Colorado University Athletics
Buff Wideouts Benefit From Playing CU's DBs
August 25, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — While competition has been strong across the board this fall in the Colorado Buffaloes' fall camp, some of the more interesting battles have occurred in the secondary.
It's where two of the Buffs' deepest positions in terms of depth and talent — wide receivers and defensive backs — have battled on a daily basis.
“That's the one thing I've noticed this year, is that our secondary is a lot better than they were last year, which has made us better,” receivers coach Troy Walters said. “There have been some battles out there.”
The Buffs entered camp with two established receivers, record-setting Nelson Spruce and sophomore Shay Fields. But after that, the receiving corps consisted of more potential than production.
That's changed in the last month.
“Going into this camp, we knew we had some talented guys, it was just a matter of if they were going to step up and claim their role,” Spruce said. “I think we've seen a bunch of guys take their game up to the next level.”
There's no doubt Fields has improved. After a year in the weight room, he's more explosive out of his breaks and stronger in one-on-one situations against cornerbacks. He's also improved his yards after catch, a point of emphasis in the offseason.
But throughout camp, Walters has expressed a hope the Buffs could have a corps of six or seven receivers who would be ready to play and contribute in the first game.
“I think we're there,” Walters said. “All of them have had good camps. Lee Walker, Devin Ross, Donovan Lee, Jay MacIntyre — all those guys had great camps. We'll have the luxury of playing five, six, seven guys because they've all shown they can make plays.”
As for Spruce, he's simply anxious for the Sept. 3 season opener at Hawai'i.
“With Hawai'i coming up, I can't even sleep I'm so excited,” he said.
TUESDAY PRACTICE: With classes now in session, the Buffs are in their “regular” fall practice schedule — although that will change with next week's midweek trip to Hawai'i.
The team hit the field in full pads Tuesday morning, and spent a good portion of the practice working on the game play for the season opener. Once again, the Buffs concentrated on forcing turnovers, a point MacIntyre re-emphasized when he spoke to the team after practice.
In 11-on-11 drills, safety Ryan Moeller had an interception and defensive lineman Justin Solis recovered a fumble. … Diego Gonzalez connected on a 50-yard-plus field goal. … Sean Irwin hauled in a nice long pass. … Do-everything-defensive back Chidobe Auwuzie had a pass knockdown. … Quarterback Sefo Liufau just missed on a deep ball in the end zone, but came back with several good completions in a row.
WEATHER FORECAST: The Honolulu weather forecast calls for afternoon showers virtually every day for the next 10 days, with a high near 90 degrees. Kickoff for the Sept. 3 opener is 7 p.m. Hawaii time (11 p.m. Mountain time).
EX-BUFF ON HAWAII STAFF: Former Colorado offensive line standout Chris Naeole is currently Hawaii's offensive line coach.
One of his players, Dejon Wilson, recently told a Honolulu newspaper that he practiced his technique against Naeole after practices.
“Naeole doesn't need pads,” Wilson said. “He'll try to drive us off the ball. … He's a great coach. If you work hard enough, he'll respect you with everything he has.”
Naeole was a three-year starter for the Buffs in the mid-1990s before being taken by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played 11 seasons in the NFL, for the Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars.
MACINTYRE ON WITTEK: MacIntyre's staff has been trying to see as much film as possible of Hawaii quarterback Max Wittek, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound transfer from Southern California.
Wittek appeared in 13 games in two seasons for the Trojans, including two starts in 2012, when he replaced an injured Matt Barkley. That season, he completed 36 of 69 attempts for 388 yards and three touchdowns.
“He can throw it 70 or 80 yards,” MacIntyre said. “He's a big kid, powerful. He's got an extremely strong arm. The guy that beat him out (and precipitated the transfer), Cody Kessler, will get drafted in the first couple rounds, I think.”
NEW FLAG: For the first three weeks of camp, the Buffs were greeted every day when they walked onto the practice field by a flag that had the logos of every bowl game affiliated with the Pac-12.
Tuesday, the flag was replaced with a Hawaii flag. “We want to remind them what we're doing, what we're shooting for,” MacIntyre said.
The Buffs will have a flag for every opponent this year.
SCHEDULE: The Buffs will practice again Wednesday and Thursday morning, and again Friday evening before taking an NCAA-mandated day off Saturday. They'll then practice Sunday and Monday in Boulder before departing for Hawaii on Tuesday.
