Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Gear For Saturday Scrimmage
August 12, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
MacIntyre hopes to get good look at youngsters
BOULDER — When the Colorado Buffaloes hit the field Saturday morning for their first major scrimmage of fall camp, the coaching staff will be looking for consistency and production from young players aiming to make an impression.
Consistency means consistent drives from the offense — steady production, play after play — and consistent play from the defense — good tackling, adhering to assignments and no big plays.
For younger players, it will be their first big opportunity to make their case for some playing time.
Granted, since they will be playing against each other, both sides won't be getting everything they want. But the scrimmage will give CU's coaches a chance to look at a number of young players in their first truly "live" action of camp.
"I would hope that we would have good rhythm and execution," head coach Mike MacIntyre said after Friday's practice, the first of two CU workouts of the day. "They'll be out there without the coaches on the field with them. We'll truly see what they know."
Pac-12 officials will be on hand to officiate the scrimmage, which will also give the Buffs their first taste this camp of playing with the threat of penalty flags flying. The team is scheduled to meet with the officials before the scrimmage, and the team should be on the Folsom Field turf by approximately 9:45 a.m.
While CU's veterans will no doubt get some time on the field, a good portion of the scrimmage, MacIntyre said, will be used to get a look at a some of the younger players vying for playing time. With Friday marking the three-week countdown to the Sept. 2 season opener vs. Colorado State in Denver (ESPN), coaches are no doubt starting starting the process of sorting out depth chart possibilities.
"We've got a few guys we'd like to look at in the heat of the battle," MacIntyre said. "We'll give some of our guys who have played a lot of football some reps, kind of like you do a preseason game, and then get them out."
Offensively, both co-coordinators have said they want to see the Buffs produce some sustained drives.
"We've seen some good things, but we have to be more consistent," Darrin Chiaverini said. "We've definitely gotten better; now we have to take the next step and be more consistent. We're not good enough to where we can put plays together. We have a flashy play and then we have a negative play, then a flashy play, then a negative play. If you want to be a good offense you have to put together consistent plays, consistent plays, consistent plays, and then pop a big one."
Brian Lindgren, who will be keeping a close eye on quarterbacks Sefo Liufau and Steven Montez, echoed Chiaverini's assessment.
"We've strung some good plays together, but we haven't been able to quite get over the hump yet in terms of consistency," Lindgren said. "We've got to get to the spot where we're able to put together a full practice in all the areas and really execute at a high level more consistently."
Even though the Buffs return 18 starters (nine on offense and nine on defense), along with a host of other players with significant experience, there are still plenty of positions up for grabs. It means players battling for a spot on the depth chart will have their chance to show their stuff.
"We'll be doing a lot of evaluation of personnel," Lindgren said. "We'll put some guys in some different situations and put a little pressure on them to see how they react."
GAMBOA, OLIVER MORE COMFORTABLE: A year ago, current sophomores Rick Gamboa and Isaiah Oliver were new to Jim Leavitt's defense and still waiting for their first playing time in a college game.
Gamboa, a redshirt linebacker, got his opportunity in a hurry. When starting linebacker Addison Gillam went down with an injury in Week 2, Gamboa stepped in and became the starter for the rest of the season. The 6-foot, 230-pounder from Sylmar, Calif., started 11 games and ended up leading the team in tackles with 96.
Oliver, meanwhile, a true freshman a year ago, broke in playing special teams, then earned more and more time at cornerback. By season's end, he had earned three starts — including the last two games of the season — and finished with 19 tackles, five third-down stops and six pass breakups (fourth-best on the team).
It all means they are much more comfortable this season, with both seeing plenty of time with the No. 1 defense thus far in camp.
"It's a big difference," Gamboa said. "I see myself as having more of a leadership role, especially on defense. Just trying to help get everyone ready, get everyone set, knowing all the calls. It just helps with that one year of experience, not being as nervous and feeling more comfortable."
Oliver said being comfortable with the defensive calls has meant the game has "slowed down" considerably.
"Compared to last year, it's definitely a lot different," Oliver said. "You have a year under your belt, you know the defense and you have a good feel for it. Once you know the defense and what's coming, the game slows down a lot. It gives you a lot more time to focus on your technique and focus on what you are doing."
Gamboa is one of three quality veterans vying for two starting spots. Gillam is back and healthy (although he's still not practicing full go every day), and two-year starter Kenneth Olugbode is also back.
Oliver, meanwhile, is listed ahead of returning starter Ahkello Witherspoon at one cornerback spot, but odds are, both will be on the field together quite often. Both Oliver and Witherspoon have had excellent camps competing against CU's top receivers regularly in practice.
"Going against guys like Shay Fields and Juwann Winfree every day, guys like that, you get better every day," Oliver said. "When you play with them all the time, it will help when you get on the field on Saturday."
Gamboa, meanwhile, said the defense expects to take another big jump forward.
"We made big strides last year and we play on making even bigger strides this year," Gamboa said. "All the new stuff the offense is doing has actually been a big help to us, too. It makes it a lot harder to play against and it's making us better every day. With all the talent we have on the offensive side of the ball and all the guys we have back on defense, we're going to be good this year."
PRACTICE TIDBITS: Running Donovan Lee, who started the season last year at wide receiver, is proving to be a consistent threat catching the ball out of the backfield and making plays in space. … Fellow back Phillip Lindsay, one of CU's most consistent receivers out of the backfield last year, is also having a good camp in that area. … True freshman Tony Julmisse continues to work at both wide receiver and defensive back, and has played both spots in the same practice recently. … Veteran defensive lineman Leo Jackson III has had some quality snaps the last few days. … Inside linebacker Rick Gamboa came up with an interception in team drills. … Wide receiver Devin Ross had back-to-back great catches over the middle on passes from Sefo Liufau in team work. … Sophomores N.J. Falo and Terran Hasselbach and junior Christian Shaver are vying for playing time at outside linebacker as backups behind Derek McCartney and Jimmie Gilbert. Shaver can play both inside and outside LB. … Redshirt freshman QB Steven Montez extended a play by scrambling to the outside, then launched a 50-plus yard strike to tight end Dylan Keeney, who went high up in the air for a terrific catch at the goal line.
SCHEDULE: The Buffs are set to conduct their first scrimmage of fall camp Saturday in Folsom Field. Players are expected to take the field about 9:45 a.m. They'll have Sunday off, then return Monday for a pair of practices, their third two-a-day session of camp.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
