Fall Camp Notes

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Fall Camp Notes

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August 25th – Last Day of Fall Camp!

Fall Camp schedule for August 25th – Meetings (8:45 a.m.), Practice #21 (10:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.), ^Walk-through (4:15 – 4:50 p.m.)

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media (Sat.)

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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August 24th

Fall Camp schedule for August 24th … Academic Meetings, Football Meetings (3:30 p.m.), Practice #20* (6:00-9:00 p.m.) 

Safety Nick Fisher: “Football gives you that adrenaline that you don’t get from anything else”

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado senior safety Nick Fisher has two great passions.

CU football fans are quite familiar with one — that of a defensive back with big-play capability. Buffs fans saw it in 2016, when he earned Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honors in CU’s win over No. 20 Washington State, and they saw it again last year, when he returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown against Cal.

“I do love the game,” he said. “Football gives you that adrenaline that you don’t get from anything else.”

But there is another side to Fisher, one fans seldom if ever see. That is the Fisher who dedicates much of his spare time to community service, the Fisher who immerses himself in student-athlete leadership issues, and who this summer served as a mentor at the Crowley Foundation boys2MEN Leadership Summit. He has worked regularly at food banks, stuffed and prepared backpacks for children’s programs, and regularly encourages teammates to take advantage of the entire academic and student experience that is available to them.

“My parents have always pushed me to be something outside of football,” Fisher said. “They brought me up in the church, and I think that has a lot to do with it. … Football gives you adrenaline. Doing stuff in the community betters your heart, betters you as a person. You learn from the people you are out there helping. Football is a release. You get a more wholesome feeling working in the community.”

These days, Fisher is focused on the adrenaline part as he prepares for his last season with the Buffs.

… Continue reading story here …

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Defensive Line a key to CU’s 2018 success 

From CUBuffs.com … There was perhaps no position hit harder by graduation on the Colorado football team last year than the defensive line.

The Buffs had to replace all three starters from the previous season, and the inexperience and lack of depth showed. Throughout 2017, CU’s defensive line struggled to establish any kind of consistency, especially against the run. Colorado finished the season yielding 5.23 yards per rush attempt and 208 yards per game — more than 1 yard more per attempt and 50 yards more per game than in 2016.

But, the outlook is much better this year for the Buffs and first-year D-line coach Kwahn Drake. Two starters from last year return with some much-needed experience under their belt, as well as some returning reserves.

Perhaps most importantly, the Buffs also have some newcomers who are expected to have an immediate and significant impact.

“Since our time in the spring, I’ve seen the guys continue to develop,” said Drake, who has added a huge dose of energy and enthusiasm to the position group’s daily drills. “Right now the biggest thing is that we’re getting guys healthy, getting them back kind of preparing for CSU now and getting going. I’m excited about our freshmen that have come in. I expect those guys to come in and play and contribute immediately.”

Back from a year ago are starting nose tackle Javier Edwards and defensive end Chris Mulumba, both of whom transferred in from junior colleges a year ago.

Edwards has slimmed down to 330 pounds (he weighed close to 390 when he arrived a year ago) and has added some strength and power to his legs, which has greatly helped his stamina. Mulumba, meanwhile, had a strong finish in 2017 and has steadily improved since.

“Javy is a great guy who understands what we’re looking for up front and he’s taken a new ownership of the entire defensive line,” Drake said. “Mulumba is a guy who just keeps improving.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 23rd

Fall Camp schedule for August 23rd … Meetings (8:15 a.m.), Practice #19 (9:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.), ^Walk-through (3:45-5:00 p.m.)

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media (Thurs.)

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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August 22nd

Fall Camp schedule for August 22nd … Practice #18 (10:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.), Meetings (4:00 p.m.), ^Walk-through (7:25-8:40 p.m.) 

Quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper on CU quarterbacks: “They’re getting a better understanding of what we’re trying to do”

From CUBuffs.com … It is one of the handful of positions on the Colorado roster that has been settled since the day fall camp began, at least in terms of a starter.

Junior Steven Montez entered camp as the incumbent No. 1 and has done nothing to imperil that status. Montez, who started all 12 games last season for Colorado and who has 15 career starts under his belt, has enjoyed by far his most consistent and productive camp yet as a Buff.

But right behind Montez, CU’s backups have also made substantial progress. Sophomore Sam Noyer has been impressive since Day One, showing a much better grasp of the offense, more confidence in the pocket and some outstanding accuracy. Noyer got a taste of play under fire a year ago when he replaced an ineffective Montez at Washington State, and has shown in camp that he is ready for another opportunity. Redshirt freshman Tyler Lytle, meanwhile, has also been sharp, appearing much more relaxed running the offense and showing a strong arm and good accuracy in the process.

And, true freshman Blake Stenstrom has also been impressive, earning coaches’ praise for his quick grasp of CU’s attack.

The common thread has been new quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper, who arrived in time for spring ball and had an immediate impact. He has not only worked with his quarterbacks’ mechanics, he has also helped them become much more attuned to the importance of the film room.

“It’s been a good camp,” Roper said. “Each of them has done a good job of learning the system and they’re getting a better understanding of what we’re trying to do with each concept. I think they’re understanding defensive football better and how fronts and pressures and all that tie together. I think they’ve had a good camp and each of them has improved.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 21st 

Fall Camp schedule for August 21st … Meetings (8:15 a.m.), Practice #17 (9:30 a.m. – 11:40 a.m.), ^Walk-through (3:45-5:00 p.m.)

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media (Tues.)

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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Delrick Abrams, Jr. – “He’s just going to fight and claw until he gets the job done”

From the Daily Camera … When the latest season of “Last Chance U” debuted on Netflix last month, Delrick Abrams, Jr., was ready.

The first-year Colorado cornerback played for the Independence (Kan.) Community College team featured in the third season of the hit show, and Abrams wasn’t going to miss it.

“I watched the whole season the first night it came out,” he said.

While not prominently featured during the documentary of the ICC season, Abrams said, “I’m actually surprised how much I was in it.”

Netflix cameras won’t be following him around this year, but Abrams is hoping for more of a starring role with the CU defense.

A junior, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Abrams — nicknamed “Slim” by his teammates — is competing for a starting role at cornerback for the Buffs and has impressed coaches and teammates throughout preseason camp.

“You’ll have space and separation, so you put the ball up,” backup quarterback Sam Noyer said, “and the next thing you know he’s breaking it up because he can cover all that length with his athleticism.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 20th 

Fall Camp schedule for August 20th … Meetings (8:15 a.m.), Practice #16 (9:05 a.m -12:05 p.m.), ^Walk-through (7:50-9:05 p.m.)

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media (Mon.)

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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Steven Montez: “I was leaving the pocket way too early”

From CUBuffs.com … While Colorado junior quarterback Steven Montez hesitates to call this his best camp yet as a Buff, his fourth fall session has been by far his most consistent.

Coming off his first full season as a starter and with 15 career starts under his belt, Montez is going through his progressions with a steady eye, has reduced the number of risky throws, and has developed a much better pocket presence.

He has also shown a consistent ability to connect on the deep ball, and has had two back-to-back solid showings in Folsom Field scrimmages.

“We’ve been working hard,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s my best camp — each camp is a learning experience. I’ve learned things this camp that I didn’t know last year, and every year, you use those things to get better. In the end, it all about repetition, coming together as a unit and getting that timing with your guys.”

Much of Montez’s progress can be attributed to extra film work and the influence of new quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper. Montez spent countless hours over the summer studying film and working with Roper on the mental aspect of the game, and Roper’s impact has been noticeable.

But Montez is also benefiting from the luxury of experience, one of the best teachers of all. Now, he is doing his best to apply to practice what he learned in the film room — and then translate it all to game day.

