Woelk: What To Watch In Saturday's Buffs Spring Finale
April 26, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When the Colorado Buffaloes opened spring ball, they weren't sure what to expect from new head coach Mel Tucker and his staff.
Now they know.
With 14 practices in the books and one to go, Tucker has left no doubt what he expects — maximum effort, no wasted time and physical football. In his words, "meat and potatoes." Nothing fancy, just football the way it is meant to be played.
Saturday, Colorado fans will get their first glimpse of the Buffs under Tucker's guidance when the Buffs play the Spring Game Presented by UC Health at Folsom Field (noon start).
True to form, fans shouldn't expect anything fancy. The workout will be as close to a "game-like" environment as the Buffs can make it, but Tucker also wants it to be one final, physical practice before his team takes an end-of-semester break. The Buffs have spent the spring installing the basics of their new offense and defense, and Saturday will be their last opportunity to work on those installs in pads before fall camp.
Tucker and his staff broke the roster up into "Black" and "Gold" teams on Friday. The matchups will see much of the No. 1 offense vs. much of the No. 1 defense, and No. 2s vs. No. 2s.
What is evident is that Buffs coaches want to end the spring with an emphasis on physicality.
What should fans look for as they get their first look at a Mel Tucker Colorado team?
1. Work in the trenches. Defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh and his offensive counterpart, Chris Kapilovic, have had a busy spring. Both have been teaching their linemen new systems, new techniques and new terminology, along with instilling the new culture Tucker has stressed.
On the defensive side, the Buffs have been hampered to a degree by a lack of depth, but that has meant plenty of snaps for the players available. CU's new defense is a base 3-4, but the Buffs also play some four-man front that utilizes two outside linebackers basically as down linemen. Two players to keep an eye on in the interior are freshman nose tackle Jalen Sami, who had a solid spring, and sophomore Terrance Lang, who continues to show flashes of being a dominant player. Another newcomer getting some looks has been JC transfer Jeremiah Doss, while redshirt freshman Melekiola Finau and walkon Nico Magri have been getting plenty of work as well.
Offensively, the Buffs have mixed and matched a variety of combinations up front. Players who have had the most consistent spring camps are center/guard Tim Lynott and tackle William Sherman, but the key for the Buffs will be who among a relatively long list of players steps up and stakes a claim to the other positions heading into fall camp. Saturday will be their last chance to make such an impression.
2. Pro-style offense. This has been a major point of emphasis all spring. When Tucker arrived, he made it clear he wanted to run an offense that could hammer opponents with a run game, utilize the tight ends on a regular basis, and throw the ball efficiently and effectively.
All those things were an emphasis in spring ball. The Buffs have worked diligently to not only establish a run game, but develop one that can pick up tough yards on a consistent basis and convert inside the red zone. Tight ends have been a regular part of the scheme and the passing game is more of a downfield approach. The Buffs can still throw it deep, but they are utilizing the mid-range game as well.
3. Attacking defense. The Buffs want to get pressure on the quarterback from the inside and out, and they have made that an emphasis in the spring. They are also trying to shore up the run defense.
One thing the defense would love to produce Saturday is turnovers. The defense had a good day in the last scrimmage in limiting explosive plays, but didn't produce a takeaway. That's something they'll be aiming to do Saturday.
4. Position battles. Tucker promised that every spot would be open for competition, and that has been the case throughout the spring. Some of the spots that have been especially intense:
— Running back. Tucker and RBs coach Darian Hagan are looking for backs who can grind out tough yards inside as well as break big plays. Redshirt freshman Deion Smith has shown flashes and big-play potential and sophomore Alex Fontenot has been consistent, but the rest of the group — redshirt freshman Jarek Broussard and true freshmen Jaren Mangham and Joe Davis — have also had their moments. All are capable and all will get their chance Saturday to show their stuff. It's a position battle that will no doubt go deep into fall camp, but Saturday is one last chance for one or two backs to make an impression that will stick with coaches over the summer.
— Offensive line. Lots of player vying for spots here. That includes youngsters such as Casey Roddick, Kanan Ray, Austin Johnson and Frank Fillip; as well as upperclassmen like Kary Kutsch and Jack Shutack, and newcomer Va'atofu Sauvao. Lynott and Sherman have had solid camps, and Colby Pursell was looking good before being sidelined by an injury. But this is another place with several spots up for grabs that will no doubt be contested well into fall camp. Some newcomers in the summer will only push the competition level another notch.
— Outside linebacker. This is a position that has grown in importance in CU's new defensive schemes. Brian Michalowski's OLBs must not only be able to rush the passer, but they must also be capable of dropping into coverage and putting their hand on the ground and rushing from a three-point stance, much like a defensive end. There are plenty of candidates here such as Carson Wells, Nu'umotu Falo, Jacob Callier and Alex Tchangam, and all have had moments in the spring. Saturday will be a chance for a couple of them to make an impression heading into the summer.
— Safety. Here's a spot that has had plenty of competition this spring between sophomore Isaiah Lewis, juniors Trey Udoffia and Derrion Rakestraw, and sophomore Hassan Hypolite. They have bounced back and forth between the ones and twos, but consistency hasn't been one of the strong points. This is another spot that will be contested deep into fall camp — and one where the competition level will go up considerably with the addition of some newcomers over the summer.
— Inside linebacker. Returning starter Nate Landman has had a solid camp, with Tucker lauding his consistent, every-down approach. But the spot alongside him is competitive, with Jonathan Van Diest and Akil Jones vying for time, along with Chase Newman. This will definitely be a spot to watch Saturday — and next fall, when the Buffs have some experienced JC players to add to the mix.
— Wide receiver. Last year's leader, Laviska Shenault Jr., hasn't been in contact drills, as he recovers from offseason surgery. But there have been plenty of playmakers vying for what will likely be just three spots in the regular lineup. Returnees K.D. Nixon and Tony Brown have come up with big catches, as have sophomores Daniel Arias, Jaylon Jackson and Maurice Bell, along with redshirt freshman Dimitri Stanley. It's a deep, talented bunch — and one that will be fun to watch develop between now and the Aug. 30 season opener.
4. Tempo and physicality. Tempo isn't so much how fast the offense runs, but how fast everyone runs — every play, from snap to whistle. Tucker wants to wear people down in the fourth quarter, and his relentless push for physical play is slowly becoming part of this team's identity.
No doubt there is a long way to go. As Tucker noted several times in spring ball, the Buffs are just figuring out how he expects them to practice, how he expects them to approach meetings and how he expects them to approach their daily preparation.
But the Buffs are learning. It has been a tough, physical spring and players are slowly but steadily discovering that the expectation level has been bumped up several notches — and it is a non-negotiable expectation.
Saturday is their last chance for a few weeks to show their coaches what they have learned.
Note: Saturday's spring game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network for the first hour, and Pac-12 Mountain for both hours. The game will also be carried by KOA radio.
Admission is free, and a host of other activities are planned. For a full schedule and rosters for the Black and Gold teams, click here.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
