CU's Adams Likes Attitude, Work Ethic Of Young O-line
March 14, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado assistant coach Klayton Adams may have had some duties added to his bucket this year, but he also knows everything still starts up front.
Thus, while Adams is no doubt excited about being named CU's co-offensive coordinator in the offseason, he is also well-aware that any success the offense enjoys has to begin with his position group — the offensive line.
Adams is entering his third spring as the Buffs' O-line boss. Â After a less-than-satisfactory 2017, Adams' task this year is turning a relatively young and inexperienced group into a cohesive unit by next fall's Aug. Â 31 opener against Colorado State.
The job won't be a complete overhaul.  CU has has two regular starters returning in tackle Aaron Haigler and guard Tim Lynott Jr.  — although Lynott won't be available until next summer as he continues to rehab an Achilles injury — as well as tackle Josh Kaiser, who also gained some starting experience last year.
But there are also several spots to fill,which has meant a spring of mixing and matching combinations up front as well as getting some players solidified into spots.
Haigler and Kaiser are two big keys to the process, both in terms of their experience and their positions.  After playing most of his career on the right side, Haigler is settling in at left tackle while Kaiser, who got three starts last year at right tackle and two at left, has been the spring leader on the right side throughout the spring.
Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Colby Pursell — the beneficiary of a "grayshirt" spring a year ago — is establishing himself at center while juniors Dillon Middlemiss and Brett Tonz and redshirt freshman William Sherman are all getting repetitions at guard.
Among others getting their share of reps with the top two units are redshirt freshmen Chance Lytle and Heston Paige, sophomore Hunter Vaughn and junior Jack Shutack.
It is overall an inexperienced group — Kaiser is the only senior — but one Adams likes so far because of its work ethic.
"We have a long way to go," Â Adams said after the Buffs' Wednesday morning workout on Folsom Field. Â "We have a lot of work to do. I'm really excited about the way that they play and the way they attack practice. Â The attitude has been unbelievable. They're very eager to learn, just being a little bit of a younger group."
Thanks to injuries and other issues, the Buffs used six different starting lineups in 12 games last season. Â That lack of continuity was at least part of the reason for Colorado giving up 39 quarterback sacks, a significant jump from the 28 allowed in 2016.
Now, Adams is trying to establish some continuity in the spring that will carry over into fall camp, along with some depth. Â A big part of that, Adams said, is getting players as many reps as possible.
"A guy like Will Sherman hasn't played in a game, but he has taken so many reps because he really wasn't on the scout team a lot in the fall," Adams said. Â "He and Colby were with the ones and twos a fair amount, so those guys have taken a lot of reps in practice. They're developing some of that (continuity), but having said that you have to get into a game to figure out what you really have."
Of the linemen available this spring, Haigler and Kaiser are the experienced elder statesmen. Â Both, Adams said, are quickly adapting to the role of leaders.
"I feel some of the older guys really relish the opportunity to be in a leadership role," Adams said.  "They really do a good job of helping the young guys. … That's a hard thing because you have to develop leadership and I really feel like some guys want to do it and those two guys definitely want to do it."
Haigler, Adams said, appears to be more comfortable on the left side, a place Adams said he will likely stay.
As for the youngsters, Pursell is advancing quickly. Â While he never played center before arriving at Colorado, he's making the most of his second spring. Â Adams said he could tell "right away" last spring that Pursell had the chance to be a good center; and he's done nothing to dispel that thought since then.
"He's had spring ball, he's had training camp, he's had a season, he's had a winter conditioning, now he's had another spring ball," Adams said.  "That's one of the big advantages of grayshirting, is that a guy like him gets a tremendous opportunity to get all those reps before he ever gets out on the field.  He's done a nice job. He's got a ton of things to work on, get better at, but the great thing about him is he tries to do exactly what you tell him. … I'm excited about where he's headed but got a long way to go."
Adams also likes what he's seen from Middlemiss and Sherman, as well as other younger players who have been running with the No. Â 2 unit. Adams even finds a silver lining in the absence of Lynott and Kanan Ray, a freshman who enrolled in January but won't be available for full speed work until the summer.
"Now these other guys have to play and they have to take opportunities," Adams said. Â "I promise you I'm more excited about doing it in the spring than in the fall."
PRACTICE REPORT: Wednesday was a "50-50" day, meaning the Buffs could tackle in 50 percent of their drills, and they hit Folsom Field in full pads to get in some situational work.  That included red zone and short yardage contact work. …
"I thought that went really well today," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. Â "Felt like both sides of the ball handled some situations and we had some stuff to learn from, too."
Players on both sides of the ball continue to make plays.  Buff back Davion Taylor had a nice interception. … Wide receiver Juwann Winfree had a very rare drop early in practice, but quickly made up for it with a pair of touchdown catches in 11-on-11 red zone drills.  … Inside linebacker Nate Landman continues to show a nose for the ball, making plays at or behind the line of scrimmage … Quarterback Steven Montez connected with Laviska Shenault for a score on a nicely thrown, well-timed deep ball.  … Redshirt freshman wide receiver Maurice Bell has quietly had a consistent camp, and Wednesday had a nice diving catch in the end zone. … Two walkons who are putting themselves in position to play at some point in the future are tight end Brady Russell and defensive lineman Nico Magri … Reshirt freshman Isaiah Lewis is turning heads at safety and could give the Buffs some much-needed depth there. Â
SCHEDULE: The Buffs will work out again Friday, then host the Spring Showcase on Saturday at Folsom Field. Â Complete information on all the activities, including Healthy Kids Day, can be found here. Â
Colorado will then close out the spring session with three more practices next week.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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Players Mentioned