“Last year I was criticized a lot for leaving the pocket early, and after watching film, everybody was completely correct,” Montez said. “I was leaving the pocket way too early. We’d have a clean pocket and the O-linemen were working hard up front and I would just bail. I think that’s been one of the things I’ve been emphasizing in the offseason — stay in the pocket, stay in the pocket. People are going to get close to you, but you just have to keep your feet alive and stay in the pocket.”

It all boils down to what he calls the process of learning how to “be comfortable being uncomfortable.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 19th

Fall Camp schedule for August 19th … Team day off (brunch, rehab, meetings, dinner)

Defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot: “We’ve made some good strides” 

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot walked away from Friday night’s scrimmage under the lights in Folsom Field feeling good about his unit’s improvement.

One week earlier, CU’s defense — missing four potential starters — gave up a few too many big plays for Eliot’s and CU head coach Mike MacIntyre‘s liking in the Buffs’ first major scrimmage of camp.

Friday, however, Eliot’s group was much better from top to bottom. The defense recorded several third-down stops in situational drills, applied good pressure on the quarterback and played well against the run.

“A lot fewer mistakes, a lot better execution with a lot better technique,” Eliot said after the Buffs wrapped up their week with a Saturday morning workout. “I was pleased with the way we played last night. I think we’re going to be a lot better at some spots and I’m excited about that.”

As far as players who “popped” in the Friday workout, MacIntyre mentioned a pair of true freshmen, defensive lineman Israel Antwine and safety Hasaan Hypolite. Both got some work in with the No. 1 defense, and both appeared to be comfortable in the role.

… Continue reading story here …

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Punter Alex Kinney a weapon … and a leader 

From the Daily Camera … Alex Kinney receives text messages from his mother as a matter of routine. It was one Colorado’s punter received late last year that delivered a pleasant surprise.

Not a player prone to dissecting his own statistics, Kinney was unaware he had set a school record in 2017 with 28 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. It was took a text from his mom to inform Kinney about the good news.

Kinney received more good news last month when he earned the rare distinction of being voted as a Colorado team captain as a punter. After an up-and-down first two seasons with the Buffs, Kinney settled in with a standout campaign in 2017. And the senior from Fort Collins expects even bigger things this fall.

“It was awesome that everyone on the team respected me…that was kind of cool to see that everyone is behind me, even though I’m the punter and hopefully I only get three punts every game or something like that,” Kinney said. “It’s about doing everything (the rest of the team) does. If they see us on the side not running with them, or if we’re not doing lifts, I think it’s kind of hard to respect that.

“We really wanted to run with them, lift with them, do everything with them so we’re a part of them and they won’t think of us as just a punter or kicker.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 18th 

Fall Camp schedule for August 18th … Meetings (8:15 a.m.), Practice #15 (9:05 a.m. -12:05 p.m.), ^Walk-through (7:50-9:05 p.m)

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media (Sat.)

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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August 17th

Fall Camp schedule for August 17th … Practice #14 (6:00-8:45 p.m.) – Night scrimmage (closed to the public) … Team photo

William Sherman brings much needed versatility to the offensive line

From the Daily Camera … Loaded with inexperience, the Colorado offensive line goes into this season with plenty of questions to be answered.

It is a group, however, with plenty of intriguing players, with William Sherman being near the top of that list.

A redshirt freshman from Allen, Texas, Sherman may or may not start for the Buffaloes, but his versatility ensures he will play a key role for a group that will be in the spotlight. Better offensive line play is crucial to the Buffs (5-7, 2-7 Pac-12 in 2017) getting back to the postseason.

Sherman has been working with the first and second units at both left tackle and left guard during preseason camp this month.

“Playing guard and tackle is really fun,” he said. “Playing on the inside, it’s a little different from playing on the outside because you don’t have as much freedom, so I’m working on just learning both and being able to translate technique from one to the other.”

Part of what makes Sherman intriguing is his size. Listed at 6-foot-4, 290 pounds, Sherman is actually only 275, making him one of the lightest linemen in the mix for playing time.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 16th

Fall Camp schedule for August 16th … Meetings (8:15 a.m.), Practice #13 (9:05 a.m. -12:05 p.m.), ^Walk-through (7:50-9:05 p.m.)

Neill Woelk: Thursday practice notes

From CUBuffs.com … The Buffs were on the field for roughly two hours Thursday morning in shorts and light pads. They dedicated a portion of their workout to special teams situational work, as well as some goal-line, red zone and long field work. …

As the Buffs continue to build depth on the offensive line, they have been giving some snap to junior college transfer Kary Kutsch at guard with the No. 2 unit at guard. Kutsch signed in early May and thus didn’t have the chance to participate in spring ball, but has made good strides in fall camp and is a solid 6-foot-4, 300 pounder. … Cornerback Dante Wigley came up with some nice plays Thursday, including a nice breakup of a deep ball that earned a thumbs-up from MacIntyre. … Running back Travon McMillian is proving to be a consistent receiver out of the backfield, something that will no doubt help his cause when CU coaches sit down to decide how the running back rotation will shake out … Wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. continues to be a consistent threat on the deep ball as well as on shorter routes, with his size and speed making him a difficult matchup for either a linebacker or a defensive back. … Quarterbacks Steven Montez and Sam Noyer have both been sharp this week, picking up where they left off in last Saturday’s scrimmage. …

On the defensive line, redshirt freshman Terrance Lang and true freshman Israel Antwine continue to get work with the No. 1 unit. Lang, MacIntyre said, is becoming more and more consistent.

“He’s understanding it better and better,” MacIntyre said, “a lot better than he was the first part of spring. I’ve seen a change in him, just the maturity level. The good thing is he flashes quite often. Hopefully he’ll be able to do that on Saturdays and we believe he will.” … The Buffs will scrimmage Friday night under the lights in Folsom Field, then practice again Saturday before taking the day off Sunday.

… Continue reading story here …

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media (Thurs.)

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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CU secondary has talent and depth 

… Related … “Buffs developing depth in secondary” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … At a place where the Colorado Buffaloes have produced four NFL Draft picks in the last two years, there is once again no shortage of talent.

The 2018 Buffs are well-stocked with quality players in the secondary.

This year, the experience is at safety, where two veterans are expected to man the back end of the defense. Senior free safety Evan Worthington — possibly the next Buff to hear his name called on draft day — brings 14 career starts and 34 career games played to the table. Right next to Worthington at boundary safety will be another senior, Nick Fisher, a player who has appeared in 36 games in his career, including a pair of starts.

“That’s a lot of experience back there,” said defensive passing game coordinator ShaDon Brown. “When you have guys back there like that you can depend on, you feel good about that.”

Worthington, who started 11 games last season for Colorado, is a playmaker who was catching NFL scouts’ eyes as a junior. He led the team with three interceptions, and also had 86 tackles (third-high on the team), a sack, two forced fumbles, five tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.

Fisher, meanwhile, battled back from an early season injury to get two starts down the stretch. He finished with 29 tackles and recorded a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in a win over Cal.

The Buffs have also been developing some depth in fall camp at safety. Senior Kyle Trego has been steady at the spot, as has sophomore Derrion Rakestraw, a converted wide receiver, and redshirt freshman Isaiah Lewis. Meanwhile, junior college transfer Aaron Maddox has shown a knack for getting to the ball in a hurry and true freshman Hasaan Hypolite has come on and displayed some playmaking ability as well in recent days.

At corner, the Buffs are relatively young but talented and deep. No less than five players are battling for the two starting spots, with Brown and cornerbacks coach Ashley Ambrose calling the competition too close to call halfway through camp.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 15th 

Fall Camp schedule for August 15th … Meetings (8:15 a.m.), Practice #12 (9:05 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.), Walk-through (7:50-9:05 p.m.) …

MacIntyre:”I thought this might have been one of our best practices”

From CUBuffs.com … When it comes to enduring the grind of fall camp, it is not uncommon to see “camp legs” set in after the first two weeks.

Truth be told, Wednesday’s Colorado Buffaloes practice presented a perfect scenario for just such a day, one of those when simply getting through the workout is the top priority for players: middle of the week, one day after an intense workout in full pads, and the 12th practice in 14 days.

