Buffs Wrap Up Summer Conditioning, Set For Thursday Camp Opener
July 29, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Start the clock. The Colorado Buffaloes' looonnggg offseason has finally come to an end.
The Buffs wrapped up their summer strength and conditioning session Monday. Tuesday is photo day. Wednesday, all players are scheduled to report for their first meetings of training camp.
Then comes the first practice, a Thursday morning workout that will signal the official opening of Mel Tucker's first fall as Colorado's head coach. Tucker and the Buffs will have 25 practices spread over 29 days before they kick off their season under the Friday night lights in Denver on Aug. 30 against Colorado State (8 p.m., ESPN).
How long an offseason has it been for the Buffs? Since a 33-21 loss at Cal ended their 2018 season with their seventh straight defeat, the Buffs have:
— Undergone a coaching change that saw Tucker, most recently the defensive coordinator at Georgia, take the reins in his first college head coaching job;
— Taken part in a nine-week winter strength and conditioning program, nearly twice as long as their previous winter/spring sessions;
— Participated in an intense spring ball session during which Tucker and his new staff begin installing not only new offensive and defensive schemes, but also a new culture that places a new emphasis on discipline, fundamentals and work ethic;
— Engaged in a summer strength/conditioning session that upped the ante in every area. Tucker's emphasis since his arrival has been on winning the fourth quarter, and he is determined to make it an integral thread of the team's fabric.
Now, after an offseason of change, the intensity level is expected to only step up a notch.
CU players believe they are prepared.
"We're ready," said defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson, a preseason All-Pac-12 first team pick. "We love the strength and conditioning, but it's nothing like putting the pads on and getting out there and grinding with your brothers. Everybody is stronger, faster, better and we learned a lot. We're putting everything together.
"Now we just have to put it together on the practice field."
Johnson, who was fourth on the team in tackles last season (73) and the team leader in sacks (8.5), is one of the players expected to assume a role as a team leader. After an outstanding sophomore season in Boulder — his first after transferring from Modesto Junior College — he will now be one of the veterans on a defense that has as many question marks as answers.
"I personally like the role and embrace it — but truth is, I have no choice," Johnson said. "I have to step up. I'm the only guy on the line coming back with a lot of experience. Terrance (Lang) played some, but I'm the only one with every-down experience. I have to make sure I'm doing everything right and bring the other guys along with me."
The fourth quarter emphasis, Johnson said, is something of which every player on the team is keenly aware.Â
"Every time we ran this summer, we put up 'fours' to let us know we had to push to the end, always," Johnson said. "We lost a lot of games last year in the third and fourth quarter. We have to improve on that. It's why coaches are stressing that so much. We know it's something they looked at as soon as they got here."
Johnson, who started all 12 games in 2018, is one of five returning Buffs who had at least six starts on defense last year. The others are inside linebacker Nate Landman (12 starts), outside linebacker Davion Taylor (10), cornerback Delrick Abrams Jr. (8) and outside linebacker Carson Wells (6).
Wells is another Buff who will be expected to add some leadership duties to his daily tasks.
"I've been talking to coach (Brian) Michalowski about that a lot," Wells said. "I need to become a better leader and be more vocal. I've always tried to lead by example, come in and do my work every day, keep my head down and do my job. But now I have to try to bring guys along with me. It's going to be important for all of the leaders to step up and do that."
Wells no doubt made the most of the Buffs' strength program. He added 50 pounds to his squat this summer — he hit 500 pounds last week — and said he is in the best shape of his life.
"I think just about everybody made strides," Wells said. "The strength coaches picked it up a whole another level and I think we responded."
The challenge of the summer, Wells said, was clear from the beginning.
"You had to come ready to work every day," he said. "There wasn't a day off. You had to come in every day with the mindset that you had to get better. I think we all bought into that and worked toward that."
Now the Buffs have to translate that work ethic to the practice field.
"I think everybody's ready," Wells said. "The summer was good. I think it will help when things get tough. That's when you have to keep up a good attitude and make sure everybody stays focused on what we're doing."
OPEN PRACTICE: The Buffs will host an open practice to the public on Saturday at Folsom Field. Gates will open at 8 a.m. (admission is free) with practice starting at approximately 8:50 a.m. and lasting for about two-and-a-half hours. A post-practice autograph/meet-the-team session will take place as well. Due to construction in Folsom Field, entrances for fans will be at the 50-yard line in Balch Fieldhouse and Gates 7-13 around the stadium.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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