Keys to the Big GamesWeek Six, Oct. 15Colorado vs. TexasBy John Harris
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a. Eight is Enough – For all of the great talent on both sides of the football at the University of Texas, one guy that is starting to really step up his play is cornerback Cedric Griffin. The 6’2”, 202 pound senior corner is playing at a level that’ll turn some heads come combine time. But, his true test this week will be facing a QB like Joel Klatt, who lit up Texas A&M for nearly 400 yards of passing, and the Buffalo wide receiving corps.
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The Buffs have some solid receiving threats, but nothing like what Griffin has already seen, in particular Ohio State WR Santonio Holmes. Griffin got burned early against Holmes, but since then he’s played pretty well. ---college football---
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The key for the Horns corner is to continue to use his size against the Buffs to his advantage. Similar to former Horn CB Quentin Jammer, Griffin is the type of corner who can give the Buff receivers problems with his ability to disrupt their routes. The Texas front four has the ability to get some heat on Klatt without having to blitz, so Griffin’s ability to slow down the initial aspect of the route is a key. ---college football---
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CU WR Evan Judge might be the most accomplished of the Buff receiving corps, but he can’t run by Griffin. His size could be a problem, but Griffin isn’t afraid to mix it up. Either way, that’s a matchup that Griffin must dominate on his side of the field.---college football---
b. Klickety Klatt – To say that Joel Klatt, CU QB, has been on a bit of a roller coaster the past three years would be a major understatement. As a sophomore, Klatt seemingly threw the ball on every down, and his numbers were tremendous, but the Buffs finished poorly.
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Then, the proverbial stuff hit the fan over the summer, and Klatt was thrown into the fray as the unofficial spokesman for the Buffs. Whether it was the stress of dealing with that disadvantageous situation and/or the emergence of Bobby Purify and the Buff running game, Klatt threw the ball much less than he had the year before. So, going into this year, it was hard to determine what Klatt we would see. ---college football---

Well, if the A&M game is any indication, Klatt and CU will be just fine. More than fine in fact; he might lead them to the Big XII North title. But, no matter how many yards he threw for against A&M, facing the Texas defense is a different story altogether. ---college football---
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The key for Klatt is to continue to use all of his receivers, spreading the ball all around the field. With Joe Klopfenstein and Quinn Sypniewski, he’s got TE weapons that he can use in the flat, shallow crossing routes or down the seam against any cover two that Texas might play. With RB Hugh Charles, he’s got screen options or flat and circle routes. ---college football---
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But, can his outside WR stretch the field enough to allow Klatt to attack the deep thirds of the field? If so, Texas’ ‘D’ will be pushed to its limits, and with the game slowing to a crawl for Klatt, he should be able to find an open receiver. Oklahoma did have some open receivers, but Rhett Bomar wasn’t accurate at all. If Klatt is, the Buffs will keep Texas’ ‘O’ off the field. That’s a win-win situation for Colorado.---college football---

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c. Protecting your Assets – No one ever talks about the Big Uglies do they? Well, not when Vince Young is throwing touchdown passes or Jamaal Charles is breaking 80 yard runs in the Red River Rivalry. But, the success of this Texas team rests on the large, broad shoulders of the five offensive linemen that line up in front of Young and Charles. ---college football---
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How’s this for evidence to how good the Texas offensive line is – they’re averaging 289 yards per game on the ground and only given up 8 sacks. The sacks are a bit misleading, especially with having to protect a mobile, scrambling type QB like Young, and there might be some that argue that blocking for Young, Charles et al is easier than it is for a pedestrian ball carrying unit. But, watch these guys. ---college football---
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They’re that much more physical than they were two years ago, and even one year ago. OL coach Mac McWhorter has meant the world to this unit and they’ll be a big time key in this game. ---college football---
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The Buffaloes defense hasn’t seen a group of this caliber thus far this year, and, if they’re like most defenses, they’ll focus so hard on not allowing Vince Young to beat them, that the offensive line usually has a field day. What that means is that in some cases, linebackers will run themselves out of a play, tracking Young so fervently that it allows the Horn OL to get a key double team at the point of attack to spring Charles into the secondary. ---college football---
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Even if a backside LB just holds his position, the OL can be extremely physical without having to account for that guy in the run scheme. And, when they open holes like they did against OU, the Horns can have a big ground day. They’re not pretty or sexy and no one talks about them, but they’re good. Very good.---college football---

Conclusion – Coming home to Austin is big for the Longhorns. But, the best thing that could’ve happened in that OU game is that they really didn’t have to expend a ton of energy in beating OU. It wasn’t a draining win that came down to the last seconds and that should help keep UT fresh.
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Colorado will be able to play pitch and catch, but Charles may not do much in the running game, allowing Texas DC Gene Chizik to put some nickel and/or dime coverages out on the field. CU’s defense might hold the Horns for a while. But, in the end, the Triplets – Taylor, Young and Charles – will take over. Texas – 31 vs. Colorado – 19---college football---

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