Buffs Report: Ray 'Blessed' To Be Back, Offense Has Good Day, New Technology
April 03, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When Colorado freshman Kanan Ray put on his pads last month for the beginning of spring ball, it marked the end of a 26-month wait.
That's 26 months of not lining up to play the game he loves, 26 months of recovery and rehabilitation from injuries, 26 months of watching teammates practice and play while he could not participate.
Now, finally, the wait is over. A healthy and hungry Ray is back on the field and making the most of his opportunity, and he has been getting time this week running at right tackle with the Buffs' No. 1 offense.
"It feels so good after 26 months finally being out there," Ray said after Wednesday's practice "It's a blessing. I couldn't be more thankful. I've thought about it every day for the past 26 months. It almost doesn't feel real. I almost couldn't sleep when practice was getting close."
Ray's journey just to get back on the field hasn't been an easy one. He originally signed with UCLA in 2017 after an ultra-successful high school career at Sierra Canyon in California, where he helped his team win two straight state titles.
But after having surgery to help knee and shoulder injuries, he delayed his enrollment in 2017 (grayshirted). After UCLA made a coaching change at the end of 2017, he reopened his recruiting and signed with Colorado in January 2018. He arrived last spring and continued the process of rehabilitating his knee injury, while also spending as much time as possible in the weight room.
This spring, he finally got clearance to participate in practice.
"I give it to the strength staff," Ray said. "Drew Wilson, Justin Geyer, Cody Stout — when I first got here, I wasn't on the field and those guys built me up. I give all the credit to those three for getting me ready for this."
Ray and his offensive line mates are currently neck-deep in learning a new offense under new coordinator Jay Johnson and offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic. It's significantly different than the offense the Buffs ran the last few years, but Ray said it is one the players are quickly learning to love.
"Coach Kap and Coach Johnson have done a great job since they came in feeding the playbook to us," Ray said. "There's a lot to learn, but I think everyone is loving it. There's a lot we can do."
CU's offensive line will be undergoing a relatively big change this year. Even though the Buffs have three starters returning — Tim Lynott, Colby Pursell and William Sherman — nothing is guaranteed. Lynott, a regular at guard, has been running at center for the last couple of practices while Pursell, last year's starting center, has been taking snaps at guard. Meanwhile, the Buffs will also be adding another lineman this summer in Oklahoma State grad transfer Arlington Hambright.
"Competition at every position — that's what it's all about," Tucker said. "There's nothing set in stone. No one has a position. We have a rep chart, not necessarily a depth chart. Guys are going to move up or move down based on production."
For Ray, it means taking advantage of every rep he can get on the field — and enjoying the opportunity to be back in pads and not watching from the sidelines.
"I'm just glad to be out here with my brothers," he said. ""Being out so long, there's been so many ups and down — to finally be here is a blessing. Patience has become one of my strong suits now. You can take anything in life for granted, but when it goes away and you get it back, you appreciate it that much more."
GOOD DAY FOR OFFENSE: After some early practices when the defense might have had the upper hand, the offense flipped the script in Wednesday's workout and enjoyed a productive day in a "thud" workout (shorts and shoulder pads). Quarterbacks Steven Montez, Sam Noyer and Tyler Lytle hit several long balls, and the run game produced some big gainers, inside and out, as the offensive line continues to gel.
"I thought the offense came out fast today, very productive, a lot of explosive plays in the run game and pass game," Tucker said. "That was very good to see."
Offensive coordinator Jay Johnson said the offense continues to make strides as they implement the new offensive scheme.
"It's improving," Johnson said. "Obviously as you continue on there are more things you put in and the defense puts more things in. But I think they're making progress and getting better every day. They're learning."
GPS MONITORING: The Buffs this spring have begun utilizing a GPS system for players that will help monitor players' activity in practice, including top speed, total distance traveled, acceleration and player "load" (energy expended).
The system, which uses a wearable device for athletes, will help CU's staff enable players to work smarter, more efficiently and more safely, said Director of Operations Bryan McGinnis.
"With the data it generates, it allows us to monitor what players do in an entire practice," McGinnis said. "They can work more efficiently, it will help prevent injuries because we will know what their load limit is, and they can train smarter. Overall, it gives us another tool in getting peak performance from players."
The system, which was first used by rugby and soccer teams (CU's soccer team utilizes a similar setup), is now being used by more and more football programs.
The system can help prevent injuries — particularly soft-tissue injuries such as hamstring and muscle pulls — by helping know when players hit peak load. It is particularly effective in that regard for defensive backs and wide receivers, who sprint full speed down the field on a regular basis.
Because the units can also record top speeds, they can produce friendly competition among the players.
Wednesday was the first time players — 44 in all — wore the units.
"I felt like they played fast," Tucker said after practice. "We'll see what the units say. We'll get the report this afternoon."
The Buffs will continue to gather data this spring and then be able to utilize the results next fall when they open camp.
PRACTICE REPORT: Wednesday's workout was just the second of the spring in pads (fifth overall). Tucker said he liked what he saw — and he expects the intensity level to continue to rise as April progresses. CU has 10 spring practices remaining, including the April 27 spring game.
"They were fired up when they came out," Tucker said. "Obviously when you put the pads on you get a chance to strike guys, knock guys around. Guys get excited about that. I thought it was good work. We had a good tempo, it was a physical practice. I expect them to get more physical as we go." …
Junior college transfer Jeremiah Doss is getting some reps at defensive end with the No. 1 defense. … Carson Wells, Nu'umotu Falo and Alex Tchangam continue to get work at outside linebacker, a position that has expanded in duties in the new defense. … Redshirt freshman running backs Deion Smith and Jarek Broussard were getting some snaps with the No. 1 offense Wednesday. It's a position that is still clearly wide open. True freshmen Jaren Mangham and Joe Davis have also had some good moments early. … Wide receivers K.D. Nixon, Dimitri Stanley and Tony Brown all had nice catches on throws from Montez, and Maurice Bell hauled in some long balls. … Junior defensive back Mekhi Blackmon got some time with the No. 1 defense.
SCHEDULE: With five practices down and 10 to go, the Buffs are scheduled for a full-pads practice on Friday.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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