Any coach will tell you that can be the perfect recipe for a lackadaisical practice.

But instead of going through the motions in Wednesday’s three-hour midday workout, the Buffs put forth what head coach Mike MacIntyre called one of their best overall efforts thus far in camp.

It was a welcome and encouraging sign.

“I thought this might have been one of our best practices,” MacIntyre said. “The energy was there and we were running around in the heat, which was good. I thought overall both sides did really well. I think we made a big step today in some things I was looking for them to do.”

Wednesday’s practice was the 12th of camp for the Buffs, a three-hour session that marked what is basically the halfway point of their 25 practices before the Aug. 31 season opener. While they were in shorts and shoulder pads, they still got in what MacIntyre called some “good, physical work” in a midweek practice.

“‘I was excited to see the energy and the effort and the intensity out there,” MacIntyre said.

The Buffs did get plenty of full-speed work in the books, including some red-zone and goal line team situations, as well as some long drives. Both No. 1 units worked against each other, and also got some time in against the twos and threes. As MacIntyre said, both sides of the ball made their share of big plays.

One thing that is no doubt fueling the Buffs’ energy at this point of camp is that there are still plenty of positions on the field where starting jobs and playing time are up for grabs. It’s made for an intensely competitive camp and has kept players on their toes. Positions where starting spots and playing time are still up for being closely contested include cornerback, offensive and defensive line, running back, wide receiver and outside linebacker.

… Continue reading story here …

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media (Wed.)

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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August 14th

Fall Camp schedule for August 14th … Meetings (8:15 a.m.), Practice #11 (9:05 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.), Walk-through (7:50-9:05 p.m.) …

Neill Woelk – Tuesday practice report

From CUBuffs.com … The Buffs hit the practice fields in full pads Tuesday. Part of the practice was devoted to special teams, as well as two-minute situations and last-minute field goal drives.

Tuesday was the 11th practice of camp, meaning their Thursday workout (No. 13) will put them past the halfway point of the 25 practices before the season opener.

“You still have to be physical and you have to play at the speed of the game in different times in practice,” head coach Mike MacIntyre said. “You can’t do it the whole time, of course, but you have different phases where it’s emphasized. You want to keep players fresh, but at the same time, you have to get the speed of the game and the physicalness of the game or you won’t be ready. So far, I think our guys have looked good in that respect.” …

While there were a number of big plays in the end-of-game situation drills, the play of the day may have come from inside linebacker Jonathan Van Diest. The redshirt freshmen made a great play on wide receiver Kabion Ento, who grabbed a short pass on the sidelines and was speeding to the end zone. Van Diest took a perfect angle, caught Ento near the sideline and made a diving, one-hand grab of Ento’s ankle, tripping him up and preventing what looked to be a sure touchdown. …

Defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson was back in full pads Tuesday and looked strong in one-on-one pass rush drills. … Redshirt freshmen Jake Moretti and William Sherman continued to get snaps with the No. 1 offense at left tackle. … Junior college transfer Mekhi Blackmon, who didn’t sign with the Buffs until late June, has put himself in the battle for a starting spot at cornerback, according to corners coach Ashley Ambrose. Blackmon has moved up the depth chart over the last week by consistently closing on the ball and making plays. … Also moving up in the secondary is true freshman safety Hasaan Hypolite, a welcome sign at a position where the Buffs need to develop some depth. … Cornerback Delrick Abrams had a pick-six against the No. 2 offense in 7-on-7 drills. … Jay MacIntyre had a nice sideline grab in 7-on-7s. … Davis Price hit a 43-yard field goal in a last-minute drill. …

… Continue reading story here …

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Neill Woelk – Top 12 newcomers who are expected to contribute this fall

From CUBuffs.com … While it may seem like fall camp just began, the Colorado Buffaloes are already close to hitting the halfway mark.

Monday marked their 10th of 25 practices before the Aug. 31 season opener against Colorado State in Denver, with Friday’s second scrimmage of camp (a closed affair under the lights at Folsom Field) putting the Buffs just two weeks away from the CSU game.

It means that CU coaches are now sorting out their positions, making tough decisions where necessary, formulating depth charts and deciding who will be in the mix for playing time.

There are still plenty of spots where the starters are far from being decided. Offensive line, cornerback, running back, wide receiver, defensive line and outside linebacker are all places where a handful of players are still in the mix. One thing this camp has showcased is that the Buffs have recruited well and developed depth.

Part of that depth comes in the form of either newcomers — members of the most-recent recruiting class — or redshirt freshmen, players who have yet to take a game snap in a CU uniform.

Here are 12 of those players who have had solid camps thus far and could be contributors in their first year playing for Mike MacIntyre‘s Buffs:

Defensive lineman Israel Antwine: We’ll start with a true freshman who has been impressive since the day he arrived. A 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive end, Antwine is not a “typical” freshman. A dedicated weightlifter — he was the Oklahoma high school powerlifting champ — he’s been steadily moving up the depth chart. He got some time with the No. 1 defense in Saturday’s scrimmage, posting four tackles (including one for loss) and also putting pressure on the quarterback.

“Izzy Antwine is what we thought he was,” head coach MacIntyre said Monday after a weekend of reviewing film of the scrimmage. “He was excellent.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 13th 

Fall Camp schedule for August 13th … Meetings (8:15 a.m.), Practice #10 (9:05 a.m. -12:05 p.m.),  Walk-through (7:50-9:05 p.m.) … 

Mike MacIntyre post-scrimmage talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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August 12th

Fall Camp schedule for August 12th … Team day off (brunch, rehab, dinner)

Competition lively at a number of positions 

From CUBuffs.com … One thing became obvious after Saturday’s first major scrimmage of Colorado’s fall camp:  competition at a number of spots is still intense, and the depth at those positions means some good players will emerge.

Here are some notes, quotes and tidbits concerning those spots:

O-LINE SHUFFLE: After going through much of the first week of fall camp with the same lineup on the No. 1 offensive line, offensive co-coordinator/line coach Klayton Adams shook up the rotation on Saturday.

The “regular” bunch of Aaron Haigler (right tackle), Tim Lynott Jr. (right guard), Colby Pursell (center), Brett Tonz (left guard) and Josh Kaiser (left tackle) got their share of snaps at those positions.

But Adams also worked a variety of combinations with the No. 1 offense. By the end of the scrimmage, redshirt freshman Jake Moretti saw time at left tackle, redshirt freshman William Sherman played some guard and tackle, Tonz saw time at center as well as guard, Kaiser took some snaps at guard and Lynott got a few repetitions at center — all with the No. 1 offense.

“I think it’s unfair to judge somebody who’s only repping with the second or third group,” Adams said of the shuffling. “Sometimes you have to pop somebody in there with the first group and see how they react when they’re playing next to a little more seasoned player. That’s what we wanted to see today — how do you react when you play with a guy who’s played at lot, or is maybe a little better technically or stronger.”

… Continue reading story here …

BUFFS BITS: A host of young players and newcomers made plays Saturday. With starter Evan Worthington not participating, true freshman Hasaan Hypolite got some time with the No. 1 defense and came up with a tackle, a third-down stop and a nice pass breakup … Redshirt freshman linebacker Chase Newman had an interception. … Redshirt freshman receiver Maurice Bell had two catches, including a 50-yard touchdown. … Transfer Tony Brown had four catches for 42 yards, including a 4-yard score from Steven Montez. … Freshman linebacker Colby Keiter had five tackles.

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August 11th

Fall Camp schedule for August 11th … Meetings (8:15 a.m.), Practice #9 (9:05 a.m. -12:05 p.m.), ^Walk-through (7:50-9:05 p.m.)

