Fall Camp Notes

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Fall Camp Notes

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August 26th

No practice … private team functions

Buffs taking Saturday off before entering first Game Week of the season

From CUBuffs.com … A Colorado offense that entered fall camp with high expectations appears to be hitting its stride, with its work over the last week perhaps the best of camp thus far.

The Buffs completed a crisp, full-pads workout Friday afternoon, technically the last day of camp. They will take Saturday off, then begin “game week” preparations Sunday for next Friday’s season opener against Colorado State at Sports Authority Field in Denver (6 p.m., Pac-12 Networks).

While the offense has been making strides on a consistent basis throughout camp, the unit seemed to hit a new level over the last week. It began with a solid all-around effort in the Aug. 18 scrimmage, one that included what head coach Mike MacIntyre called Steven Montez‘s best scrimmage of camp, and continued with a week of the tempo hitting at a rapid-fire, consistent pace.

“We’re a lot cleaner right now,” co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini said “Guys are starting to peak at the right time. They’re getting their bodies back and their minds are right. When you have a long camp — four weeks — guys’ bodies are going to go up and down. Guys are starting to get fresh now. These are veteran guys who know what the level of competition is going to be next week. Now they’re starting to get their minds right and their bodies are following suit.”

What has been particularly impressive over the past week is the pace at which the offense has operated. The up-tempo offense that Colorado instituted a year ago is now clearly ahead of where it was a year ago at this time.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 25th

24th practice … Academic Meetings, Football Meetings (1:15 p.m.) … Practice: 2:45‐4:00 p.m.

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Mark Johnson interviews Rick George at CU Kickoff Luncheon

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Mike MacIntyre thanks CU band … wants them in the Rose Bowl parade come New Year’s Day

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August 24th

23rd practice … Meetings: 2:30 p.m.; … Practice: 5:45 – 7:45 p.m. 

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Neill Woelk: There were some pleasant surprises during Fall Camp

From CUBuffs.com … We saw a handful of players who had shown “flashes” over the last season or two move up in terms of consistency and show they are ready to be regular contributors.

Defensive lineman Jase Franke definitely fits that description. Franke, a stout, powerful junior has added some weight and is now a solid 280 pounds — big enough to get some significant time up front. He has seen work in camp at both nose tackle and defensive end, and while technically is maybe still a bit undersized for the interior, he’s shown the ability to make up for it with his power.

Another great development in camp has been the steady production of running back Michael Adkins II. The fifth-year senior has remained healthy and is looking like the back who was a big part of CU’s offense in Mike MacIntyre‘s first season. Paired with Phillip Lindsay, Adkins has the potential to give Colorado a terrific one-two punch in the backfield.

Also in this group are redshirt freshman Akil Jones, who has made big strides at inside linebacker; sophomore guard Brett Tonz, who has made the switch from defensive line to offense a successful one; sophomore tackle Dillon Middlemiss; junior tackle Josh Kaiser; defensive back Ronnie Blackmon; defensive linemen Frank Umu and Lyle Tuiloma; and wide receiver Lee Walker, who has made strides not only in maybe the deepest position group on the team, but is also in line to get some work as a return specialist.

One other spot that offered excellent progress? Try quarterback, where redshirt freshman Sam Noyertook a big leap from the spring, as did true freshman Tyler Lytle.

… Continue reading Fall Camp highlight story here …

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Afolabi Laguda: “Big plays don’t just happen. The offense is given big plays because of a bust in the secondary”

From CUBuffs.com … If there was one overriding, overarching characteristic of the Colorado defense a year ago, it was accountability.

Every player on defense, from the seniors who would hear their names in the April NFL Draft to the youngsters just getting their feet wet in college ball, held themselves accountable. They took big plays by the opposing offense personally, and did their best to make sure they did not happen again.

Over the last week, that attitude has started to surface again — and if the Colorado defense is to grow into one that can compete in the Pac-12, it is an attitude that will be integral to the growth process.

“We all have to be accountable, every person on defense,” said CU safety Afolabi Laguda. “Big plays don’t just happen. The offense is given big plays because of a bust in the secondary, not being in your gap, not being technically sound. That’s how big plays are created. So, can you be accountable to your teammates?”

It is a theme that is especially personal to Laguda, voted one of six CU team captains this season after a standout season in 2016. Laguda started all 14 games for CU last year and finished second on the team in tackles with 80, as well as recording six pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception. He had three games with double-digit tackles, including a 12-tackle performance against Arizona.

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August 23rd

22nd practice … Meetings: 8:15 a.m.; … Practice: 9:45 – 12:05 p.m. .. Walk-through: 7:45 – 8:45 p.m. 

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com

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Practice Notes … The Buffs were in light pads Wednesday for about a two-hour practice. They continued to work on situation drills — end of game plays, clock-specific situations, turnovers, etc. — as well as special teams.

“You repeat it and repeat it,” MacIntyre said of some of the situation work. “A lot of them you do 30 times and they never come up in a game until the end of November — or you’ll do them 15 times and three of them come up in the first game. You never know, so you keep repeating them, repeating them, repeating them, so they’re ready for the situation and they know exactly what we’re supposed to do in those situations.” … CU’s offense continues to pick up speed. Wide receiver Devin Ross had a couple of big catches in team work, including a deep ball from Steven Montez that went the distance. … The defense, however, also had its moments. Cornerback Isaiah Oliver had a terrific pass breakup, leaping high in the air and reaching over a receiver to tip the ball in the air, where it was grabbed by linebacker Jacob Callier for an interception.

MOVING ON UP: Wednesday was the last scheduled day of practice on the lower practice fields. Beginning Thursday, the Buffs will begin working out on Franklin Field, adjacent to the Indoor Practice Facility. Thursday’s practice will be an early evening workout, and Friday’s will be an afternoon practice (after the kickoff luncheon). The Buffs will take Saturday off, then begin “game week” on Sunday in preparation for the Sept. 1 opener.

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Mike MacIntyre … New season = New challenges

From CUBuffs.com … Just a year ago, members of the media wondered publicly whether Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre would survive the 2016 season in Boulder.

A year later, those same media members were asking MacIntyre at CU’s annual media day how his team would handle the considerably heightened expectations heading into the 2017 season.

Amazing what a 10-win, Pac-12 South title season will do for a program.

MacIntyre, though, is still the same coach he was a year ago: a stickler for detail, a man who doesn’t believe in shortcuts and a man who believes preparation is always the foundation for success.

It’s why the saying “Knowledge equals confidence equals playing fast” has a prominent position in the Champions Center.

But MacIntyre also knows the landscape has changed for the Buffaloes. Colorado won’t catch anyone by surprise this year.

“It’s not like there’s Colorado, that’s a ‘W’ for the other team,” MacIntyre said Tuesday. “I feel like we’ve gained that respect, but every year it’s a new team, we’ve got to out there and earn it again. It’s not going to be given to us by any stretch of the imagination. Just because we did well last season doesn’t mean we’re going to be good this year.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 22nd

21st practice … Meetings: 8:15 a.m.; … Practice: 9:45 – 11:45 p.m. .. Walk-through: 7:45 – 8:45 p.m. 

Media Day Schedule: Brunch 10:30-11:30 / Olympic Sports 11:00-12:10 / MacIntyre 12:15; Assistant Coaches 12:45-1:30; Players 12:45-2:00 p.m.

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CU Depth Chart released

Offense – 12 positions listed

Quarterbacks … Steven Montez (So.) … Sam Noyer … Tyler Lytle; Casey Marksberry

Running backs … Phillip Lindsay (Sr.) … Michael Adkins … Beau Bisharat; Donovan Lee; Kyle Evans

WR – X position … Bryce Bobo (Sr.) … Kabion Ento … Laviska Shenault

WR – Z position … Shay Fields (Sr.) … Juwann Winfree … Johnny Huntley

WR – H position … Devin Ross (Sr.) … K.D. Nixon

WR – Y position … Jay MacIntyre (Jr.) … Lee Walker

LT – Jeromy Irwin (Sr.) … Josh Kaiser … Hunter Vaughn

LG – Gerrad Kough (Sr.) … Brett Tonz … Chance Lytle

C – Jonathan Huckins (Sr.) … Colby Pursell … Justin Eggers

RG – Tim Lynott, Jr. (So.) … William Sherman … Heston Paige

RT – Aaron Haigler (So.) … Dillon Middlemiss … Isaac Miller

TE – George Frazier (Sr.) … Chris Bounds … Jared Poplawski; Eddy Lopez

… Notes … The offensive line is experienced, but there isn’t a great deal of experienced depth … True freshmen wide receivers K.D. Nixon and Laviska Shenault made the two deep, despite all of the talented receivers on the roster … Michael Adkins has moved into the clear No. 2 at running back. If he can stay healthy, he will get on the field … Jared Poplawski may see playing time at tight end (and might get the ball thrown his direction) …

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Defense – 12 positions listed

LDE – Leo Jackson (Sr.) … Frank Umu … Terriek Roberts

NT – Javier Edwards (Jr.) … Jase Franke … Lyle Tuiloma

RDE – Chris Mulumba (Jr.) … Jase Franke or George Frazier

OLB – Derek McCartney (Jr.) … Dante Sparaco … Michael Mathewes

Jack – ILB – Drew Lewis (Jr.) … Jonathan Van Diest … Trent Headley

Mike – ILB – Rick Gamboa (Jr.) … Akil Jones … Nate Landman

OLB – Terran Hasselbach (Jr.) … Jacob Callier … Timothy Coleman

Buff Backer (nickel back) … Ryan Moeller (Sr.) … Evan Worthington

CB – Isaiah Oliver (Jr.) … Dante Wigley … Darrion Rakestraw

FS – Afodabi Laguda (Sr.) … Evan Worthington … Kyle Trego; Isaiah Lewis

SS – Ryan Moeller (Sr.) … Nick Fisher … Lucas Cooper; Darrell Hubbard

CB – Trey Udoffia (R-Fr.) … Ronnie Blackmon … Andrew Bergner; Uryan Hudson

… Notes … The defensive line remains perilously thin. Two junior college transfers step in as the new starters, which either meand they are super talents or the returning players aren’t reliable as starters … The linebacker corps have similar issues, with two true freshmen – Dante Sparaco and Jonathan Van Diest – already showing up as primary backups … With Anthony Julmisse all but gone as a Buff, Trey Udoffia gets the nod as the cornerback other teams are going to try and pick on … Something of a surprise that Nick Fisher isn’t showing up at the starter at strong safety. If Ryan Moeller is playing safety, that would put Evan Worthington into the starting lineup at nickel back …

