Sense Of Urgency Ramps Up After Final Two-A-Day Practices

BOULDER — If it's not crunch time, it's close.

With Thursday being the final day of two-a-day practices for the Colorado Buffaloes, it means Mike MacIntyre's team will have just 11 practices remaining before the Sept. 3 season opener in Hawai'i.

But 11 is actually a bit of a misleading number. Two of those practices will be in Hawai'i — one the day the Buffs land (Sept. 1) after their 71/2-hour flight to the islands, and another the day before the game.

Thus, in reality the Buffs have what amounts to nine meaningful practices remaining before they kick off their season.

It means that sense of urgency that's been present throughout camp is starting to ramp up another notch. Players are feeling the heat as coaches are shuffling players in and out of drills, trying to determine their two-deep charts at each position.

That process will become even more apparent in the next few days.

“We've been working with everybody because we have to have backups everywhere,” MacIntyre said, “but we'll kind of start narrowing that down, getting a little bit more game specific as we go along.”

The Buffs' starting lineup is set for the most part across both sides of the ball. But still up for grabs are a number of places on the second unit — something that will be key as the Buffs prepare to play in a hot, humid environment, one that becomes more difficult because of the substantial time change. While the kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Hawaii time, the Buffs' internal clocks will say 11 p.m. Boulder time.

It's why depth has been such a focal point for the Buffs this season.

A year ago, the Buffs were thin in too many places after the starting lineup. Now, MacIntyre said, the Buffs are much more comfortable with their depth.

“I'm confident in the fact that when we put somebody in depth-wise, they've played,” MacIntyre said. “To me, that always makes a difference. You've been in a situation before.”

There are a handful of areas in which depth should not be an issue. Running back, wide receiver and the secondary are three places where the Buffs have plenty of returning experience.

But other places, such as the defensive and offensive lines, are areas where depth may still be a question mark.

“Right now, I think we could put a first team together and a few other guys that could make a play,” said defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt earlier this week. “But I don't know how much depth we'll have. We've got to find some and get it ready before we play.”

PRAISE FOR AWUZIE: He's listed as a starting cornerback for the Buffs, but fact is, junior Chidobe Awuzie will likely play every position in the secondary this year — perhaps all in the same game.

“He's big and physical enough to play safety, he can play nickelback, he can play corner,” MacIntyre said.

Awuzie started nine games last year, eight at corner and one at nickel, before being sidelined by a lacerated kidney. That, combined with an injury at the same time to Tedric Thompson, created a huge hole in the Buffs' secondary.

“We need Chido to stay healthy and stay out there playing,” MacIntyre said. “He has truly taken a giant step. He's looked a lot better on the practice field than he's ever looked. I think he was a real good player before, but I think he's got a chance to be an all-conference player if he stays healthy and does the thing he's been doing out here in practice.”

EX-BUFF CROSBY HONORED: Former Colorado kicker Mason Crosby, now kicking for the Green Bay Packers, was named to the Football Writers Association of America 75th Anniversary All-America Team.

Crosby, the only player from CU honored, was named to the second team. A total of 75 players from 41 schools were named to the team.

IRWIN ON CAMPBELL AWARD WATCH LIST: Buff left tackle Jeromy Irwin has been named to the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list.

The award, named after former college and NFL great Campbell, a native of Tyler, Texas, is given to the top offensive player in Division 1 who was either born in Texas and/or graduated from a Texas high school, and/or played college ball in Texas. According to the selection committee, the player must also exhibit “integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity.”

Irwin, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound junior, played high school ball in Cypress, Texas.

SCHEDULE: Thursday was the last two-a-day session of fall camp. The Buffs will practice once Friday, Saturday and Sunday, then take Monday off, as classes begin on the CU campus.

Friday's morning practice, set to begin about 9 a.m., is the last of fall camp to be open to the public.