The age gap between Colorado’s quarterback Shedeur Sanders and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur doesn’t stop them from having a strong connection, especially when it comes to play-calling.
Sanders trusts Shurmur, and Shurmur trusts Sanders. Their partnership has been key to the 21st-ranked Colorado Buffaloes’ success, helping them put up impressive passing stats while they continue to work on improving their running game.
Shurmur combines his West Coast offense style with a no-huddle approach, influenced by the altitude in Boulder. This has helped the Buffaloes (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) average 323.9 passing yards per game.
Sanders’ accurate passes and sharp decision-making, along with a talented receiving group that includes two-way player Travis Hunter, have helped Colorado aim for not just a conference title but potentially a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Sanders has a lot of freedom when it comes to calling plays on the field, but Shurmur jokes, “I really don’t care what we run, as long as I know what it is and we have success running it.”
The two spend a lot of time together, whether it’s at practice, in meetings, or on the sidelines. During games, they go over video footage on a tablet to make sure they’re always aligned.
“I can’t really disclose too much on what he’s saying in my ear, but it’s a great relationship,” Sanders said. “He understands what I’m seeing, what he’s seeing. We talk through everything.”
Sanders, a likely top pick in the next NFL draft, brings a high football IQ, and that has helped sharpen Shurmur’s coaching as well.
Shurmur, who became the sole offensive coordinator this season after sharing the role last year, explained, “The better players make everybody look a little smarter.”
He added, “It’s been fun for me, our journey together. It’s been short but we’ve gotten very close, very quickly. We sort of think alike. We’re able to come to the same conclusion about what it should look like.”
In his two seasons at Colorado, Sanders has thrown 48 career passing touchdowns, just 15 away from the school record. His 21 touchdown passes this season are only seven short of the school’s single-season record. He’s also passed for 2,591 yards this season, which ranks eighth in the FBS.
Having talented wide receivers helps a lot. Hunter and LaJohntay Wester both have at least seven receiving touchdowns, marking the second time the Buffaloes have had two receivers with that many in a season. The last time this happened was in 2003 with Derek McCoy (11) and D.J. Hackett (seven).
It’s not just Hunter and Wester, though. Jimmy Horn Jr. and Will Sheppard are also having standout receiving seasons. Hunter leads the team with 757 yards receiving, followed by Wester (501), Horn (434), and Sheppard (390). The Buffaloes have never had four receivers with 500 or more yards in the same season.
Coach Deion Sanders said earlier this season, “The main thing is (Shurmur) listens.” The connection between Shedeur Sanders and Shurmur has developed since Shurmur joined the team last season as an offensive analyst.
Shurmur has held many roles throughout his career, including head coach positions with the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, and one game as interim coach with the Philadelphia Eagles. Before his time in the NFL, he also coached college football in the late 1980s and through the ’90s.
This season, the quarterback and offensive coordinator have found their rhythm, and they’ve managed to get just enough of a running game going (with 80.6 yards rushing per game, Colorado ranks near the bottom in the FBS).
This has been helpful because Sanders is also getting more time to work with a revamped offensive line.
“We’re playing better and better each week, but that can all come to a screeching halt if we don’t keep working,” said Shurmur, whose team gave up 42 sacks through eight games last season but has only allowed 26 this year.
“If you don’t try to make today the best day of the week, it’s going to blow up on you. He understands that. He’s done that his whole life, and I think that’s why he’ll have a bright future.”
The feeling is mutual between the two.
“We definitely trust each other,” Shedeur Sanders said. “He sees things a certain way, I see things a certain way, and then we’re able to communicate. … I can understand his thought process, and vice versa. So it’s very complementary, and I love it.”
