Colorado University Athletics
New Buffs DC Livingston Wants CU To Be 'Great Situationally'
March 26, 2024 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado's defensive struggles last season are well-documented in the Buffaloes' final statistics.
CU finished near the bottom in just about every statistical category, ranging from yards allowed per play (115th) to rushing defense (107th) to third-down defense (122nd).
But the most-telling statistics — the one that matters most — is points allowed. There, the Buffs were 121st in the nation, giving up nearly 35 points per game.
That is the number new defensive coordinator Robert Livingston is determined to fix.
"In terms of metrics, it's always been the same thing for me — yards, don't equal points," Livingston told the media last week. "If you want to be a great defense, you have to play great situationally."
That might mean giving up a few yards when the situation requires just keeping the opponent out of the end zone when the clock dictates such a strategy. It also might mean taking a gamble in order to get the ball back for your offense at a critical juncture.
"Think about it — let's say there's 1:25 left (in the half), they're on our 40 and it's third-and-long," Livingston said. "Do you go get them? Do you bring pressure so now all of a sudden you knock them out of field goal range and they have to punt? Then Travis (Hunter) and Shedeur (Sanders) and the offense can go to work. They score, they get the ball in the second half and maybe it's a 10- to 14-point swing. We have to be great situationally."
Livingston takes the reins of the defense as CU's second coordinator in as many years under Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders. He replaces Charles Kelly, whose defense did come up with some big plays last year — think game-saving interceptions against TCU and Colorado State — but also gave up too many points in too many instances.
Livingston, who spent the last eight seasons as a secondary coach with the Cincinnati Bengals, takes over a defense that is well-stocked in some areas — including his specialty, defensive backs.
That, he said, will play a role in what kind of defense the Buffaloes play.
"The skill positions are elite," he said. "We have really, really great skill players. Our job as coaches is to a 30,000-foot view of the roster and say, OK, maybe we have to do some things I haven't done in the past. It won't be the same playbook that we've had in Cincinnati or that we had at Vanderbilt or we had at Furman (his previous college stops). You have to take the spring, look at who you have and put people in positions to be successful. So that's what we're doing as a staff."
Colorado's secondary is indeed talented. From two-way star Travis Hunter and Cormani McClain at cornerback to returnees Shilo Sanders, Trevor Woods and Cam'Ron Silmon-Craig at safety — plus highly regarded transfer Preston Hodges, who could play either spot — the secondary is no doubt the Buffaloes' strongest group on the defensive side.
The question marks will be with the front seven. Coach Prime and his staff once again mined the transfer portal and significantly increased the talent level on the defensive line and at linebacker, but just how much the Buffs improved there won't be clear until the season begins.
Maybe the biggest addition up front, Arizona State transfer B.J. Green, won't be in Boulder until the summer. But already here transfers Samuel Okunlola (Pitt), Quency Wiggins (LSU), Taurean Carter (Arkansas) and Chidozie Nwankwo (Houston). Also ready to have an impact are returnee Arden Walker and incoming freshman Brandon Davis-Swain.
At linebacker, Coach Prime admits the Buffs "could use a little more depth right now." CU lost a pair of key contributors last year, Marvin Ham and Derrick McClendon, but LaVonta Bentley — last year's leading tackler — returns, and the Buffs did add transfers Jaylen Wester (Kentucky) and Keaten Wade (FAU).
Now, with three weeks left of spring ball, Livingston and the rest of the defensive staff will test and evaluate every player as much as possible.
"The way I view the game from a secondary perspective is, let's make it hard on those guys on the outside, early in camp, let's see who can cover," Livingston said. "Those guys up front, see who can rush, and let's put it all together as we start working the different packages. That's probably a different way I view the game as well. Let's have our best 11 out there at all times."
One player Livingston won't have to evaluate is Hunter, the reigning Hornung Award winner as the nation's most-versatile player.
"He's a unicorn, I think we all recognize that," Livingston said. "Travis can be elite at whatever he wants to be. I think the first thing you notice about Travis is he's genuine. He's who he is. There's no facade, nothing fake about him. He's a great guy … I think he can be a shutdown corner. I think he can be an elite receiver. So he's a mismatch on each side of the ball."
But perhaps most impressive, Livingston said, is Hunter's work habits in the film room.
"The amazing thing about him is how he studies," he said. "I've been amazed at who Travis is and then his ability to retain information. I think the sky's the limit for him. He can be as good as anybody I've ever been around."
Players Mentioned
