Stanford’s Andrew Luck makes the calls

Colorado Coach Jon Embree said he delivered this warning to his team in the run-up to its game against No. 7 Stanford on Saturday:

“For those who will not get an opportunity to play professional football, you will get an opportunity to see what it’s like going against Peyton Manning.”

That was his way of lauding Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, but it might not be too far from the truth. Luck certainly looked Manning-esque while calling his own plays during stretches of five of the Cardinal’s 11 possessions during a 45-19 victory over UCLA.

Two of those five drives ended in touchdowns.

It was the first time Luck has taken full charge of Stanford’s offense, something Coach David Shaw said had long been in the planning stages.

It will happen more, depending on how the game is going, Shaw said Tuesday during the weekly Pacific 12 Conference football coaches’ conference call.

“I think he really likes it,” Shaw said.

Shaw said he reminds Luck, “We’re not trying to get through the entire playbook. We’ll have a couple things at your fingertips that you feel really good about.”

Colorado’s Embree said he was impressed by Luck’s patience.

“He’s not going crazy, trying to throw it deep every time or all that stuff,” Embree said.

Uphill climb

Colorado (1-4) has become the league doormat in its first season in the Pac-12. And tempers are starting to boil over in Boulder.

After Saturday’s fourth-quarter collapse in their Pac-12 debut against Washington State, in which the Buffaloes lost despite leading by 10 points with 5 minutes 11 seconds to play, Embree was livid.

“At some point I told our team, ‘When is enough, enough?’” the first-year coach said Tuesday. “When is it that you are so tired of losing games in this manner that we finally figure out a way to win it?”

Probably not in the next five games.

Colorado starts with Stanford on the road, where Colorado has lost 20 straight, then has games at Washington, against No. 9 Oregon, at No. 22 Arizona State and against USC.

Those five teams have a combined record of 19-4.

No D in Tucson

Remember when Mike Stoops was the defensive coordinator on a national championship team known for its dominating defense? That was at Oklahoma in 2000.

This season at Arizona, Stoops’ Wildcats have given up 564.75 yards a game during a four-game losing streak.

“We’re just not doing anything very well at this point defensively,” he said.

To be fair, each of the last four opponents — Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon and USC — has a potent offense. But Arizona ranks 115th nationally out of 120 major division teams in total defense, giving up 503.6 yards a game.

Because so much seems so wrong, though, what’s Stoops to do? Scrap the system and start anew?

“You can’t just abort everything that’s been good for you for a period of time,” he said. “It’s just playing more consistent.”

baxter.holmes@latimes.com

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