§ It’s been slow on the football front, but busy elsewhere. However, as Spring Practices are just around the corner, beginning next Saturday, March 10, it’s time to put on the pads and start hitting.
§ Unfortunately, the general public will not be allowed to attend and watch at all this year (except the "Spring Game"). The media will only be allowed to view small portions, probably the most boring. Embree had warned that with starting against CSU they were less likely to allow open practices. He has also cited that since it is such a young team he does not want them put under the scrutiny and judgment that the media and fans can create. I also think it is so people outside the program won’t see anything new, and will continue to look down upon and overlook the young Buffaloes.
§ The team just finished “Coaches’ Week”-basically a week of intense 6AM conditioning sessions under the motto: “Do Work All Day”. They worked and competed (tug-o-war) in position groups throughout Balch Fieldhouse and on the steps of Folsom Field. Embree singled out numerous guys stepping it up as models and leaders, including seniors Nick Kasa, Ray Polk and Wil Pericak, juniors Paul Richardson and Chidera Uzo-Diribe, and sophomore Juda Parker. For video of each day got to: http://www.cuatthegame.com/2012/spring-practice-primer/ and scroll down for the links.
§ The team will practice about 2 of every 3 days March 10-23, take spring break off, then come back for a few more practices, finishing up with some form of spring game (depending on injuries) on April 14 (which will be the only practice session that is open to the public.
§ Shortly after the season began last year, a large flagstone sign was installed at the entrance to the practice fields engraved with the following motto: “This program will not been entrusted to the timid or the weak.” This statement, always painted previously somewhere in the Dal Ward, completely disappeared during the previous regime, but now has finally been restored to the program. In talking to the mother of a senior player last year, she commented that after spring practice her son had told her, “This is what I thought Division I football would be like.” It’s time for the returning players, who know what this mantra means now, know what the coaching expectations are, to now set the example and lead the team toward the future, starting with some very hard and focused practicing March and April.
§ Embree's early goals are to get the quarterback competition off to a good start, improve fundamentals in every area of the team, improve communication and understanding of responsibilities throughout the defense, and finding out who the “best five” are and build some continuity with the offensive line, all while trying to stay relatively healthy.
§ There will definitely be some depth issues for practicing during spring practices that will certainly limit full 11-on-11 scrimmaging. Between losing 28 senior bodies and a lot of people recovering from injuries, some positions like D-Line will be very thin and can’t afford more injuries. While it will limit some of the things they can do, Embree said it will allow or force them to do a lot of 7-on-7, which will be great for the quarterback competition. Unfortunately, one area this teams needs to improve in is tackling and with so few bodies they will have to be careful with how much tackling and full-contact they do, which is a big part of the “physical” game they want to employ. There will likely be more early and less late.
§ Here are the reported injuries, some of which will affect how the team is able to practice and how much they can decide in certain position battles.
§ QB Nick Hirschman had been listed as "questionable" for spring practices with a lingering foot injury, possibly to only participate fully in the second part. However, he has recently tweeted that rehab is going well and he might be full go at the start! Numner 8 is the one everyone will be looking for when the media is allowed their brief glimpse of the first few practices.
§ Listed as OUT for Spring: Sr. DT Nate Bonsu, who should compete for a starting job IF he can get healthy-he has never been the same after a great freshman season followed by the knee injury; Sr. LB Doug Rippy and RB Malcolm Creer will still be recovering from their knee surgeries.
§ It had been reported that Soph. CB Jered Bell would be back from his knee injury, but that does not appear to be the case as he will also not be “full go”.
§ Listed as "Probable" for Spring: RFr. CB Sherrard Harrington has recovered from his strange hip injury; Soph. LB Brady Daigh's wrist should be ready to go; O-tackle Jack Harris' broken leg is healed and he is good to go.
§ Two more players have left the roster. Sr. QB Brent Burnette, who really didn’t factor in at the position, will graduate in May and not participate in football any longer. Also, oft-injured S/LB Vince Ewing will retire from football due to chronic knee injuries, although he will remain “helping” the team as some type of a assistant or intern.