Mike MacIntyre post-scrimmage talk with media

… Related … “Travon McMillian, Kyle Evans gain edge in CU Buffs’ RB competition” … from the Daily Camera

Offense more impressive than defense … Travon McMillian made plays (but so too did Kyle Evans) … Will Sherman a utility player for the offensive line … Jacob Moretti looked good on the line, and doing well recovering from injury – “If he’s healthy, he’ll be playing” … Buffs may play with Nate Landman, Rick Gamboa and Drew Lewis on the field at the same time 

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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Offense gets the better of the defense in only open scrimmage of Fall Camp

… Related … “Steven Montez, offense sharp in CU Buffs’ scrimmage” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … If offense is your thing, you liked Saturday morning’s Colorado football scrimmage, the first major test for the Buffaloes in fall camp.

If defensive dominance is your preference … well, there were some highlights, but not exactly the kind of performance CU coaches wanted to see overall.

Of course, that is always the case with any scrimmage — the home team wins and loses on every play. Big plays on offense mean breakdowns on defense. Takeaways by the defense mean mistakes on offense.

But perhaps most importantly, the Buffs walked away from Saturday’s morning’s Folsom Field midterm exam with a much better idea of what areas they need to address over the next three weeks before they open the season Aug. 31 against Colorado State in Denver.

“The offense made some big plays and defensively we didn’t cover as well as I think we need to,” head coach Mike MacIntyre said. “But I thought they kept playing hard. … Overall I was more pleased with the offense than the defense. But we’ve got to keep going.”

To be fair, the No. 1 defense was missing a handful of key players because of injuries. Up front, defensive ends Mustafa Johnson (concussion) and Chris Mulumba (groin strain) didn’t participate, while safety Evan Worthington (concussion) and cornerback Chris Miller also sat out the scrimmage.

Still, it was clear the offense was clicking. Quarterback Steven Montez — who has not been at his best in past scrimmages — had an excellent day, completing 11 of his 16 attempts for 185 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Backup Sam Noyer, meanwhile, also had a pair of touchdown tosses, Tyler Lytle made some nice throws, and just about every member of the Buffs’ receiving corps chipped in a big catch or two.

“It was exciting to see (Montez) come out and operate at a high level,” said offensive co-coordinator Darrin Chiaverini. “In the past he’d been doing well in practice and he’d struggle in a live scrimmage. To see him come out with the ones vs. ones and operate at a high level, that was good to see. I thought he operated quickly, I thought he got the ball out and made good decisions and he avoided mistakes.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Co-Offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini on August 11th scrimmage

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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Co-Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Klayton Adams on August 11th scrimmage

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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Instant analysis of CU’s open fall camp scrimmage

From YouTube, courtesy of Brian Howell (Daily Camera) and Adam Munsterteiger (BuffStampede.com):

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August 10th 

Fall Camp schedule for August 10th … Meetings (7:45 a.m.), Practice #8 (8:35-11:35 a.m.), ^Walk-through (7:50-9:05 p.m.)

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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What to Watch For – CU’s open scrimmage on Saturday

… If you can go … Gates open at 9:00 a.m.; scrimmage set for 10:30 … 

From Neill Woelk at CUBuffs.com …  There should be no shortage of positions and players to watch Saturday when the Colorado Buffaloes host an open scrimmage at Folsom Field.

Barely a week in, this year’s camp has already been extremely competitive on both sides of the ball. Coaches are mixing and matching combinations at almost every position, and players are taking advantage every day of the opportunity to prove they should be on the field Aug. 31 when the Buffs open the season against Colorado State in Denver.

What to watch Saturday:

Defensive line — While the Buffs have a pair of starters returning in nose tackle Javier Edwards and defensive end Chris Mulumba, plenty of other players have been getting their share of repetitions up front.

Senior Jase Franke and junior college transfer Mustafa Johnson can play defensive end in the straight 3-4 lineup as well as inside when the Buffs drop to two down linemen in their nickel package. Also getting plenty of snaps have been redshirt freshman Terrance Lang and nose tackle Lyle Tuiloma, and true freshman Israel Antwine has stepped up in the last few days to insert his name into the competition.

This has been a priority position for the Buffs as they aim to improve both their run defense and pressure on the quarterback. Coaches have been trying a variety of combinations, and it’s a position that almost certainly won’t be decided until down the home stretch of camp.

Linebacker — We’ll throw inside and outside together here, as the competition at both has produced some outstanding plays already in camp.

On the inside, the Buffs not only have a pair of returning starters, they have last year’s two leading tacklers in Rick Gamboaand Drew Lewis. The two have done nothing to suggest they won’t be the starters again this year.

But, it is also becoming apparent that sophomore Nate Landman is going to get his share of playing time, as he’s seen plenty of time with the No. 1 defense thus far, working alongside Gamboa and also alongside Lewis.

On the outside, the Buffs have one returning starter in Jacob Callier, along with Nu’umoto Falo Jr., Carson Wells and Alex Tchangam. You can also throw Buff back Davion Taylor into the mix, a player CU coaches love because of his versatility and ability to line up all over the field.

All of them have made plays and had their moments. Saturday’s scrimmage will be just the next opportunity to show what they can do in full-contact mode.

… Read up on other position battles here …

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Steven Montez uneven in three-hour workout

From Neill Woelk at CUBuffs.com … The Buffs hit the field in full pads Thursday morning for a three-hour workout that included plenty of situational work as usual.

It was an up-and-down day for quarterback Steven Montez. The junior had a picture-perfect long touchdown pass to a streaking Laviska Shenault Jr. down the sidelines in 11-on-11 drills, and also had a nice toss to Jaylon Jackson in the back of the end zone in red zone work.

But, he also had a pair of interceptions, the first to Buff back Davion Taylor, who stayed underneath on a hook and played the ball perfectly; and the second to safety Nick Fisher, who made a nice break on a toss over the middle. …

All of the running backs continue to make plays. Donovan Lee was solid again in the red zone, Travon McMillian made some nice cut to the outside, Beau Bisharat had some good bursts and Kyle Evans continues to provide a great pop inside and out. …

Defensively, cornerback Delrick Abrams Jr. had a pair of pass breakups on deep balls while Trey Udoffia made a nice play on a ball on fade route in the corner of the end zone in red zone drills. … Also coming up with a nice play on a ball across the middle was true freshman safety Hassan Hypolite. … Up front, Terrance Lang and Jase Franke are both making plays, while CU’s linebackers are getting some consistent pressure on the quarterback. …

On special teams, kicker James Stefanou booted a 56-yard field goal that cleared the bar with room to spare.

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August 9th

Fall Camp schedule for August 9th … Meetings (7:45 a.m.), Practice #7 (8:35-11:35 a.m.), ^Walk-through (7:50-9:05 p.m.)

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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Red-shirt freshman cornerback Chris Miller: Next great CU defensive back?

From the Daily Camera … By now, it’s clear that under head coach Mike MacIntyre, the Colorado football team has a rather high standard at cornerback.

Four corners in the last three years have gone from Boulder to the NFL. In striving to maintain that standard, the Buffs are aiming for consistency from day to day.

Redshirt freshman Chris Miller is still trying to get there.

“Chris has shown flashes of good and brilliant and flashes of bad,” MacIntyre said Tuesday. “He’s got 20 more days to get there.”

One of the most intriguing position battles of fall camp is taking place at cornerback, where Miller is looking to make his mark among a group that includes returning starters Trey Udoffia and Dante Wigley and junior college transfer Delrick Abrams Jr.

Sophomore Ronnie Blackmon and recent junior college transfer Mehki Blackmon have also been impressive at times in camp.

“It’s really competitive,” Miller said. “We have fun with it, though, because we’re a tight group. We just all want to see each other succeed. Whoever is out there, we know we’re going to be good. That’s our mindset as a group.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 8th

Fall Camp schedule for August 8th … Practice #6 (8:15-10:15 a.m.), Meetings (4:30 p.m.), ^Walk-through (7:50-9:05 p.m.)

Long-snapper J.T. Bale looking to remain anonymous

From CUBuffs.com … If J.T. Bale had his druthers, this would be the last time this year that you read his name.

