Buffs Captain Gamboa Believes Defense Will Take Big Step Forward
July 31, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — In his four-plus years at Colorado, senior inside linebacker Rick Gamboa has experienced both ends of the spectrum when it comes to program success.
From a 10-loss season to a 10-win season — and a couple in between — the two-year team captain has run the gamut of emotions with the Buffs.
Now, as he enters his senior year, Gamboa simply wants to make his last season in a CU uniform one to remember for all the right reasons.
"Whatever it takes," the 6-foot, 230-pound Gamboa said as the Buffs prepare to open fall camp this week. "Being here so long, I've seen a lot, experienced a lot and seen how a lot of things play out. Now I'm just trying to take everything day by day, help my teammates out and do whatever the team needs me to do to be successful. That means from a leadership role, from a player role — everything."
Leadership is no doubt a Gamboa strong suit. He this year became just the 14th player in CU history to be elected a captain twice by his teammates, and he's earned that honor via his work ethic, his performance and his dedication to the game.
"It's something that's really important to me, especially coming from the team," Gamboa said. "It puts a big responsibility on me, 24/7. Practice, off the field, everything. Guys look at me for what to do, what's right and wrong, things like that. … You can't make mistakes, you can't take plays off. It's a role I'm proud of having and it pushes me to want to be better."
Gamboa has no doubt already left his mark at Colorado. His string of 37 consecutive starts is the longest current streak on the team, he has been among the Buffs' top three tacklers in each of the last three seasons, and he enters the year in 19th place on CU's all-time tackles list with 292 stops (145 solo).
This year, he was selected to Phil Steele's College Football preseason All-Pac-12 second team, while Athlon Sports and Lindy's publications named him to their third team preseason squads.
But while Gamboa received his share of preseason love, prognostications for the Buffs as a team weren't nearly as positive. On the heels of a 5-7 season, Colorado was picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12 South, just ahead of Arizona State.
"Honestly, that's not something we really pay much attention to," Gamboa said. "Since I've been here, every year we haven't been high up in poll. But I always remember what my high school coach always told us: it's not the poll at the beginning that matters, it's the poll at the end of the year. We just know that no pads have been put on yet, no games have been played."
The pads will go on soon enough. The Buffs officially report for fall camp Wednesday, open practice Thursday, and are scheduled to don full pads for the first time next Tuesday. They will have 25 practices to prepare for the Aug. 31 season opener against Colorado State in Denver (7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network).
Every practice, the Buffs know, will be integral to their development. While the offense must replace more starters from last year (just four return from 2017), the defense must not only replace five starters, but must also take a big step forward after a 2017 season that saw the unit struggle in many key areas.
It is a group that Gamboa believes could surprise some people this year — especially those who aren't counting on the Colorado defense being much improved.
"I think we have a good mix of older guys with a lot of experience and some young, really talented young guys who have a lot of hunger," Gamboa said. "I think we have a good mix. I also think we have a really good coaching staff. Everybody knows each other, we know what's expected and I think we'll go out and play as a unit from the very beginning. I think we can surprise a lot of people this year."
One of those talented younger guys, sophomore Nate Landman, played alongside Gamboa down the stretch last year.
Now, with Gamboa and fellow starter Drew Lewis returning — the top two tacklers from last season — and Landman now a solid part of the mix, along with sophomore Akil Jones, it gives the Buffs some quality depth at a position that can take its toll.
Just how important depth is at the position is illustrated by CU's 2016 defense. While Gamboa and Kenneth Olugbode started every game for the Buffs that year at inside 'backer, Colorado also had the luxury of having veteran Addison Gillam on hand. That allowed the Buffs to stay fresh inside throughout the season, with Gillam playing almost 400 snaps that year.
"You definitely want to be out there every snap — every player wants to do that," Gamboa said. "But a rotation definitely helps keep guys fresh. When you play a lot of snaps, your legs and body start getting a little more sore, especially late in the year. Sometimes taking a series off here and there can help."
The Gamboa-Lewis-Landman combination gives the Buffs a potential big punch from the two-man ILB position. Gamboa is a heady, coach-on-the-field player; Lewis is one of the Buffs' best all-around athletes; and Landman in the spring earned the Buffs' award for outstanding toughness. CU coaches experiment with combinations of all three during the spring, with solid results in each instance.
That, Gamboa said, is something that should inspire confidence throughout the defense.
"Knowing that you feel comfortable with whoever is on the field helps a lot," Gamboa said. "When you have guys in there that you trust to make plays, you feel good about the situation and everybody plays with a little more confidence."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
