Spring Game and More

The team released its “pencil depth chart” before the spring game as well as announcing that they will announce information about the groundbreaking groundbreaking of the new stadium renovations scheduled for May 1.   I attended Friday’s practice and Saturday’s game.  Here are some of my observations and thoughts as well as any other info I could dig up.

Friday practice:  I can’t really say that I got a ton of insight and new information from attending practice, but it was a gorgeous day and I still enjoyed a little football.  As others have reported, the practices are pretty fast-paced and crisp; the team moves from drill to drill quickly and guys are chastised for not going full speed during or between drills, which is to be expected.  They did a lot of work on keeping low with nets and giant “hurdles” used in many drills.  Also, coaches are indeed more vocal than last spring for sure.  Defensive line coach Jim Jeffcoat’s booming voice can be heard across the fields.  New grad assistant JB Hall was all over the field, working with many different groups and even throwing for a lot of drills.  MacIntyre spent a lot of his time with the corners he is in charge of, but still had an eye on other groups and gave input where needed from afar.  He also took the time to work the ropes a little talking to families (like Sefo’s) and fans (like me).

Two guys that the coaches were getting on a lot were transfers LB Deaysean Rippy and CB Akehllo Witherspoon, at least until the latter tweaked his back (needless to say, neither have a gold jersey).   Sefo does look stronger and sharper and from my layman’s eye, Gehrke is not really going to challenge for the starting job, but if does have to play, the team will run a lot more.  They played a little 11-on-11, I think in Saturday’s black-gold teams, but no plays of note.  One player that stuck out a little was DT Clay Norgard who got the best of Munyer and others repeatedly in a couple of drills, which is good since this position is a little thin.  I had hoped to see Diego Gonzalez boom some balls, but I only saw Oliver, O’Neill and Graham kick or punt.

Depth Chart: There was only one real huge surprise on this depth chart: http://www.cubuffs.com/pdf9/2679034.pdf  in that Michael Adkins (who has been injured some) is listed FIFTH behind Powell (also FB), with Philip Lindsay AND Tony Jones #2, and Terrence Crowder (who I thought was short for the team but must have his shit together) before we get to last year’s leading rusher.  Obviously, Sefo is #1 QB, and the rest of the starters are: WR Bryce Bobo opposite Nelson Spruce, with DD Goodson in the slot and Sean Irwin the TE; the o-line is Mustoe-Crabb-Kelley-Munyer-Nembot, but behind them, everyone is very green with only one upperclassman-Jr. Brad Cotner, who is #2 RG, not even center, the position he was recruited for-and the rest of the depth chart are freshmen or sophomores.  JC transfer Sully Wiefels will add a little experience when he joins the group in August.  Injured So. Jeromy Irwin is still expected to compete with Mustoe for that LT spot. 

On Defense, the starting line is slated as Henington-Tupou-Parker-McCartney, LBs Gillam-Olugbode-Greer/Rippy (that they are listed a c0-starters is somewhat surprising), safeties Bell and Thompson, CBs Henderson, Crawley and Chido at nickel. 

In general, outside of that o-line and the defensive tackles, there are some decent numbers and experience at every position. One interesting note, “injured” players are listed at the bottom of the depth chart (Jimmie Gilbert, Jeromy Irwin, Terrel Smith, Yuri Wright), but players out due to academics (Kafovalu and Solis) are listed as backups.  We’ll see if there is any movement after the Spring game, as well as any attrition.

Spring Game: DT Josh Tupou, who hates any kind of attention, was the number one pick of the seniors who drafted teams, followed by WR Nelson Spruce, CB Chidobe Awuzie and QB Sefo Liufau.  The day turned out beautiful and Ralphie had a nice run (that I missed due to the parking cluster…).  There was a solid turnout of over 6,000 and even eight members of the CUnit were standing in the front row.  Spencer Dinwiddie was the game announcer.  There was no tackling of QBs so sacks are inflated a little. The Jordan Gehrke-led Black team ended up coming back and holding on to a 21-17 win over the Gold team, who were served hot dogs while watching their victors eat steaks.

There were some great plays both ways by numerous players, but when someone does well in a game like this, you have to look at who got beat, and it was more often than not walk-ons being picked upon.  Spruce had eight receptions (110 yards), most from when he and Sefo were targeting CB Brandon Brisco.  R-Fr. WR Bryce Bobo had a huge day with 5 receptions for 132 yards and a TD.  When he caught his second long pass late, it was against Gavin Andrews-I didn’t even know the name before I looked at the roster; Bobo’s other long one though was against Greg Henderson (who would have at least made the tackle had he not been plowed by teammate Richard Yates). 

