Brooks: Buffs Like New Secondary Coaching Concept

(Fifth in a series of position-by-position previews of the 2013 Buffs to be posted on CUBuffs.com during preseason camp. Today: Secondary)

BOULDER - New Colorado secondary coaches Charles Clark and Andy LaRussa haven't forgotten the Buffs' recent past, but that's mainly because they haven't reviewed it. They don't put much stock in the premise that those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.

They are pretty sure that's not going to happen. Oh, Clark and LaRussa know how badly CU's secondary struggled in 2012, but neither was interested in critiquing any of the returning Buffs on last season's weekly beat-downs.

When they arrived in Boulder shortly after Mike MacIntyre was named CU's head coach last December, Clark and LaRussa shared the same thought in how best to move forward - and it didn't involve looking back.

"We were thinking the same thing," said LaRussa, who coaches CU's cornerbacks. "We had seen some of what Colorado had done in common opponent (film) breakdown. We knew their schemes weren't as similar to what we were doing. So there was no sense in evaluating that; we wanted to see them do what we do in our scheme."

Clark, who coaches the safeties and nickel backs, said he and LaRussa preferred to base any player evaluations on what they saw during 15 spring practices and thus far in August camp. A major scrimmage set for Saturday in Folsom Field (8:35-11:30 a.m.) will be a huge barometer for both coaches in setting starters, backups and determining overall depth.

Having two secondary coaches is a new concept for CU's players, but MacIntyre believed it worked well enough at San Jose State to import it. The safeties and corners often run drills separately but are in position meetings together. The approach has been well-received.

"I hadn't seen that before," senior safety Parker Orms said. "But that's definitely helped us out a lot having a safety-minded guy and a corners coach. We can split up and do safety drills and corner drills."

Added junior cornerback Greg Henderson: "It's been a great benefit. They can help us one-on-one and you can go to either one and ask questions. Last year with one coach, both positions took up a lot of his time. They explain everything to us. They just don't put us out there. They'll explain, show us, then put us out there. Then you have to react and show what you learned. It helps a lot."

Splitting the secondary coaching, said Clark, offers players more individual attention, more information and, in the end, additional reps. "(Players) just learn more," he said. "When you do it the other way and get to the meeting room, those guys sometimes never see themselves on film. They kind of lose focus. Everybody's getting reps and seeing themselves and learning in the classroom. They're getting more information; they're more alert when these days get long."

Many times during the course of a practice, MacIntyre will wind up as a third secondary coach. He played there (free safety) and has coached DBs in both college and the NFL. Henderson said MacIntyre "is always in the DB meeting room," and LaRussa added, "His heart's in the secondary."

But it's MacIntyre's eyes and mind, contended LaRussa, that are of most benefit: "Having more eyes is a critical part in today's game because of all the spread teams we'll see. We're all on the same page. He's seen so much football his knowledge of the game is invaluable. We learn from him every day; he's an invaluable resource to us in the secondary."

Aside from wanting to evaluate their players in the system they coach, Clark and LaRussa felt it was important to offer each a clean slate. Said LaRussa: "I think that was the most important thing for those players, to know they have a fresh start with us. You can write your own ticket here. What you do from this point on is what matters. I think that helped a lot of guys get confidence back."

And it wasn't difficult, LaRussa noted, to notice that confidence in the back end was far short of bubbling over: "Yeah, I saw that . . . but I think at that position you have to have a certain swagger. You have to compete every day. Don't panic when the ball's caught. Compete all the time. The confidence will come. The combination of having a clean slate and practicing what we preach helps confidence. There were no preconceived notions. Don't worry about last year, you can't change it. You learn from it and move on."

Still, holding onto some of the sour memories has been beneficial. "We never want to have that feeling ever again," Henderson said. "We're going to do whatever it takes to not have a losing record . . . whatever coach Mac tells us we're going to do. We've got to fly around, we've got to create more turnovers (three interceptions, 12 recovered fumbles) than we did last year."

For a secondary that was slapped around as much as the Buffs were last fall, a psyche rebuild was critical. As unpleasant and disturbing as 2012 was, said sophomore corner Kenneth Crawley, "We matured from it. Absolutely. It makes us more hungry. We know what to expect, we know the mistakes we made in the past. It makes us want to get after it."

Clark and LaRussa believe they have enough talent, athleticism and now experience at their respective positions to allow a climb back to respectability. "Every one of our guys is fast and long and athletic," LaRussa said. "As they continue to grow up that's going to take it to another level. I'm pleased with how everybody runs."

A starter since his freshman season, Henderson wants his biggest improvement to come in man-to-man coverage and tackling. "As a corner, those are the two main things I'll be doing out there," he said. "And I need to be disciplined with my eyes - that's a big thing."

Crawley's 58 tackles (46 solo) last season were the most by a corner and second to safety Terrel Smith (70, 48 solo) among the defensive backs. Jered Bell, who has moved from corner to safety, and safety Marques Mosley had the secondary's only two interceptions (the other was by graduated linebacker Jon Major).

Crawley said he was "way more comfortable" in his second camp than his first last summer and that he is more knowledgeable in alignments, technique and anticipation. "I think I'm better breaking on the ball," he said. "And to me, there seems to be more help over the top in this defense. I think all the corners are more comfortable; we know what to expect from different spread teams in our conference."

For Orms, while getting to the opener (Sept. 1 vs. Colorado State) unscathed is a goal, it's not something to dwell on daily. After an injury-free high school career at Wheat Ridge, his college career has taken several opposite turns.

"You can't think 'how's my knee going to hold up?' You have to go out and play as if nothing's wrong," he said. "I've probably missed more (practices) than anybody on this team . . . I'm definitely the old man out here, but I'm doing good. My knee is holding up through the practices and team stuff. I'm just happy to be out there; sitting on the sidelines and watching is tough. Just running around out there with your teammates is an awesome feeling."

THE INSIDE LOOK AT . . .

Defensive backs

Coaches: Charles Clark, safeties; Andy LaRussa, corners; first seasons on CU staff

Returning starters: CB Kenneth Crawley, So.; CB Greg Henderson, Jr.; CB Yuri Wright, So.; S Parker Orms, Sr.; S Terrel Smith, Sr.; S Marques Mosley, So.

Returnees: CB John Walker, Fr.-RS; CB Brandon Brisco, So.; S Jered Bell, Jr.; S Isaac Archuleta, So.; S Richard Yates, So.; CB Jeffery Hall, So.; CB Harrison Hunter, Jr.

Newcomers: CB/NB Chidobe Awuzie, Fr.; DB Tedric Thompson, Fr.

Key losses: S Ray Polk; DB Josh Moten, Jr. (injured)

Stat line: The Buffs were No. 120 out of 120 FBS teams last season in pass efficiency defense, allowing 39 TD passes and opposing QBs a 67.6 completion percentage.

Bottom line: CU figures to be better in the back end, but then skeptics will retort, "How can it be any worse?" Point (and yards) well taken. If there's a silver lining in such a dark season as 2012 was for the secondary, it's this: young players grow up and as they do they remember. Last season's sound whippings were the result of inexperience and frequent misalignments - not because of a lack of talent. Crawley, Wright, Mosley, Henderson and the rest learned the hard way. Orms and Smith are senior safeties and should help steady the back half. CU signed just two DBs - Awuzie and Thompson - but Awuzie has had an outstanding camp and will fit somewhere.

Next: Offensive line

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU