Landman Making Most Of Opportunity At Inside Linebacker
September 01, 2018 | Football
DENVER – Senior linebacker Drew Lewis moving to outside linebacker didn't just help the Colorado Buffaloes' defensive attack from the outside. It provided an opportunity to make their linebacking corps an excellent well-rounded unit.
Sophomore inside linebacker Nate Landman has benefited greatly from that move.
"It's a great sacrifice," Landman said. "That just shows leadership on his part. Drew's a great middle linebacker and it was very unselfish of him. He's making plays out there."
Landman was the heartbeat of the Colorado defense Friday night in their commanding 45-13 win against Colorado State.
The Danville, Calif., native collected 16 tackles, including two for a loss, and claimed an interception in his first game as a starter.
"For sure (I had butterflies in my stomach)," Landman said. "I take that as a sign of strength in getting prepared for the game. As soon as getting that first play is over with, then they all go away."
Landman's interception came in the early phase of the second quarter when CSU quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels' throw was tipped by sophomore lineman Mustafa Johnson and into the hands of Landman.
Landman and the Buffs were able to prevent what then was a methodically sound drive from the Rams, as Colorado State was looking to cut the 21-7 deficit in half.
"My pass coverage has taken good strides," Landman said. "Slowing myself down and being able to read the pass play and dropping into coverage has been my biggest improvement."
Previous to Friday night's game, Landman as a freshman last season recorded 17 tackles, with four of them being for loss. Landman was most active in the last two games of the season against USC and Utah, the latter game being his most active, as he played 40 snaps.
"He has been waiting for this game since the end of last year against Utah," said senior linebacker Rick Gamboa. "He has been waiting almost a whole year so he was very excited going into this game. He knows what he can do, and as a defense we know what he is capable of."
At the end of the spring semester, Landman's work in the weight room was evident, power cleaning 355 pounds and squatting 475 pounds.
"I saw Nate flying around, making plays, made a pick," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "I saw the Nate Landman that I see every day in practice. He's just a football player that arrives in an angry mood and makes plays. He's gotten bigger and stronger and dissects plays very well."
Landman and company were able to contain CSU's main weapons for most of the evening. They allowed running backs Izzy Matthews and Marcus McElroy only 91 yards on 29 carries combined while holding Carta-Samuels to 18-for-33 passing for 176 yards. The Buffs ultimately allowed only 284 total yards for the game and forced nine punts.
"As a defense we got better as the game went on," Landman remarked. "We came out hot, which is to be expected from a rivalry game. A lot of guys stepped up to make a lot of plays. As the game went on we got better."
Colorado's defense stymied the Rams on third down as Colorado State was able to only convert 7-of-19 third downs on the night.
"The defensive line was fresh all game," Landman said. "We had a great rotation coming in there, making a lot of plays and being physical by taking up blocks. I credit a lot of my success to them. They worked their butts off all day."
Sophomore Mustafa Johnson led CU's defensive line with five tackles, including a half-sack and 1.5 tackles for loss.
The next test for Landman and this defense will take place in Lincoln, Neb., as the Buffaloes clash with the Nebraska Cornhuskers next Saturday.
