Football Practice Report: Aug. 13

BOULDER — The Colorado Buffaloes completed a brisk morning practice Thursday in full pads and practiced again in the evening under the lights in shells (shorts, shoulder pads and helmets).

The Buffs spent a majority of the morning in group drills and some situational drills, including some special teams work. Thursday evening's practice included more special teams work.

Head coach Mike MacIntyre said he believes the Buffs will be better on special teams this year, simply because more of the players involved have experience.

“Most of our special teams people, even a lot of the backups, have been in that situation a lot,” MacIntyre said. “Hopefully they'll be ready for everything. We're focusing on it hard and I feel like we're better at it because the kids understand it better and understand the urgency of running down there just one time, how big that can be.”

MacIntyre said also one positive aspect thus far — Thursday morning's practice was the ninth of camp — has been a relative lack of injuries.

“There's been no serious injuries, which is awesome,” MacIntyre said.

WIDE RECEIVER BATTLE: While Nelson Spruce and Shay Fields have two of the top spots at receiver locked up, and Donovan Lee appears to be the favorite at the "H" (slot) spot, there's still some fierce competition for the backup spots at all three positions.

It's proving to be one of the more competitive battles in camp, especially as coaches try to work players into more than one spot in order to develop depth and versatility.

“They've looked good. They keep improving,” MacIntyre said. “Devin Ross has been improving. Lee Walker — he was hurt most of the year last year — has come back stronger and better and has made some plays in practice. I'm excited about what Lee and Devin have been doing.”

Receivers coach Troy Walters said this year's group could be the best the Buffs have had in the MacIntyre era.

Along with Spruce, Fields and Lee, other receivers with experience include Ross and Bryce Bobo. Throw in redshirt freshmen Walker and Jay MacIntyre, and the Buffs should have a deep, versatile group.

“Everyone's having a great camp,” Walters said. “We're competing. They understand that playing time is involved and what's at stake. I think we're going to be more versatile than we've ever been. We'll truly be seven deep this year, which is good.”

LINEBACKER DEPTH: MacIntyre said he'll wait until the Buffs get a few more scrimmages under their belts to make any early judgments on his team's depth at inside linebacker. Juniors Addison Gillam and Kenneth Olugbode are listed as starters, but the Buffs have been giving a variety of other players a look during drills thus far as they experiment with different formations in Jim Leavitt's new defense.

“I'll find out when we get a few more scrimmages, a few more live situations under our belt,” MacIntyre said. “That's a position that live makes all the difference. Kind of like the tailback. He looks good, (but) when it's live, does he run up in there, does he make them miss? Same way at inside backer.”

KICKER BATTLE STILL OPEN: MacIntyre said the battle between kickers Diego Gonzalez, Chris Graham and freshman Alex Kinney is still “wide open.”

“We're putting more and more pressure on them,” MacIntyre said. “ I think they've all been kicking well. We haven't made a decision on who the starter is yet. We'll do some stuff in the stadium; you always want to see how they kick in the stadium. Just trying to add more and more pressure to them.”

SCHEDULE: After Thursday's two practices, the Buffs will take Friday off, then resume with another pair of workouts Saturday, including an 8:35 a.m. session open to the public that will include some scrimmage work.

The Saturday morning session will also include a select-a-seat event and a “Season Ticket Holder Selfie Session” on the field after the scrimmage.

Gates will open at 8 a.m. and fans can park for free in lot 436 (enter off of Regent Drive just south of Colorado Ave). Gates on the east and west side of Folsom Field will be open and concessions will be open on the east concourse.

The select-a-seat event, now in its second year, allows fans to pick seats that are available for purchase so they know the exact location and perspective they can count on when action is taking place on the field. Season ticket holders will then be invited onto the field after the scrimmage for a selfie session, when they can take photos and meet current players and coaches.