The Colorado Buffaloes escaped Georgia Tech on Thursday night with a 14-13 win that was equal parts thrilling, chaotic, sloppy and baffling.
Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis threw a touchdown pass to Charlie Williams with less than a minute to play in the fourth quarter to give Colorado the lead. The Buffaloes nearly let it slip away in the closing seconds, only to escape thanks to a blocked field goal as time expired.
The blocked field goal was a fitting way for the game to end given the way Colorado’s special teams made itself the story of the game.
It might be the story all season given head coach Deion Sanders‘ controversial decision to enter the season without a designated special teams coordinator.
Deion Sanders has to feel vindicated even after sloppy special teams outing
It’s probably a good thing for Sanders, and his special teams unit, that it was able to make the biggest play of the game to secure the win, because it was very nearly the difference in the other direction.
Not only did Colorado have a field goal of its own blocked earlier in the game, but the Buffaloes also allowed a kickoff return touchdown (Georgia Tech’s only touchdown of the game) that looked like it was going to be one of the biggest turning points and differences in the game.
Those two issues were going to put a target right on Sanders for his staffing decision, and potentially leave him wide open for criticism.
And who knows, it still might.
Especially if that unit continues to struggle as the season progresses.
Sanders’ approach with the unit is to use a collective group effort where the position coaches that work with the specific players on special teams take more ownership of everything and work directly with the players they are already coaching.
But that is also stretching them thin and putting even more responsibility on their plate.
Special teams is not just some throwaway aspect of the game. It is a major phase and the type of thing that can quickly turn a game, whether it be due to field position, penalties or just big plays in general. It’s something that requires advance scouting, significant game-planning, and its own unique focus. Every minute an assistant coach is spending doing their regular job is a minute they are not dedicating to special teams. Every minute they are dedicating to special teams, is a minute they are not dedicating to their regular positions.
It is going to be fascinating to watch how it develops over the course of the season.
They got away with a bad showing from that group on Thursday. That unit will still need to be better.
