Rapid Fire: Buffs Picking Up Pace In Spring Ball

BOULDER — After just two spring practices, there is already one very noticeable theme in the Colorado Buffaloes' approach for 2016.

The Buffs are picking up the pace. Everything moves fast. Everybody moves quickly. There's no time to waste and no reason to walk. From the offense moving the ball down the field to players moving from station to station to the defense rushing back to line up for the next play, there's a sense of urgency that seems to say every second counts.

“They've learned how to practice now, without us having to always prod them,” CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said after Friday's practice, the second of the spring and the first conducted outside. “They're going and moving.”

MacIntyre called Wednesday's opening practice of spring “the best” opener the Buffs have had since he arrived. Part of that, he said, is due to the fact that the Buffs are older and more experienced, which means more players who realize the importance of every opportunity and every practice.

“You have more of a junior-senior team,” MacIntyre said. “A lot of guys who have played a lot and understand the urgency of practice and understand that practice does make a difference on Saturdays — even practicing on March 4 makes a difference on Saturday. I think that sense of urgency by older guys has filtered down to our younger guys.”

Indeed, the attitude thus far seems to be one of excitement. Spring drills can often be seen as a necessary evil, but the atmosphere early has been virtually the opposite — a chance to erase the past and pave a new path for the future. Players run from drill to drill, chatter is constant and the increased pace is almost palpable.

“We're flying right now. Flying,” exclaimed redshirt freshman quarterback Steven Montez. “We're at a whole new level than I've seen us at before. It's awesome.”

One task for the Buffs this spring is installing some offensive changes, brought to Colorado by new offensive co-coordinator Darrin Chiaverini.

“We're trying to play with better tempo and push it a little bit,” said co-offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren. “Part of that influence has been Coach Chiaverini and some of the things they've done at Texas Tech. That's something that's an emphasis. We've always wanted to play fast; it's just that some of the things we've incorporated from their offense has allowed us to do it a little bit easier.”

But the increased pace is not limited to the offense. Jim Leavitt's defensive players are moving at the same speed. On the field, off the field and between plays — nobody walks.

“The kids are in shape and ready to go,” MacIntyre said. “They've been doing stuff in the offseason and they're anxious to get out here and get to work.”

READY FOR PADS: After two practices in shorts and helmets, the Buffs will don pads for the first time this spring in Monday's practice. That will give coaches their first good look at some of their redshirt freshmen who could be vying for playing time — particularly those up front on both sides of the line. Players among those redshirts who will be getting long looks include Brett Tonz, Lyle Tuiloma and Frank Umu on defense; and Tim Lynott Jr., Dillon Middlemiss, Isaac Miller and Aaron Haigler on offense.

““They're doing good, but we're in pajamas,” MacIntyre said. “When you're in pajamas out here, it's not quite as physical. We'll put on the pads Monday so it's a little different world. The first two days they're moving well, they're stronger than they were last year. I definitely have been pleased with those guys the first couple days and we'll find out when they get into pads on Monday.”

New offensive line coach Klayton Adams echoed MacIntyre's sentiments.

“We're still learning real basic techniques and trying to master important basic fundamentals,” Adams said. “ We'll graduate to other things after we get good at those basic things. But until you get in pads, you can't really know if you're mastering some of those basic fundamentals — and I'd say after two days there's not a very good chance you're mastering any of those things yet.”

Still, Adams said he's seen enough to be optimistic.

“We want to be a fundamental group and we want to understand the pecking order of those fundamentals,” he said. “If we can master those three or four things and graduate to something new, we're going to have an opportunity to do some good things.”

LEADERSHIP ROLE: Asked what players have begun to establish themselves as team leaders, MacIntyre pointed to senior tackle Jeromy Irwin, who isn't participating in spring drills as he continues to recover from knee surgery.

“Even though he's been hurt, he's really stepped into a leadership role, he's very vocal,” MacIntyre said. “The guys really respect him. He's doing everything he can do all the time. I've seen him be more vocal as a leader.”

PRACTICE OUTSIDE: Thanks to balmy spring weather, the Buffs were able to practice outside on the their lower practice fields Friday. They'll continue to practice outside if the weather allows.

By next fall, the plan is for the new practice fields, adjacent to the indoor practice facility, to be ready. Then, the Buffs will conduct the majority of their outdoor practices there, although they may still utilize the lower fields during two-a-days to reduce wear and tear on the new outdoor turf.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu