Woelk: MacIntyre Believes Buffs Have Renewed Sense Of Urgency
August 04, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Four little words from Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre spoke volumes at Saturday's annual CU Media Day.
Asked how the experience of this year's upperclassmen can help influence the direction of MacIntyre's sixth team, MacIntyre mentioned attention to detail. He noted that older players must teach younger players that such a thing is important, that the nuances — in practice and in preparation — are the little things that add up to big moments.
Then, MacIntyre said, upperclassmen must also provide "a sense of urgency."
Indeed. It was a trademark of the 2016 Pac-12 South champs, an attitude that carried Colorado to 10 wins and a shot at the conference title. That team took advantage of every opportunity that presented itself — and created a few of its own.
It was also something that was missing in 2017. Just one year after a magical turnaround season, the Buffs came up short in key moments, and the result proved to be a 5-7 finish and an offseason of playing "what if …"
But if experience is indeed the best teacher, if learning from the past is the best way to make sure history does not repeat itself, the 2018 Buffaloes should be ready.
MacIntyre believes he's seen early signs that these Buffs have that sense of urgency.
"A lot of the kids were on the team two years ago when we were really building this program," MacIntyre said. "Then last year, we came up short in two games that we had won the year before. They now understand how you have to build for those games and how winning doesn't just happen, and the work ethic and understanding of how you have to handle that under pressure. We have some key players that have been under that pressure that have to make pressure kicks, make pressure throws, and have to make pressure tackles and sacks. I am excited about those guys and hopefully doing that this year."
Bringing such an attitude to a team is always the job of the upperclassmen. But it becomes even more imperative when a team will be depending on a host of younger players and newcomers — and that is who the 2018 Buffs will be.
Not that there are not plenty of veterans who have been through the Pac-12 battles. The Buffs have 11 players with a wealth of starting experience — four on offense and 11 on defense. There are also a handful of other returning veterans who have a handful of starts under their belts.
Those players will no doubt be the foundation.
But if the 2018 Buffs are indeed going to bump their win-loss ledger back into the black, they will need production and performance from a host of inexperienced players who won't have the luxury of getting a few snaps here and there.
There will be no baby steps. Instead, they will be thrown into the fire and expected to make significant contributions from the get-go.
MacIntyre and his staff believe they have the players who can meet that challenge.
"We have some really good athletes out there and our coaches are doing a great job," he said. "There's a learning curve on everything, but the young men that came in in January, I feel really good about those guys being able to step right in on day one. We have some guys that we redshirted. We have some sophomores that played a little bit last year that have taken the next step. Now we just have to do it in the games and make the plays."
The Buffs did indeed aim their recruiting this year at bringing in immediate help in "need" areas. At least four junior college signees — all of whom were on campus in the spring in time for spring ball — are expected to be big contributors right away on defense. If defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson, Buff back Davion Taylor, defensive back Delrick Abrams Jr. and linebacker Alex Tchangam can make an impact right away, CU's defense could be salty.
Meanwhile, as many as 10 redshirt freshmen could be in the mix, with three listed atop the current depth chart — linebacker Carson Wells, cornerback Chris Miller and center Colby Pursell. Others who could be contributors include running back Alex Fontenot, offensive linemen William Sherman and Jake Moretti, and defensive lineman Terrance Lang.
All told, there are 15 spots on the Buffs' current two-deep occupied by players who have yet to play a Division I snap. There are another half-dozen players who got a taste last year — players such as wide receivers Laviska Shenault Jr. and K.D. Nixon and linebacker Nate Landman — who will be expected to be eating regularly this year.
That's enough youth and inexperience to cause a few sleepless nights on the CU coaching staff — but none of those players have been given their spots by default. Instead, they have earned them. Each of those newcomers brings Pac-12 ability to the table.
Now, their development in fall camp — on and off the field — will be a key to the Buffs' success. If they can gain that sense of urgency and apply it on a daily basis, if they veterans can make sure that attitude and fire stays alive throughout August, it will pay dividends in September.
So far, with three practices checked off the calendar, MacIntyre believes he's seen that attitude.
"We definitely want to be better this year, and I believe we will be," he said. "We were so close last year. I said that a couple years ago, and nobody believed it, then we broke through. We just need to break through in couple of games."
QUOTE OF THE DAY: From MacIntyre, describing sophomore linebacker Nate Landman: "He has a burst to the ball and when he gets there, he arrives there in a bad mood."
CAREER STARTS: The Buffs will enter the season with just eight players — four on offense and four on defense — with double-digit career starts.
On offense, the group includes guard Tim Lynott (24), wide receiver Jay MacIntyre (18), offensive lineman Aaron Haigler (16) and quarterback Steven Montez (15). The defensive players are linebacker Rick Gamboa (37), safety Evan Worthington (14), linebacker Drew Lewis (12) and defensive end Chris Mulumba (10).
MAC CLIMBS PAC-12 CHARTS: Now in his sixth year at the helm, MacIntyre is the fourth-longest tenured coach in the Pac-12. He trails only Utah's Kyle Whittingham (14th season), Stanford's David Shaw (eighth) and Washington State's Mike Leach (seventh).
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: After completing their third practice of camp on Saturday, the Buffs will take Sunday off before returning to the field on Monday. They will practice in shells again Monday, then put on full pads for the first time in camp on Tuesday.
"On Tuesday, real football starts," MacIntyre said.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
Players Mentioned
