“They deserve the best, and that’s what we’re giving them.” That’s Deion Sanders’ message on bringing in the third Pro Hall of Famer for Colorado football players on Thursday. The Buffs now have a new RB coach who is an NFL veteran, a Super Bowl champion, 7x Pro Bowler, and 3x Offensive Player of the Year. But while this hire is applauded by many as a potential shift in Colorado’s offense, “it doesn’t improve the play calling issues.” And Pat Shurmur is to blame. 

Marshall Faulk arrived in Boulder as the third HoF coach behind Deion Sanders and Warren Sapp. And while this move is celebrated as “a great hire,” another storyline overshadowed the hire on a new YouTube episode on The Ruffino & Joe Show on February 10. CFB analyst Joe DeLeone feels that the root of Colorado’s problem stems from their OC Pat Shurmur—“I’m a Giants fan. I dealt with Pat Shurmur when he was the head coach and I dealt with his play calling. Pat Shurmur has been the only super negative thing that I have brought up with this Colorado team.” 

DeLeone’s observation stemmed from when Pat Shurmur served as the New York Giants HC from 2018-19. During his stint, he failed to develop key players—QB Daniel Jones and RB Saquon Barkley—who were both considered elite talents. Why? Because of poor offensive strategy. “The biggest issue that Pat Shurmur had is that he didn’t know how to freaking run the b—. And to elaborate on that, the timing of it, there was no intent, there was no creativity.”

The Giants faced consistent O-line struggles that failed to give Jones necessary protection, while Barkley suffered with insufficient running lanes. And his decision to continue playing Barkley without adjustments despite his injury earned him massive criticism. 

Pat Shurmur’s arrival to Colorado as an offensive analyst and co-OC in 2023 saw no improvement. Under him, the Buffs suffered significantly in offense, generating just 28.2 points per game in the 4-8 debut season under Deion Sanders. This past season saw him getting promoted to OC, but the running game still slacked because the emphasis was put on the passing offense headed by top NFL prospects Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. The Buffs finished the season with a total of 847 rushing yards, averaging just 65.2 yards per game. But can we expect a game changer with Faulk now in the picture? 

Can Marshall Faulk change the culture?

Let’s get one thing straight—Marshall Faulk isn’t a seasoned coach. This will be his first time on the sidelines with the coaching staff. But if there’s anyone who understands the importance of the running game, it’s him. He played 12 seasons in the NFL, starting as a second overall pick in the 1994 NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts and later playing for the St. Louis Rams. He finished his pro career racking up 12,279 rushing yards, ranking 12th all-time. Although this will be his first coaching job, replacing Gary Harrell, he’s confident in Deion Sanders at the helm.

“Deion is an elevator,” Faulk said. “He’s going to elevate you as a person, and he’s going to force you to elevate your life. That’s what he does. He lifts people up. A lot of times the light may look like it’s shining on him, but really he’s shining the light on somebody.” And there’s another crucial factor that brought him to Boulder, and that’s his personal relationship with the HC—“We’re good friends. And whatever I can do to help him out, I’m going to do.” With both Shedeur and Travis gone in 2025, equal emphasis will need to go in both passing and running offense for another successful stint.

Can Marshall Faulk be the difference maker that Colorado desperately needs? Or will Pat Shurmur’s offensive scheme continue to be a thorn in Deion Sanders’ goal? We’ll find out soon enough.