BOULDER — Shilo Sanders can read a quarterback's eyes down to the tiniest retinal vein. If only he could read a room.
"I'm not really changing," the CU Buffs safety and son of coach Deion Sanders said Tuesday when asked about his first-half targeting call and subsequent ejection last weekend against UCLA.
"No, I'm still going hard, still going full-speed. If I get in that situation (again), I'm gonna go a little lower. But I'm not gonna change my play style, though. I'm still gonna be running to the ball, still gonna be physical. And I'm gonna be the enforcer. I'm gonna let everybody know that (the) 'Headache Gang' is, for real."
Few things to unpack there.
First, love the nickname. If it's 1993.
In an age of concussions, CTE and player safety, letting the world know that the Buffs' secondary is out to ring bells? As a brand, sounds macho as hell. As a hashtag, it's a winner. As a calling card to offenses, it's totally killer. As a calling card to referees, who now know to keep an eye out for you going all Chuck Cecil on defenseless receivers, it's … kinda dumb.
Second, while big hits are viral gold, Shilo's decision to knock the Bruins' Carsen Ryan onto the Foothill Freeway also knocked the second-best member of the Buffs' secondary out of the game for a half. A very, very, very, very, very bad half, if you're CU.
I mean, yeah, the targeting call was borderline. Probably bogus. But Pac-12 is gonna Pac-12, right to the bitter end. When in doubt, presume the worst.
Speaking of the worst, Shilo, have you seen how this defense looks when you're not patrolling the middle of it?
Oy. Also, vey.
As much as they need Son of Prime enforcing the law, you know what this Buffs defense needs even more? Shilo actually being on the field.
Because here's what happened once Sanders was removed from the tilt:
• UCLA, which led 7-6 at the half and looked like hot garbage offensively, scored 21 of its 28 points with No. 21 out of action.
• The Bruins managed just four first downs and a Russell Wilson-esque 90 passing yards in the first half. Post-Shilo? They racked up 179 passing yards and 21 first downs, eventually pulling away.
"I don't really think I need to change," the younger Sanders continued. "Maybe I could go a little lower just to make sure, because I can't do my team like that and not be available for them, not be available to contribute. Because I think I could have made a big impact if I was in the game."
Darn straight. CU has racked up twice as many takeaways, on average, in the seven games in which Sanders has played (2.1 per contest) as they have in the one tilt in which he didn't (USC, one takeaway).
It's scary to think what the CU offense might look like without Shilo's little brother Shedeur at the controls. But the Buffs secondary minus big bro is no great shakes, either.
"I just have to just play my game," the younger Sanders continued. "If I get in a situation like that, just know it's up to the refs. I won't change like my play style, but still be conscious of, if you can go a little lower to make sure. Because you know, I've got this target on my back too … it says 'Sanders.' So that's pretty much how I'm thinking."
After UCLA, don't you think that target probably got a little bit bigger, Coach Prime?
"I think we have the best (football) officials in the country," Deion Sanders said Tuesday. "I really do. And their game is tough. Their job is tough, man. So, you know … they miss it sometimes. It's (their) interpretation of why and that was just (their) interpretation.
"We felt like it was clean, of course, because he's our guy. If I was on the opposing team, I might've felt different."
Shilo would run through a steel door for the Buffs. Love that. But if using your shoulder like a bighorn sheep opens a window for the opposing offense, was it worth it?
"Even in the NFL, I've seen some hits that were worse than that but they didn't call it," Shilo said. "So I just think it's up to the ref. And yeah, I'm just one of the players that I just try to have my presence felt when I'm on that field. I want to come in and let everybody know what (the) 'Headache Gang' is."
It's enough to give a coach a migraine. Or something worse.
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