University of Colorado Athletics
Brooks: On Kickers, Adversity, Learning To Win, Etc.
September 30, 2014
BOULDER GÇô FootballGÇÖs loneliest position? Depends.
It might be a dead heat between cornerback and placekicker, but after ColoradoGÇÖs double overtime loss at California last Saturday the sentiment in Buffsville shifts to placekicker.
Senior placement specialist Will Oliver entered the Cal game having made four of five field goal attempts this season. He left Berkeley a .500 kicker (4 of 8) after uncharacteristically missing three field goal attempts of 39, 39 and 45 yards.
Said special teams coach Toby Neinas: GÇ£He doesnGÇÖt miss three in practice.GÇ¥
Oliver entered his senior season having made 11 of 15 attempts from 30-39 yards and 8 of 13 from 40-49 yards. HeGÇÖs 1 of 3 from those distances this season.
Noticeably shaken after his three misses at Cal, Oliver nonetheless consented to appear in the postgame interview room, saying that he felt responsible for the 59-56 double-OT loss and wanted to show accountability. In truth, he showed much more than that.
When his teammates offered their postgame support, Oliver undoubtedly was appreciative but said it only intensified his pain: GÇ£It just hurts more . . . this is a real first where you feel completely responsible. ItGÇÖs the beauty and the terrible part about being a kicker.GÇ¥
Oliver also said he was given GÇ£the option not to come in here (interview room), but I think itGÇÖs important to be responsible.GÇ¥
Credit this 21-year-old for being responsibility's poster boy. In about four decades of sports coverage, IGÇÖve seen countless pro and college athletes linger in the shower, duck out of back doors, shamelessly bob and weave to avoid interviews, and generally make themselves unavailable in difficult times.
Someone long ago told me the clich+¬ GÇ£adversity builds characterGÇ¥ should be amended to GÇ£adversity doesnGÇÖt build character, it reveals it.GÇ¥ No argument here or there, not after last weekend in Berkeley.
In his postgame interview, CU coach Mike MacIntyre said Oliver will GÇ£make GÇÿem next week. I was hoping weGÇÖd get the chance for him to hit a winner. We were talking about that GÇô him getting a chance to hit a winner. HeGÇÖll bounce back. It was just a tough day for all of us. He had a tough day.GÇ¥
And now the object is moving on -- which Oliver will do. He has made all 21 of his extra point attempts this season and has a streak of 81 straight successful PATs. He has kicked off on 27 of CUGÇÖs 28 kickoffs this season, with Diego Gonzalez having the other. In practice, MacIntyre likes to work multiple players in that role, and Neinas said if Oliver ever began showing signs of leg fatigue Gonzalez or another kicker could be used.
GÇ£But right now (Oliver) gives us the best opportunity to win,GÇ¥ Neinas said, adding that he didnGÇÖt think fatigue was any factor at Cal and Oliver GÇ£just didnGÇÖt hit the ball as well as weGÇÖre used to hitting it.GÇ¥
Of OliverGÇÖs 27 kickoffs, 15 have been returned and 12 have been touchbacks. CUGÇÖs five opponentsGÇÖ average starting yard line has been their own 29, but Neinas, of course, wants his kickoff coverage to tighten and his teamGÇÖs return yards to increase.
GÇ£ItGÇÖs been ebb and flow,GÇ¥ he said. GÇ£Some days I leave the stadium and I feel really good about it, some days I donGÇÖt. Frankly, we left some things on the table (at Cal) in our kickoff return game. I didnGÇÖt adjust well for the team early and by the time I did adjust we had kind of gone away a little from what we were doing. If I had stayed with what we were doing and lived with the adjustment and worked on it through the game I think we would have a chance to pop one.GÇ¥
Neinas said a Cal return to the CU 38 in the second half was the result of GÇ£a great adjustmentGÇ¥ by the Bears. GÇ£We have to get people off of blocks where that thing doesnGÇÖt get to the 40 and theyGÇÖre knocked out at the 25 or 22.GÇ¥
CUGÇÖs primary kickoff return specialist has been redshirt freshman Phillip Lindsay, who has averaged 24.0 yards on 18 returns with a long return of 51 yards. He ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in KOR.
Neinas calls Lindsay GÇ£a fearless runner, just like he is as a football player.GÇ¥ He said his goal for Lindsay involves better timing: GÇ£The hole is closing a step or two before he gets there and thatGÇÖs the whole thing with that play GÇô timing. WeGÇÖll try to improve timing against Oregon State (Saturday, 2 p.m., Folsom Field, Pac-12 Networks).
GÇ£ItGÇÖs very important that weGÇÖre able to set our offense up with a short field; we have to get a couple of nice returns for them. You know with a (Mike) Riley coached offense theyGÇÖre going to get points. We canGÇÖt afford any momentum plays against any coverage GÇô punt or kickoff.GÇ¥
WHITE STEPPING UP
Until last weekend, freshman safety Evan White had seen more special teams duty than in CUGÇÖs secondary. That changed, although he continued to work on GÇ£teamsGÇ¥ and made a highlight reel contribution on the punt coverage squad.
