“Sometimes when it seems like you had more talent, but you didn’t quite win the game, it makes it feel somewhat awkward,” said Deion Sanders after the 21-24 BYU loss. This was Deion Sanders’ third loss of the season and second consecutive loss in conference play. Something needs to change because, according to Coach Prime, he has the pieces; all the team needs is a change of attitude. Right from diving in tackles like your life depends on it to showing aggressiveness in the trenches is what Coach Prime is preaching. And failing that, the consequences are dire.

Despite BYU being favored by 49.5 points before the Week 5 game, Deion Sanders’ Colorado still gave them a tough battle, at least offensively, as the O-line improved slightly. Still, the third-down conversions for the Buffs stood at just 33% efficiency, while Kaidon Salter threw a crucial interception. However, defense is where the work starts, according to Deion Sanders, as he came up with an innovative drill.

Deion Sanders Jr posted a recent video on his ‘Well of Media’ account where Coach Prime was seen outlining the drill to his players. “Tempo, right? That’s right there. Tempo. Tempo. Tempo. At halftime, at the beginning of the game, at halftime. That means we’re not making the necessary adjustments. That means you guys ain’t coming to play. That means we ain’t showing up when it’s time to show up. But once we get warmed up, we’re okay. That’s unacceptable,” said Deion Sanders in the video. To improve on that, Coach Prime rallied his defensive coaches to start the drill.

“We’re going to start practicing while we’re breaking the practices in the quarter, so you’ll understand what we’re trying to accomplish. I need all the defensive coaches to be present, please. I need you guys to choose one guy from your segment because we’re going to learn what a thud is. Because if we don’t get it today, I’m sending you inside. If this happens today, I’m sending you off the field, and the next guy’s going to be up and the next guy’s going to play,” announced Coach Prime. Agressiveness in the D line, along with weak run defense, has been an issue so far for the team.

Against BYU, the D line allowed BYU’s QB, Bear Bachmeier, to rush for a whopping 92 yards, averaging 6.5 yards per carry. In total, the rushing unit notched 208 yards and scored a touchdown, making things complicated for Deion Sanders. For context, Colorado is ranked 125th nationally in rushing defense, down with teams like South Alabama and Texas State. The O-line, too, is the same this year again and is ranked 107th nationally in sacks allowed, giving away 12 sacks so far. Surely then, with this D line and O line, the Buffs can go nowhere, and that’s why Coach Prime has a plan.

Coach Prime changes his coaching focus to under-supervised units

The O-line for Colorado Buffaloes was ranked 126th nationally in sacks allowed, as the unit gave up 43 sacks, with just 5 teams behind it in FBS D1. This year, having lost most of the O-line players after the 2024 season, Coach Prime brought in transfers like Xavier Hill, Zarian McGill, Larry Johnson, and Zylom Crisler in the O-line from the portal. The additions haven’t given much advantage, as the O-line is the same as it was last season. However, the regression of the D line is unexpected.

Deion Sanders finally took focus off the other units and diverted it to the players in the trenches in the team’s drills. “Defensive line, offensive line, I’m looking at you today because you are where it all starts. You are where it all starts. Quarterbacks are looking at y’all today. Linebackers, I’m always looking at y’all,” said Deion Sanders. As for the intensity, Deion Sanders is upping the ante: “Be more demanding. I wanna see what I wanna see and we’re gonna do it over and over again until I see it,” said Coach Prime. Not just that, the head coach also touted players, even backups, to put in performances to seal their starting spots.

“You guys that usually don’t get that playing time rarely get that look, go full speed. Give me a reason to put you in. Give me a reason to let you get down,” announced Deion Sanders. Notably, Colorado last year was exceptional and was ranked 16th nationally in sacks, notching up 39 sacks. This year, though, the D line has regressed and sits at 112th nationally in sacks, with just 6 sacks so far. That kind of performance from someone like Warren Sapp’s unit was unexpected, and hopefully, we may see some effects of Coach Prime’s new drills in the next game against TCU.