Truth is, if J.T. Bale really had his way, you wouldn’t be reading his name now because he wouldn’t have conducted the interview necessary for this story. The Colorado junior prefers to be anonymous — “under the radar” in his words — because the simple truth is this:

Bale is a long snapper — and when you hear a long snapper’s name, it’s usually not because he did his job well. Instead, it’s usually because something went wrong on a field goal try, an extra point or a punt. While snappers almost never get credit when a field goal kicker is successful or a punter booms a long one, they are conversely quite often mentioned when special teams mistakes occur.

“Ideally, I don’t want to hear my name,” Bale said after Wednesday’s practice. “If we’re in a meeting and my name is mentioned, it’s probably that I did something wrong. If it gets in the newspapers, it’s probably because something went wrong. Unless I’m making a tackle or a big play, I don’t want to hear my name.”

But this year, Bale’s name has already appeared in various mediums, and it has been good news. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound La Mirada (Calif.) High School product is getting some preseason love from national publications, including preseason second-team All-American honors and first-team All-Pac 12 recognition from Phil Steele College Football.

That, however, is news that Bale greets with a shrug of his shoulders. Bale’s goal is not to earn awards. Rather, it is to make sure his holder, punter and kicker all have the very best opportunity possible to do their jobs.

… Continue reading story here …

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NT Javier Edwards looking to shoulder more of the load for defensive line … while weighing 50 pounds less

From the Daily Camera … For those Colorado football fans getting their first look at Javier Edwards since last fall, the weight loss will make an immediate impression.

At 337 pounds – as of Saturday – Edwards is about 50 pounds lighter than when he arrived in Boulder in January of 2017 and quite a bit smaller than his playing weight a year ago.

Edwards is losing almost two pounds a day during fall camp and hopes to get near 325 by the time the season opener, on Aug. 31 against Colorado State, rolls around.

The numbers on the scale aren’t the only difference in the senior nose tackle, however.

A former junior college transfer, Edwards is sharper in his technique, more comfortable in his surroundings, acclimated to the classroom and better prepared to help the Colorado defense than he was in 2017.

“I’m confident. I’m real confident,” he said. “I feel like we’re going to be a great team and I have a good chance to help this team become Pac-12 champions.”

Of course, the weight loss has played a role in his increased confidence.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 7th

Fall Camp schedule for August 7th … Meetings (7:45 a.m.), Practice #5 (8:35-11:35 a.m.) … First practice in pads 

Former Texas Tech wide receiver Tony Brown excited to finally get to play at Folsom Field

From the Daily Camera … Tony Brown wanted more of an opportunity to make plays on the football field.

To do that, he had to first make a sacrifice.

One year after transferring from Texas Tech and sitting out a year, Brown is on the verge of making his debut with the Colorado Buffaloes.

“I’ve waited a whole year,” the 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior receiver said. “I’ve been playing since I was young and I love the game with a passion, so for me to sit out a year, it did hurt a little bit, but it gave me time to work on my craft.”

In two years at Texas Tech, Brown caught 27 passes for 378 yards and a touchdown. He played immediately as a true freshman and flashed his potential. He felt his role was diminishing with the Red Raiders, however, and found a new home in Boulder.

… Continue reading story here …

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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Center Colby Pursell ready to take on leadership role as anchor of the offensive line

From the Daily Camera … As a 200-pound freshman at Hart High School in Valencia, Calif., during the fall of 2012, Colby Pursell was not only in his first year of playing football, but his first year in organized sports.

By the end of that season, Pursell had displayed enough potential to get called up to varsity for the playoffs.

“They saw potential in me and I kind of took that to heart, so I knew I had to work out,” he said. “I had to adjust if I wanted to be good because I didn’t want to be average. I wanted to be good at what I did, so I had to work hard at it.”

Often working out twice a day to get better, Pursell lived up to his potential in high school. Now a 6-foot-4, 290-pound redshirt freshman with the Colorado Buffaloes, his drive to succeed has put him in position to take over the starting role at center this season.

“It’s a pretty exciting prospect,” Pursell said, “but I obviously have to work and still earn my spot here out on the practice fields. Potential … everyone recruited here has potential. Now you have to get on the field and execute and show you can actually play and hang with the big guys.”

The challenge to prove himself is one Pursell has always embraced.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 6th

Fall Camp schedule for August 6th … Meetings (7:45 a.m.), Practice #4 (8:35 a.m.- 11:35 p.m.), ^Walk-through (8:05-9:05 p.m.) 

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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Inside linebacker should be a strength with two long-time starters returning

From CUBuffs.com … While the Colorado Buffaloes must replace a host of starters on both sides of the ball this year, one place that will not be lacking in experience, depth and quality players will be inside linebacker.

The Buffs are loaded at the position.

Back from last year are the Buffs’ two leading tacklers in 2017, senior Drew Lewis (119 stops, two sacks and two additional tackles for loss) and senior Rick Gamboa (117 tackles and a team-high 10 third-down stops). The two also led the team in defensive snaps played, with Gamboa on the field for 847 snaps and Lewis for 821.

By themselves, Gamboa and Lewis offer Buffs fans plenty of reason for optimism at the position. But the Buffs also have two quality sophomores likely to get their share of snaps in Nate Landman and Akil Jones, both of whom saw some time last year. Landman, in particular, will almost certainly see his playing time increase significantly as CU coaches do their best to make sure the rotation stays fresh — something that was an issue by the end of last season.

“I think we’re going to rotate some other guys in — Nate and Akil — and get them in the mix a little more so we’re all out there making plays and we’ll all be a little more fresh through the season,” Lewis said. “Rick and I played about 800 snaps each last year, and I played a lot of special teams. It adds up eventually and can take a toll. I think we’ll all be fresher for a lot longer, which means we’ll all be ready to make some plays.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 5th

Fall Camp schedule for August 5th … Team day off (brunch, rehab, dinner) 

Mike MacIntyre: Seniors must provide a “sense of urgency”

From CUBuffs.com … Four little words from Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre spoke volumes at Saturday’s annual CU Media Day.

Asked how the experience of this year’s upperclassmen can help influence the direction of MacIntyre’s sixth team, MacIntyre mentioned attention to detail. He noted that older players must teach younger players that such a thing is important, that the nuances — in practice and in preparation — are the little things that add up to big moments.

Then, MacIntyre said, upperclassmen must also provide “a sense of urgency.”

Indeed. It was a trademark of the 2016 Pac-12 South champs, an attitude that carried Colorado to 10 wins and a shot at the conference title. That team took advantage of every opportunity that presented itself — and created a few of its own.

It was also something that was missing in 2017. Just one year after a magical turnaround season, the Buffs came up short in key moments, and the result proved to be a 5-7 finish and an offseason of playing “what if …”

But if experience is indeed the best teacher, if learning from the past is the best way to make sure history does not repeat itself, the 2018 Buffaloes should be ready.

MacIntyre believes he’s seen early signs that these Buffs have that sense of urgency.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 4th

Fall Camp schedule for August 4th – Practice # 3 – 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. … open to the public (info under August 2nd heading, below)

Linebacker Shamar Hamilton suspended

Tweeted by Brian Howell at the Daily Camera … One #cubuffs football roster note: OLB Shamar Hamilton has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules. He will remain in school, but there’s no set time for his return to the team.

… Hamilton is a 6’5″, 235-pound junior. Last July, Hamilton suffered a knee injury, which caused him to miss the entire 2017 season. He was listed third on the fall “pencil” depth chart at outside linebacker, behind red-shirt freshman Carson Wells and junior college transfer Alex Tchangam.

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Mike MacIntyre – Media Day press conference quotes

From CUBuffs.com …

Opening Statement:
“We are excited about the beginning of fall camp. This was our third day and we actually got to throw on shoulder pads and play a little bit of football. On Tuesday, real football starts. We did a good job today. I am excited about this team, and how hard they’ve worked. It was hot out there today which I was excited about. We pushed them extremely hard and they pushed through it really, really well. I was pleased with how they pushed through that, and paid attention the entire time. We used up the whole three hours and I’m excited about how they worked.”