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Specialists 

P – Alex Kinney … Chris Graham

K – James Stefanou … Chris Graham or Davis Price

PR – Isaiah Oliver … Jay MacIntyre

KR – Lee Walker … Ronnie Blackmon … K.D. Nixon

Holder – T.J. Patterson … Alex Kinney

Snapper – J. T. Bale … Nate Landman

Notes … The James Stefanou era begins early at Colorado. We’ll see how the 30-year old Australian performs under the lights in Denver … Nothing against Lee Walker, but I’m excited to see what red-shirt freshman Ronnie Blackmon and/or true freshman K.D. Nixon will bring to the return game …

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Injury Report

Shamar Hamilton, OLB (knee)

Dylan Keeney, TE (back)

– Out for the season

Jaylon Jackson, WR (knee)

Jaisen Sanchez, S (shoulder)

– Suspended

Anthony Julmisse, CB (multiple arrests)

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Darrin Chiaverini on Shay Fields: “I think he’s going to have a big senior year”

From CUBuffs.com … In a league bursting at the seams with standout wide receivers, a league where seemingly everyone throws the ball all day long, Colorado’s Shay Fields stands above the rest as the 2017 season prepares to open.

Fields, CU’s senior wide receiver, enters his final season in Boulder with more catches (144) and more receiving yards (1,929) than any other active player in the Pac-12. He is also tied for the active player lead in touchdown receptions (17) and career starts (34).

The good news for Colorado fans — and the fair warning for opposing defenses?

Fields appears primed to make his final season as a Buff his best — something that won’t be easy, considering he finished last year with 56 catches (including the Alamo Bowl) for 883 yards and nine touchdowns, plus a 12-yard touchdown run.

Fields has also earned a reputation as “Big-Play Shay.” He has nine career plays of 50 yards or longer, with seven of those coming for 60 or more.

But, said co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini, Fields has put himself in position to have his best season yet.

“I think he’s worked harder over the last year getting his body in better shape and understanding what it takes to play at an elite level,” Chiaverini said. “He’s been more consistent in practice. He has big goals for himself as an individual and as a team. I think he’s going to have a big senior year. He’s worked hard on his body and on his mind and he’s going to have opportunities to make plays. He’s a guy we’re going to get the ball to and let him do what he does.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 21st

20th practice … Meetings: 8:15 a.m.; … Practice: 9:45 – 12:05 p.m. .. Walk-through: 7:45 – 8:45 p.m. 

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com

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Practice Notes … After a day off Sunday, the Buffs were back in full pads Monday morning and got some “thud” work in late in the workout in four-minute drills. … Defensive back Evan Worthington, who has had an outstanding camp, continues to make plays all over the field. One observer said Worthington has great “suddenness.” … True freshman outside linebacker Jacob Callier continues to be impressive, as does classmate Dante Sparaco. … CU’s running back duo of Phillip Lindsay and Michael Adkins IIappears to be hitting a nice stride. … MacIntyre noted that quarterback Steven Montez had his best scrimmage of camp in Friday night’s finale. … The offense as a whole continues to pick up speed, getting closer to the tempo the Buffs want to produce on a regular basis.

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Special Teams update … Head coach Mike MacIntyre was asked Monday morning if he worried about putting starting cornerback Isaiah Oliver back to field punts again this year.

“He played all the time last year, I thought he was the No. 1 corner last year,” MacIntye said. “We’ll have him back there, we’ll have Jay (MacIntyre) back there, we’ll have Ronnie (Blackmon) back there. We’ll have all three of those guys at different times. I feel pretty good about him being there and being able to do it.”

Oliver took over punt return duties last year after MacIntyre was injured, and had the biggest play of the year in that area, a 68-yard return for a score that helped the Buffs clinch a 20-10 win over UCLA. It was CU’s first punt return score since 2005.

Oliver averaged 11.7 yards on 14 returns. MacIntyre averaged 8.9 on 17 returns, with a long of 32. Blackmon is a redshirt freshman defensive back.

As for kick returns, MacIntyre said return duties would likely go to Blackmon, junior receiver Lee Walkerand true freshman K.D. Nixon.

He also said the kicking competition between James Stefanou and Chris Graham remains close, and didn’t rule out the possibility that the Buffs could split the kickoff and field goal duties.

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Buffs 85-55-3 in seasons with an eclipse 

… only Dave Plati could come up with these statistics! …

Press release from CUBuffs.com … It’s not something coaching staffs are accustomed to dealing with, but in case you were wondering — yes, the Colorado Buffaloes are prepared for next Monday’s solar eclipse.

The eclipse will peak in the area at 11:45 a.m. In Boulder, it will be a “partial” eclipse, with a small sliver of the sun still visible at the eclipse peak. Still, it will become considerably darker in the area at the peak, comparable to dusk.

The Buffs will practice in the Champions Center Indoor Practice Facility on Monday morning, then go outside to view the eclipse at its peak (the Buffs have obtained special eclipse-viewing glasses).

Of course, your next question is, “How have the Buffs fared in years in which a total eclipse of the sun has been visible in any part of the United States?”

Naturally, CU Sports Information Director and stats guru David Plati has the answer. The Buffs are 85-55-3 in seasons when a total eclipse of the sun has been visible somewhere in the United States. The previous years were 1900, 1918, 1923, 1925, 1932, 1943, 1945, 1954, 1959, 1963, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1990 and 1991.

(Another astronomy note: CU is 38-15 when Haley’s Comet is visible from Earth — 1910-11-12, 1985-86-87 — opening at 20-0.)

The current forecast for Monday is mostly sunny with a few afternoon clouds. If you are interested in what the eclipse will look like in Boulder, Time magazine has created a handy simulation graphic that shows a view of the sky from any location in the U.S., simply by plugging in a location or zip code.

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August 20th 

… Team day off … No practice …

Special Teams hoping to be special 

From CUBuffs.com …  It’s no secret the Colorado Buffaloes’ special teams haven’t been up to snuff in recent years.

From field goals to punts to punt and kickoff coverage, the Buffs have encountered problems, often providing momentum-turning moments that have worked against them.

But indications are that may be ready to change this year, for a couple of reasons.

One is the arrival of special teams/inside linebackers Ross Els. After one year of divvying up special teams responsibilities equally among the staff, head coach Mike MacIntyre put the organizational duties in Els’ hands (although other assistants are still involved with specific teams).

“Ross Els has done a great job running our special teams and organizing it,” MacIntyre said. “I feel very good about where we are.”

The second reason to believe improvement is on the way is simply the continued upgrade of ability throughout the Colorado roster.

Most coaches are hesitant to use too many first-team players on special teams because of fear of injury. It means those duties are handed to backups and players farther down the depth chart.

In years past, Colorado’s lack of depth and comparative athletic ability showed. But now, because CU has steadily improved the talent level across the board over the last four years, it means better athletes are available for special teams duty.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 19th

19th practice … Meetings: 9:30 a.m.; … Practice: 11:15 – 12:30 p.m.

Neill Woelk – Big Picture: Future looks bright for CU program

From CUBuffs.com … After the first three weeks of the longest fall camp in Colorado football history, the season opener is finally more than a hazy spot on horizon.

The Buffs are now just two weeks away their Sept. 1 opener against in-state rival Colorado State in Denver (6 p.m., Pac-12 Networks), a game that will give Colorado fans their first look at how much has changed from the 2016 team that produced a 10-4, Pac-12 South title turnaround season.

There is, of course, still plenty of work to do. While the Buffs have all the basics of their offense and defense in place, they have yet to begin serious installation of their Colorado State game plan. That effort will be helped immensely by the fact that the Rams open their season six days ahead of the Buffs with an Aug. 26 meeting with Oregon State, when the Rams will also debut their new on-campus stadium.

By all accounts, it has been a solid, productive camp for the Buffs. Young players have made big strides — especially at positions where they will be needed — and CU’s veterans have shown no sign of being satisfied with last year’s results. Rather, the games that stick out most in their minds are the last two — a loss to Washington in the Pac-12 title game and an ensuing loss to Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl. It is motivation that should carry a head of steam into the season.

So, with two weeks still to go, some big-picture observations as we head down the stretch:

… Continue reading story here …

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August 18th

18th practice … Meetings: 10:00 a.m.;  … Practice: 3:50 – 4:30 p.m. … Scrimmage: 6:00 – 8:45 p.m. (closed to the public)

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George Frazier playing on offense, defense and special teams

From the Daily Camera … Hardly a day goes by when Afolabi Laguda doesn’t answer to George Frazier.

Laguda and Frazier are both seniors and captains for the Colorado football team.

They are also roommates and have been for more than two years.

“Every day I come out on this field, and I know every day George hits this field … we empty the tank,” Laguda said. “By that I mean, I don’t want to go home and talk to George about, ‘Hey man, I wish I would have did this on this play.’ In the classroom, he pushes me academically and I push him.

“George is a leader. He is an alpha male and people look up to an alpha male.”

A 6-foot-2, 280-pound senior with a booming voice and commanding presence, Frazier leads on and off the field and is one of the players the defending Pac-12 South champion Buffaloes will depend on most this season, which opens Sept. 1 against Colorado State.

A two-year captain, Frazier is a starter at tight end, a role player on the defensive line and a key member of the special teams units. In the locker room, he’s earned as much respect as anybody.

… Continue reading story here …

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Buffs will try to simulate CSU game conditions during second scrimmage Friday night

From CUBuffs.com … With the Colorado Buffaloes scheduled to open 2017 under the lights, head coach Mike MacIntyre will give his team a taste of the atmosphere Friday when the Buffs hold an evening scrimmage at Folsom Field.

CU opens the season Sept. 1 — two weeks from Friday — with a 6 p.m. game against Colorado State in Denver.

“We’ll start practice the same time as the game, kind of simulate that, get used to catching kicks and punts and passes under the lights,” MacIntyre said. “(It) shouldn’t be that big of deal but I like doing that a couple times when we’re playing our first game under the lights.”

With two full-contact, full-speed scrimmages already in the books, the Buffs will be in full pads again Friday, but will limit the contact to “thud” work. The plan is to work on a variety of situations, but unlike previous scrimmages, the script for part of the workout will be in the hands of just one coach — MacIntyre.

The idea is to simulate game conditions and see how players — and coaches — react.

“I’ll call out different situations,” MacIntyre said. “Coaches won’t know, players won’t know. Just have them try to make it chaotic like a game is, different things happening and have them all react to it. That’s what we’ll do the last half of the practice.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 17th

17th practice … Meetings: 8:15 a.m. … Practice: 9:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. … Walk-through: 7:45 – 8:45 p.m.

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com

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Mark Johnson interview with George Frazier

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV:

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Practice Report … The Buffs continued to work on situation specifics Thursday morning, with the quarterbacks having solid days in the red zone work. Steven Montez hit back-to-back throws in the end zone to Devin Ross and Bryce Bobo, and Sam Noyer dropped a beautiful long ball into the hands of K.D. Nixon in the end zone. … Evan Worthington had a pass breakup near the goal line and Trey Udoffia had one in the end zone. … Linebacker Akil Jones had a nice pass knockdown working with the No. 1 defense. … The prettiest completion of the day, though, may have been a Tyler Lytle throw to tight end Jared Poplawski. Lytle threw a perfect strike down the sideline to Poplawski, who made the catch in stride, just past the outstretched arms of a defender.

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Sam Noyer ready to take over should Steven Montez go down

From CUBuffs.com … Of all the lessons learned from the Colorado Buffaloes’ 2016 season, one of the more important was how valuable the “next man up” philosophy actually is.

Every coach preaches the principal, stressing the importance of backups being prepared to step into the No. 1 role at a moment’s notice.

But it’s often not until such a situation occurs that the significance of such preparation becomes evident — and the Buffs saw exactly that when quarterback Sefo Liufau went down with an injury in the third quarter of the Michigan game.

Liufau was replaced in the game by then-freshman Steven Montez, who struggled in his second appearance as a Buff. Montez, who later admitted he wasn’t as prepared as he could have been, did not complete a pass in seven attempts and was sacked twice.

But given a week to prepare, Montez came back the following week to lead Colorado to a 41-38 win at Oregon, a game that saw him earn Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors as well as several national awards.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 16th

16th practice … Meetings: 8:15 a.m. … Practice: 9:45 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. … Walk-through: 7:45 – 8:45 p.m.

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com

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CU Tight ends / H-Backs … Not in the Witness Protection Program

From CUBuffs.com … They must know how to pass block and run block from two different positions, run routes and catch the ball. They can line up tight on the offensive line, in the slot or in the backfield.

They are Colorado’s tight ends/H-backs, a combination position that requires a wide variety of skill sets, a “team first” mentality and no need to see their names in the headlines.

“They’re out there a lot more often than fans probably notice,” said position coach Gary Bernardi. “They do a lot of different things and they have to do a lot of stuff that doesn’t appear in the paper on Sunday. But that’s football. No matter where you play, you have to make sure you’re doing your job. They love the game and they do their job.”

From a pure statistical standpoint, CU tight ends/H-backs haven’t exactly put up big numbers over the last couple of seasons. As the Buffs have become more up-tempo and more spread oriented, the tight ends’ receiving chances have been limited (although they have been more involved in that area thus far in training camp).

Still, the position is a key cog in CU’s offense, particularly in short yardage situations and on the goal line. There, they may be asked to line up next to a tackle and block defensive linemen, line up in the backfield and provide a lead block for the tailback, or even go in motion and serve as a safety valve receiver.

… Continue reading story here …

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PRACTICE NOTES: After putting in their longest practice of camp on Tuesday, a three-hour session in full pads, the Buffs were back in light pads for Wednesday’s workout, one that saw them go through a brisk 90-minute session that emphasized situation drills. The Buffs worked on end-of-game scenarios, interception returns and put in some more red zone work, and also put in some special teams work.

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August 15th

15th practice … Meetings: 8:15 a.m. … Practice: 9:45 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. (in pads) … Walk-through: 7:45 – 8:45 p.m.

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com

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Fall Camp at the midway point

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado offensive lineman and senior team captain Jeromy Irwin said it best Tuesday morning:

“We’re halfway through camp, everybody’s starting to feel a little tired and legs are getting a little heavy — but this is the time you need to make strides and really push the teammates around you. It’s when you have to grind through it and get better.”

The Buffs no doubt had to grind Tuesday morning, as head coach Mike MacIntyre put his team through a nearly three-hour workout — by far their longest of camp thus far. The Buffs were in full pads and went through an extended team period, working on a wide variety of down-and-distance and clock situations.

“We had a good day today,” MacIntyre said. “Full pads, got a lot of repetitions in.”

As Irwin said, it’s the time of camp when a little fatigue begins to set in — and a time that MacIntyre has stressed is important for team captains to step up.

“What I saw today and yesterday, especially at the end of practice yesterday, I saw the captains and guys that are playing more take another step,” MacIntyre said. “I saw today the guys take another step, vocally and showing in their actions. You’re looking for that right now. You’re looking for guys that don’t want to cower back, that want to keep moving forward. I’m seeing that with a bunch of the guys that are being counted on more than they have been in the past.”

… Continue reading story here …

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PRACTICE NOTES: The Buffs got plenty of 11-on-11 work in Tuesday morning in full pads, with some of their most extensive “team” work of camp outside of true scrimmages. They continue to match the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 units against each other, with some big plays coming from both sides of the ball. …

Tuesday had some heavy emphasis on the run game early, with Phillip Lindsay, Michael Adkins and Alex Fontenot all producing some big gainers. Lindsay showed some terrific quickness and moves with a quick burst up the middle that he popped to the second level in a hurry. … OLB Derek McCartney has made some outstanding progress over the last week. While the coaching staff continues to bring him along slowly after his season-ending knee injury a year ago, McCartney is rounding into top form and making plays in the run game and in pass rush situations. … Afolabi Laguda continues to show solid cover skills against the top-flight receivers. … ILB Akil Jones continues to make the most of his snaps with the No. 1 unit. … True freshman Jacob Callier continues to move up the ladder at outside linebacker. … Leo Jackson III had a big pass knockdown on a third-down play against the No. 1 offense. … Freshmen wide receivers Laviska Shenault and K.D. Nixon also continue to turn heads.

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2017 Buffs more mature than they are given credit for 

From CUBuffs.com … If you add up the players on the opening camp roster for the Colorado Buffaloes, they have collectively played in 1,019 games (the third-most by a returning team in school history), with 320 starts (fourth most).

Both all-time highs for any returning Colorado team occurred last year: 1,072/412.

That is a stark difference between the first three years in the Mike MacIntyre era at CU.

The numbers in MacIntyre’s other seasons: 824/327 (2015), 904/314 (2014) and 896/268 (2013).

… Continue reading story here …

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August 14th

14th practice … Meetings: 8:15 a.m. … Practice No. 14: 9:45 a.m. – 12:05 p.m. … Walk-through: 7:45 – 8:45 p.m.

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com

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… Related … Neill Woelk and Mark Johnson discuss Practice No. 14 … video link here …

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Practice Notes … From CUBuffs.com … RB Kyle Evans, who dislocated his hip in the first scrimmage of spring ball on March 4 and had surgery two days later, returned to practice for the first time Monday. He now begins his NCAA mandated five-day acclimation period. He will be practicing with just a helmet Monday and Tuesday, can go in shoulder pads and helmets Wednesday and Thursday before being able to fully suit up on Friday in time for the scrimmage the Buffs are holding that evening. … CU held its first weekday practice since summer school ended last Friday. Even with more time that can be devoted to football, the schedule for the Buffs has not altered all that much asides from the start time of practice moving back one hour. “Since it is such a long camp, I’m still giving them a break in the afternoon to rest and then we’ll come back and we’ll meet just a little bit longer and have a little bit longer walkthrough at night,” MacIntyre said. “I still want them to have that down time when our coaches watch all the film and be prepared to have a really good meeting later that night.” … Two-way player George Frazier has been for the most part switching days practicing on both sides of the ball. There are times, like on Monday for example, where he works at both tight end and defensive end in the same practice. One minute on Monday he was at tight end doing 7-on-7 passing simulations with the first-team offense before going over to work on pass rushing with the defensive lineman. … MacIntyre ended Monday’s practice with a bonus period, where he worked to simulate late fourth quarter conditions. The high-tempo team drill moving the ball up-and-down the field focuses not only on conditioning, but being able to execute and make plays when you are tired. … Sophomore DB Lucas Cooper‘s interception in the team portion of Monday’s practice was one of two interceptions the Buffs made Monday. The other came via freshman linebacker Carson Wells.

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Mark Johnson interview with defensive line coach Jim Jeffcoat

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV:

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Mark Johnson interview with defensive lineman Timothy Coleman

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV:

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Wide receiver competition: “I’m excited about the whole group” 

From CUBuffs.com … Heading into Colorado’s fall camp, the overwhelming consensus was that wide receiver would be one of the most competitive position battles of the preseason.

As the Buffs rapidly approach the halfway mark of camp, nothing has happened to dispel that theory. As head coach Mike MacIntyre recently said, ” “We have so many good (receivers), it’s day to day who’s best.”

Indeed, at least a half-dozen wideouts have had noteworthy days in CU’s first 13 practices. The list includes the likely suspects — returning starters Shay Fields, Devin Ross, Bryce Bobo and Jay MacIntyre — as well as those expected to battle for playing time, including Juwann Winfree and Kabion Ento. But the list has grown larger over the last week, as Lee Walker has been elbowing his way into the mix, and true freshmen K.D. Nixon and Laviska Shenault Jr. are making their presence known on a regular basis.

“They’re all playing well,” wide receivers coach and offensive co-coordinator Darrin Chiaverini said after Saturday’s scrimmage. “When the guys get opportunities to make a play, they’re making plays. I’m excited about the whole group. When guys are getting chances to get their hands on the ball, they’ve been making plays. As a coach, that’s what you want.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Near midway point of Fall Camp – Mike MacIntyre: “(The clock) is ticking real fast to me”

From the Daily Camera … The Colorado football team has its Sept. 1 season opener against rival Colorado State in sight.

“(The clock) is ticking real fast to me,” head coach Mike MacIntyre said on Friday.

Going into Monday, the Buffaloes are nearly halfway through preseason camp, with 13 practices down and 16 to go before facing the Rams.

So far, this has been a solid camp for the Buffs. That’s the word from those inside the gates, anyway, as all but one practice — a scaled-back scrimmage on Aug. 5 — has been closed to the fans and media.

Despite the very limited access, there does appear to be several positives for the Buffs as they look to build upon last year’s Pac-12 South championship.

Nearing the mid-point of camp, here are a few things we’ve learned about the Buffs:

… Continue reading story here …

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August 13th

… No practice … Team day off … 

Mike MacIntyre: “I saw plays on both sides, which is good”

From CUBuffs.com … From the perspective of a head coach, Colorado’s first two scrimmages of fall camp have yielded for the most part what Mike MacIntyre wants to see: some big plays on both sides of the ball and neither side dominating play.

… “I saw plays on both sides, which is good,” MacIntyre said. “Both sides made plays, both sides had their ups and downs. We got the scenarios of the game going with the referees running it and the clocks and substitutions and everything. We didn’t have a ton of flags, but a couple of them were great teaching moments. We could stop, teach what happened, have the referees come in and talk to them.”

Big plays from the defense included an Isaiah Oliver interception on a tipped ball, sacks from Drew Lewis and Dante Sparaco, a big fourth-down stop from safety Evan Worthington and some nice plays from young linebackers Carson Wells, Jonathan Van Diest and Akil Jones.

Offensively, Bryce Bobo had a pair of big catches, both on throws from Steven Montez;  and running backs Michael Adkins and Alex Fontenot both broke nice runs. Also coming up with nice catches were wideouts Devin Ross, K.D. Nixon and Laviska Shenault.

MacIntyre also singled out the play of redshirt freshman cornerback Trey Ufoffia, and also praised the kicking game.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 12th

13th practice … Meetings: 8:15 a.m. … Scrimmage: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (closed to the public) … Walk-through: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

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Mike MacIntyre talk with media after Buffs’ second scrimmage

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

— Highlights:

— “Our offense will be the best it’s been in my five years here” … Defensively, “we won’t be as ‘salty’ early as last year

— Pac-12 officials were on hand to assist

— No major injuries … neither side dominated

— Situational play … overtime, four-minute drills

— WR Mike Bobo had a touchdown … Field goal kickers did well … RB Alex Fontenot and Michael Adkins had good runs … DE Dante Sparaco had a sack … DB Trey Udoffia played well at corner … DB Evan Worthington made a “phenomenal” play on a fourth down

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Video highlights from Buffs’ second scrimmage

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV …

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Evan Worthington earning playing time with his versatility

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado junior Evan Worthington has been a busy man in the Buffaloes’ fall camp thus far.

In the first 12 practices of camp, Worthington has lined up at every position possible in the CU secondary — safety, corner, Buff back and nickel.

His favorite?

“The one when I’m on the field,” Worthington said with a grin earlier this week. “As long as I’m on the field, that’s my favorite position.”

It’s safe to say Worthington will almost certainly be lined up at his favorite position when the Buffs open the season Sept. 1 against Colorado State in Denver. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior brings a high level of athleticism, a nice dose of experience and plenty of versatility to the CU secondary — a place where the Buffs are in the process of replacing three starters from last season.

Worthington’s ability and versatility are both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because he can fill so many roles; a curse because he’s not always concentrating on the nuances of just one position.

… Continue reading story here …

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Consistency a goal for Buffs in second scrimmage

From CUBuffs.com … With the Sept. 1 season opener now just three weeks — and counting — away, the Colorado Buffaloes will conduct their second full-scale scrimmage of fall camp Saturday.

While every practice counts, the scrimmages no doubt hold extra importance. They provide the closest thing possible to “real time” situations, an opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate personnel groups and individual progress in a game-simulation atmosphere.

Head coach Mike MacIntyre even makes sure his coaches are on the sidelines during the scrimmage to make it as game-similar as possible. That, MacIntyre said, removes a “comfort zone” for players.

“You can see what they know, see how they can handle it if they make a mistake, how they can recover, how they can adapt to things out there,” MacIntyre said. “(Players) are out there by themselves. It’s more of a game situation. That’s where you see a lot of ability to handle situations and how they handle it if they do something bad. Can they bounce back or are they hanging their head?”

The Buffs finished the basic installation of their playbook several days ago, and MacIntyre said he’s been able to see a difference in the last couple of days.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 11th

12th practice … Meetings: 7:15 a.m. … Practice No. 12: 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. … Walk-through: 6:45 – 7:45 p.m.

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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PRACTICE NOTES: The Buffs were in light pads again Friday. … Cornerback Kevin George, who joined the team at midweek, managed to get in a few snaps in team drills. “He looks like we thought — long and athletic,” MacIntyre said. … The Buffs continue to get situational work in, spending some time Friday working on end-of-game scenarios and other game/clock situations. … Friday was the last day of classes of the summer session, meaning the Buffs will have more time for meetings and film work over the next 2½ weeks. The fall semester begins Aug. 28. … MacIntyre said running back Kyle Evans, who suffered a dislocated hip in the spring, underwent some tests Friday and could begin practicing on at least a limited basis next week.

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Video interview with Isaiah Oliver

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV:

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Mike MacIntyre talks Defensive backs

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV:

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Steven Montez foresees a strong Buff defense

From CUBuffs.com … “I think we’re going to be very solid on defense,” quarterback Steven Montez said.

If anyone should know at this point — at least anyone outside of the coaching staff — it is Montez. After all, he is the player who gets an up-close-and-personal look at the Buffs’ No. 1 defense on a daily basis. It is Montez who sees first-hand who is putting pressure on the quarterback, who is making plays in the secondary and who is stopping the gap in the run game.

The answer?

Just about everyone. Montez has said more than once this camp that Colorado’s defense has talented players across the board. But asked who specifically provides him with trouble on a daily basis, Montez quickly rattled off some names:

“(Cornerback) Isaiah Oliver is a freak. Fo (safety Afolabi Laguda) is very, very good. (Linebacker) Drew Lewis is good. (Linebacker) Rick Gamboa probably knows every single play of our offense better than we do. (Cornerback) Trey Udoffia has looked good. For being a young guy, he’s been clamping people up. Up front, the D-line has looked good. … Leo Jackson III has been in there a few times (pressuring the quarterback), and obviously Javier Edwards is a very, very, very large human being making things happen.”

In other words, the defense that had some question marks coming into camp continues to provide some answers. While the offense has produced plenty of big plays and nice drives, the defense has no doubt had its moments as well against the No. 1 offense — stopping drives, picking off passes and stuffing the run game.

Of course, the man in charge with making sure the defense is up to snuff is still leaning on the side of cautious optimism. New defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot liked what he saw in Saturday’s first full scrimmage of camp, but made it clear the defense has a long way to go before it’s ready for the Sept. 1 opener against what’s expected to be a high-powered Colorado State offense.

“I thought our D-line played well,” Eliot said of Saturday’s scrimmage in Folsom Field. “I thought for the most part we were in the right spots. We didn’t make a lot of mistakes. We weren’t perfect, we missed some tackles and we missed some plays on the ball on the back end, but I was pleased with our progress for the first scrimmage.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 10th

11th practice … Meetings: 7:15 a.m. … Practice No. 11: 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. … Walk-through: 6:45 – 7:45 p.m.

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media 

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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Mike MacIntyre talks CU linebackers

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV:

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Who is the best player in the Pac-12?

From Pacific Takes …

1. Sam Darnold, QB, USC

2. Azeem Victor, LB, Washington

3. Jake Browning, QB, Washington

4. Luke Falk, QB, Washington State

5. Phillip Lindsay Sr. RB Colorado … Lindsay is one of the most-underrated players in the entire country. He is the heart of Colorado’s offense and a touchdown machine who has home run speed and inside strength. He had more than 1,700 combined rushing/receiving yards and scored 17 touchdowns in 2016.

20. Jeromy Irwin Sr. T Colorado … An All-Pac-12 selection who was a big reason the Buffs made a huge leap in 2016. He should be first-team All-Pac-12 in 2017.

22. Shay Fields Sr. WR Colorado … Might be the most-dangerous receiver in the conference. He finished 2016 with nearly 900 yards and nine touchdowns and averaged more than 15 yards per-catch.

45. Steven Montez So. QB Colorado … Montez was deadly when he stepped in for the injured Sefo Liufau. The play at quarterback never dropped off. He should give defenses headaches as the full time starter in 2017 with his dual-threat skills.

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August 9th 

10th practice … Meetings: 7:15 a.m. … Practice No. 10: 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. … Walk-through: 6:45 – 7:45 p.m.

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffStampede.com:

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Freshmen linebackers learning not to make the same mistake twice 

From CUBuffs.com … When it comes to the linebacker positions on the Colorado defense, one thing is becoming apparent as the Buffs make their way through fall camp:

Youth will be served.

Not that the Buffs don’t have some quality returning experience at the position, both inside and out. Two-year starting ILB Rick Gamboa, the Buffs’ leading tackler in 2015 and No. 3 last year, is back for his junior season. Outside linebacker Derek McCartney, who has 25 career starts under his belt, along with 9.5 sacks and a reputation as a playmaker, returns for his senior year.

