Colorado University Athletics
Buffs' Thompson Knows Turnover Drills Pay Dividends
September 22, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When fall camp began for the Colorado Buffaloes, so did a long list of drills designed to help the Buffs' defense force a few more turnovers this year.
Tip drills. Fumble-recovery drills. Scoop-and-scores drills. Situation drills. Interception drills.
All designed to help the Buffs improve the number of takeaways by the defense and eliminate last year's negative turnover-differential, when the Buffs gave the ball away 10 more times than they took it away from an opponent.
"Honestly, it's kind of crazy — when you're doing the drills in practice, you sometimes say to yourself, 'This is really never going to happen in a game,'" safety Tedric Thompson said earlier this week. "But then those things really do happen — and you're ready. They really do happen in a game, just like when KO got that interception."
"That interception," of course, is the interception plucked out of the air on a bounce by CU linebacker Kenneth Olugbode in Saturday's 27-24 win over rival Colorado State. Olugbode then returned the theft 60 yards for a go-ahead touchdown.
"This is our third year with Coach Mac (Mike MacIntyre), so we believe what he's saying," Thompson said. "We trust him because we know whatever drill he puts us in, he's doing it for a reason — and it shows up, just like KO's interception."
It has certainly seemed to be apparent this year. After a 2014 season in which the Buffs picked off just three passes in 12 games — all by Thompson, by the way — the Buffs have already recorded five interceptions in their first three games. They'll be looking to add to that total Saturday, when they play host to the Nicholls Colonels in an 11:30 a.m. game at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Networks).
While the interception total has increased significantly, Olugbode's pick-six might be the best example of how far the defense has come this year, simply because it required a well-executed chain of events to make it happen.
First came a perfect read by the defense expecting a screen pass, a play the Rams had run successfully several times earlier in the game. CU inside linebacker Rick Gamboa saw running back Dalyn Dawkins drift out of the backfield, and then delivered a vicious hit at exactly the right time, putting the ball up for grabs.
Next came Olugbode having the awareness to look for the loose ball and gather it in — just like the tip drills the Buffs conduct on a regular basis.
Finally, the Buffs executed a perfect interception return, with defenders turning into blockers. Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie escorted Olugbode down the sidelines, then blew up CSU offensive lineman Nick Callender, who had an angle on Olugbode and could possibly have made a touchdown-saving tackle.
"Chido made a great block on the lineman," Olugbode said. "That really boosted me."
Obviously, interceptions don't all work out that way. But the Buffs have been practicing for such occasions, preparing in every way possible to increase those opportunities.
"It's Coach Mac and Coach (Jim) Leavitt just stressing it more," Thompson said. "We know we need to create turnovers to get to the bowl game we want to get to. We have to get the ball in our offense's hands. We either have to score when we get a turnover or at least get it back to our offense. We've been stressing it, and so far, it's paying off."
While Thompson hasn't had an interception yet this season, he still has one of the year's biggest plays to date to his credit: a field goal block in overtime against CSU that put the Buffs in position to win.
Earlier in the game, Thompson had seen a flaw in the Rams' protection scheme and reported what he saw to the coaching staff.
"He told us, 'Coach, I can get it. I can get it,'" MacIntyre said. "He said, 'Let's go off the right side, I can get it.'"
That's exactly what happened. Thompson lined up with Olugbode to his left and Isaiah Oliver to his right, on the edge of the CU rush team.
"KO was right next to me and got a great push, and Isaiah got a great jump off the outside," Thompson said. "That gave me what I needed."
What he needed was just enough of a gap that he could hurdle a blocker who had turned to deal with Oliver. Thompson leaped, landed squarely and came up with both hands to deliver a clean block of the kick.
"That's what we practice," MacIntyre said. "Isaiah comes so hard off the edge, the guy was worried about him. So he (Thompson) got through there. When I saw him hurdle it, I said, 'He's got a chance.'"
When the Buffs work on the drill in practice, Thompson is usually matched up against 6-foot-7 Stephane Nembot and 6-foot-3 Sean Irwin.
"When you practice against those guys and line up against somebody else, it makes it a little easier," Thompson said.
While it's not technically a turnover, a blocked field goal has the same effect — especially in an overtime period.
"That' was one of the best football moments I've had, especially against a rival," Thompson said. "I knew all we needed was a stop in overtime. I knew our offense was either going to put up six or put up three. After we got the stop I kind of knew the game was in our hands."
