Colorado head coach Deion Sanders recently made a move that confused many, yet he remains unapologetic. A head football coach’s job is to balance his players’ needs against what’s best for the program.
Sanders, through his words and actions, exhibits a desire to further the Colorado football program. That starts from the last-string offensive lineman to his starting quarterback. Speaking of, how did a few of the head coach’s decisions affect the current passer situation?
Colorado HC Deion Sanders Opens Up About QB Kaidon Salter
Salter arrived in Boulder, hyped as the successor to Sanders’ son, Shedeur. Yet, the two quarterbacks could not have been further apart. Unlike his predecessor, the Liberty transfer excels in space as a dual-threat quarterback rather than the classic dropback passer.
As a result, he needed to account for more of the offense. Benched against Delaware for backup Ryan Staub, Salter watched from the sidelines. Sanders spoke to CBS Colorado about the move.
“I don’t even want to use the word ‘bench.’ I detained him because we just wanted him to see what we see and to understand how we do things here,” Sanders explained.
“And he got it. He met with the whole offensive staff, and we got everything out. I’m trying to, you know, I’m not trying to tell you everything, but I’m trying to tell you most of the things. We got it out. And he understood the process, and he’s accepted the process.”
Every team has a different way of operating. As a result, what may work in one program doesn’t always fly in another. In Sanders’ estimation, Salter needed to accustom himself better to the Colorado culture. For Salter, a senior, there is no next season. Colorado is his final college stop.
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While the coach did not mention specifics, he did seem convinced the quarterback received the message. Last week, facing Wyoming, Salter connected on 64.3% of his passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns. Salter added 86 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
His time in Sanders’ detention apparently paid off for a game. But how will that play during the Buffs’ roughest part of their schedule?
On Saturday, they head to Provo to face No. 25 BYU. Next, Colorado travels to Fort Worth to take on the 24th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs. Finally, the round-out stretch will involve hosting the No. 14th Iowa State Cyclones in Boulder.
The next three games could be very telling in two facets. First, it will show what Salter has learned under Sander and if he can implement that knowledge against a good team. Next, it will show Sanders’ comfort level with the progress. But can Salter stay on the field, succeed, and lead Colorado to bowl eligibility?