Colorado University Athletics
Brooks: 2010 Spring Wrap Up, Analysis
April 10, 2010 | Football, B.G. Brooks
Oh, a major injury (don't even think it) at any position could shuffle personnel. But barring that, or perhaps an unsung draft choice on either the Black or Gold team making a huge Saturday splash, CU's 2010 spring evaluation is in the books - and what happens at Folsom Field (1:30 p.m., KOA 850 am) is merely sauce on the sundae.
By most accounts, the spring has been successful and the Buffs have been motivated. But come August, they will have to be that motivated and more to climb out of the hole (3-9) they dug for themselves in 2009. Not many CU teams have entered seasons with as much at stake.
But players and coaches consider the work done over the past five weeks to be a significant first step. Here's junior quarterback Tyler Hansen's brief spring overview: "On offense, we've gotten better the last couple of weeks. At first we were kind of slow, getting used to some schemes and some (new) people, but now I feel like we've made some big strides and are a lot more comfortable with each other."
Offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau's plan going in was to make less better - a simplification that would enable the Buffs to not bog themselves down with too many plays, too much terminology and play faster.
"I think we've done that," Hansen said. "We're playing faster because we're not thinking as much . . . you can always tell when someone's thinking too much because they look slow. Now you don't see that. You could see that at first with a guy like Kendrick (Celestine). He was kind of tiptoeing through his routes. Now, he's going out there and just running."
The defense, noted Hansen, has been stellar from Day 1: "They've brought it and haven't taken a step back at all. They've been really good. I think our defense is going to be one of the top in the Big 12. We've got some guys. Our D-line is starting to mature a little bit, so that's going to help out a lot."
Coach Dan Hawkins' overall assessment was very similar. The offense is "playing faster, there's a good vibe . . .," while the defense will head into summer knowing it "probably had a little more of an upper hand."
Hawkins attributed some of that to a "little attrition at the end with the offensive guys . . . . In spring ball, you're fired up because the defense was good on third down, but the offense wasn't. So you're never going to be more than 50-50 on that. One team has the upper hand there."
When the team reassembles in August, Hawkins said the detail work will resume, but third-teamers who got accustomed to a high number of spring repetitions will see that total diminish. First- and second-teamers will get the bulk of the work as the opener (Sept. 4 vs. Colorado State, Invesco Field at Mile High) approaches.
Maybe as important as simplifying the offense and improving tackling - a stated defensive spring goal by coordinator Ron Collins - was an off-season mind-set that carried into spring work.
Junior offensive lineman Mike Iltis said there has been more overall ownership among the players than in seasons past: "In practice, more people are taking charge, being more supportive, demanding more of each other. Now, when somebody makes a mistakes, it's like, 'You're better than that.'
"We expect more out of each other and push each other. If you don't make a play you should make, it's not good enough . . . the standard is being put at a higher level every day. As older guys on the team, we love to see that - and the coaches say how much they appreciate it. We'll take that into summer and camp, then into the season, and build on it."
2010 SPRING WRAP
OFFENSE
The Buffs entered spring drills hoping that paring down the playbook would result in an overall upgrade for an offense that was last in the Big 12 Conference in 2009 in most categories.
Did it work?
A definitive answer, of course, can't be given until September or beyond. But offensive staffers, citing more experience at most positions, believe improvement has been made.
A position-by-position recap:
QUARTERBACK: Hansen, the incumbent starter after assuming that role midway through the 2009 season, and Cody Hawkins entered spring drills even and apparently exited the same way. Look for their duel to resume in August camp. Freshman Nick Hirschman, a January enrollee, enjoyed a beneficial spring, but he admits to still being in a learning mode and won't be considered a fall challenger to Hansen/Hawkins. Hirschman's spring strides, though, apparently have put him at No. 3 and were significant enough to allow Seth Lobato to split practice time between quarterback and receiver.
RECEIVER: The addition of transfer Toney Clemons and the return of Scotty McKnight and Markques Simas, although delayed a couple of practices, made new position coach Robert Prince's debut smoother. A foot/ankle injury kept McKnight from finishing spring drills, but he's expected to make a full recovery. Jason Espinoza, Will Jefferson and Kyle Cefalo showed well, and coaches still hope for August improvement from Andre Simmons, Jarrod Darden and Celestine, who returned to the squad after missing the 2009 season. Terdema Ussery, who returned home for the spring semester, is expected back in August. The Buffs appear to have their best receiving corps of the Dan Hawkins era, and they'll need production here - short, deep and everywhere in between - if the offense is to be revitalized.
TIGHT END: Ryan Deehan and Luke Walters, the veterans at this position, got help from DaVaughn Thornton, maybe the most athletic member of the group, and Clark Evans, who showed almost immediately that his switch from quarterback was a move that fits. Alex Wood also could be in the mix for playing time. The position's numbers will nearly double this summer: CU signed four tight ends - Justin Favors, Henley Griffon, Harold Mobley, Kyle Slavin - in its 2010 recruiting class. But depending on any of the new faces to make an immediate impact is dicey. The current group's collective receiving abilities should be fine, but if a running game is to be established, overall improvement in run blocking is a must.
