Colorado University Athletics
Football Practice Report: Aug. 7
August 07, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — After two days in helmets and shorts, the Colorado Buffaloes donned shoulder pads for Friday morning's practice, giving coaches at least a glimpse of what players might look like in contact situations.
The third practice of camp included some 11-on-11 situational work that while not full contact, did produce some pad popping and lively battles in the trenches.
Coaches are also now starting to get a closer look at various positions, particularly those where the Buffs have enough experience that sorting out the depth chart won't be easy.
One such spot will likely be running back. The Buffs return three backs who ran for at least 390 yards last year: Christian Powell (448), Michael Adkins II (398) and Phillip Lindsay (391).
Ideally, the coaching staff would like to spread that production among just a couple of backs this year rather than have it a committee-wide affair.
“We'd like to play two,” said head coach Mike MacIntyre, when asked what kind of rotation he envisioned. “We had injuries last year to Michael (Adkins) and to Christian (Powell), and so Tony Jones and Phillip (Lindsay) had to do it. They all obviously do things a little bit different than the others, but if one gets in a groove, you'd like to keep them in as much as you can. When they get hot, you want to keep them as fresh as you can.”
MacIntyre said Powell “looks really good” thus far in camp, adding that Powell's toughness is a major asset.
KICK RETURNS: MacIntyre said Lindsay would also likely see time as a kick returner this year.
Lindsay was named a preseason second team all-Pac-12 returner by Phil Steele. Last season, he returned 36 kicks for 849 yards, including a long of 51.
“We see Phillip doing kick returns but we see other guys there, too,” MacIntyre said. “It depends on how much he's running the ball and how we come out of fall camp if nobody's banged up. If he's healthy, he'll be doing it some. It all just depends on how it all works out. He's a guy you will see back there.”
Lindsay, a sophomore, shattered CU's freshman all-purpose yardage mark last year, amassing 1,359, far ahead of the previous record of 947, set by Lamont Warren in 1991.
BOBO TURNING HEADS: MacIntyre had good things to say about sophomore wide receiver Bryce Bobo, who has been catching just about everything thrown his way thus far in camp.
“He has a great range, he has unbelievable hands and can catch the ball all over the place,” MacIntyre said. “He just goes and gets it.”
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Bobo didn't participate in spring drills after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, but he looks fully healed now. He's coming off a season in which he caught 23 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns, including a four-catch, 54-yard, two-touchdown game against UCLA.
“He hasn't missed a beat,” MacIntyre said. “He hasn't dropped a pass in a couple of days and he's stronger and bigger and healthy now, so I feel really good about him.”
EXAM TIME: A handful of players, including linebacker Addison Gillam, left practice early Friday for summer school exams. The summer session ended Friday, and fall classes are scheduled to begin Aug. 24.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: Saturday is Media Day at CU, with coaches and athletes from the football, volleyball and cross country teams scheduled to meet with the media.
The football team will practice at 7:35 p.m., and it will be open to the public. After Saturday, there will be just two more public practices: Aug. 15 and 21.
