Transition Has Been Smooth, Steady For Buffs D-Coordinator Eliot, Staff

BOULDER — More often than not, a new defensive coordinator means a new scheme, new terminology and a steep learning curve for defensive players.

But when Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre brought D.J. Eliot into the CU fold last spring, MacIntyre flipped that equation.

MacIntyre wanted as few changes as possible for his players. MacIntyre's aim was to not only keep the 3-4 scheme he installed in 2015, but also keep the terminology the same with the goal of maintaining as much continuity as possible.

Thus, it was up to Eliot, along with new defensive assistants ShaDon Brown and Ross Els, to learn CU's terminology and scheme — and so far, the transition appears to be seamless. The Buffs had a solid spring under the new defensive staff, and when Colorado opens fall camp Friday, Eliot expects his defense to hit the ground running.

"The terminology wasn't that hard," said Eliot, who spent the previous four seasons at Kentucky as the Wildcats' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. "I've worked at so many different jobs and called so many things so many different things, it was easy for us. I just wanted to keep it the same for the kids so they wouldn't have to learn something new. I consider myself trilingual — I can speak a lot of different defensive languages."

The importance of keeping the terminology the same as well as the scheme can't be overstated. For CU players who have been in the program since 2014, Eliot is their third defensive coordinator. But keeping everything virtually the same through the spring meant players could concentrate on making plays, not learning new schemes or a new "language."

It made for a quicker, smoother transition, and it also allowed Eliot and his defensive staff to concentrate on the most important aspect of any defense: identifying playmakers.

"Learning the personnel is the key no matter what scheme you run," Eliot said. "Our job in the spring was to get to know the kids, identify who was good at what. We have to make sure we're getting our best players in position to make plays."

Eliot said there's no shortage of talent on the defensive side of the ball. Despite the fact that CU lost eight starters to graduation last year — including four NFL Draft picks — Eliot believes he has plenty of players capable of being difference makers on defense.

"(Cornerback) Isaiah Oliver is a playmaker and has a lot of skills," Eliot said. "(Safety) Afolabi Laguda is a playmaker and has a lot of skills. (Defensive back) Evan Worthington had a great spring and I think he can be in position to make plays. Obviously, Rick Gamboa is a great 'backer for us. (Safety) Ryan Moeller is a guy who has made a lot of plays for Colorado. Derek McCartney has made plays.

"There's a good number of guys who have some significant experience and have proven they can make plays, and then there's another group of guys who have talent but maybe don't have a lot of experience yet. That combination makes me feel good about the season."

While three of CU's four NFL Draft picks were defensive backs, the Buffs still have plenty of talent and experience returning in the secondary. The biggest question on defense may be up front, where Colorado must replace three 300-pounders in the trenches.

"Obviously, getting the two junior college defensive linemen was critical for us, Chris Mulumba and Javier Edwards," Eliot said. "There's two guys that have college experience that are mature, veteran college players. Those are two guys who came in for the spring and got to learn our defense and get reps within our defense. Those two guys will no doubt be critical and they were great to get."

But there's also some returning experience up front, beginning with senior Leo Jackson III, a starter in 2015 and a key reserve last year.

"Leo has a lot of experience for us and will be a big help," Eliot said. "There are also other guys who have the ability to be good but just don't have the experience. Frank Umu, Tim Coleman, Jase Franke … there's a group of guys there that maybe didn't play a lot last year but are mature, athletic guys who can do some good things for us this year."

As the Buffs prepared to open camp a year ago, there was little question that CU's defense would be a cornerstone of the team. Now, with plenty of talent but not so much experience, CU's defense will have to learn on the fly. It's another reason fall camp, which opens Friday, will be vital for the Buffs' development.

"We have good talent and I think we'll be good on defense," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "We're going to have a few growing pains with guys that are going to be out there a lot more than they have been, but as they get their feet wet, I think you'll see our defense gel into a very, very good defense."

Eliot's crew will be tested right out of the gate. Not only do the Buffs open the season Sept. 1 against a highly touted Colorado State offense, they will see the Rams after CSU has already played a game and ostensibly worked out some of the typical early season kinks.

The Buffs aren't, however, buying into the idea that the defense is rebuilding this year.

"I think our players have the mindset that they don't want to rebuild, they want to build off what they did and keep moving forward," Eliot said. "That's the approach we're taking heading into training camp and that's the approach we're going to take this season. I think everyone's fired up and ready to get this thing going."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu