Buffs Run Plays Provided By Denver Pro Team Bosses In Spring Game

BOULDER – The three head coaches and one manager of Denver's four major professional sports teams had the opportunity to call a play in Saturday's Colorado Spring Game.

The group included Nuggets head coach Mike Malone, Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar, Rockies manager Bud Black and new Broncos head coach Vic Fangio.

Some of the plays were reflective of the sports they coach and one was inspired by a Hall of Fame running back.

Malone's play, "The Jokic Special," was up first, as he wanted to imitate an 85-foot pass down the floor by All-Star center Nikola Jokic to a guard running down the floor to create a fast break.

On the first play of the game, the Black team started out with the ball and quarterback Steven Montez attempted to throw it deep to wide receiver K.D. Nixon down the right sideline. The pass, though, fell incomplete.

Next it was coach Fangio's turn. As a former defensive coordinator in the NFL, Fangio called a "cover zero" blitz for the Gold defense, meaning no zone coverage and the front seven blitzing into the backfield. But the Black team was able to exploit the formation by finding wide receiver Dimitri Stanley up the middle against man-to-man coverage into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown.

"It was kind of routine, it's where instinct and practice kicks in," Stanley said. "(The throw from Montez) was right on the money."

Bednar's play came on the first snap of the third quarter, as he wanted to imitate a player skating around and behind the goal after dumping the puck into the attacking zone. The Gold team ran a double reverse, with quarterback Tyler Lytle handing it to running back Deion Smith, who then handed it to Jarek Broussard for a gain of 10 yards and a first down.

"I liked all the plays," said head coach Mel Tucker. "They were all good plays and I was happy to get those other teams' coaches involved in what we were doing."

Last but not least came Black's play design, "The Bud Black Throwback." He wanted to replicate what Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders did in his career at Oklahoma State, when he threw a touchdown pass to Mike Gundy in the 1988 Holiday Bowl.

The Black team attempted the same exact play in the fourth quarter, but it didn't turn out as well. Montez pitched it to running back Joe Davis, who then attempted to throw it back to Montez, only to see linebacker Carson Wells anticipate the play and come up with an interception.

"I was honestly expecting an inside zone at first, but then I saw Montez try to sneak out so I just tried to follow Montez," Wells said. "We haven't even run that play in practice before so I was kind of surprised."

Montez expressed some humor in not only Black's play design, but all the other coaches' calls as well.

"I thought (they) were weak," Montez said in a joking manner. "(Black) needs to pick a different play next time."

Despite Davis' miscue on Black's trick play, he was able to take it in stride.

"It's a tremendous opportunity and it's a blessing to come out here," Davis said. "I'm only a freshman. I'm learning but I think I'm picking it up pretty well and it's just an honor to be out here. As a hometown kid this is what I've always dreamed of."