folsom Field follows on Sept. 21.
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