Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Wrap Up Camp, Continue Focus On Fourth Quarter
August 23, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — The Colorado Buffaloes finished fall camp Sunday on a high note.
“Really good practice today,” head coach Mike MacIntyre said following the Buffs' afternoon workout. “I was excited about our practice today. We came out and had a really energetic practice. We went through a lot of different situations and made 'em think and put a little pressure on them.”
Classes start Monday at CU, and players will have the day off. They will then begin their normal schedule of morning meetings and practices before classes.
Even though they were in shells (helmets, shoulder pads and shorts) Sunday, the Buffs conducted a variety of semi-live situational drills, pitting the No. 1 offense against the No. 2 defense and vice versa. Both sides came up with some big plays, including a nice pass route and catch by receiver Shay Fields, who left a defender flat-footed in the process, and a deep-ball interception by cornerback Ken Crawley.
“Every day, this team has come,” MacIntyre said. “We haven't had what I'd call a bad practice. We've had some that may have started slow, but we've never had a bad practice, where you go watch the film and go, 'Oh gosh, they just weren't in it today.' That has not happened.
“It shows maturity, it shows they are in really good condition and it shows a little fire in their belly.”
Two areas on which the Buffs continue to concentrate are the fourth quarter and turnovers. MacIntyre has consistently reminded the team throughout camp how many games the Buffs let slip away in the fourth quarter last season — and how many of those could have been turned around by forcing just one more turnover.
The Buffs were a minus-10 in turnovers last year, giving up the ball 21 times and taking it away from an opponent on just 11 occasions. In at least three games, one more turnover created by the defense — or one less by the offense — in the waning moments of the fourth quarter or overtime would have given the Buffs a win.
It's a point MacIntyre and his staff have hammered home throughout camp.
“You just work different drills, put them in situations where they make a play and give them confidence to play fast,” cornerbacks coach Charles Clark said earlier in camp. “You have to get them to the point that they play fast and don't have to think about it. When they're playing fast, they get in good situations to catch the ball.”
As for the fourth quarter, the Buffs have made four fingers in the air a common theme — even delivering the message at Friday's Kickoff Luncheon.
“We're going to finish the fourth quarter,” MacIntyre promised the crowd. “I see a team that will not be denied.”
STARTING SPOTS: MacIntyre said the depth chart has been settled for the most part, with just a few decisions still undecided. Two of those are kicker and right guard, with MacIntyre having already said the Buffs will rotate Shane Callahan and Jonathan Huckins at right guard.
“There's probably a couple other spots,” MacIntyre said after practice. “I'll let you know Sept. 3.”
INEVITABLE MOMENT: It had to happen, sooner or later. In one of the 11-on-11 drills Sunday, when Buff freshman Dino Gordon barreled into the end zone, the shouts came quickly from sidelines:
“Straight outta Compton, baby!”
Yes, the 5-11, 205-pound Gordon is indeed from Compton, Calif., where he was a standout at Millikan High School.
SCHEDULE: Classes start Monday on the CU campus, and the Buffs will begin their normal fall schedule by taking the day off from practice.
They'll resume their school year morning meetings and workout schedule on Tuesday. Saturday is a mandatory NCAA day off, and they'll practice again in Boulder on Sunday and Monday before departing for Hawai'i on Sept. 1.
They'll practice in Hawai'i after arrival and again on Sept. 2 before opening their season Thursday, Sept. 3, with an 11 p.m. contest vs. the Rainbow Warriors. The game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