Also returning are junior OLB Terran Hasselbach, who has 18 appearances on defense; junior ILB Drew Lewis, who played in four games on defense last year and had an outstanding spring session at the position; and junior OLB Michael Mathewes, who has played both defensive line and linebacker and will provide some muscle on the outside, particularly against the run.

Still, new Colorado defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot knows it is likely that he will be turning to some youngsters this fall to provide contributions — and the good news is, the Buffs have no shortage of standout freshmen to fill that role in Colorado’s 3-4 alignment. A host of young players have been getting quality snaps in camp, and they have all had impressive moments.

“Every day they learn and they’re not making the same mistake twice,” Eliot said. “It’s going to be critical for their progress.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 8th

9th practice … Meetings: 7:15 a.m. … Practice No. 9: 8:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. (in pads) … Walk-through: 6:45 – 7:45 p.m

Competition leads to fluid depth chart

From CUBuffs.com … It came as an offhand comment Tuesday morning, but it spoke volumes about the state of the Colorado football program:

As one of several NFL scouts on hand at Colorado’s practice watched the workout, a CU staffer told him, “Good to see you guys here again on a regular basis.”

The scout turned, grinned and said, “Y’all are back in business. We’ve got to be here.”

Indeed — and it is an indication of how far Mike MacIntyre has brought the Buffs as he heads into his fifth season in Boulder. The Buffs are back on the NFL Draft radar, with four players selected this year and more who should hear their names called next April. It began in earnest last season and it is now solidified: Boulder is on every NFL team’s regular fall camp itinerary.

But the progress made thus far under MacIntyre is evident in more than just the players who will be NFL-ready by the end of season. It is evident in the competition at every position group on the field, thanks to the kind of depth that hasn’t been seen at Colorado in years, the product of solid recruiting and talent evaluation over the last couple of seasons.

The result is ongoing battles for top-two depth chart spots at every position group and an ultra-competitive camp thus far — something that is expected to continue, with 20 practices to go before the Sept. 1 season opener.

Thus, MacIntyre said, while the coaching staff is starting to see a little “separation” in some of those position battles, many of them are by no means settled.

… Continue reading story here …

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Mike MacIntyre’s post-practice talk with media (Wednesday)

From YouTube, courtesy of Scout.com

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Mark Johnson interview with linebacker Drew Lewis

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV:

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Mike MacIntyre: CU locker room

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV:

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August 7th

8th practice … Meetings: 7:15 a.m. … Practice No. 8: 8:45 a.m. – 10:35 a.m. … Walk-through: 6:45 – 7:45 p.m.

KOA’s Mark Johnson talks with co-offensive coordinators Brian Lindgren and Darrin Chiaverini

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV:

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Akil Jones: “I’m not the tallest, I’m not the biggest — but my effort and my physicality can be a contribution”

From CUBuffs.com … At a position at which depth was a question mark heading into camp for the Colorado Buffaloes, Akil Jones has provided a measure of reassurance for the CU coaching staff.

Jones, a redshirt freshman, has had an outstanding camp thus far for the Buffs, picking up where he left off after a solid spring. He was among the Buffs’ leading tacklers in Saturday’s scrimmage (six tackles, including a third-down stop) and has been getting plenty of quality snaps in practice.

It’s what the Buffs needed to see at a position where CU has just one returning starter from last year and just one other player with any kind of experience.

Jones entered camp behind junior Drew Lewis on the depth chart at the “jack” inside linebacker position. Lewis, a junior who saw action at linebacker in four games last year, has been running at the No. 1 spot alongside Rick Gamboa for most of camp.

But Jones has been practicing at both inside spots, getting valuable repetitions behind both Lewis and two-year starter Gamboa, and will almost certainly see some playing time when the Buffs open the season Sept. 1 against Colorado State in Denver.

“Akil’s going to play a lot for us,” inside linebackers coach Ross Els said early in camp.

… Continue reading story here …

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PRACTICE NOTES: The Buffs practiced inside on Monday, taking advantage of the Champions Center Indoor Practice Facility. Steady rain made the outside natural turf slippery, which heightens the chance of injuries. Practicing inside also reduces the intense wear-and-tear on a natural turf field that occurs when conditions are wet. …

Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Noyer continues to impress, but as MacIntyre noted, there’s a difference when Noyer is throwing against the No. 2 defense as opposed to throwing against the No. 1 group. MacIntyre did say, however, that Noyer is at the same level where No. 1 quarterback Steven Montez was at this point in camp a year ago, and is actually in better condition, as Montez was coming back from a slight ankle injury suffered in the summer. …

Two players who are making big strides at outside linebacker are freshman Dante Sparaco and junior Michael Mathewes. Sparaco continues to get plenty of quality snaps while Mathewes, who MacIntyre said will be valuable against “power” teams, is seeing more and more time. Mathewes came up with an interception Monday morning when Rick Gamboa tipped a Montez pass in the air and Mathewes was on hand to grab it on the run and follow it up with a nice return. … MacIntyre said freshman wideout Jaylon Jackson will miss the season after undergoing surgery Saturday night on a broken ankle suffered in Saturday’s scrimmage.

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Mike MacIntyre talks about the Indoor Practice Facility

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV

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August 6th

… No practice … Team day off … 

Evan Worthington (f/k/a Evan White) excited for second chance

From the Daily Camera … Two years ago, Evan Worthington was a young player with a lot more potential than maturity.

Now, he’s a veteran with a fresh perspective on life and football and a determination to make up for lost time with the Colorado Buffaloes.

Roughly 18 months after being dismissed from the program for a violation of team rules, Worthington (who recently changed his last name from White) is back and a part of an intense battle for starting jobs and playing time at safety.

“It definitely felt good to be out here just playing football on a Saturday,” he said after playing with the first-team defense during CU’s open scrimmage on Saturday at Folsom Field.

Worthington’s football career was very much in doubt when he dismissed from the team, but he spent nearly a year working his way back.

… Continue reading story here …

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Buff running backs shine during scrimmage

From the Daily Camera … Starting tailback Phillip Lindsay didn’t get much playing time, as expected, but his backups looked good.

Senior Michael Adkins was particularly impressive. He’s battled injures most of his career, but has had a good camp and had several strong runs with the first team.

“I’m excited about him because he’s practicing better than he’s practiced since I’ve been coaching running backs,” said running backs coach Darian Hagan. “He’s doing a really good job and he seems like he has a burning desire to get on the field and contribute.”

Beau Bisharat had a good day, as well, including a 27-yard run; senior Donovan Lee scored the only rushing touchdown of the day, from 3 yards out; and true freshman Alex Fontenot had the run of the day, going 34 yards on his first carry.

“Right now, you know who is No. 1,” Hagan said. “There is no number for the backup right now. We’re going to let it play out. Those things will work its way out as we get in deeper into camp.”

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August 5th

7th practice … Meetings: 8:15 a.m. … Practice No. 7 – Scrimmage: 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. … Walk-through: 6:45 – 7:45 p.m.

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Mike MacIntyre post-scrimmage talk with media

From YouTube, courtesy BuffStampede.com …

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Highlights:

— Disappointed in losing Jaylon Jackson, an ankle injury which required a trip to the hospital

— “Saw a lot of energy. Saw a lot of hitting”

— Quarterbacks … Steven Montez made one bad pass early, but came back with confidence … other quarterbacks progressing

— You want to see players making plays on both sides of the ball, and he saw that

— “Last year was last year. It gave us a great foundation, but new guys have to step up”

— Linebacker Shamar Hamilton did have to have an operation on his knee; cartilage area; out for the season

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Buff Defense holds its own in scrimmage at Folsom Field

… Related … “Buffs’ new-look defense shines in scrimmage” … from the Daily Camera

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From CUBuffs.com … If you’re a Colorado Buffaloes fan, Saturday morning’s first scrimmage of camp gave you exactly what you wanted to see: solid play on both sides of the ball, a physical mentality and a hint of good things to come.

As head coach Mike MacIntyre promised earlier in the week, the flavor of the day was vanilla. CU’s offense kept things close to the vest, but still managed to produce some nice plays, both in the run game and passing game.

But if there was one big takeaway, it might have been this: a defense that came into camp surrounded by a rather large question mark provided some definitive answers in its first major test. The No. 1 defense came up with an interception on the first series of the day when Buff back Ryan Moeller snatched a Steven Montez pass, then produced a couple of stops against the No. 1 offense in goal-line situations.

It’s what the Buffs needed to see from a defensive line that must replace all three starters from last season.

“Defensively I was excited,” head coach Mike MacIntyre said. “Offensively I wish we would have knocked them off the ball a little more, but we did a couple of times. That was good to see the physicalness of it, especially with a lot of our new D-linemen out there, to see in that situation that they had enough girth and enough fight to them to hold the point. I was glad to see that.”

Not that the defense dominated the scrimmage. The offense did produce some big plays, with Montez settling down after his opening interception to move the offense effectively on several drives, while backups Sam Noyer  (three touchdown passes) and Tyler Lytle  (two TDs) also threw the ball well.

It was enough from both sides to leave coaches on both sides optimistic. MacIntyre told the Buffs after the scrimmage he liked their effort and physical play — then reminded them that they had plenty of work to do before their Sept. 1 opener vs. Colorado State in Denver.

“When you have a scrimmage you want to see both sides making plays and I thought we saw that today,” MacIntyre said “When one side completely dominates the other, that’s when you get a little nervous to be honest with you.”

… Continue reading story here …

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SCORING PLAYS:

Donovan Lee 3 run

Jared Poplawski 2 pass from Sam Noyer

Kabion Ento 47 pass from Sam Noyer

Lee Walker 48 pass from Tyler Lytle

Laviska Shenault 1 pass from Tyler Lytle

Juwann Winfree 13 pass from Sam Noyer

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Ryan Moeller a good fit at nickel “Buff” back position

From CUBuffs.com …  It was a position born of necessity, created in an emergency situation.

Now it is a staple of the Colorado defense, a position that continues to be refined and one that has become more and more of a weapon — a hybrid linebacker/safety whose talents must include the ability to hit like a linebacker, cover receivers like a defensive back and mix it up regularly with 300-pound linemen in the trenches.

Enter the “Buff” back.

The position came about last season after Colorado’s third game of the year, when CU lost lost outside linebacker Derek McCartney to a knee injury at Michigan. The following week, the Buffs were headed into their Pac-12 opener at Oregon and the Ducks’ dynamic spread offense.

The Buffs needed someone who could assume all the duties listed above. It didn’t take head coach Mike MacIntyre and his defensive staff long to find the perfect player.

Enter Ryan Moeller, the player for whom the position was literally made. Moeller finished the Oregon game with three tackles, but more importantly was a disruptor all afternoon. From that day on, the Buff back was a regular part of Colorado’s defense.

“You mean the Ryan Moeller position?” Moeller said with a laugh earlier this week. “I like it a lot. I naturally like to be a little more physical. I have a position now where I can be down there, be in the (trenches) as they say.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 4th

6th practice … Meetings: 7:15 a.m. … Practice No. 6: 9:15 – 10:30 a.m. … Walk-through: 6:45 – 7:45 p.m.

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Mike MacIntyre talks offensive line

From YouTube, courtesy of CUVideo …

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Practice No. 6 video highlights

From YouTube, courtesy of BuffsTV …

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Mike MacIntyre Post-practice comments to media (Friday)

Here is a link to Mike MacIntyre’s six-minute post-practice comments to the media after Practice No. 6

Highlights:

— Saturday’s scrimmage – many players will play on Saturday, but it will be vanilla

— CB Dante Wigley is playing well, has made some interceptions in practice

— Junior Shamar Hamilton linebacker was injured, no disclosure other than it was a leg injury and that there will be an MRI

— DB Ryan Moeller is having a good camp, wants to return kicks again, but coach won’t let him

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… and here is a link to comments from Mark Johnson and Neill Woelk after Friday’s practice

Highlights:

— Who will be the second cornerback? Dante Wigley in the mix;

— Who will be the backup at running back? Michael Adkins having a good Fall Camp.

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Juwann Winfree ready to – finally – impress

From the Daily Camera … Colorado co-offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren is eager to see what the Buffaloes’ talented group of receivers can do this season, but his smile widened when asked about to specifically talk about junior Juwann Winfree.

“We’re fired up about Juwann,” Lindgren said. “I’m really excited about him. I was excited about him last year before he got hurt.”

It’s been more than a year since Winfree arrived in Boulder as a junior college transfer, and nearly a year since his much-anticipated debut was put on hold.

Now fully recovered from the torn ACL he suffered on Aug. 18 of last year, Winfree is eager to prove how good he can be.

“I’m very anxious,” Winfree said after practice on Thursday. “I think when I get out there (for the season opener on Sept. 1 vs. Colorado State), I might have a little bit of butterflies because it’s been two years. I just really can’t wait. I’m excited. I don’t know what’s to come, but I’m going to give it my all and I’m just ready to make a contribution.”

… Continue reading story here …

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August 3rd 

5th practice … Meetings: 7:15 a.m. … Practice No. 5: 8:35 – 11:00 a.m. … Walk-through: 6:45 – 7:45 p.m.

Mike MacIntyre on CU Equipment

From YouTube, courtesy of CUVideo:

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Practice Notes

From CUBuffs.com …  Thursday’s full-pads workout offered players the opportunity to make some head-turning plays, particularly in the goal-line work that was full contact.

One of the bigger plays of the drill came from freshman linebacker Nate Landman, who jumped a gap and threw the running back for a loss, much to the delight of his defensive teammates. … Junior defensive end Chris Mulumba also came up with a big-time stop, shedding a blocker to blow up a play and stop the running back short of the goal line. … The offense got its share of production from running backs Phillip Lindsay and Michael Adkins, both of whom bulled their way into the end zone. … Cornerback Isaiah Oliver had a beautiful knockdown of a pass, reaching around a receiver to swat the ball away at the goal line. … Tight end Jared Poplawski had a nice catch in the corner of the end zone. … One of the more entertaining and competitive matchups of camp, by the way, has been when Oliver and wide receiver Bryce Bobo match their skills.

In other team drills, Montez had a perfect strike to Shay Fields on a crossing route that Fields took the distance. … Bryce Bobo made a beautiful one-handed snag (what else?) in the back of the end zone for a score, reaching behind him to make the catch. … Sam Noyer connected with Kabion Ento on a nice deep ball. … Cornerback Dante Wigley came up with an interception, his second in the last two practices. … Redshirt freshman Trey Udoffia continues to make plays at corner while safety Afolabi Laguda is making his presence felt all over the field. … Redshirt sophomores Lyle Tuiloma and Frank Umu are getting some quality snaps on the defensive line. … The last play of practice was a 40-yard field goal try, with virtually the entire team gathered around and behind kicker James Stefanou, hooting and hollering while offering their version of trying to distract the kicker. Stefanou, however, calmly booted the 40-yard kick through the uprights.

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media

From CUBuffs.com … Here is a link to MacInytre’s seven-minute talk with the media after Wednesday’s practice.

Some highlights … 

— It’s day-to-day as to who is the best wide receiver on the team;

— Steven Montez making better reads and not having to be a leader like Sefo;

— Motivation from losing the last two games of the 2016 season;

— On Sebastian Olver leaving the team: “a huge mistake on his part – really kind of bizarre”;

— Buffs “hopefully” will have a chip on their shoulder after being ranked 27th in the USA Today coaches’ poll.

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From CUBuffs.com … Here is a link to Neill Woelk and Mark Johnson talking about the Buffs.

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Performance Nutrition a priority for Buffs 

From CUBuffs.com … Nutrition and the weight room go hand-in-hand. So does the weight room and football. Put it all together and you have a couple of the necessary ingredients to cook up a successful football player.

For the Colorado Buffaloes, it’s Performance Nutrition Department ensures all student-athletes have the necessary building blocks to develop healthy bodies. Now in its third year the program, under the direction of lead dietitian Laura Anderson and assistant sports dietitian Dana Bielinski, has seen tremendous results.

As Anderson tells the Buffs, “you can’t out-train a crappy diet.”

CU trained hard all summer in the weight room and maintained healthy diets. The results showed in the body composition testing Anderson did with the team before fall camp started.

“It really truly was the best preseason body comps I’ve had,” Anderson said.

Here are some of the highlights broken down into several different categories …

… Continue reading story here …

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August 2nd

… No practice … 

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Jeromy Irwin: “I’m kind of still in awe that I’m still here in 2017”

From Daily Camera … The 19-year-old Jeromy Irwin who arrived in Boulder in the fall of 2012 probably wasn’t thinking much about 2017 at that time.

If he did look ahead, he certainly didn’t see himself still wearing a Colorado uniform.

“I’m kind of still in awe that I’m still here in 2017,” Irwin said this week.

Now a 24-year-old sixth-year senior, Irwin is back for one last run with the Buffaloes, and grateful for the opportunity in front of him this season.

“I’m blessed to have another year to be here,” he said. “Luckily they gave me a hardship waiver. That was really important to me.”

Projected to start once again at left tackle for the Buffaloes (10-4, 8-1 Pac-12 South last season), Irwin’s career has been filled with great moments and difficult trials.

… Continue reading story here …

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August 1st

4th practice … Meetings: 7:15 a.m. … Practice No. 1: 8:35 – 11:00 a.m. … Walk-through: 6:45 – 7:45 p.m.

Mike MacIntyre on running backs

From YouTube, courtesy of CU Video:

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Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with media (Wednesday)

Here is a link to coach MacIntyre’s six-minute talk with the media.

… and here is a link of CUBuffs.com senior writer Neill Woelk discussing practices with contributor Jason Clay.

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Practice Notes … From CUBuffs.com … With competition perhaps as fierce as wide receiver as any position, it’s no surprise that wideouts are making plays on a regular basis in practice. Tuesday, it was K.D. Nixon, Jay MacIntyre, Bryce Bobo and Johnny Huntley all coming up with big catches. Quarterback Steven Montez hit Nixon on a perfect fade route in the corner of the end zone in red zone drills, then found MacIntyre with a beautifully thrown deep ball, with MacIntyre going up and out-battling a defender for the catch. Huntley had a nice catch off the arm of Sam Noyer, who threw a rope to the corner of the end zone, and Noyer added another nice strike to Nixon, who caught the ball just past midfield, then made a nifty move on a defender to break free. … Running backs Michael Adkins II and Beau Bisharat both had some nice runs, with Adkins showing good burst. … CU’s defensive backs, meanwhile, are also getting their share of big plays. Buff back Ryan Moeller had a pass breakup at the goal line, Trey Udoffia had a couple of knockdowns and Dante Wigley came up with an interception. …

Up front, senior left tackle Jeromy Irwin delivered a crushing block on a pass to the flat. Irwin, a team captain, is having a solid camp and it’s obvious he wants to make his final year with the Buffs a memorable one. … Senior defensive end Tim Coleman had some nice moments in one-on-one pass drills. … Offensive linemen Isaac Miller, Josh Kaiser, Colby Pursell and Chance Lytle are all showing they are ready to provide the Buffs with some solid depth up front. … Lyle Tuiloma is getting some quality snaps on the defensive line. …

But the play of the day may have been delivered by backup quarterback T.J. Patterson on a field goal attempt. Patterson, serving as the holder, calmly went up to grab a high snap and got the ball down in plenty of time for James Stefanou to boot a 42-yard field goal (who made the kick with plenty of room to spare). It was the kind of play that could be a difference-maker in a tight game.

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CU safety Afodabi Laguda: “I’m going to have to pass that baton and I want to leave a great legacy”

From CUBuffs.com … Colorado senior safety Afolabi Laguda remembers the leadership and guidance he received from his upperclassmen teammates when he arrived in the spring of 2015.

