The Buffs completed a third scrimmage last Thursday (41 instead of planned 30 plays) and there were positives from both sides of the ball. Embree had told players that this one would likely be more important than the “official” Spring Game next week. The team will take the weekend off before returning for practices Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, followed by the culminating Spring Game on Saturday.
A few more notes from the scrimmage and practices this past week:
§ It sounds like QB Connor Wood had a solid scrimmage, “except for two plays”, according to Embree. Other than that no stats were given, although a few receivers did have TDs.
§ QB John Shrock is not conceding anything and is competing hard with Connor Wood and making the most of his reps, but it was not reported how he did in the scrimmage.
§ One of Wood’s bad plays was an interception by Terrell Smith, who also sounded like he had a strong performance; the coaches say he is not just hitting anything that moves now, but understands his assignments within the defense and is getting to the ball. He has been practicing at the safeties and nickel.
§ Paul Vigo is getting the most snaps at safety while Parker Orms is out, but no word on how he did in the scrimmage.
§ Embree pointed out that LB Derrick Webb is “"starting to play like a man. He had a couple of huge hits (Thursday) - one on the goal line to keep the offense from scoring on fourth down. He's playing fast; he's always been able to run, but he hasn't always been able to play fast. His mind hasn't been freed up. He's always thinking . . . he seems to be using his speed a lot better than he has in the past because I don't think he's thinking as much. I've seen a lot of good stuff out of him." Webb also wants to be more of a vocal leader in his last two years.
§ Soph. Brady Daigh has also been praised quite a bit, provides depth and will be hard to keep off the field. If they can stay healthy, the linebacker corps could be one of Cabral’s best in a long time.
§ Kyle Ringo reported that Greg Henderson is “competing” with Brandon Brisco and Harrison Hunter at the left cornerback. This is quite humorous to me, but if were to be true, I think it would mean Henderson was being complacent, which would be contradictory to previous reports.
§ Henderson is also getting a lot of reps at the nickel slot with Smith and others. Remember that this is like a 12th starting spot on this defense in this passing conference.
§ S Ray Polk sat out the scrimmage for precautionary reasons from his multiple injuries last year (sternum, wrist). Although they said it made a big difference not having him out there, it also allowed the coaches more looks at some of the other safety candidates.
§ In general the defense is playing much better, especially in getting to the ball and finishing tackles as a team. And this is without four starters (or at least major contributors) in Rippy, Bonsu, Orms and Polk.
§ RB Tony Jones had 2 TDs, including another long one down the sidelines. He looks like he might have a little more breakaway in him than Speedy. We’ll see how he does inside the tackles.
§ The staff wants to use the TE more than it did last year, but walk-on Scott Fernandez is their best all-around TE at this point. Nick Kasa is still developing but had a few nice catches in the scrimmage, including a TD grab and another where he was just out of the endzone. Unfortunately, nothing on Kyle Slavin from the scrimmage. It still seems that they will be relying on at least one freshman here.
§ WR Keenan Canty had a TD as well in his quest to beat out Tyler McCulloch, Nelson Spruce and the yet-to-arrive freshmen for the starting slot opposite P-Rich (Oddly there was no mention of him anywhere in the scrimmage reports). Again, nothing on the disappointing DaVaughn Thorton, or Jarrod Darden, who have just a few more chances to make a lasting impression before those freshman arrive.
§ We finally got a little update on Special Teams this week. Coach JD Brookhart said that the punt team is way ahead of last year and that Darragh O’Neill is getting better everywhere, especially the rugby style kick which could become a really nice weapon for CU this year if he gets proficient at using it.
§ Wil Oliver did practice the first half of the spring, doing well, but then underwent shoulder surgery and is out the rest of the spring.
§ Justin Castor is leading for the kickoff competition right now, and can kick it to the endzone most of the time. However, coaches are still unsure how they will approach the new kickoff rules (from 35 and touchbacks out to 25), especially with the speedy returners across the Pac-12.
§ They have said repeatedly that freshmen will factor into the kick and punt returner competitions and that will mainly wait until the fall. Likewise for coverage teams.
§ OL Ryan Dannewitz and Kawai Crabb will miss the rest of the Spring, along with DB Orms and K Oliver.
§ Program notes: TJ McCartney (son of Sal Aunese, grandson of Coach Mac and half-brother of recruit Derek McCartney) will join the program as a graduate assistant in August.
§ The Athletic Department sent out season ticket renewals and is giving us until next Friday, April 13, to submit them before the Spring Game.
§ CU's annual spring game will be the second in a row at night, starting at 5:00 p.m. at Folsom Field, this Saturday, April 14. The format at present, due to injuries on the defensive line, will be a standard offense versus defense scrimmage (1's vs. 1's, 2's vs. 2's, 1's vs. 2's, 3's vs. 3's, etc). There will likely be quarters, or at least halves; with the smaller roster and injuries, the team scrimmaged minimally this spring (three short sessions instead of extended ones). There will be an alumni flag football game at 3:30, also on the stadium floor, as well as a CU men’s lacrosse game at 8:00PM.
§ Pac-12 Note: Rick Neuheisel has been hired as an analyst for the Pac-12 network. As much as Buff, Husky and Bruin fans might cringe as having to continually see his face, he does bring some charisma and experience to the table (he has coached at those 3 conference schools-25% of them!). At least we can all probably make his life miserable with a barrage of emails, texts and tweets (whichever you participate in) to his accounts and appearances.
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