There is a lot of anticipation around the CU
program right now, with Pac-12 Media Day happening, camp less than two weeks
away (the team convenes on August 5th and hits the practice fields
on the sixth) and the Pac-12 network scheduled to kickoff Aug. 15, and…the
season opener is barely a month away! Unfortunately, as anticipated, Coach Jon
Embree has announced that practices will indeed be closed to the public, with
only the first part open to media and limited interviews afterwards. He had previously said that the large
freshmen class, mainly because so many will be in the hunt for playing time,
will be unavailable for interviews, for at least the beginning of the season.
Pac-12
Media Day
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Senior safety Ray Polk and Jr. LT David
Bahktiari accompanied Head Coach Jon Embree and were first up for Pac-12 Media Day
in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Here are some highlights:
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Embree was quite serious and solemn, giving a
very quick opening, stating that “our goal is to find a way to get to a bowl
game.” He did crack a smile a few times,
including when Joel Klatt asked a very specific offensive question. He is upbeat about what he brings to the
field this season and said that the freshmen sound like they are doing well,
that they have definitely upgraded in speed and athleticism. He was definitely
optimistic that P-Rich might be able to play, saying it is “not out of the
question.”
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As for which freshmen will play immediately, he
said that all five DBs have a chance to play now, there are a “couple of
difference makers” at WR and TE, and the D-line (obviously). QB Shane Dillon is more of a wait and see,
and he seemed like he was fine with the three QBs he would have competing in
transfers So. Connor Wood (pedigree) and Jordan Webb (experience), as well as
Nick Hirschman, who he said benefitted from having to focus on the mental side
of the game when he was out during spring ball.
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He spoke about how California was absolutely a
key recruiting ground for CU as they had 10 recruits last year and 4 or 5 more
so far this year. Seven coaches have
part of California as part of their recruiting responsibility.
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Polk and Bahktiari said all the right things
when asked stupid questions separately about CU having a rivalry with Utah
(which the reporter admitted was forced) or anyone else. They both were obviously coached on this as
they were both vague and said some variation of: “We just want to compete with
everyone…to be the best you have to beat the best…we’re always going for the
top dogs.”
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They were also asked about summer workouts and
who was looking good so far. They said
they are practicing a few times a week, mostly in two groups: skill position
(QBs, RBs, WRs, DBs) and bigger guys (OL, TE, DL, LB). Bahktiari said that Chidera works with the
skill group because he is just “so fast”.
They are also having player run meetings.
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Polk said the guys that are sticking out to him
in summer are CB Greg Henderson, who has been praised by many for his continued
development, and the senior leaders LBs Doug Rippy and Jon Major and DL Wil
Pericak. He added that P-Rich looks good
so far! Besdies Uzo-Diribe, Bahktiari also
highlighted Pericak who has been “killin’ it”, TE Nick Kasa, and his fellow
linemen Gus Handler and Daniel Munyer.
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Other Interviews
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BG Brooks did a fabulous interview last week with
Embree: http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=3843&SPID=255&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205503382&DB_OEM_ID=600
o Embree
said he has been aware of P-Rich’s ahead of schedule recovery since April and
has already met with the coaching staff to discuss the “what if?” of P-Rich
receiving medical clearance to play during the season and putting the coaches
in a “difficult situation” to decide if he should actually play or just
redshirt to gain two full years to play healthy. He said IF it comes to that, it will
ultimately come down to the Richardson family.
o Embree
also said he got glowing praise from Charlie Wies about Jordan Webb’s character
when Jon was in Lawrence to observe drills and his son Connor.
o After a
two-week vacation to Africa, Embree is ready for camp to get started. He believes the team is really coming
together in summer workouts, everyone has done relatively well in summer school
and the freshmen understand what is expected of them and appear ready to go
under guidance of the returning players.
"Last year, from my chair, was a lot about
trying to establish standards and high expectations on and off the field.
Whether it's suspensions, whether it's all those other things that happened
last year, we didn't have a good understanding…of what your standard is or
having a standard of how you do things, how you prepare. They get that aspect
of it now…how to prepare and what's expected of them in the summer. Morale is
night and day different from what it was last year. Some of it is getting used
to me. That has something to do with it. It's like I told them last year and
will this year: You've got to start seeing yourself as what you're capable of
being. We didn't (last season), but they're better about that now."
o He also
anticipates another physical camp with a lot of battles for playing time at
many positions. “"And that's good because we didn't have it last year. I think
that's a little bit of why things transpired like they did with Toney Clemons.
In his mind, I think it was, 'Well, who else are you going to play?'"
o Vincent
Hobbs and Gerald Thomas, two true freshmen receivers who are being counted on
to contribute a lot this year were able to have a conversation with their head
coach about “The Catch” and what that team had and didn’t have that season with
ten NFL draft picks on the roster.
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BuffScoop.com did an interview with Strength and
Conditioning Coach Malcolm Blacken, (partially posted for free on NetBUffs.com:
http://www.netbuffs.com/message_board/football/2012/July/16/725787.php
), who just might be the most influential member of the staff as he is able to
meet with the players and monitor their progress year round, and is the first
one to be able to meet regularly with the incoming freshmen.
o Blacken
mentioned numerous names who he thinks are poised for a breakout year: LT David
Bahktiari, DE Chidera Uzo-Diribe, S Ray Polk, CB Greg Henderson, RB Tony Jones
(“tough little guy”, has put on 12 pounds), LG Alex Lewis (has put on 15
pounds);
o He
says the offensive line is “one of the tightest groups on the team”.
o Blacken
likes to see “what a guy can do when he is winded.”
