Staub Shines vs Delaware

On Saturday with 45 seconds left in the half, Colorado trotted out 3rd string quarterback Ryan Staub. The season seemed bleak at this point and within Folsom field you could feel and hear the air let out of the stadium. The season amongst the crowd felt at a loss with Colorado leading  newcomer to FBS Delaware 10-7. All fans’ expectations and excitement started to set in that this might be the one word all fan bases fear which is “rebuilding.” 

Staub trots out and the first play is an incompletion to Joseph Williams. Fans after this incompletion are dumbfounded and starting to come to grasp reality. On 2nd and 10 with 41 seconds left, a run play is called and at first glance, it felt like the BUFFS were just trying to get out of the half. Dekaylon Taylor turns what looked like a run that was supposed to go though the B gap into a gain of 23 yards as Taylor bounced the run outside. At this point the crowd is back on its feet and ready to see what the BUFFS have cooking. 1st and 10 at their own 48, Staub drops back to pass and throws a 31 yard layered pass between the dropping linebacker and in front of the safety to Joseph Williams. This Colorado Offense has pulse and looks like what most fans were expecting this season. It is 2nd and 10 after a Staub incompletion and Delaware drops back into a deep zone coverage where linebackers and DB’s gained a lot of depth, Taylor sneaks out of the back field and Staub hits him with nothing but green grass in front of him and scores on an untouched TD reception. Folsom Field is rocking and loud. 

Moving forward to the 2nd half where Colorado deferred in the first half and received coming out of halftime. Drelon Miller’s number is called for a run of 3 yards. Micah Welch’s number is called on 2nd down and gains 1 yard. Colorado is now facing a 3rd and 6 in what feels like the magic has disappeared. Colorado comes out in 11 personnel in the shotgun with Taylor to Staub’s right. Staub then lets one rip down the right sideline. Running underneath it is the 6’5 transfer Sincere Brown who transferred to Colorado this past offseason from Campbell, catches it and does the rest to outrun the defender and take it for a 71 yard touchdown. Folsom field is going crazy at this point! Colorado’s offense is now in rhythm and clicking on all cylinders. The very next drive Staub hits Brown down the right sideline for a gain of 36. Although this drive did not result in a score due to a few mishaps by Colorado, things seemed to be rolling for the Colorado Offense. Staub took control of the offense and the game for the BUFFS. The game completely changed when Staub entered the game and Colorado never looked back.

The question moving forward from this game, is Ryan Staub now the guy moving forward? Colorado has had an offseason between Julian Lewis and Kaidon Salter competing for the starting QB 1 job with no real mention outside of once when Coach Prime said “don’t forget about Staub” when asked about the quarterback competition during Summer camp. Staub on Saturday looked the most comfortable of the 3 quarterbacks who have touched the field so far this year. There was no more offense stuck in the mud and the big play that fans have waited for all offseason arrived on Saturday. Staub did not know until Friday that he was going to play after offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur let Staub know. Staub was asked a vital question during his press conference, why he didn’t leave this past offseason in the portal and he responded saying “to be honest, I don’t know, I fell in love with the process, I really enjoyed being here and under the coaches. I stuck my head down and continued to keep working, and I got rewarded for that.” 

Ryan Staub brought an energy and boost to this Colorado offense and team this past Saturday that all BUFFS nation has been starving for all offseason and through almost the first 6 quarters of the season. Ryan Staub has earned more reps and his path to get to QB 1 has been a true story of what hard work and development at a program can do for a young man! This is a momentum building win for Colorado that can serve as a catalyst for Colorado when looking back on the season. 

Written By: Manuel Tobin of S2S BUFFS