Competition 'Wide Open' At OLB As Buffs Look To Improve Pass Rush

BOULDER — Improving the pass rush has been a near-constant theme for the Colorado Buffaloes since spring practice began.

That translates into an extra emphasis on the outside linebacker spot, where the Buffs would love to see increased production this season.

Last season, the Buffs recorded just 22 sacks, a substantial drop from the 36 they recorded in 2016. Of those 22 sacks last year, 14 were produced by graduated seniors — meaning not only must the Buffs increase their sack production, they must do it with relative newcomers.

The result is wide-open competition at outside linebacker, where no fewer than four players are getting plenty of snaps with the Nos. 1 and 2 defenses thus far this spring.

While there is by no means even a "leader in the clubhouse" at this point, there is also no doubt CU coaches are hoping that Nu'umoto Falo can make a big jump. Back after a year away from the team, the Buffs junior is finally home at a spot where coaches believe he can flourish.

Falo spent his first two years at CU playing both inside and outside, and two seasons ago, recorded 1.5 sacks in relatively limited playing time.

Now, he's set on the outside, a place he calls his "natural" position and one at which head coach Mike MacIntyre believes he can have an impact.

"He's better off the edge," MacIntyre said earlier this year. "He sees better and reacts better. ... I really believe he'll make a jump in his pass-rushing ability, just like Jimmie (Gilbert) made a jump in his pass-rushing ability in his junior and senior year."

If Falo can make the same kind of jump former Buff Jimmie Gilbert made — from 2.5 sacks as a sophomore to six as a junior to 10.5 as a senior — the Buffs will be happy.

Falo certainly has the physical tools. At 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, he is big enough and fast enough to both rush the passer and play the run, and he can line up in the Buffs' base 3-4 alignment on the outside as well as their nickel package.

The question is how quickly he will be able to shake off the rust produced by a year away from the game.

But Falo isn't Colorado's only option outside. Also vying for playing time are sophomores Jacob Callier and Dante Sparaco, along with redshirt freshman Carson Wells.

"We have some good competition out there,'' defensive coordinator/outside linebackers coach D.J. Eliot said last week. "Guys are working hard. They're making some mistakes, but that's to be expected. It's still wide open and we'll see how it goes."

Callier and Sparaco both saw some playing time last season as true freshman. Callier recorded a sack and five tackles in 196 snaps on the field; Sparaco recorded a half-sack and three tackles in limited playing time before a hand injury sidelined him down the stretch.

Both are getting ample opportunities this spring to show their stuff.

"Being able to travel, I saw the speed that you need to be to be elite at the Pac-12 level," Sparaco said after Monday's practice. "That's what I'm trying to bring, is game speed in practice so I'll be prepared come the season."

Sparaco is a big, physical 'backer — 6-foot-5, 245 — who has the strength and speed to play the run and rush the passer.

Callier is quickly developing into a pass-rush specialist whose speed and "bend" on the outside help him get to the quarterback in a hurry.

"He understands the speed you have to play at in major college football," MacIntyre said. "He has the ability to rush the passer and that's where we really need him to flourish. He had a good practice today and competed on some third downs and showed some good flashes on pass rushing."

Along with being in much better condition than he was when he arrived last summer as a true freshman, Callier said he has improved his technique, along with developing a better understanding of the defense.

"I definitely think I've gotten better, but I still have to improve a lot," Callier said. "It was good to get in some games, but now I have to work to get better. Right now, the position is wide open. Every day is a fight, with all of us pushing each other to get better and work harder."

OUTSIDE PRACTICE: Despite some high winds and cool temperatures, the Buffs were outside Monday morning, practicing in full pads.

"It was cold and it was fun," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "They had a good time and we got after it. I thought it was a really good practice today."

MacIntyre liked what he saw from his quarterbacks in the cold, windy conditions.

"It was really good," MacIntyre said. "Early on, a couple of the QBs were like 'aaiigghh.' Then all of a sudden they started making the throws and making plays. It was good."

The Buffs will practice three more times this week, with workouts scheduled for Wednesday and Friday, followed by some scrimmage work Saturday.

RULES COMMITTEE: MacIntyre was in Indianapolis over the weekend, where he took part in NCAA Rules Committee meetings. Committee members met with their NFL counterparts, as well as proposed several changes that will be voted upon by the NCAA in April.

Among the proposed changes is a rule that would allow teams to fair-catch a kickoff that does not reach the end zone, with the receiving team then taking possession at the 25-yard line.

"We thought kicking the ball from the 35, people would just kick it out and wouldn't have as many returns," MacIntyre said. "But now people are starting to kick it really high and catching it on the 2 or 1. This is a way that it gave you the opportunity to fair catch and you can have it on the 25, or you could return it every time if you want to. It just gave that opportunity to help that."

One big impetus for the change was player safety.

"The committee discussed the kickoff play at great length and we will continue to work to find ways to improve the play," said Larry Fedora, North Carolina head coach and chair of the committee. "We believe making one change will allow us to study the effect of this change in terms of player safety."

MacIntyre said he also believes a proposed change in the redshirt rule could gain passage in April when the NCAA competition committee meets to vote on proposals.

The NCAA currently allows athletes five years to play four seasons. Redshirts, however, cannot participate in any game in a given season (an exception is made for injury redshirts).

The new proposal would allow players to participate in up to four games in a season and still regain redshirt status.

"I'm hoping that's a rule that comes through," MacIntyre said.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu