Spring Position Preview: Playing Time Wide Open In Secondary
March 26, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — While new Colorado head coach Mel Tucker is keeping a close eye on every position on the field in spring ball, he can't help but cast an extra glance on occasion toward his secondary.
It's no wonder. Tucker played defensive back at Wisconsin and has since spent much of his career coaching the secondary (along with coordinator duties) at both the college and pro levels.
That experience will be key to the Buffs development in the secondary this spring. Colorado lost both of its starting safeties from last year, Evan Worthington and Nick Fisher, to graduation. That, along with some questions (and injuries) at cornerback will make the final four weeks of spring ball crucial for Tucker and defensive back coaches Tyson Summers (also the defensive coordinator) and Travares Tillman.
2018 IN REVIEW: While Worthington and Fisher gave Colorado a solid back end on the defense, inconsistencies and injuries plagued the Buffs at the corners. Five different players — junior Trey Udoffia, senior Dante Wigley, senior Delrick Abrams Jr., junior Mekhi Blackmon and sophomore Chris Miller— all got starts at corner, with varying degrees of success.
Maybe the most telling statistic about Colorado's secondary last year was interceptions. CU's leader in that department was linebacker Nate Landman with two, and no other Buff had more than one. Of Colorado's eight total interceptions, half were produced by linebackers, and only one corner — Wigley — came up with a pick.
Meanwhile, the Buffs gave up their share of deep balls, with opponents completing 19 passes for 30 yards or more, including seven touchdowns. But one of the more troubling areas was the red zone: 11 of opponents' 22 touchdowns from inside the 20 came in the air.
Those are areas Tucker and his assistants will no doubt be addressing this spring and again in the fall.
WHO'S BACK: There are plenty of Buffs coming back with experience at the corners. All five players who started last year return, although Miller is not practicing this spring because of an injury.
Others returning with experience at corner include juniors Ronnie Blackmon (who got extensive time at nickel last year) and Kevin George; with junior Uryan Hudson also returning.
While there's not a lot of experience at safety, there are plenty of candidates for the spot — but injuries are keeping some of them out in the spring. That list includes Aaron Maddox, who did get 108 snaps last year on defense; and promising sophomore Hasaan Hypolite. Maddox is out for the spring and Hypolite is limited; but both should be ready for the summer.
Also returning is junior Derrion Rakestraw, who got two starts at safety last season, along with promising sophomore Isaiah Lewis. Both have been getting snaps with the No. 1 defense in early spring practices.
Other returnees include redshirt freshmen Ray Robinson and Dustin Johnson, and redshirt freshman L.J. Wallace.
WHO'S NEW: The Buffs added four high school signees in their latest recruiting class: D.J. Oats, Trustin Oliver, Mark Perry and K.J. Trujillo. Of the four, only Trujillo is an early enrollee, but he is not available for the spring because of an injury.
SPRING STORYLINES: Lots of stuff going on here as the Buffs look at a variety of combinations in their new defensive setup under Summers.
For starters, the Buffs need to find some reliable, every-down corners. Abrams, who played well at times last year before being sidelined late in the season with an injury, is getting a good look with the No. 1 defense, as is Wigley, who had eight starts last year (and the only interception by a cornerback). Their development, along with that of Mekhi Blackmon and Ronnie Blackmon, will be crucial, especially with Miller out.
At safety, Lewis and Rakestraw are getting time with the No. 1 defense. The Buffs are giving Udoffia a look at safety and the hybrid safety/linebacker spot (behind Davion Taylor), with Wallace also getting a long look at safety with the No. 2s in early practices.
FALL CAMP LOOK AHEAD: If everyone is healthy heading into fall camp, competition could be fierce. Miller will jump into the fray at corner and Hypolite and Maddox will compete at safety.
The bottom line is there are plenty of bodies available. The key will be who can separate themselves from the crowd by the time the Aug. 30 season opener against Colorado State rolls around.
SPRING SCHEDULE: The Buffs are off for spring break this week and will return to workouts next Monday. They will then practice three times a week throughout April, with the spring game set for Saturday, April 27 (noon, to be televised live by the Pac-12 Networks).
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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