On The Biggest Thing He Has Learned Since Being At CU:
“We used to complain about going up and down the little hill to the practice field, but now with the construction, we have to go all the way around, so I am now very thankful for the little hill from the first year, and I know the players are too. I have learned the importance of understanding our team, the university, and understanding that people come and go and how it is very fluid in a program, especially with the players. It didn’t used to be that way in the NFL, and now the NFL is that way with free agency and everything that they do. Now, you truly are building a team every year. You have a program and you plan it all out but you are having to build a team every year. That is one thing I have learned, especially going into this year. Starting back in January, I felt this was very important. You are building a team with players and coaches who are new to the program, who need to understand what the team and the program is all about. The philosophy part is very important.”

On How The Experiences Of The Upperclassmen Can Help The Team:
“The upperclassmen understand all of the nuances that you have to do, all of the attention to detail, and all of the little things that really matter. When you are younger your coach says those things and it seems like a cliché, but as they get older, they really realize the importance. Those guys have been doing a great job of teaching that ever since January. The seniors and the captains, since we have elected them, have been getting that across. The other thing is a sense of urgency. A lot of the kids were on the team two years ago when we were really building this program, and then last year we came up short in two games that we had won the year before. They now understand how you have to build for those games and how winning doesn’t just happen, and the work ethic and understanding of how you have to handle that under pressure. We have some key players that have been under that pressure that have to make pressure kicks, make pressure throws, and have to make pressure tackles and sacks. I am excited about those guys.”

On What Evan Worthington Gained From His Year Away From The Program:
“I have had to do a similar thing with a few kids. I would like to do it with no one. Most of the time when you suspend a kid he says, ‘Forget you, I’m out of here and never coming back.’ We had a good enough relationship and he knew that he needed to mature, and he did mature. He took it to heart, and he did everything we asked him to do while he was away. Since he has come back, he has a new lease on life, so to speak. He has always been a good student, but he has done well at school and has done well off the field. He is playing more intense on the practice field. He would be the first one to tell you that during his freshman and sophomore years, he didn’t like to practice because he is such a great athlete and he can get by with that, but it hurt him some in games. Since he has come back, he has a whole new practice attitude, and workout attitude. I don’t think he’s been late to one thing, or even been close to late. He has been on time to class and to practice. He truly grew up. It is fun to see that as a coach. That is very, very rewarding to make an impact on somebody not only on football, but in life. That is one of the great things about coaching college football.”

On Kurt Roper Working With Steven Montez:
“Kurt is really impacting Steven and our other quarterbacks. I have been very fortunate as Kurt and I worked side-by-side, while he was coaching quarterbacks and I was coaching receivers at Ole Miss, while Coach (David) Cutcliffe was coaching us. It was fun to see him work with Eli Manning. When we got to Duke, he was the offensive coordinator, and I was the defensive coordinator, and I was able to watch him work with the quarterbacks. I knew what he would be able to do once he got here. He is so detailed, and has great knowledge and understanding of quarterback play. Last night in our walk-throughs, he had the quarterbacks line up as running backs. They were working on protections so he wanted them to fit the protections to understand them. I hadn’t seen that before, he must have picked that up along the way. It was a great teaching tool. It makes them pick up the blitzes and know where they are coming from. It lets them know where the free guys are, which speeds your clock up, and now you’re not in a hurry and don’t take a sack. You can get the throw off, you don’t scramble out because you know what is going to be picked up. Those little nuances make the difference in making a big play, taking a sack, or hurrying out of the pocket. He has done a phenomenal job.”

On Having Both Ashley Ambrose and ShaDon Brown Coaching In The Secondary:
“I think it is very beneficial to have two coaches in the secondary. A lot of times you are playing five DB’s out there, and you are always playing at least four. The skill sets of corners and safeties are so different and what they have to work on individually, the expertise in their area, and the film study to show them is so different. Ashley played for a long time at corner and understands it and coaches it really well. ShaDon has a really great knowledge of the game. When I was interviewing them, I wanted to make sure they could mesh and they do. They have to be the same voice to the guys, even though they are two different people. I have seen them help and benefit each other. It has been really good.”

On His Confidence In The Kicking Game:
“I am excited about our punter, our long-snapper, our field goal kicker, and our kickoff guy. We have Davis Price kicking off, James Stefanou kicking field goals, J.T. Bale snapping, and Alex Kinney punting. They are all really good players. They have been in the fire a little bit so they understand what to do. Those hidden yards in a game, making a big play here and there, and making a big kick all will make a huge difference for us because we will play in a lot of close games.”

On The New Kickoff Rule In College Football:
“It will change a little bit this year. … We decided to put in the fair catch rule, because we are going to end up moving eight people up and only have three people back, so we thought that would slow it down for the people that kick it really high, to about the 2-yard line where you can’t really get a return going if they kick it well. Now we have a chance to eliminate a few of those. We want to turn the kickoff return into a punt return, and when we do, I think it is going to be more exciting. All I know is I sure would hate to go to a football game where everyone ran out and they just put the ball at the twenty-five-yard line to start the game. That’s not college football.  I believe it will turn into a punt return, because there aren’t those same types of collisions on a punt return compared to a kickoff return. I think it is going to be a more exciting play, I think we will have bigger returns, and I think it will be fun. A guy will be able to cut a little more, so I am looking forward to that a year from now. We are going to look at the NFL and study a bunch of their film on what they did. We will get a really good teaching plan and video to send out to 377 colleges.”

On Steven Montez Not Being Selected A Team Captain:
“Steven is a leader. It doesn’t surprise me because Chidobe Awuzie wasn’t a captain his senior year because he didn’t really want to be. He was the year before and he wanted some other people to step up and lead. Steven is a heck of a leader, who they all look up to. I think the way we do the voting, as a team they decided that was the way to do it. The way we started to do it three years ago was to make the players feel that the coaches weren’t picking the captains. It was an open voting and they all talked it out. I would imagine Steven will be one next year because of the leadership he has shown. He is a guy who has a great sense of humor, and everyone likes him because he relates to everybody.”

On putting pressure on himself to succeed:
“I think all of you that do your jobs, when you write an article and prepare everything, you put pressure on yourself to be the best you can be. You look at things you could do a little better, you might talk to a colleague in the business and get a new idea. I stole a saying from Coach (David) Cutcliffe, ‘You’re either getting better or you’re getting worse, nothing stays the same.’ If you always have that attitude, I think you’re able to make everybody around you better. I don’t know about you, but I’m not perfect, I make a mistake every once in a while, so you have to look in the mirror and say, ‘How can we change this?’ Our game is always evolving. Managing the relationships within a team is always evolving, because you have different personalities. We definitely want to be better this year, and I believe we will be. We were so close last year. I said that a couple years ago and nobody believed it, then we broke through. We just need to break through in a couple of games. It’s amazing how that works. You see it in college football, and you see it in pro football and they’re 35-years old.”

On having a lot of guys flying under the radar:
“I sure hope so. We have some really good athletes out there and our coaches are doing a great job. There’s a learning curve on everything, but the young men that came in in January, I feel really good about those guys being able to step right in on day one. We have some guys that we redshirted. We have some sophomores that played a little bit last year that have taken the next step. Now we just have to do it in the games and make the plays.”

On defensive line:
“We have Kwann Drake in there now (coaching), he’s doing a great job with the defensive line. Mustafa Johnson came in, in January and has looked really good. He’s powerful and strong, he weighs 290 and he’s very athletic. Javier Edwards showed flashes last year and did some good things, but he had a bum ankle that he was nursing that not a lot of people knew about. He’s looked really good out there the last few days. I pushed him really hard in the heat today and he was going at the end of practice the same way he was at the beginning. He wouldn’t have done that last year, so it’s exciting to see that. Terrance Lang has been getting better and better. He’s a physical specimen that came in late last year and was a little underweight, now he weighs 280. I’m excited about those guys. Jacob Callier played at 250 last year, he weighs 228 now, he’s ripped up and fast. He got after the passer a little bit last year, he just wasn’t quite there. I believe he has that extra step now because he’s gotten quicker and faster. Evan Worthington and Nick Fisher have been flying around. The young corners look good, we just have to keep the pass-rush coming.”

