Defensive and Special Teams Positional Outlook

Here is a position-by-position look at where the defensive and special teams roster stands and projects for next year.  The defense will continue with a similar 4-3 base look, sometimes going 4-2-5, supposedly attacking a lot, but that is what we were supposed to do last year.  They don’t lose a ton on defense (Pericak, Major, Rippy, Polk-latter two injured much of the year) so they have many players with extensive game experience. The players in bold are my picks for the most important to watch in the spring and make a difference next fall.

D-Line: They lose the defense’s best player in four-year starter DT Wil Pericak, and although they will be young, they also return a decent amount of players with experience, including four true freshmen who played a lot this year, mostly on the inside: Josh Tupou, Tyler Henington, Justin Solis, and Samson Kofavalu.  Tupou especially was a 325-pound beast in the middle and the defense suffered without him in there when he was injured, specifically in the second half against Utah. It will be interesting to see who wins the other starting job from this group and if any new players factor in here.

-Senior-to-be Nate Bonsu is a huge question mark-he began last year as the starter, but his playing time dwindled throughout the season; he was banged up and did not play much the last few games. Before the season Bonsu admitted he had been given an ultimatum by Embree to show up and earn his keep or that he might be another one of those “early graduates”.

- Highlands Ranch standout and Buff legacy R-Fr. Clay Norgard quietly announced that he is moving back to defense shortly after MacIntyre was hired.  Norgard tried out FB for a year, after having played mostly defense in high school, but never cracked the lineup with Woods and Powell in front of him.

-On the outside they return playmaker Sr. Chidera Uzo-Diribe and two juniors, overachieving Kirk Poston and underachieving Juda Parker.   In the spring they will add redshirts John Stuart, Kory Rasmussen, and De’Jon Wilson, who was the star of the scout team defense the latter half of this season, as well as greyshirt and legacy Buff Derek McCartney, who has bulked up from 215 to 240 pounds. 

-On his conference call, MacIntyre said he wants his d-linemen in better shape and is asking most to lose weight, a couple as much as 25 pounds.

-2013 help? MacIntyre said he really hopes one of the new commits, Jimmie Gilbert or Timothy Coleman, can contribute right away on the outside.

LB: Sr. Derrick Webb will be the unquestioned leader of the defense and team, and will certainly repeat as a captain.  Jr. Brady Daigh will almost definitely flank him and is the player most likely to have a breakout season next year.  Fellow Jrs. Woodson Greer III or Kyle Washington (if he can stay healthy) or Sr. Paul Vigo, will be fighting for playing time at the other spot, the latter two specializing in passing situations.  KT Tu’umalo and Lowell Williams provide depth and special teams play. 

-2013 help? The Buffs signed five prospects that can play LB, and although a couple of those could end up at other positions (Ryan Severson could play safety or RB, George Frazier and Markeis Reed could end up at DE) at least one from this group, which also includes Kenneth Olugbode and Addison Gilliam, will likely end up playing as a true frosh.  Philip Lindsay could also end up here eventually.

CB:  One would think that So. Greg Henderson would have his spot locked up, but with a new staff who knows.  Now, “experienced” Sophs. Yuri Wright and Kenneth Crawley will battle it out for the opposite starting spot and the nickel slot.  Fellow So. Jeffrey Hall will also be in the mix along with redshirt John Walker, and maybe Jr. Josh Moten.  Everyone else has disappeared down the depth chart but may get a shot now. Whatever happened to Sherrard Harrington?

-2013 help? Chiodobe Awuzie probably has a chance to play right away, especially if he can contribute on special teams, and he will at least be given the chance to compete on defense.

S: The biggest wildcard on defense might be Sr. Parker Orms, who “if healthy” (that should be his middle name), will lead the defense.  Supposedly he is 100% right now, and has been working with Matt McChesney to be ready for a big senior season. When he is on the field, there is no question the defense is better. However, among a variety of injuries, Orms has sustained many concussions in his career, is a very big hitter and Embree even said he almost just sat him for the last three games.  Even in the last two games, he only played limited snaps, and always in the slot, not roving the outfield where he can lay the big hit.  He may be best suited as a nickel slot back to protect him, but even so, he is only a concussion, maybe two away from considering hanging it up (just like Harlos last Fall).

-So. Marques Mosley will almost certainly be the other starter, and is on his way to becoming a very dynamic player.  I believe that he will take a pick to the house next year.

-Otherwise, it might end up being big-hitting Sr. Terrell Smith, who has always managed to find his way on the field even though he is considered small.  Jr. Jered Bell may have passed his time.  They will likely need someone new here or a corner to move over especially if Orms has any injury problems.

-2013 help? Tedric Thompson could also factor in on special teams; Severson could end up playing here at some point, as well as possibly Philip Lindsay.

*MacIntyre believes that with the current state of offenses, especially in the Pac-12, you are playing 5 or 6 defensive backs more often than with only four, which is why he has hired two DB coaches.  This was one of the weakest areas for the Buffs last year, mainly because Greg Brown was so overwhelmed with trying to oversee the entire defense, that I don’t think he was able to be a good DB coach.

[Their overall depth in the secondary has been hurt as they have lost a bunch of DBs from the team the past two seasons, including Jermane Clark (just couldn’t handle it all), Wil Harlos (concussions), Vince Ewing (various injuries).]

My out-on-a-limb-with-the Death Star pointed-at-me opening day starting defensive lineup projection: Defensive Line: Uzo-Diribe/Tupou/Bonsu/Wilson; LB: Webb, Daigh, Washington; CB: Henderson, Wright; S: Mosley, Orms; (Nickel: Crawley).

Special Teams:  I am really excited that the team has a designated Special Teams Coach for the first time in…I don’t know how long.  This should give much more attention to the units and emphasizes their importance, which should lead to drastic improvement over the last seven or more years.

-Team MVP punter Jr. Darragh O’Neill returns, along with kicker Jr. Wil Oliver, who should both be four-year starters.  Justin Castor will be a senior backup, probably battling for kickoff duty.  Jr. DJ Willhelm will backup at punter.  Zack Grossnickle is graduating and leaving the program.  The Buffs should be looking to sign a really good kicker in 2014 or 2015.

-Long snapper Ryan Iverson returns and was incredibly one of their best coverage guys as well, fourth or fifth in special teams points and recovered the fumbled punt vs. Utah. He is backed up by local product Keegan Lamar and Trevor Carver.

-In addition to Iverson, CB Josh Moten played well on ceverage down the stretch.

-Speedy sophomores will open as the incumbent returners but with no guarantees on their jobs: Kenneth Crawley will get a shot as punt returner with Nelson Spruce possibly serving as the “sure-handed fair catch guy”; S Marques Moseley who had big returns in the last two games including the 100-yard TD, and RB Donta Abron will get the first look in the spring at kickoff return.  I would think WR Gerald Thomas would also be back in the mix, and that some freshmen will get a look in the fall, including Lindsay and some of the wideouts and DBs.

-2013 help? They also still need another boost of speed for coverage and return units and many of those will be filled with true freshmen who were recruited specifically for their speed-Awuzie, Thompson, Lindsay, Adkins, Ross, Dunston, Bobo, Severson, some of the LBs.