Deion Sanders Says Colorado Offensive Line Has 'The Right Guys' After Nebraska Loss

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, who criticized his offensive line following Saturday's 28-10 loss to Nebraska, walked back his comments on Tuesday by praising the unit and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur.

"I feel like we got the right guys," Sanders said Tuesday, per ESPN's Kyle Bonagura. "You may see us shake something up a little bit. Phil Loadholt is a wonderful offensive line coach. Pat does a tremendous job in calling plays, as he did in the first game.

"So, you just can't take a snapshot of one game and not understand the first game. What we have over 500 yards of offense? I ain't hear all these questions, but I understand it comes with the territory."

Nebraska recorded six sacks and 10 quarterback hurries while holding Colorado to 16 total rushing yards in last weekend's rivalry game.

Colorado recorded 260 total yards of offense, compared to 504 total yards in the team's season-opening win over North Dakota State.

Sanders was more critical of his offensive line immediately following the loss to Nebraska.

"Protections were a problem," Sanders told reporters on Saturday, per ESPN's Max Olson. "You know, I'm trying to be polite and say it, because you know I can say the same thing you're thinking, but if I say it, you'd say I'm throwing my guys up under the bus. I'm not doing that whatsoever. Protections were a problem. We gotta figure out a way to prevent that and do a better job with that."

Sanders added that Colorado needs to focus on rushing for first downs, per Bonagura.

"We try to run the football. It's an attitude. It's a straight attitude. You got to whoop your guy on that particular play," Sanders said. "And I think we've committed to it on a certain plays. We just got to do a better job in getting the first down. We got to do a better job running the football. That takes a lot of pressure off your quarterback and make things easier for Pat."

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who took five sacks while throwing for 244 yards, one touchdown and a pick-six, also directed blame to the offensive line following the loss.

"I mean, how many times did (Nebraska quarterback Dylan) Raiola get touched?" Sanders asked on Saturday, per 247Sports' Brad Crawford. "Of course when you're able to run the ball consistently, that opens up the pass, you know? But it's just like, you've got to understand what your team's good at. Why would we keep running the ball when we get out there and there's a must-get situation and we don't get it?

After the Buffaloes' 2023 offensive line allowed 56 sacks in 12 games last season, Sanders and Colorado revamped the unit this fall with the additions of transfers like Jordan Seaton and Kahlil Benson.

Sacks have so far continued to be a problem in 2024. Through two games Colorado has allowed seven sacks, good for 120th in the FBS.

The offensive line will face an additional challenge on Saturday against Colorado State after Sanders told reporters running back Dallan Hayden is expected to be out for the week. The former Ohio State transfer currently leads the Buffaloes with 52 rushing yards on 14 carries.