Colorado University Athletics
Coach Prime, Buffs Ready To Open Spring Drills
March 18, 2023 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When the Colorado Buffaloes open their first spring session Sunday under the direction of Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders, the to-do list for Sanders and his staff will no doubt be a long one.
In the span of just a few months, the Buffs have undergone a roster change the likes of which has never been seen before in CU history — but one that is emblematic of today's college football world, where the transfer portal has changed the entire concept of rebuilding.
More than half of Colorado's roster has yet to play a game in a Colorado uniform. Virtually the entire coaching staff — from Sanders on down through the graduate assistants — is new, including the coordinators, who will have 15 spring practices to begin the on-field process of installing their new schemes.
But Sanders has vowed that CU fans won't have to endure a long, painful rebuilding process. He wants to win immediately — and to get there, the Buffs will have to improve in every facet of the game.
The top priorities of the spring:
1. Install new schemes on both sides of the ball. New offense, new defense, new terminology and new players means a tall order. Defensive coordinator Charles Kelly and offensive counterpart Sean Lewis have had the opportunity to begin the install process in the classroom, but nothing takes the place of on-field work.
Every practice, every film session, every drill will be important. There will be no room for wasted time or effort. Which brings us to …
2. Emphasize a sense of urgency. Granted, no matter what happens in the spring, the Buffs will still have an entire summer and fall camp to catch up if necessary.
But playing catch-up is not Coach Prime's style — and you can bet that every minute the Buffs spend on the field will be one with a purpose.
Sanders and his staff all have winning backgrounds. They all are familiar with what it takes to create the edge now that will make a difference next fall.
Expect that sense of urgency to be evident from Day One. The pace will be fast, the learning curve steep and the margin for error slim. Players who adjust quickly will make their mark and there's no doubt coaches will be noting who those players are.
3. Continue to build culture and continuity. It took Sanders roughly 10 seconds to deliver the message he wanted every Buff to hear when he took the job. His introductory speech to the team quickly became famous. There will be no excuses, no shortcuts and nothing short of a standard of excellence.
Now Coach Prime and his staff have to build that culture on the field.
More than half of CU's players were still introducing themselves to their new teammates just a couple of months ago. This spring will be their first opportunity to begin building a level of trust and a measure of confidence among themselves in a setting that goes beyond the weight room and conditioning drills.
4. Begin to establish a depth chart. Just about every CU coach has stressed that this is a fresh start for every player on the roster. Some coaches haven't even bothered to watch film from last year because they want their first impressions to be free of pre-judgment.
Still, the Buffs will no doubt use these upcoming 15 practices to begin the determination process of who will have a chance of trotting onto the field as a starter at TCU on Sept. 2.
Of particular interest will be the offensive and defensive lines, where the Buffs have plenty of bodies — and plenty of opportunity for players to squeeze their way to the top.
5. Develop a backup quarterback. While many positions will be up for grabs, there's zero doubt as to who QB 1 will be. Shedeur Sanders, the head coach's son, brings ability, experience and a solid resume´ to the position.
But after Sanders, the list of backups is extremely short on experience. Sophomore Drew Carter has played a handful of snaps, and after that, the list consists of true freshmen Colton Allen and Ryan Staub.
There is, of course, still time for Colorado to add another QB to the roster — a distinct possibility. But in the meantime, the Buffs will have to do their best to develop a backup who can step in and take the reins if necessary.
6. Don't worry about the schedule. Truth is, Colorado's opening five games will be among the toughest stretches any team in the nation will face. The slate includes the national runner-up from last season (TCU), two long-time rivals (Nebraska and Colorado State) and two Pac-12 foes (USC and Oregon) that finished last season ranked among the nation's top 15.
But the Buffs have plenty on their plates between now and August — and looking that far ahead won't be any help.
A couple of notes on that schedule:
- While Nebraska does open the season at Minnesota the same week the Buffs head to TCU, the Huskers' opener is a Thursday night affair. That will give NU a few extra days to prepare for its trip to Colorado.
- Colorado State, meanwhile, set up its schedule even better. The Rams have a bye week before making the visit to Boulder, giving them two full weeks to prepare for their trip to Folsom Field.
Players Mentioned