It was then that Laguda began learning about head coach Mike MacIntyre‘s emphasis on the details — the little things that make a big difference.

“They got on me for the smaller things,” Laguda said. “How to pay attention on the sidelines, how to run on and off the field. It got to the point that I was saying, ”Are you serious? My shoe’s untied?’

“But I learned it’s the little things. If my shoe was untied, I had to take time out of practice to tie my shoe. That’s time I could have learned something. It’s the little details. The more you concentrate on the little things, the more they start to accumulate and help out the bigger things. That’s we’re trying to do.”

Laguda, the only returning Buffs defender to start all 14 games last season, is now doing his best to impart that wisdom that was passed on to him in his role as a team captain. Long someone who led by example, he’s become a vocal leader, a role that has become obvious this camp as the Buffs head into the dog days of August.

“Sharing the knowledge, passing the baton,” Laguda said. “After these six months —  seven months if we go to the Rose Bowl, hopefully — I’m going to have to pass that baton and I want to leave a great legacy. I want those guys to speak of me in the high manner like we speak of the guys that just left.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Linebacker Rick Gamboa – “A coach on the field”

… Related … “Rick Gamboa a leader on Buffs’ defense” … from the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … It’s been a busy first three days of camp for Colorado assistant coach Ross Els.

Els, who came to the staff in the spring after serving as defensive coordinator at Purdue last fall, coaches inside linebackers and is also the Buffs’ special teams coordinator. Both are duties he held for much of his career, one that has spanned stops at Nebraska, Ohio U. and Purdue, among others.

With the Buffs, Els has inherited a group of inside ‘backers led by junior Rick Gamboa, a two-year starter, team captain and a player Els has called a “coach on the field” because of his outstanding knowledge of the game.

Gamboa, who moved into the starting role as a redshirt freshman in Week 3 after an injury to Addison Gillam, led the Buffs in tackles with 96 in 2015. Last season, he was second to fellow inside linebacker Kenneth Olugbode, finishing with 79 stops to go along with three tackles for loss, eight third-down stops and four pass breakups. He also had an interception return for a touchdown against Oregon State, a 20-yard score.

But Gamboa’s “drop” in total tackles is a bit misleading. Because he came off the field in many obvious pass situations when the Buffs would add an extra defensive back, he played just 499 snaps — just 10th on the team. When figuring his tackles per snaps, he averaged one tackle for every 6.3 snaps, second-best on the team.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 31st

3rd practice … Meetings: 7:15 a.m. … Practice No. 1: 8:35 – 11:00 a.m. … Walk-through: 6:45 – 7:45 p.m.

Mike MacIntyre talks about Monday’s practice

Here is a link to Mike MacIntyre’s five minute post-practice talk with the media.

Highlights … 

— Monday (Practice No. 3) was the first in pads after two practice in “pajamas” (shells)

— The true freshmen have looked good so far, and all “look the part” of Pac-12 football players;

— Defensive back play – MacIntyre joked that if they play well, he’ll take the credit, if they don’t, it’s the fault of new secondary coach ShaDon Brown;

— Senior backup defensive end Timothy Coleman “works extremely hard”, but appears destined to be on the field only on obvious passing downs;

— Inside linebackers coach Ross Els has primary responsibility for special teams though “the whole staff is involved in every phase”. Special teams have been an emphasis since the end of last season. Senior punter Alex Kinney “has had the best three days since he’s been here”.

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Monday Practice Notes 

From CUBuffs.com … Monday was the first day in shoulder pads for the Buffs. They’ll be in shoulder pads again Tuesday, take a day off Wednesday and then don full pads for the first time in camp Thursday. “We were in pajamas the last two days,” MacIntyre said. “You play football in pads. I saw a lot of good thing there from some of the guys and we’ll get in there and watch the tape and get going again tomorrow.” …

Every day, it seems, a Buffs wide receiver makes some big plays in practice, and it’s more often than not someone different each day. Monday, Devin Ross made a spectacular grab on a deep ball at the goal line, going up in tight coverage and out-fighting the defender for the ball. … Freshmen Laviska Shenault and Jaylon Jackson both made nice grabs in 7-on-7 drills. … Redshirt freshman corner Trey Udoffia continues to impress, as does sophomore Dante Wigley.

MacIntyre’s message at the end of practice was a reminder of a mantra he has preached since arriving in Boulder: “Start fast, finish strong.”

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Darrin Chiaverini: “I’ve been excited from what I’ve seen from Michael Adkins”

From the Daily Camera … It’s early, but Michael Adkins II is healthy, and that’s a good sign for both the senior running back and the Colorado football team.

While the Buffaloes’ rushing attack is led by senior Phillip Lindsay, who had 1,189 yards and 16 touchdowns in the regular season last year, finding a quality second or third option is important during preseason camp.

Adkins, who has rushed for 1,175 yards in his career, could provide a major boost to the offense if healthy.

“I’ve been excited from what I’ve seen from Michael Adkins,” co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini said. “He’s always been kind of nicked up and dinged up, and (through the first two practices of preseason camp) he’s been able to go out there and practice fast and catch the ball out of the back field. I’ve been impressed with Mike.”

… Continue reading story here …

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Steven Montez not feeling the pressure as the presumptive starter

From CUBuffs.com … After two days of fall camp, Colorado quarterback Steven Montez is showing every sign that he’s ready to take his game to the next level.

Granted, it’s early. Lots can happen between now and the Sept. 1 opener against Colorado State in Denver.

But Montez, the Buffs’ redshirt sophomore, is making throws that show why expectations surrounding CU’s offense this year are sky high.

Sunday morning, Montez connected on a number of nice passes to a variety of receivers in team drills, including a long touchdown to senior wideout Shay Fields. Fields made a nice move to pick up a couple of steps on his defender, broke into the open at the hashes and Montez hit him in stride, with Fields’ speed doing the rest.

But it was a pass to Fields that picked up “only” about 10 yards that may have been the best indication of the special talents Montez possesses. On the play, Montez took the snap, backpedaled briefly and threw a sidearm bullet to Fields near the sidelines, all in one motion. The pass showed an amazingly quick release that still had plenty of velocity, allowing Fields to take the pass and move upfield for a nice gain.

It was, Buffs co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini said, a release reminiscent of former Texas Tech and Kansas City Chiefs first-round draft pick Patrick Mahomes, who Chiaverini saw develop in his time at TTU.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 30th 

2nd practice … Meetings: 7:15 a.m. … Practice No. 1: 8:50 – 11:00 a.m. … Walk-through: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Mike MacIntyre post-practice talk with local media

Coach MacIntyre talks about Steven Montez, the offensive line, Frank Umu, and wide receivers …

From YouTube, courtesy of Jack Stern at CUSportsNation:

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Practice Notes

From CUBuffs.com …  Along with Montez, all of the other quarterbacks in camp are throwing the ball well. Redshirt freshman Sam Noyer made some nice on-the-money throws Sunday, and also showed the ability to make plays with his legs. … Cornerback Isaiah Oliver had a terrific reach-around pass breakup in team drills, and continues to show why he’ll likely be on the NFL’s radar this year, even though he is just a junior. … Ryan Moeller and Evan Worthington are both making plays at the “Buff” back on defense, the hybrid safety-linebacker spot Colorado created last year. … Redshirt freshman Trey Udoffia continues to impress at cornerback. … The Buffs are putting in plenty of work on special teams, this year coordinated by assistant coach Ross Els. … Safeties Afolabi Laguda and Nick Fisher are starting to team up as a solid tandem at the back of CU’s defense. … All of the wide receivers continue to make plays, with last year’s starters and those challenging for spots coming up with catches. One freshman that continues to turn heads is K.D. Nixon, who has an outstanding quick burst, good hands and a compact body that could make him a versatile player.

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Neill Woelk discusses practice with former CU head coach Gary Barnett

Link to four minute video can be found here

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Injury update … Four Buffs not in uniform for first practices

From the Daily Camera … Four players were not on the field Saturday because of injuries, including a pair of true freshmen — Jake Moretti and Chase Newman — who will be out for a while. MacIntyre said both will be unable to practice during preseason camp.

Moretti, an offensive lineman from Pomona High School who was arguably the top player in CU’s 2017 recruiting class, is listed as having an ankle injury. He missed his entire senior year in high school because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

Newman, a linebacker from La Mirada, Calif., is still not 100 percent after having surgery on the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee after his senior year.

“Jake and Chase will not be back during this camp, but they’ll be going when we start school,” MacIntyre said. “They’ll most likely have to redshirt, for sure, but they’re making great progress.”

Junior tight end Dylan Keeney (back) was also out, but MacIntyre said he expects Keeney to return during camp. Running back Kyle Evans is still recovering from a dislocated hip suffered in spring drills, and there’s hope he will return in August.

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July 29th

Notes from Fall Camp: Practice No. 1

… Related … “Woelk: Buffs Foundation Firmly In Place With Experienced, Veteran Roster” … From CUBuffs.com

… Related … “CU Buffs officially kick off preseason camp” … From the Daily Camera

From CUBuffs.com … The Buffs hit the field in shorts and helmets for their first day of camp and were greeted by cloudy skies and relatively cool temperatures. An early possibility of lightning in the area never materialized and they were able to get the entire practice in on the outdoor lower practice fields. … The practice consisted of plenty of position drills, but they also managed to get in some 11-on-11 “team” periods. “For the first day, we flew around really well,” MacIntyre said. “I was pleased with everything. Of course I’ll watch film and get a little mad, but watching the practice with the naked eye, I thought it went real well.” …

Those 11-on-11 periods produced some outstanding plays right away on both sides of the ball, and it’s already clear that one of the most anticipated position battles in camp — wide receiver — is going to be a very competitive one indeed. Senior wide receiver Bryce Bobo made a beautiful over-the-shoulder grab on the sidelines in tight coverage on a nice ball from quarterback Steven Montez. Montez and the rest of the quarterbacks all had good days throwing the ball. … Junior wide receiver Juwann Winfree, coming back from a knee injury that ended his season in fall camp a year ago, showed no signs of that injury, coming up with a terrific diving catch across the middle. … Cornerbacks Trey Udoffia and Dante Wigley, battling for the starting spot opposite Isaiah Oliver, both made plays. … Backup running back Michael Adkins showed some nice bursts and no hint of the injuries that have hindered him over the last couple of seasons. … Freshman center Colby Pursell, a “grayshirt” signee from the 2016 recruiting class, continued where he left off from a solid spring and is turning heads regularly. … Linebacker Drew Lewiscontinues to show some outstanding athleticism in the middle, showing he’ll be the type of player who can make plays in space.

