Colorado University Athletics
Depth On 'D' Appears To Be Building In Spring Drills
March 04, 2015 | Football
BOULDER – Colorado football coach Mike MacIntyre is more than pleased with the spring progress of his defensive line and the unit's overall depth, which could help resolve an issue that plagued the Buffaloes in 2014,
One major criticism of the Buffs last season was their inability to play a complete four-quarter game on defense, but MacIntyre believes that the team's new-found depth will remedy that in 2015.
“It [defensive line depth] does everything for the defense,” MacIntyre said after Wednesday's scrimmage – the last of spring camp before the annual spring game on Sunday, March 15.
“This depth is going to help us in the fourth quarter, making big sacks, clogging up the run,” MacIntyre continued. “All of a sudden you get the ball back. That type of thing makes a big, big difference for us in the fourth quarter and in overtimes.”
The Buffs also struggled last season with keeping their defense healthy, particularly in the secondary. MacIntyre hopes the added depth will help remedy any similar problems the team may face going into the 2015 season.
“If you lose a guy in a game, now you have five or six players,” MacIntyre said. “It keeps you in the right direction during the season.”
MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE
Regarding players that have made major spring improvements, MacIntyre listed a fair number of Buffs on the offensive line as well as on defense.
“Stephane Nembot has really improved,” MacIntyre said. Nembot started at right tackle in 2014 and received the Joe Romig Award for the most improved offensive lineman last spring.
Another player that MacIntyre notes as having had an impressive spring season is sophomore tailback Phillip Lindsay, whom MacIntyre said is “running really well. He's done a really good job.”
Lindsay rushed for 391 yards and had 118 yards receiving in 2014.
On defense, MacIntyre is looking toward the new size of cornerback Ken Crawley and defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon to strengthen his secondary.
Both players “have put on about 10 pounds,” MacIntyre said. “They're playing extremely well.” Crawley is listed at 6-1, 180, Witherspoon at 6-3, 185.
COMPETITION AT RECEIVER
Two underclassmen, Donovan Lee and Jay MacIntyre, are actively practicing to fill any receiver spots that the Buffs may need support in.
“They're both similar, they're both quick and fast,” MacIntyre said. “They're very similar in their quickness and their athleticism. They both played both sides of the football in high school so they're used to playing different spots and moving around in the receiver quarters, which is good.”
Nonetheless, both players have impressed their coach on offense this spring. Both scored touchdowns in Wednesday's scrimmage and both contributed additional big plays, Mike MacIntyre said.
“They're also playing other spots so that the receiver coach doesn't have to teach all of them,” he added. “It looks to me that their learning capacity on all of those is going well, too.”