On the secondary:
“We’ve recruited well (in the defensive backfield) and those young men are really athletic. The thing with DB’s that we work on all the time is how they play the ball at the end of the route. The best way to explain it is: You see a great athlete playing basketball, you always ask ‘How does he finish?’ That’s a defensive back. How can he finish at the end of the route? On a slant? On a go route? Does the guy catch the ball? As guys like Isaiah (Oliver), Chido (Awuzie) Ahkello (Witherspoon) got going, people didn’t catch the ball on them. You could think they’re beat, then boom, they knock it away. That’s where this group has to get to. We’re really working hard at that. They have the talent to run with anyone, they have the talent to flip their hips, they’re strong, they’re long, they’re athletic, now they have to go do it. The good thing is, we have really good receivers for them to go against and quarterbacks that can really throw it accurately, so they’re seeing perfect balls and different things.”

On opening the season with games against Colorado State and Nebraska:
“We’re opening with two rivalry games, but we’re not thinking about that right now as we practice. Our kids hear about it every day. I hear about it every day. If I go to Sweet Cow to get some ice cream, I hear about it. Playing CSU is a great game and a great rivalry, and they’ve got a really good football team. They have a game before us which will give them an advantage. Then we go to Nebraska the next week. Everybody is talking about it, but we’re taking it one practice at a time. I know that’s a coach cliché, but we have to. We do have to prepare for one emotional week after the other, and how we handle that as a staff and how we (as a team) handle the emotions is going to be key to all of that. They are excited about playing in the games, I’m excited about coaching in them, and I know our fans are excited to watch them. There’s no tiptoeing into anything, we have to be ready to play.”

On whether he will ban the color red in the Champions Center with the renewal of the Nebraska rivalry:
“We haven’t really done that, but our players kind of know. I haven’t really had to say a word. It was built into the walls at Dal Ward and since they’re connected, I think it passed over.”

On replacing Phillip Lindsay’s production and leadership:
“Phillip is phenomenal. I’ve been texting with him a lot lately and I’ve heard he’s been doing well down there (at Broncos training camp). He’s just one of those special guys, and everyone on the team knew he was special, not just the coaches. He was a great leader. I’ve noticed that our guys that were around and watched him every day have stepped up and have led this year, not just the captains. I think that’s because last year, Phillip was a phenomenal leader. You could rely on him to get everybody going. Now that he’s not there, more and more guys are stepping up and I know Phillip would be really proud of that. He left a legacy for guys to have the voice and understanding of what it takes to be successful. He taught our running backs a lot, those kids are stepping up and they’re really excited about what Phillip Lindsay is doing. Sometimes when you get all the hype and pub, guys on the team kind of resent you, I think that’s true of life. Nobody resented Phillip Lindsay. I think they saw his humility and understand what it takes to be a humble leader.”

On whether this group of wide receivers is as good as last years:
“They haven’t played a bunch yet so the jury is still out. They have talent but there’s a difference between saying it and doing it. They have to keep working hard. I texted back and forth with (Bryce) Bobo earlier this morning, (Social Media Coordinator) Maggie Still told me yesterday that the Broncos picked him up and I was really excited for him. Those three young men (Shay Fields, Devin Ross, Bryce Bobo) could really play, and they played a lot of snaps. The young men coming up have some talent. We still have some older guys that have taken different paths and they’re ready to seize the opportunity. They’re coming into their senior years with a chip on their shoulder, which sometimes seniors don’t walk in with a chip on their shoulder. I hope that added intensity makes a difference.”

On differences in the offense from a season ago:
“We’ll be a little different without 23 (Phillip Lindsay). Coach Darrin Chiaverini and Coach Klayton Adams have done a great job working together, and I’m excited about what we’re doing on offense. Steven Montez and Sam Noyer are older, and Tyler Lytleis a year older. They all have a better understanding of defenses. It helps you be a little bit better offensively when your quarterback sees things and can make a few changes on the field. I’m excited about that.”

On decision to make Alex Kinney a captain (first time a punter has been a captain since 1989):
“The team told me who the captains were. I was glad that he was picked as a captain. He’s from the state of Colorado, went to Rocky Mountain High School, and has worked really hard here. He’s started for four years now. He’s not a prima donna, I’m not saying that all kickers are, but he does all the running, he does all the weights, he shows up to everything, he’s tough, he has a great sense of humor, they respect him, he’s a leader, he’ll get on you if you’re doing something wrong, so I think they saw all the qualities of a leader in him. They know how he can punt and saw him do great things last year, sacrificing his average to pin them inside the 20. Some guys don’t do that, they’ll pretend they mishit it. He’s going to hit it and make sure he puts our defense in the best position. That’s a big deal. He had a really good average, but he also pinned some inside the 20 and inside the 10. We’re going to need him to do that again this year.”

On pride in his son Jay MacIntyre being named a captain:
“I’m extremely proud of all the guys that have been named captains. With Jay, I never pushed him to be a captain. His mom did a great job raising him. If you watch the games or watch practice, he’s one of the guys that’s always in there working hard, making plays, and he’s always pushing and fighting. I think he gained their respect last year playing the whole season on a broken foot. They knew he was hurt and that he was still going to play. I think that made a huge impression.”

On making Colorado a priority on the recruiting trail again:
“There’s a lot of excellent players in the state of Colorado. Sometimes we don’t get them all, and sometimes we can’t offer them all depending on what our positions of need are. The young men in the state of Colorado are playing really well. We have some really good players from the state of Colorado making a big impact, and we have some younger guys in the freshman class that I’m really excited about.”

On Nate Landman’s development:
“Nate Landman is an excellent player. He’s long, he’s big, he has phenomenal instincts, he has a burst to the ball and when he gets there, he arrives there in a bad mood. He’s a really good football player. I enjoy watching him. We have two more excellent inside linebackers in Rick Gamboa and Drew Lewis, but we’re going to rotate Nate in there.”
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Jaylon Jackson ready to remind Buff Nation why he was a coveted recruit

From the Daily Camera … Colorado’s Jaylon Jackson reached out and snagged a pass thrown by Tyler Lytle, taking it to the end zone for a touchdown.

“I was like, ‘Oh man, I’ve still got it,'” Jackson said with a smile. “That felt good. It was a confidence boost.”

Sure, the play came in a 7-on-7 drill during a player-led practice over the summer, but for Jackson, it was a victory he very much needed.

A redshirt freshman receiver, Jackson has battled back from yet another devastating injury to keep his football dreams alive. After playing just one game in the last three seasons because of injuries, Jackson came into fall camp, which began Thursday, healthy and ready to compete for playing time.

“I feel really good,” Jackson said. “My body is starting to come back, my legs and upper body.

“I feel like I’m confident because I know I’ve been grinding and working out. I’ve been working out with Juwann (Winfree) and KD (Nixon), doing extra stuff on the side. I’m ready to just put it out on the field; put it in the game, in practice. I’m really interested to get back on the field.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Jay MacIntyre embraces role as a dependable receiver and solid blocker

From CUBuffs.com … In three years as a wide receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes, senior Jay MacIntyre has earned a reputation as a dependable receiver, solid downfield blocker and a player with no qualms about going over the middle for a tough catch in traffic.

MacIntyre has also earned a reputation as a third-down specialist. In three seasons, he has 20 catches on third down — the most of any player on CU’s current roster — and 17 of those have produced first downs. Last season, he was the only player on the Colorado roster to have more third-down catches (10) than first-down receptions (eight).