The gold/white offense and Sefo also went after newcomer Akhello Witherspoon a decent amount and it did not always turn out well.  After a tough practice Friday (got chewed out a bunch, tweaked his back), the big corner showed why a lot of people are excited and why Kenneth Crawley (who played well but maybe not well enough as he did follow up one pass defense by getting beat deep-although he was saved by a drop) is quite worried; Witherspoon will certainly see the field a lot this fall, maybe as a starter, making his case with some big hits (including a borderline late one on Nelson Spruce), an INT and some pass defenses.  In the last drive Witherspoon blanketed Wes Christensen, causing three incompletions in the last four plays, including the game clinching breakup.  Chidobe Awuzie had a strong day as well with a pass breakup and a couple of nice tackles.

The biggest disappointment of the day was probably Sefo, when he made an awful decision to throw a ball that got picked off.  Although he looked good throwing the ball at times, he also gave up another big sack and missed a couple of reads.  Jordan Gehrke also threw well at times, and he is definitely more mobile, but does not just up and run, always looking down field.  At the end of the game, Sefo moved the ball down the field, but could not get in the endzone. Most of the time Sefo looked in control, and after the game, MacIntyre announced that indeed when they finally take the field at Sports Authority Field, his sophomore will again be behind center (although we are not sure who that will be), but that they feel good about Gehrke as the backup (read: hopefully Cade Apsay-who was in attendance-can redshirt).

Tony Jones had the best game of the RBs (13-88), as everyone got a chance to play a little, but the senior also dropped an easy swing pass.  Fellow senior Malcolm Creer, who might finally be recovered from a devastating knee injury as a frosh, also had a nice game, running six times for 39 yards and the winning TD.  Michael Adkins ran well with his carries (8-37) and had a couple of catches; now that he is healthy, I would expect him to climb back up the depth chart and we might have some ANDs on it with this deep group.  Christian Powell (who definitely line up at fullback some this year for a potent backfield with any of the other guys), nor Philip Lindsay did a whole lot, but neither looked bad the few times they did touch the ball.  There was one fumble (recovered by walkon DL Garret Gregory) but I could not see who coughed it up or if it was stripped by someone.

WRs DD Goodson and true frosh WR Lee Walker each had 3 catches and 18-yard TDs.  Sean Irwin had a catch and was wide open another time when Sefo didn’t see him.  Wes Christensen could not beat Witherspoon on the last drive getting targeted three times with no catches.

K Diego Gonzalez kicked the first PAT, but missed a 47-yard FG badly right, while Chris Graham hit his FG and PAT.  There were no kickoffs, and punt returners only fair caught the ball.

D-line coach Jim Jeffcoat thought his group did well and are much improved, as did Daniel Munyer, who plays across from them.  DEs Derek McCartney and Tyler Henington both got some pressure.  Juda Parker and Josh Tupou are solid at the tackles with Clay Norgard as a backup, but they will need Gilbert, Kafovalu and Solis back to provide more overall depth.

The offensive line is a little hard to judge, being all mixed up, but Stephane Nembot got beat badly at least once. 

Among those the dozen or so that were injured and did not play but were on the sidelines without pads were S Terrel Smith, WRs Elijah Dunston and Devin Ross, OL Jeromy Irwin.

Spring Award Winners: Numerous players were recognized for outstanding work or performance: Daniel Munyer (leadership), Nelson Spruce (work ethic), Josh Tupou (toughness), Will Oliver (academics), Wesley Christensen (most uncommon player), and the most improved at their position groups: Phillip Lindsay (off. Back), Stephane Nembot (o-line), Chidobe Awuzie (DB), Kenneth Olugbode (LB), Derek McCartney (d-line), Sean Irwin (“big skill” player), Bryce Bobo (special teams).

Captains: At the end of the game head coach Mike MacIntyre announced that the team had voted and once again would be led next year by six captains: Srs. OG Daniel Munyer. DT Juda Parker, and S Terrell Smith,  Jr. WR Nelson Spruce, and sophomores (first time ever two soph captains) QB Sefo Liufau and LD Addison Gillam.

Facilities Upgrades: Although there have been no actual updated numbers reported, Rick George and the Athletic Dept. have enough money (though obviously not the full $50M they originally projected) to start moving on a gigantic project that is supposed to be completed by the 2015 football season.  Official groundbreaking is slated for a month from now May 12.  There was little presentation at half time that the crowd barely listened to at halftime, but the video was cool. 2015 Recruiting: Later on in the afternoon, the Buffs picked up their second overall verbal and first in-state commit of the new recruiting cycle when Pomona’s Dillon Middlemiss, an offensive tackle who was one of many prospects in attendance at the Spring game.  He joins Sacramento’s LB NJ Falo in the class of 2015.

One last practice: The team will have one last practice on Monday, with the players running most of it in preparation for summer “voluntary” workouts.  Then, it is onto the countdown until August 29^th!

Go Buffs!