RUNNING BACK/FULLBACK: Talk about a low body count . . . Position coach Darian Hagan ended spring ball with two healthy tailbacks - Quentin Hildreth and Corey Nabors. With no fullbacks on the roster, linebackers Derrick Webb and Tyler Ahles became short-yardage/goal line offensive guys, although tight ends/H-backs also can be utilized. Minor injuries kept experienced tailbacks Rodney "Speedy" Stewart and Brian Lockridge from full participation in the final stages of spring drills, giving Hildreth and Nabors invaluable experience. Four incoming freshmen - Cordary Clark, Justin Torres, Tony Jones and Trea' Jones - report this summer and Hagan needs at least two of that group to hit the ground running. Yes, literally. The Buffs don't need a reminder that a running game with a shortage of capable running backs goes nowhere fast.
OFFENSIVE LINE: Injuries (Ryan Miller, Matt Bahr, Max Tuioti-Mariner) and academic issues (Bryce Givens, Tuioti-Mariner) kept position coach Denver Johnson from getting a complete picture of how his first line might shape up. On the other hand, the absences of key players provided more opportunities for other personnel to step up. Tackles Ryan Dannewitz, Jack Harris and David Bakhtiari took advantage. Johnson has several versatile inside players - Iltis can play guard or center, powerful transfer Eric Richter and several other returning squad members can play either guard spot. When Miller returns to August practice, he figures to pick up again at No. 1 right guard, with the starter at left guard to be determined in preseason camp. Although Givens remains underweight for his position (right tackle), Johnson said the player's first two weeks of spring ball were impressive. Left tackle Nate Solder's spring work was solid, but Johnson wants him to "get more assertive as a leader and be more vocal on field." Johnson calls his tackles "the in-line commanders" and wants them to aid the center in "directing traffic and setting blocking and protection schemes. (Solder) has been a little reluctant to do that, but he's coming out of it." Improvement in the O-line is critical for 2010.
DEFENSE
An across-the-board improvement in tackling and developing overall depth were two of the primary spring objectives for Collins.
In both major spring scrimmages, the defense performed well - which always raises the question, "Was it because of that unit's improvement or the offense's inefficiency?"
It's not a cop out to answer "both," because until the 2010 offense proves it's not going to return as a Big 12 bottom dweller, this team's strength figures to be its defense.
A position-by-position recap:
DEFENSIVE LINE: Veteran tackles Curtis Cunningham and Will Pericak improved their technique and even drew a comparison to former D-linemen George Hypolite and Brandon Nicolas from position coach Romeo Bandison. Unlike the O-line, his group remained relatively healthy (tackle Nate Bonsu suffered his knee injury in off-season conditioning) through the entire spring, allowing him a more comprehensive and telling preview of what to expect in August. Nick Kasa made up for the time he lost to injury/illness during his freshman season, and Eugene Goree and Conrad Obi - a pair of juniors that Bandison has been waiting on to be consistent contributors - appear to be coming into their own. Obi, a former end, has put on 30 pounds (he's 290 now) and appears comfortable playing inside. If his spring effort is any indication, end Marquez Herrod is ready for a strong finish. Forrest West, who played in 2009 as a freshman, showed improvement at end, as did Josh Hartigan and Tony Poremba. Overall, Bandison has depth he previously couldn't match, and among those numbers are capable players.
LINEBACKER: Replacing two of this position's starters was a major spring emphasis for veteran coach Brian Cabral, and Michael Sipili and Jon Major have stepped in at the inside spots. Major has shown no adverse effects of the knee injury that disrupted his freshman season (2008) and Sipili made his final spring his best. No surprise here, but B.J. Beatty continues to be effective at the Sam (outside) spot. Former safety Patrick Mahnke made a successful spring switch to linebacker, backing up Major. Derrick Webb, Doug Rippy and Brandon Gouin will continue to compete in August for inside playing time, while Tyler Ahles and Liloa Nobriga do the same outside. With D-line play improved, the Buffs should be strong at linebacker in both run stoppage and coverage.
SECONDARY: The return of experienced cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Jalil Brown made Ashley Ambrose's transition from defensive technical intern to full-time assistant fairly pain-free. So did the emergence of safety/nickel back Parker Orms, who might have made the biggest spring impact by a newcomer. The versatile Orms seems to have a homing instinct for the football. He showed well in all major scrimmages in several statistical areas - tackles for loss, forced fumbles, sacks, passes defended, etc. He'll likely be stationed at the nickel back spot vacated by Cha'pelle Brown. Another three new faces - corners Deji Olatoye, Josh Moten and Paul Vigo - showed they can be counted on for depth, as did returnees Travis Sandersfeld and Arthur Jaffee, both special teams standouts. Starting safeties Anthony Perkins, who brings order to the secondary, and the athletic Ray Polk made specific strides at their positions. Two talented corners and the secondary's overall experience will play a big part in the defense being a team strength.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Of the areas that must be addressed in August, place kicking and punting top the list. With returning kicker Aric Goodman bothered by a hip injury for much of the spring and finally undergoing surgery, Zach Grossnickle handled the placement duties as well as punting. His summer goals: Ironing out his approach in kicking and improving his hang time in punting. In short, he'll strive to become more consistent in both duties. Walk-on kicker Marcus Kirkwood's contribution might come in kicking off. CU signed Justin Cantor as a placekicker/punter, and he'll get an immediate chance to compete. The Buffs lost long-snapper Justin Drescher, but Joe Silipo appears to be a competent replacement. Lockridge and Jaffee exit spring drills as the frontrunners as kickoff returners, with Orms, Clemons, Hildreth and Stewart likely still to be given looks in August. The punt returning candidates include Espinoza, Clemons, Jefferson and Stewart, who was temporarily scratched due to a hand injury in the final week of drills. The Buffs' return and coverage teams always have been areas of emphasis and will be in preseason camp. The more pressing need, though, will be getting steady performances in place kicking and punting.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
