Gilbert Hopes To Make Impact As Stand-Up Pass Rusher - University of Colorado Athletics

BOULDER GÇô At ColoradoGÇÖs first scrimmage of spring practice, Jim Leavitt, the BuffsGÇÖ new defensive coordinator, never stopped moving. He would pause here and there to offer a few words of coaching, then motor on, from sideline to sideline, circumnavigating the play, sweat soaking through his layers of Colorado gear. Leavitt was manic, kinetic, intense, and it was contagious.

The Buffs scrimmaged as close to game speed as a team can seven months before the games begin. The energy inside the practice bubble was palpable. When defensive back Yuri Wright put his shoulder into receiver Joey HallGÇÖs chest and blew up a swing pass, it exploded.

GÇ£Oh, for sure,GÇ¥ redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Jimmie Gilbert said when asked if this spring was more intense than last year. GÇ£(Coach Leavitt) is always upbeat, positive. He gets on you when he needs to. He supports you, he tries to stay away from the negative things. HeGÇÖs very strong when it comes to positive encouragement. ThereGÇÖs no walking around, but when we rest, we rest and when we work hard, we work hard.GÇ¥

Gilbert is part of a revamped defensive front seven that will determine how well and how quickly LeavittGÇÖs 3-4 scheme translates to on-field results. Last season, under Kent Baer, the results were not good; Colorado allowed 39 points and 205 rushing yards per game. The Buffs sacked opposing quarterbacks only 22 times and forced just 19 turnovers.

Compared to that unit, this yearGÇÖs is almost unrecognizable. Gilbert is healthy GÇö he dealt with shoulder injuries last year GÇö and heGÇÖs spending more time standing up as an outside rush linebacker. His freshman year, he played mostly with his hand in the dirt as a defensive lineman.

GÇ£Played some 3-4 in high school,GÇ¥ he said. GÇ£ItGÇÖs more natural to me, but at the same time I still have to be able to put my hand down and stop a tight end or a tackle if I need to. I just like playing.GÇ¥

As the Jack (the pass-rushing outside linebacker in a 3-4) Wednesday, Gilbert was at times unblockable. He flustered the first-team offense and often left offensive tackle Stephane Nembot visibly and audibly frustrated as he left the field.

GÇ£Jimmie is getting off the ball quicker,GÇ¥ Buffs head coach Mike MacIntyre said. GÇ£Our tackles, I think, are very good. Seeing Jimmie do that, IGÇÖm mad at our offensive tackles but IGÇÖm also excited about Jimmie doing that. We need that. We need a four-man rush, we need a guy that can rush off the edge and thatGÇÖs something that IGÇÖve always thought Jimmie can do.GÇ¥

Three unfamiliar faces lined up to GilbertGÇÖs left. If everything goes according to plan, though, Colorado fans will know the names of Leo Jackson, Jordan Carrell and Jaleel Awini before long.

Jackson and Carrell are junior college transfers GÇö Jackson from Foothill College in Los Altos, Calif.; Carrell from American River College 130 miles north in Sacramento.

GÇ£TheyGÇÖre a big benefit,GÇ¥ Gilbert said. GÇ£TheyGÇÖre a big help on the inside, just as far as getting penetration, stopping the run, and allowing us linebackers to move freely in the backfield.GÇ¥

Awini transferred, too, from Air Force, where in 2013 he played quarterback and rushed for four touchdowns. Now he might be the BuffsGÇÖ shiftiest pass-rusher.

GÇ£He uses his speed to get around the edge,GÇ¥ Gilbert said. GÇ£Real quick, does a good job of using his hands. HeGÇÖs fearless.GÇ¥

Awini, Carrell and Jackson scrimmaged with the first-team defense because linemen Josh Tupou and Samson Kafovalu were held out with injuries. In the fall, with Tupou and Kafovalu hopefully healthy, they will be joined by the four freshmen defensive linemen who are part of ColoradoGÇÖs 2015 recruiting class. All of this GÇö the recruits, the transfers, GilbertGÇÖs emergence GÇö hints at the previously unfathomable possibility that the defensive line could be one of the BuffsGÇÖ strongest and deepest position groups.

GÇ£The skyGÇÖs the limit,GÇ¥ Gilbert said. GÇ£DidnGÇÖt do too well this past year. Hoping to improve on everything from tackling to sacks to stopping the run to getting pressure on the quarterback.GÇ¥

After the scrimmage, Leavitt finally stopped moving, if only to confer at midfield with MacIntyre and offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren. Then, as his players knelt, exhausted, and listened to MacIntyre congratulate them on a good scrimmage, Leavitt was again on the move. He paced back and forth, his gaze as intense as the practice that had just concluded, a boundless font of energy that Colorado needs to carry it into the fall and over the top.