What is a realistic expectation for BYU freshman Bear Bachmeier against Colorado, a team his coaches say is the best and most talented team the Cougars will have played so far this season?
No. 25-ranked BYU (3-0) plays Colorado (2-2) on Saturday in Boulder in the Big 12 opener for the Cougars. It will mark the first Power Four opponent BYU has faced so far with its rookie quarterback Bachmeier.
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In this game, he’ll see more talent, a deeper roster, bigger and faster players on defense. He’ll also go without running back Sione Moa (injury) for the first time this season.
Colorado has played and lost to two P4 teams. BYU hasn’t played anyone like Clemson or Houston.
Receiver coach Fesi Sitake said Colorado will deploy man coverage on BYU’s receivers, a straight-up challenge that Colorado’s secondary players will beat his receivers.
“We like the challenge and our guys are excited to go up against great corners,” Sitake said.
So, what’s the expectation for Bachmeier? Can he keep his no-turnover streak going? Will he be able to reach a completion rate of 67 percent, his season average? Or, is it all just irrelevant — he just needs to lead his team to a win.
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If you take what four QBs have done against Colorado so far, there might be some markers to understand what he’s up against.
Opposing QBs have thrown just three touchdowns and been intercepted twice this season. They’ve completed 58 of 197 passes (54 percent) for 859 yards and a 127.2 quarterback rating.
Georgia Tech’s King Haynes was 13 of 20 for 143 yards, no touchdowns and a pick. Georgia Tech is a team that upset Clemson, while Colorado lost to Georgia Tech 27-20.
Delaware quarterback Nick Minicucci was 18 of 36 for 312 yards with a TD and an interception in a losing effort against Colorado.
In Colorado’s a 36-20 Big 12 opening loss to Houston, Cougars QB Conner Weigman completed 15 of 24 passes for 222 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
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Last week in a 37-20 win over Wyoming, Cowboy quarterback Kaden Anderson was 11 of 25 for 176 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
So, nobody’s putting up crazy completion numbers against Colorado — the average is about 15 a game. This might be due to opponents choosing to run the ball on the Buffs. The Colorado run defense is viewed as a weakness.
Bachmeier, as in the past three games, will need a big boost from his running game led by LJ Martin. In the absence of Moa, BYU will likely fill max protect sets with tight end Carsen Ryan deployed as an H-back, and work in seldom-used reserves Jovesa Damuni and Preston Rex with jet sweep mainstay Parker Kingston.
BYU coaches are expecting to get Colorado’s best effort after defeating the Buffs in the Alamo Bowl. The crowd will be the largest Bachmeier has played in front of outside LaVell Edwards Stadium, and it is expected to be passionate and loud.
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“This is the best team we have played this year,” said BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. “We have lots of respect for this team, and our work is cut out for us.”
Roderick praised Bachmeier’s ability to shake off a few miscues in the first half of the East Carolina game and deliver. After that, he “settled in” with an impressive performance in the second half. The coach said on one occasion he gave Bachmeier a three-option play call and he made the right read and decision that led to a touchdown.
“I don’t usually make that call with a freshman, in fact, I don’t think I’ve ever called that play with a freshman,” Roderick said. “He can handle it.”
Sitake, BYU’s pass-game coordinator and receiver’s coach, said Bachmeier is playing like an athlete beyond his years.
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“I think he’s an 18-year-old, not a freshman, but a 45-year-old guy in a teenager’s body,” Sitake said. “He’s so mature, so poised, so level-headed. His brightest days are ahead of him.”
Against East Carolina, Bachmeier completed 72 percent of his passes. The quarterback he replaced, Jake Retzlaff, now at Tulane, never had that high of completion percentage in a game while at BYU.
Sitake said Colorado has returning talent and has added more. “We’re going to see an amped up version (of Colorado),” he said.
This is the next stage in the development of BYU’s unique situation at QB: starting a rookie who wasn’t even on the team for spring practice. Expect Roderick’s formula to stay the same, use the run game to take pressure off his young QB. If he has to throw more than 30 times, it’s a signal that the run game might not be working.
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It will be entertaining to see how Bachmeier handles adversity at Colorado.
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier warms up before the Cougars’ game against East Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 20 in Greenville, N.C.