A few freshmen who are standing out to him
so far are:
o DT Josh
Tupou, 324 pounds, body of a “24 or 25 year old”, “has a motor…to contribute
this year”;
He had a ton to say about TE Vincent
Hobbs, who is looking to be the freshman breakout player: “
2013 Recruiting Update
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There have been no new commitments so the Buffs
are standing strong at 12, most recently ranked #43 by Rivals, #48 by Scout.
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The twelve average 2.82 stars (according to
Rivals’ rankings).
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They have commits from a QB, RB, TE, 2 WR, 5 OL,
1 s, 1 LB. Even with the huge class they
are bringing in this year, they could still use a couple of DL and CBs, and
will likely want to sign a couple more LBs and even another OL.
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Both CU and CSU have offered 6’-1”, 195 pound LB
Jayon Brown from California power Long BeachPoly, and he is receiving interest
from UCLA, Utah and Washington.
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Rivals reported that 3-star WR/DB Devin Ross was
very close to committing to CU, but he has now backed off, not sure he wants to
commit this early. It would make two
years in a row that the Buffs had at least 3 receiver recruits. He has received offers from Minnesota, Iowas
St., BC and San Diego St. and has become friends with Chapparal TE Mitchell
Parsons, the only consensus 4-star in the class, who appears to be the leader
among the group, having started a Facebook page for CU prospects. Another 3-star WR X’avier Shepherd (Lakewood,
CA) is considering a visit to Boulder.
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Huge Torrey Pines OL Jacob Aldasek, who has said
the Buffs were high on his list, said, “It was really “hard to choose,” but he
ultimately decided to commit to Arizona.
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CU commit Philip Lindsay has been listed mostly
as an RB, and definitely wants to carry the ball, but is also known as a big
hitter on defense and likely could play DB at the D-1 level as well; he will
almost definitely play some special teams as a freshman. He will also be one of three high school seniors
nationwide who have been recognized by the Legacy Leadership Project and will
attend the Pro Football Hall of Fame weekend as a guest of former Bronco HOFer
Gary Zimmerman. Lindsay also plans on
attending summer practices with at least one fellow commit, Chapparal’s
Mitchell Parsons.
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Interesting stat: There are 18 former Colorado
high school players on rosters of Pac-12 teams.
More
Roster talk
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Frosh recruit Kisima Jagne has not conceded and
enrolled at a JC yet, but he is now waiting on a test score. Embree told Kyle Ringo that Jagne might greyshirt
if he cannot academically qualify now, and did not mention the JC route. Still a wait and see.
§
Kyle Ringo said that although a few other
players had to “a few extra hurdles to jump through,” no one else appears to be
in any danger of not being in Boulder this Fall.
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Jermane Clark and Paul Vigo are now listed on
the depth chart as ILB.
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RB Malcolm Creer has recovered from his knee
injury nicely and is expecting to be ready to go for camp.
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Besides P-Rich, I believe most everyone else who
has had injuries is full go for camp, including LB Doug Rippy, DT Nate Bonsu,
CB Jered Bell, although Sherrard Harrington is still listed as “Limited” due to
his knee and QB Shane Dillon and, S Parker Orms are “day to day”.
§
WR Peyton Williams is still on the active roster
but the medical staff still needs to do a final check on knee before it is
decided how much he could participate and if he would greyshirt (but if Jagne doesn’t make it, they won’t need him
to).
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However, there is always some surprise when camp
opens so we will see what and who it will be this year.
Other
Program Notes
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Doug Rippy was named to the Butkus Award Watch
list for the best linebacker.
In
addition to his many other preseason accolades, LT David Bahktiari was also
named to the Lombardi Award Watch List, given to the best lineman (offensive or
defensive) or linebacker.
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The Buff
bashing continues as, wow, a Wyoming blog suggests that the team from
Laramie is the best team on the Front Range. I realize that they had a better
record last year, but against what type of competition?! I would love to see CU play Wyoming!
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The Pac-12 Media Poll followed suit and joined
the crowd in picking CU last in the Pac-12 South; Gekko Mojo” from the
Washington blog “The Dawg Pound” did as well.
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At least Oregon St. blog “BuildingtheDam”
actually picked CU to be 5th in the Pac-12 South, ahead of Arizona
St., citing mostly the schedule, the first three non-conference games and the
fact that they get ASU and UCLA at home (not to mention Utah whom they beat on
the road last year!), plus they don’t have to visit the Arizona desert until
November.
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“House of Sparky” (Arizona St.) bloggers view
Colorado as one of ASU’s definite wins, even though it is on the road and some
have even picked the Sun Devils to finish below CU in the Pac-12 South (they
did also get three first place votes in the media poll).
The
new Buffvision HD video boards have been installed, tested and are
functioning. There will be an event Aug.10 to
show it off.
*Note:
I will be gone for the next week or so but will return in early August with an
update on any news as well as a Pre-Camp Positional Outlook.
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