BOULDER — Colorado has its own version of Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First?" It's "Who's at Guard?" Add "Who's at Center" and you have an act playing at a football stadium near you.

The difference is Colorado's line isn't very funny. Ask Colorado State's defense. It wasn't laughing after Sunday's 41-27 loss at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

CSU rushed everyone but Greek pledges and didn't get a sack on quarterback Connor Wood. Well, technically, CSU had one sack.

"I don't count intentionally grounding as a sack," Wood said.

It was a remarkable achievement considering, one, the Buffaloes gave up more sacks than any school in the country last year besides Washington State and two, due to injuries and attrition before and during camp, they shuffled bodies in the interior like a physical game of musical chairs.

As it turned out, the multitasking turned the Buffaloes' linemen into workable interchangeable parts.

"It sounds crazy," coach Mike MacIntyre said. "But if I learn how to play tackle, then I go play guard, I know what the tackle's doing. I know what the center's doing. I know what the guard's doing. I know how we all work together, and I think that helps."

With fewer than a dozen offensive linemen healthy in fall camp, Gus Handler, Daniel Munyer, Kaiwi Crabb, Alex Kelley and Marc Mustoe all learned two positions. Against CSU, left tackle Jack Harris, left guard Crabb, center Handler, right guard Munyer and right tackle Stephane Nembot played those positions all but one play.

"It's always good to be versatile, and in practice we get reps at multiple positions, just in case, so someone doesn't go in there cold, not knowing what to do," Handler said. "When game time comes, we each have as many reps as where we each started at."

The makeup of the team also helps. With the return of deep threat Paul Richardson, Colorado can keep defenses honest. CSU blitzed plenty, but nothing like a year ago when opponents could guard Colorado's wideouts man to man.

The pistol formation, putting Wood a couple of steps closer to center, also allowed him to get rid of the ball quicker. You can't get sacked if you don't have the ball.

"My hat's off to them," Wood said of his blockers. "Me not getting on the ground is a big deal. For all the pressure CSU brings, they did a good job of picking it up." Footnote. MacIntyre put senior receiver Alex Turbow, a special-teams specialist, on scholarship. ... Safety Parker Orms received MacIntyre's first sledgehammer award, a weekly award given to the player with the best hit.

John Henderson: jhenderson or johnhendersondp