MacIntyre said freshmen Jacob Moretti (offensive line) and Chase Newman (linebacker), both of whom are on the injured list, could be ready to practice when school starts, but will also both likely redshirt. … Junior tight end Dylan Keeney, also on the injured list, could be back in a couple of weeks. … Running back Kyle Evans, still recovering from a dislocated hip, said he hopes to begin at least limited practice in a couple of weeks and is aiming to be ready for action by the second or third game of the season.

SCHEDULE: The Buffs will practice again Sunday morning in shorts and helmets, then add “shells” (shoulder pads) to the equation on Monday and Tuesday. They are scheduled to don full pads for the first time Thursday, with a scrimmage set for Saturday. The scrimmage will be open to the public and is set to begin at 10 a.m.

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Buffs settle in with the first practice of Fall Camp on Saturday

1st practice … Meetings: 7:15 a.m. … Practice No. 1: 8:50 – 11:00 a.m. … Walk-through: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

… Related … “105 Buffs report as Fall Camp opens” … from CUBuffs.com

From the Daily Camera … Reality is starting to hit Phillip Lindsay.

The standout running back who has given his heart and soul to the Colorado football team sat at a table at the Hollywood & Highland Center in Los Angeles this week and reflected on the fact that he’s only got a few months left of playing for the Buffaloes.

“It’s coming to an end,” the fifth-year senior said while attending Pac-12 media days. “It’s been a long journey, it’s been a great journey, it’s been a fun college experience. If you’re ready or not, (the end) is going to come. You come and go.”

Lindsay and the Buffaloes have another chapter to write before he leaves, however, and the final stretch of his journey will begin on Saturday when CU begins preseason camp.

The Sept. 1 season opener against Colorado State is five weeks away, and the defending Pac-12 South champion Buffs (10-4, 8-1 Pac-12 last year) have a lot to do in those five weeks.

… Continue reading story here …

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July 28th

Fall Camp opens with 105 Buffs on hand

… First practice Saturday morning …

From CUBuffs.com …  Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre welcomed 105 players Friday morning as the Buffs officially opened their 2017 fall camp.

Players will hit the field Saturday morning for their first of 29 practices before the season opener, a Sept. 1 meeting with in-state rival Colorado State in Denver (6 p.m., Pac-12 Network). It is the earliest reporting date and earliest first practice in CU history.

“We’re really excited about this football team and excited about where this program is,” MacIntyre said. “We had a great summer of strength and conditioning with Coach (Drew) Wilson and our guys are ready to get to work and challenge for a Pac-12 Championship.”

The Buffs, picked by the media to finish fourth in the Pac-12 South, are coming off a South Division title season in 2016 in which they finished 10-4 overall (8-1 Pac-12) and earned an Alamo Bowl berth.

“We had an excellent year last year, but we start back at the bottom again and work up,” MacIntyre said. “Our foundation is higher, our culture is higher, our commitment level, our confidence level are all up — but the work ethic has got to really take another notch up, and it has.”

Of the 105 who reported, the breakdown includes 19 defensive backs, 16 linebackers, 12 defensive linemen, seven specialists, 15 wide receivers, seven running backs, four quarterbacks, 19 offensive linemen and six tight ends/H-backs.

For the first time in modern history, the Buffs’ fall camp (as well as all other Division I programs) won’t include any two-a-day practice sessions after an NCAA ruling earlier this year. According to the NCAA, “A single day may include a single, three-hour, on-field practice session and a walk-through. During walk-throughs, protective equipment such as helmets and pads can’t be worn, and contact is prohibited. Walk-throughs also can’t include conditioning activities and, in the Football Championship Subdivision, are limited to two hours in length. Three continuous hours of recovery are required between on-field practice and a walk-through. Activities such as meetings, film review, medical treatment and meals are allowed during recovery time.”

… Continue reading story here …

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CU Video 2016 highlight package 

To get you ready for Fall Camp, here is “CU Video Movi Reel – 2016″ … three minutes of highlights from the 2016 season, courtesy of the Emmy-Award winning CU Video crew. Enjoy!

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July 25th

Mike MacIntyre: “You still have to put up or shut up and our kids have that mentality”

Press release from CUBuffs.com … It was just a year ago that Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre went to Pac-12 Media Days in Los Angeles to hear that his Buffs were once again picked to finish last in the Pac-12 South.

That’s also where MacIntyre told the media his Buffs planned on playing for the Pac-12 title — a pronouncement that was greeted with more than a few polite smiles.

“They were all laughing at me,” MacIntyre said Monday afternoon.

Tuesday, MacIntyre will attend his fifth Pac-12 Media Days event, and will be joined by seniors Phillip Lindsay and Derek McCartney. MacIntyre will likely once again say his Buffs plan on playing for a conference championship — but the guess here is that nobody will be laughing, not after the Buffs’ 10-4 season a year ago that included an 8-1 conference mark and a berth in the Pac-12 title game.

This year’s media poll will be released Thursday morning, the second day of Media Days. While the Buffs are virtually guaranteed not to be picked last in the South for the first time since entering the conference, they also probably won’t be the pick to win the division. That honor will likely go to USC, a team already among just about everyone’s preseason national top 10.

But wherever the Buffs are picked, MacIntyre said it won’t bother him or his players. Not in the least. The Buffs, after all, are still accustomed to being overlooked.

“I think our kids don’t feel like we’re getting as much respect as we probably should,” MacIntyre said. “But to be honest with you, the media guys are probably correct. We’ve only done it one year and we’ve been down for a while. It’s time to show we can put it back-to-back. You still have to put up or shut up and our kids have that mentality. They’re excited about trying to prove themselves when people still don’t think we have a chance of playing in the Pac-12 championship again. We think we do.”

But while the media may once again underestimate the Buffs, MacIntyre knows his team will have the full attention of at least one group in Los Angeles: his fellow head coaches. The coaches who a year ago said the Buffs might be better now know that’s the case — and the result will be just a little more of an edge from every team Colorado faces.

“It’s not going to be a case of people asking, ‘Are they really that good?’ until they step on the field and say, ‘Oh, they are that good,'” MacIntyre said. “Now they know we’re that good. They’ll be a little more prepared, a little more on edge, a little bit more wanting some revenge — and that’s a whole different level of intensity that you get from the beginning whistle. Our guys have to be ready to match that and surpass that, and that’s what we’ll be talking about all during camp.”

Those conversations, which have been going on informally all summer, will begin taking place on a regular basis Friday, when the Buffs report for camp.

By virtually all accounts, the Buffs have had a solid summer in the weight room and in conditioning drills.

“We had a good culture set,” MacIntyre said. “Coach (Drew) Wilson’s second year with them went really well. Their runs were harder this summer than they were last summer, and they did well with them. I think that’s important for them coming in in great shape with the mentality of us playing ‘Folsom Fast.'”

Also important, MacIntyre said, is the guidance provided by the six team captains. Four of the captains — Phillip Lindsay, George Frazier, Jeromy Irwin and Derek McCartney — have served in the role previously. The others are Rick Gamboa and Afolabi Laguda.

“The culture is set, but the older guys have to continue to teach it,” MacIntyre said. “It’s not just going to happen and they understand that. The work ethic has to be there. We start back at the bottom again and work up. But our foundation is higher, our culture is higher, our commitment level, our confidence level — but the work ethic has got to really take another notch up, and it has.”

One question MacIntyre is almost sure to hear in Los Angeles is how his defense will respond to losing eight starters (four of whom were selected in the NFL Draft) as well as the addition of three new coaches on the defensive side.

“We have good talent,” MacIntyre said. “I think we’ll be good on defense. We’re going to have a few growing pains with guys that are going to be out there a lot more than they have been, but as they get their feet wet, I think you’ll see our defense gel into a very, very good defense.”

As for the offense — the general consensus is that the Buffs could have a special year on that side of the ball. Count MacIntyre among those in that corner.

“I expect us to be excellent on offense,” he said. “Last year I expected us to be excellent on defense —  I said that in camp — and I expected us to be good on offense. I think there will be just a slight tilt on that. There will be a little different way to win some games this year. I feel good about both sides of the ball, but I definitely believe our offense will be a little bit ahead of our defense when we start because of the experience factor. But talent-wise, I think we’ll be close.”

BUFFS NOTES: For the first time in modern history, Colorado won’t conduct two-a-day sessions, resulting in camp opening a few days earlier than normal in order to get all 29 allowed practices in before the Sept. 1 season opener against Colorado State. The Buffs will report on Friday, then hit the field for their first day of practice on Saturday. “I like not having the two-a-days,” MacIntyre said. “I like being able to have a day off a week and practice. I think it will help prevent injuries and we’ll be more prepared.” … MacIntyre said he expects to have the full complement of 105 players report on Friday, a group that will include at least 20 walkons and possibly as many as 22, depending upon injuries and other situations.

OPEN SCRIMMAGE: The Buffs will have one practice open to the public in fall camp, set Saturday, Aug. 5. The scrimmage will serve as a “Select-A-Seat” event, with fans having the opportunity to pick seats available for purchase and know the exact location and perspective they will have with action taking place on the field. The event begins at 10 a.m. with the Buffs scheduled to practice and then hold a short scrimmage. After the scrimmage, players and coaches will be available for autographs and selfies. Parking will be free in lot 169 (adjacent to the lower practice fields) and paid in the parking garage next to the Champions Center.

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This post, about the Fall Camp game, from the 2017 Season, is filed under Article.
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