It is a reputation MacIntyre embraces.

“It’s fun for me,” MacIntyre said after Friday’s practice. “I like having an identity as a player, and being a third-down guy is kind of how I live my life and how I am as a person off the field. That means just being consistent every single day in everything that I do. Just try to continue to work at my craft in different ways and be the guy they know they can trust. I think that’s been me off the field and it’s proving to be me on the field.”

Many of MacIntyre’s third-down catches have come over the middle in traffic. That invariably means a nearby linebacker or safety is ready to deliver a hit as soon as the catch is made.

That, MacIntyre said with a shrug, is just part of the game and part of the job.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 3rd 

... CU in a few minutes … 

Fall Camp schedule for August 3rd … Meetings (7:45 a.m.), Practice # 2 (8:35-11:35 a.m.), Walk-through (8:05-9:05 p.m.) 

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media 

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

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Sophomore defensive end Jacob Callier: “Everything is ahead of last year — it’s like night and day”

From CUBuffs.com … As a true freshman in 2017, Colorado outside linebacker Jacob Callier led the Buffs with 11 quarterback pressures — plays when he got to the quarterback in time to force an errant throw.

… Continue reading story here …

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Fall Practice No. 2 – Analysis from Adam Munsterteiger (BuffStamepede) and Brian Howell (Daily Camera)

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com …

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It’s all about tempo for the Buffs’ defense under Darrin Chiaverini

From CUBuffs.com … It is, quite obviously, far too early in fall camp to make any long-term judgments.

But even one day can provide at least a snapshot — and if the first day of Colorado’s camp was any indication of things to come, the Buffaloes’ offense could be fun to watch this year.

What is not up for debate is that the Buffs hit the field running on Thursday. Co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini, a proponent of an up-tempo attack, had the Buffs moving quickly up and down the field, with quarterback Steven Montezgetting the ball to receivers in space and allowing them to make plays in both team and 7-on-7 drills.

“It’s what we want to do — apply pressure from the beginning,” Chiaverini said. “We want to apply pressure by getting the ball in our playmakers’ hands. If we can do that consistently, then tempo gets going. When tempo gets stagnant is when you have a negative play or no gain. But if you can get that first first down and start feeling that, it’s a big thing. Our guys have trained at elevation to play fast, and that’s what we want to do.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 2nd 

… CU in a few minutes … 

Fall Camp schedule for August 2nd … Meetings (7:45 a.m.), Practice # 1 (8:35-11:35 a.m), Walk-through (8:05-9:05 p.m.) …

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media … 

From YouTube, courtesy of CUSportsNation:

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Fall Practice No. 1 – Analysis from Adam Munsterteiger (BuffStamepede) and Brian Howell (Daily Camera)

From YouTube, courtesy of the Daily Camera …

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Details for two open practices

Press release from CUBuffs.com … With the flip of the calendar to the month of August, it marks the return of football season and University of Colorado football fans will have two opportunities this month to see the Buffs in person before CU plays its first game.

Fall camp practices on the next two Saturdays – Aug. 4 and Aug. 11 – will be open to the public. The Aug. 4 practice runs from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and will be held on the lower practice fields off Folsom Avenue, north of Boulder Creek. The Aug. 11 practice will be held in Folsom Field, running from 9:15 a.m. to noon.

Fans can join the Buffs on the field following the Aug. 11 session for a post-practice selfie session with the team.

Free parking will be available in Lot 169 that is where the lower practice fields are located off Folsom Avenue and north of Boulder Creek.

Colorado Athletic ticket representatives will be holding a 2018 season ticket sale exclusively on Aug. 11 with its select-a-seat event. For more information on the season ticket sale, please go to the following link and fill out the fall scrimmage RSVP form.

CU has 25 practices beginning on Thursday, Aug. 2 before it plays its first game of the season on Aug. 31 against Colorado State at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver.

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August 1st

… CU in a few minutes …

… Fall Camp schedule for August 1st … Players Report (by 7:30 a.m.; administrative meetings, presentations/summer school/dinner, team meeting) …

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Buffs Report for Camp

From CUBuffs.com …  It’s been a long offseason, but the waiting — at least in terms of players on the field — is over.

Eight months after the Colorado ended the 2017 season on a disappointing note with a loss at Utah, the Buffaloes are ready for a fresh start — an opportunity that will begin in earnest Thursday when they hold their first practice of fall camp.

The Buffs officially reported for camp Wednesday morning, but most of the day was dedicated to meetings, orientation and other administrative details.

It is Thursday when the cleats hit the grass for the first of 25 practices before the Aug. 31 season opener against Colorado State.

“We’re excited,” said CU head coach Mike MacIntyre, who is entering his sixth year in Boulder. “With the hard work this team has put in this summer, I’m looking forward to seeing how much improvement we’ve made going into fall camp and the process of getting ready for the 2018 season.”

Safe to say, players are looking forward to opening camp as well.

… Continue reading story here …

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Eli Manning high on his former quarterback coach, Kurt Roper, and Buff quarterback Steven Montez

From CUBuffs.com … Eli Manning, one of five players in NFL history to win multiple Super Bowl MVP awards, has undoubtedly put together a Hall of Fame caliber career as he is now set to enter his 15th season as the quarterback for the New York Giants.

He comes from the highest pedigree of any quarterbacking family the NFL has seen. He has also been fortunate throughout his career to learn from a number of high quality coaches that aided in his development and led to his stardom.

One of those coaches is now on the University of Colorado staff; quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper. Roper was his quarterbacks coach in college at Ole Miss.

The New York Giants were kind enough to throw CU an assist in coordinating an interview with Eli Manning, and being the gentleman he is, was gracious enough to lend Colorado football fans his insight and knowledge.

Here is what Eli had to say about Kurt Roper as well as his recollections of current CU quarterback Steven Montez, who attended the Manning Family Passing Academy this summer.

Q: What are your memories playing under Kurt Roper at Ole Miss?
Eli Manning: “Coach Roper and I, we had a great relationship, five years together at Ole Miss. He started out as the quarterback coach and became the offensive coordinator, so I spent a lot of time with him breaking down defenses, learning that offense, doing that drill work together and we had a lot of great moments and big wins. On a personal side we were great friends and enjoyed our on-the-field and in-the-classroom times, but also off the field getting to know each other.”

Q: What were your recollections of Colorado quarterback Steven Montez from your Manning Passing Academy this summer?
Eli Manning: “I was impressed with Steven. He’s a great kid, had a lot of energy with the campers first off and was excited about being there, but also just in his throwing mechanics, the way he threw the ball, it came out with great velocity. He was a smart kid, asked good questions in some of the meetings we had with Peyton. It was fun exchanging some old Kurt Roper stories as well, so I think I gave him some good material that he’ll have a little dirt on coach Rope in case certain situations come up where he might need to use it.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Second-year defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot: “I like to think that I improve as a coordinator every year”

From the Daily Camera … Driving down a mountain road while returning from a summer getaway with the family, Colorado defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot spoke with a little more confidence than he did a year ago.

One year into his job of running the Buffaloes’ defense, Eliot’s comfortable in Boulder and more familiar with the players he has to work with this fall.

“I feel better than last year,” Eliot said. “We have a group of guys that got a lot of experience last year and I think we have a lot of talented guys who are either newcomers because they’re junior college guys or because they redshirted last year.”

Quite often, there is an emphasis on players getting better from year to year, but coaches do too, and Eliot’s progress in his second year with the Buffaloes could be crucial for the defense.

“I like to think I get better every year,” he said. “I like to think that I improve as a coordinator every year, and every year you have different challenges.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Tags: Chris Miller, Colby Pursell, D.J. Eliot, Delrick Abrams, Israel Antwine, J.T. Bale, Javier Edwards, Klayton Adams, Kurt Roper, Neill Woelk, Steven Montez, Tony Brown, William Sherman
This post, about the Fall Camp game, from the 2018 Season, is filed under Article.
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