Post Spring Depth Chart Notes

§  The Buffs wrapped up spring practices with the “official” Spring “Scrimmage” on April 14 (see the previous post for the details). 

§  The team released a “post-spring depth chart” right before the spring game (you can look at the whole thing here): http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/gameday/2012/depth_chart.pdf?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600 )

It offers a little insight and provided some minor surprises…

§  Wide Receiver is the first position listed and is probably the most important group to watch on offense.  RFr. Nelson Spruce is listed as one starter across from So. Tyler McCulloch.  Interestingly, Jr. Jarrod Darden, a perennial silent underperformer, was actually listed as #2 behind McCulloch and then followed it up with a great spring game.  Former walk-on Sr. Dustin Ebner was second behind Spruce, followed by So. Keenan Canty, while Jr. DaVaughn Thorton (an even bigger disappointment than Darden) is 4^th.  I probably don’t need to write it again but at least one, if not two or all three of the incoming recruits will get into the mix here and play as true frosh.

§  Connor Wood has not yet been given the keys to the offense and all comers (So. Nick Hirschman, TFr. Shane Dillon and likely transfer Jordan Webb) will be given their shot in August.  Wood was solid, made good decisions and continued to develop but did not grab it for his own.  Embree said he still has a tendency to “press” and this showed with his overthrows in the scrimmage. John Schrock took advantage of his reps and will be a solid backup. Coaches have even left door open to play two but I doubt that will happen by design.

§  At TE Sr. Nick Kasa is expected to be the answer, but he is still raw, both blocking and catching, but has shown sparks of getting it.  Walk-on Scott Fernandez will end up playing and catching a few sneaky balls. Kyle Slavin has been silent in the spring. Nobody really stood out in the spring scrimmage, although Slavin had one 30-yard catch.  So…one, two or three of the frosh play here as well.

§  Tony Jones has “separated himself” from the other guys and has grabbed the starting RB job.  DD Goodson has actually moved up ahead of Josh Ford for #2. Although Ford’s running was great in the scrimmage, he lacks in other areas which are too important to EB and Embree.  There is absolutely room for a freshman to get some carries if they can pick up the offense, specifically the pass protection and pass routes that Ford Struggles with.

§   Walk-on Alex Wood is still listed as the starter at FB, with early enrollee Clay Norgard still 2^nd, leaving the door open for Christian Powell to compete in August.

§  The offensive line seems to be the strongest position group on this side of the ball, with most slots solidified.  The only surprise really was that Ryan Dannewitz, who was out with an injury for most of the spring, is listed as the co-starter at both RG (Daniel Munyer) and RT (Jack Harris).  David Bahktiari is set at LT, as is Alex Lewis at LG, and Gus Handler at center.  They also have a strong second line for the first time in years.  Dannewitz will end up as the utility lineman, backing up everyone except center (Brad Cotner), plus they have Marc Mustoe and Stephane Nembot at tackle and Kawai Crabb and Alex Kelley for the interior.  This is the one group where freshmen will not play, unless they are absolutely outstanding.  They are doing so well that I have not read one mention about the loss of highly touted G recruit Paulay Asiata who left the program in the offseason and led to some pessimistic predictions about the line.  They seem to be doing just fine now, but of course the true test will come on the field, during Pac-12 play.

§  The defensive line is obviously the biggest question area as it is so thin.  The starters are assumed to be Srs. Wil Pericak and the injured Nate Bonsu inside, with Jr. Chidera-Uzo-Diribe and So. Juda Parker on the ends.  After that it will be (I still can’t believe it even though I have written it a few times) at least FOUR frosh contributing here.  You want at least 8 if not 10 bodies rotating to stay fresh.  Unfortunately, Sr. Eric Richter just can’t seem to get up the depth chart or on the field, Kirk Poston is still too small (although he is temporarily listed as starter) and Cordary Allen can’t stay healthy enough to learn a position.  The walk-ons are just bodies.  Hopefully, this isn’t the primary reason the offensive line has looked so good.

§  On the flip side the LBs are in decent shape, certainly for this year.  Assuming that Doug Rippy makes a (close to) full recovery the starters will be him, fellow Sr. Jon Major and Jr. Derrick Webb.  We should also see a decent amount of Sophs. Brady Daigh, Woodson Greer III and Kyle Washington, who should take over in 2013-14, and because it may be hard to keep them off the field now.  No frosh to worry about here.