§ Most position battles will be wide open, with very few spots already taken and earned by incumbents. There are only maybe 7-8 guys who are basically assured a starting spot. There is another group that is very likely to earn some playing time, but how much remains to be seen. There are a lot of redshirt frosh itching to play-See Stuart’s CuattheGame post about them: http://www.cuatthegame.com/2012/spring-practice-primer/
§ LB is the closest position to having a “set” lineup as Jon Major, Doug Rippy and Derrick Webb are all returning starters, leaving only the “Jack” wide open (which could be filled by some DE candidates); So. Brady Daigh and Woodson Greer, along with (possible safeties) Jermane Clark, KT Tu’umalo and Kyle Washington, will provide back-up. Cabral should know exactly where he is at for the season by the end of spring ball.
§ D-Line: There are only 10 or so healthy bodies here and many are non-scholarship, with one who just switched positions. The trio of Sr. Wil Pericak (appears to be no major repercussions from his barroom transgression), Jr. Chidera Uzo-Diribe and So. Juda Parker figure to be regular members of the rotation (the latter 2 possibly at Jack LB), but after that it is thin.
§ Sr.Eric Richter has always been touted as strong, but has barely made his way onto the game day field; the defense needs his presence and his size and strength inside, and the team needs every bit of senior leadership it can find.
§ So. Kirk Poston has got to get noticed before the wave of freshmen arrives.
§ So. Cordary Allen has just made the switch to DE – he was never able to do much as RB or TE, but at least can be a body here.
§ The rest of the walk-ons will get more reps this spring, with lack of depth, they could ever hope to get again the rest of their careers.
§ This is an area where at least 3 or 4 of the EIGHT incoming frosh will join the playing rotation in the fall.
§ DBs: Ray Polk will be one of the starting safeties, and has been singled out for his work and leadership by Embree during “coaches’ Week”, although opposite him could be a number of players: Jrs. Terrell Smith, Paul Vigo or Parker Orms (latter two could end up at CB and/or the Nickel slot as well), or So. Wil Harlos, or LBs Clark,Tu’umalo or Washington could end up back here.
§ Super Soph Greg Henderson will man one side of the field while numerous others will compete for the spot opposite him, as well as at the nickel slot; RFr. Sherrard Harrington is a player everyone is waiting to see on the field; unfortunately, we will still have to wait to see So. Jered Bell, who does not appear to be recovered from his knee injury and has not been cleared yet. So. Josh Moten and transfer Harrison Hunter are two other intriguing cases who could use this spring to get some reps and exposure before the frosh arrive. Orms or Vigo could end up back here if needed. There are also a bunch of walk-ons for depth.
§ Of course, the trio of highly touted incoming freshmen will immediately compete, and are all expected by many and expecting themselves to earn playing time in August: Yuri Wright, Kenneth Crawley and Jeffery Hall.
§ The nickel slot will fall to the best of those left, and the sixth and seventh (and maybe more) will need to be ready to play.
§ O-line: Embree has stated he wants the best five offensive linemen on the field, so David Bahktiari will start somewhere on the line, it just may not be at left or even right tackle, as he will get a long look at LG.
§ So. Alex Lewis, who played a lot of New England style third blocking TE last year, will get a long look at LT; Jr. Jack Harris, fully recovered from a broken leg, will get the first look at RT; with Ryan Dannewitz being the utility tackle; massive RFr. DE convert Stephane Nembot has put on 30 pounds (up to 310) will get reps to continue his development as the right tackle of the future; RFr. Marc Mustoe will have to fight for his reps.
§ The other two interior spots, center and RG, will be won from the group of Jr. Gus Handler and Sophs. Daniel Munyer and Kawai Crabb, with the “loser” being the utility back-up for the middle. Greyshirt Fr. Alex Kelley could factor in the middle but RFr. Brad Cotner is odd man out and scout team C. Neither of the incoming frosh should affect the depth chart.
§ It would be nice to be solid on the top five starters and their positions, and the top few backups at the end of the spring.