With a headlong dive into the end zone, White batted a Darragh OGÇÖNeill punt back onto the playing field, where it was downed at the Cal 1-yard line. Neinas called WhiteGÇÖs play GÇ£highlight level . . . really cool. It shows awareness and obviously a very high level of athleticism.GÇ¥
White, of Aurora (Cherokee Trail HS), plays on three special teams GÇô punt and kickoff coverage and kickoff return GÇô and according to Neinas has GÇ£been getting better every week. He had his best game on kickoff return (at Cal) and thatGÇÖs the one heGÇÖs spent the least amount of time on. HeGÇÖs just getting consistently better.GÇ¥
At Cal, he also logged his most plays at safety, filling in for Tedric Thompson when the sophomore starter left the game in the first half with a sternum injury. MacIntyre said Thompson, who leads the Buffs in interceptions (three) and was the leading tackler (41, 30 solo) until missing SaturdayGÇÖs second half, is expected to be back against Oregon State.
Subbing for Thompson, White made three tackles (one solo). In five games heGÇÖs been in on 43 snaps at safety, contributing five tackles (three solo) and one quarterback pressure.
MacIntyre called the 6-3, 196-pound White GÇ£a big, good, athletic player . . . heGÇÖs picked up things well. Playing back there (in the secondary) and playing quarterback are two of the hardest thingsGÇ¥ in football.
After five games, White said he is adjusting to the speed of the game and learning whatGÇÖs expected of a safety in the Buffs defense. GÇ£IGÇÖm definitely picking things up,GÇ¥ he said. GÇ£Things have slowed down a little for me. IGÇÖm just getting used to the speed and memorizing all these plays . . . but every week IGÇÖm feeling better and better.GÇ¥
White views his special teams work as crucial as his play at safety. GÇ£Everything I do on this team is big,GÇ¥ he said. GÇ£IGÇÖm trying to give 100 percent effort in everything I do.GÇ¥
LEARNING TO WIN, HATING TO LOSE
The two fit like hand in glove, and MacIntyre says heGÇÖs seeing both in his second Buffs team.
Of last seasonGÇÖs 3-8 squad, he said, GÇ£Sometimes, we just never came back from anything. Now, this team may not get the result we want, but weGÇÖre going to be right there fighting for it I believe all the time. I really do.GÇ¥
On developing a hatred for losing, he believes GÇ£it goes in steps. You canGÇÖt jump from one to 10 overnight. You wish you could, but you canGÇÖt. I think itGÇÖs a building process with our team and I definitely think that theyGÇÖre taking steps in the right direction. We just want to be on the other end of the score more often than we are.GÇ¥
Junior receiver Nelson Spruce said when he and the other Buffs captains spoke to the team Tuesday morning, he mentioned GÇ£learning to win.GÇ¥ He added that in his four seasons at CU, GÇ£IGÇÖve never seen a team play like this . . . I said weGÇÖre right on the brink and just have to keep working.GÇ¥
ONE WAY FOR TWO-WAY FRAZIER?
Not any time soon.
George Frazier continues to play offense (fullback) and defense (end). His most eye-catching stats have been on offense, where he has two receiving TDs and one rushing TD.
But MacIntyre said the 6-3, 260-pound redshirt freshman is contributing at defensive end in ways that might not be so apparent and the long-term plan is still for Frazier to play on both sides of the ball GÇô particularly this season because of injuries at defensive end.
GÇ£There might be a time but . . .,GÇ¥ MacIntyre said. GÇ£HeGÇÖs done some really good things at defensive end that you, quote, might not notice as much. HeGÇÖs had some (QB) hurries, heGÇÖs had some big plays inside, heGÇÖs had some tackles.
GÇ£But, I think with the way weGÇÖre utilizing him, heGÇÖs not getting tired out, heGÇÖs not screwing up on either side of the ball. WeGÇÖre not over-using him both ways so to speak. I think that he can still keep doing the role that heGÇÖs been doing. WeGÇÖll keep using him the way the weGÇÖre using him.GÇ¥
NOTABLE
Call him GÇ£Deuce Spruce.GÇ¥ HeGÇÖs averaging two TD receptions a game and is the FBS leader in receiving yards (697) and receptions per game (11.2). His 10 TDs top the Pac-12 and heGÇÖs tied for the conference lead in scoring. Asked Tuesday if Spruce belongs in Heisman Trophy conversations, MacIntyre paused briefly and said Spruce certainly belongs in Biletnikoff Award conversations. GÇ£People underrate him athletically,GÇ¥ MacIntyre said. GÇ£I hope they continue to and heGÇÖll keep making plays.GÇ¥ . . . . Redshirt freshman defensive end Markeis Reed, who had preseason surgery on a sports hernia, is dressing out and is scheduled to begin practicing this week. MacIntyre said Reed GÇ£is doing more thingsGÇ¥ but has not projected when Reed will see playing time . . . . Michael Adkins II, last seasonGÇÖs leading rusher, is averaging six carries a game and 2.57 yards a carry. HeGÇÖs slowly coming back from an early ankle injury, said MacIntyre: GÇ£He played a little bit better Saturday. His ankle was bothering him the other games a little bit. He was feeling better last week and he did a couple good things Saturday. Hopefully, heGÇÖll do well this Saturday.GÇ¥ Adkins had six carries for 5 yards last weekend, with a long run of 6 yards . . . . FWIW stat: CU is 5-0 in winning coin tosses this season.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