§  The defensive backfield will always be a question area because you also need at least 8 if not 10+ ready to go (we hate to but we have to remember last year). We know who two are for sure-Ray Polk and Greg Henderson- and likely a third in Parker Orms, who despite being injured during the first spring practice is still listed number one at strong safety-coaches believe he is a difference maker when healthy.  It remains to be seen who the other 5 or 6 will be. Safeties Terrel Smith and Wil Harlos will likely be in the rotation, and maybe Paul Vigo, who has been given a lot of reps is listed 3^rd behind Polk and Smith.  Josh Moten and Sherrard Harrington are still in the mix opposite Henderson, as are the recovering Jered Bell and at least three of the incoming frosh (definitely Kenneth Crawley and Yuri Wright).  Transfer Harrison Hunter (Ft. Lewis) also received some praise and is still in the picture for playing time. Almost any of the above could factor into the Nickel and Dime units so often utilized in the Pac-12.  This will be as interesting as the d-line in fall camp.

§  Kicker (Oliver), punter (O’Neill), and long snapper (Iverson) are all set;  Grossnickle and Gorman can both be holders it looks like, but the rest of the special teams units are in limbo, especially the returners, who Embree said are “still in their orange tuxedoes for prom.”  Unfortunately, this is still a huge area of need and they were not able, for various reasons, to focus much on it, which was the case last year, which scares me a little.

§  Embree expects to go with rotating, weekly captains, based on play, rather than a set group. This is at least partially because he has only 8 seniors, a couple of who don’t play much, and Ryan Dannewitz is the only offensive senior; plus, Paul Richardson had a good chance to be the offensive captain but that ship has sailed for a year anyway.  However, Embree has identified numerous leaders he expects to guide the team through summer workouts and into the season.  These include Jon Major (the only returning captain), Doug Rippy, Wil Pericak, Chidera Uzo-Diribe, Ray Polk, David Bakhtiari, Gus Handler, Nick Hirschman (or?) Connor Wood, and he also expects Paul Richardson to still be involved in that respect.

§  Program Notes: S Wil Harlos, who played early in the season last year, on special teams mostly, but then struggled with concussions, was granted a medical redshirt, so he will be considered a freshman next season with four seasons to play.  He is a kid who, if he can stay healthy, could have a major impact, having gotten that early experience, and still getting to play five years.  He was told by Greg Brown last spring to worry about technique and watching the receiver, “because you’ve got the speed to catch up.  I’m not worried about that with you.”  Hopefully, the Buffs can at least get a whole season between him and Parker Orms at one of the safety positions.

§  Embree said he expects little if any attrition to the roster over the summer.  However, he also said that he expects to sign 16-20 (much higher than the generally reported 12-15) recruits in the 2013 cycle.  This is with only 8 seniors on the roster, and not a whole lot of extra scholarships.  He also said he didn’t expect much attrition to the roster in the near future, or maybe none at all, as everyone is “doing what they are supposed to do” and no one has mentioned leaving.  It will be interesting to see how the recruiting cycle develops.  So far they have 3 commits, including two who have “4-star” ratings.

§  Pericak has been found not guilty of the charges stemming from a bar incident in January.

§  Former CU player Austin Vincent pleaded guilty to some level of his indecent exposure charges.  He said he would only return to CU if he could play football.  So long Austin!

§  TC McCartney and Cha’pelle Brown will join the coaching staff as graduate assistants July 1.  Otherwise there are no other coaching changes, marking only the second time since McCartney’s day that the staff has had no turnover.

§  Monarch senior Trevor Carver will join the team as a preferred walk-on in August.  Although he excelled as a cornerback in high school and could have played in Division III, he will be brought in here as a long snapper.  The “preferred” tag allows him to start practicing when the team starts, not waiting until classes start. (I am not sure how many of these each team is allowed.)

§  Most of the coaching staff has hit the road to recruit.  EB and Greg Brown are putting a little work in on there offense and defense respectively, before they too hit the road.  Embree cannot do visits until December, but he he will be maxing his cell phone minutes calling recruits.

§  Mike Bohn made an announcement… that there will be an announcement… in September…about the facilities upgrades at Folsom, which have been rumored for some time.  They are currently seeking more donations before finalizing the plans.  The scope should eventually be quite extensive as most Pac-12 schools have recently, are currently, or are planning new stadiums or major renovations.  Since everyone is about to get an influx of Pac-12 Network, TV and other monies, everyone is forced to keep up with the Joneses.

§  However, the lesser publicized announcement was that the new video boards at Folsom will go up over the summer and be in place for the season.  They will be much bigger, clearer and just plain better, which is so needed as the current ones are awful.  One was fading with many “holes” in the picture at the spring game.