§ QB: This is always the most watched position regardless of circumstance. But so much depends on the quarterback, especially with so little experience coming back to surround a brand new signal caller. It has been a foregone conclusion to many that Texas transfer Connor Wood will win the job running away. Coach Embree thinks that should make fellow So. Nick Hircshman “ecstatic”, if all the pressure is on the newcomer, while he is the returning letterman with a start under his belt. Of course, coaches loved John Shrock so much last year that he was the #3 behind Hansen and Hirschman if anything had ever happened at QB like it did at DB. Fellow RFr. Stevie Joe Dorman will lead the scout team. Brent Burnette has wisely left with his degree.
§ Whoever is leading here after Spring ball will still have to fend off incoming frosh Shane Dillon in the fall.
§ RBs: There is a lot of uncertainty here actually, even though #2 and #3 backs are returning. Jr. Tony Jones is the most experienced tailback, but he needs to make the most out of his status in the early Spring, especially as a blocker and “all-around” back, because many could overtake him. So. Josh Ford needs to show he can block and hang on to the ball. DD Goodson is back at this position to provide depth. The rest of the tailbacks are walk-ons.
§ Clay Norgard is already enrolled and will get lots of reps at FB in the spring. He can get a leg up on Cristian Powell, who will challenge him in the fall and with whom he will likely eventually share playing time.
§ Fall camp will bring in the rest of the competition: So. Malcolm Creer, who looked great in his limited action before blowing out his knee, and three freshmen: bruiser Davien Payne and the smaller Donta Abron and Terrence Crowder, also recovering from a knee injury.
§ WRs: Paul Richardson is a given at one WR spot, but the QB and the offense need (at least) someone else to step up opposite P-Rich and make defenses account for both.
§ Coaches really liked So. Tyler McCulloch last year and he played as a true frosh, blocked well downfield, but was not really productive catching the ball (even though he had some highlight reel catches in fall camp). They also really liked Nelson Spruce, but ended up redshirting him, so he might be ready to break out. Jr. DaVaughn Thorton switched over from TE, has great size and has shown flashes of greatness, but very little consistency. It’s now or never for him. Likewise for So. Keenan Canty, who has also had a few nice catches, but nothing substantial. For Jr. Jarrod Darden this is really his chance to get on the field. The Ebners and a bunch of other walk-ons round out the scout team end of the depth chart.
§ If someone from that group doesn’t take advantage of this the opportunity in the Spring, then one of the three speedy incoming frosh-Peyton Williams (recovering from knee) or Jeffery or Gerald (no relation) Thomas-will likely seize it instead.
§ TEs: This is another wide open position and all three incoming frosh will be given every opportunity to break into the 3-4 deep in the Fall, so everyone needs to take advantage of their reps in spring.
§ So. Kyle Slavin brings the most TE experience, but never even caught a pass. Nick Kasa switched from DL towards the end of the season, even catching a pass vs. Utah and he has been mentioned as a leader and working very hard in offseason work; both are players who have to use Spring ball as their chance to shine or disappear. Two walk-ons, Fernandez and Wood, provide depth.
§ Special Teams: The punter and kicker, Darragh O’Neill and Wil Oliver (shoulder), along with the long-snapper/holder combo of Ryan Iverson and Justin Gorman, are probably all set; however, there will always be competition as last year unheralded walk-on O’Neill won the job from scholarshipped Zach Grosnickle. Iowa transfer DJ Wilhelm also joined the team as a walk-on, sat out the year and could add some spice to the mix at punter.
§ Justin Castor handled kickoffs for most of the year, but had to be relieved a few times by Wil Oliver, and this job should be wide open; Grossnickle has been told he can compete here.
§ The rest of the units will be open to lots of competition, as lots of return and coverage work needs to be done. Although numerous freshmen will be asked to play on this unit, the Buffs need to concentrate on this area and force the younger players to come in and work to earn their spots against some veterans. The team largely ignored this phase last year in spring in order to get everything else in place, but it showed during the regular season. JD won’t let them be that bad again.
§ With the shoulder injury to Oliver, there will be overall more work dedicated to the punting game during the spring.
Stuart at CUattheGame.com also previews each position: http://www.cuatthegame.com/2012/spring-forward/
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