Finally...Offensive Positional Outlook

[Update to offensive line.]
The University of Colorado football team followed a pathetic season by firing its coach and hiring a completely different personality and approach in Mike MacIntyre.  We fans now sit on the precipice of spring practices, wondering what the program will look like moving forward and who will emerge from a young group of players to lead this team.  I actually had this piece just about done before I went to the CU-AirForce men’s b-ball game the night the Embree news hit.  Needless to say, it had to be re-drafted after the new coaching staff was in place. 

The Buffs will actually return a relatively experienced group and should not have to rely on a ton of true freshman from the incoming class, although some will certainly play.  CU has a decent sized senior class of about 18, led by sure-fire captain LT LB Derrick Webb, in addition to S Parker Orms, DE Chidera Uzo-Diribe, OL Jack Harris, C Gus Handler.  Other senior contributors will include S Terrel Smith, LB Paul Vigo, TE Scott Fernandez, LS Ryan Iverson, RB Josh Ford, FB Alex Wood, possibly DT Nate Bonsu, plus K Justin Castor, WR Jarrod Darden, QB Jordan Webb and a few other walk-ons.

However, they will also have a huge group of important experienced junior starters including WR Paul Richardson (yes, he still has two years!) , CB Greg Henderson, LB Brady Daigh, offensive lineman Alex Lewis, not to mention a large group of experienced sophomores.  Last season, their freshmen also accounted for more starts – 57 – more than any other program in the nation, with guys like DT Josh Tupou, DBs Kenneth Crawley, Yuri Wright and Marques Mosley, RBs Christian Powell and Donta Abron, WR Gerald Thomas getting lots of experience.

However, keep in mind that MikeMac said that they will try guys out at different positions and we will probably see numerous switches.  There will likely be a few surprises when the final spring depth chart comes out (most likely on the lines, or between DB and RB/WR).

Of course, there is also speculation that at least a few guys will still opt out of the program after the March and April practices, especially since CU over signed.  MacIntyre also said that “a couple of players may have to medical” redshirt because of concussions.  He wouldn’t specify who, but said that Parker Orms was not one of them.  Christian Powell and Vincent Hobbs missed the Utah season finale with concussions.

Here is a position-by-position look at where the offensive roster stands and projects for next year. The players in bold are my picks for the most important to watch in the spring and make a difference next fall.  They will run a versatile offense, tailored to the personnel and somewhat to opponent.  Although they will use some Pistol formation to mix it up and keep defenses “honest”, if they don’t have the right guy, they won’t use as much of it. (David Fales threw the ball a lot more out of a traditional pocket set than he ran the ball out of the Pistol at San Jose St. last year.)  They have a relative amount of experience coming back, especially on the offensive line, but outside of P-Rich, there are no other true “locks” to start against csu.

QB:  In an ideal world, redshirt freshman Shane Dillon comes out and wins the quarterback battle in the spring hands down.  He has the size none of the rest of them do (6’6” 220), the strongest and maybe most accurate arm, is probably also the fastest and most mobile of the group, and the best suited to run some zone-option read from the spread formation. He supposedly was excellent running the scout team, getting to practice a lot as a spread QB in preparing for many of the opponents and also got to work a lot with WR Paul Richardson down the stretch after he was cleared for full practice.  Dillon was overheard commenting “Two weeks” to Embree as he passed him in the Dal Ward right before the Washington game and has no qualms talking about being the starter next year.  Dillon is ready physically to lead this team, and appears cocky enough to be a great QB if he can put together the mental side of it, which a Colorado QB has not been able to do consistently for a long time.

-The 2012 season showed us that none of last year’s trio (Nick Hirschman, Connor Wood or Jordan Webb) is the answer moving forward in Division 1, FBS, Pac-12 football.  None of them ever made you think that they could really be the “guy” except for the internet hyperbole.  All three have their obvious major shortcomings, specifically making really bad decisions under pressure, and hopefully we won’t really need to see any of these guys on the field.  Maybe they’ll get a fresh chance with a new staff and improve with some coaching, maybe one will bail after the spring, maybe all three will languish on the bench.

-Although Hirschman had by far the best game of any of them this season against Utah, he was also responsible for FOUR interceptions, all leading to Utah touchdowns, except the last which just ended the game.  Each of the picks were terrible decisions, either telegraphed, thrown directly into coverage, or both.   Hirschman will graduate in June and could technically do what Webb did, and transfer with two years of eligibility, but he said in December, “That hasn’t even crossed my mind.” I wonder if it has now.

-Wood has been a total bust, never seizing the opportunity that was basically handed to him last spring, and it is now clear why he never made it anywhere on Texas’ depth chart. 

-Likewise, I doubt that John Schrock or Stevie Joe Dorman (that’s our redshirt frosh while our opponents are fielding the likes of Brett Hundley, Marcus Mariota and Kevin Hogan, not to mention some guy named Johnny F. Manziel, from that same class) will be able to suddenly blossom into reliable players either.

-My guess is Dillon, Webb (remember, he practices really well) and maybe one other emerge as the leaders after the spring.

-2013 help? Sefo Liufau will be given the chance to compete in August, according to both Lindgren and MacIntyre, although we will see if he can really overtake anyone.  In all reality, though he likely redshirt.  He is supposedly the best athlete of the entire bunch, but if we have to rely on a true frosh at QB with five others on scholarship, the short-term could be rough.

RB/TB: The biggest revelation of this past season was probably running back Christian Powell making the switch from fullback to tailback and subsequently becoming the second leading CU freshman rusher of all time, behind only Lamont Warren and ahead of the likes of Rodney Stewart and Eric Bienemy. However, there is no guarantee that the new staff will utilize a back that big and Powell might be one of the concussion cases that could possibly redshirt.  Ironically, the guy Powell blocked for in high school, Donta Abron, became his backup and a very effective one at that.

-What type of back will the new coach want?  Sr. Josh Ford, Jr. Tony Jones and Sophs Malcolm Creer (should be fully recovered from knee surgery) and DD Goodson (too small?) all have shown their flashes, both good and bad, and may have lost their chance under the last group, but all will be given a new shot now.  There will be a lot of people pulling for Ford, as he has always dominated in scrimmages, and had some nice runs in games, but could not get on the field consistently. Redshirts Terrence Crowder (recovered from knee surgery) and the bigger Davien Payne will certainly get their chance as well.

-Someone from this group deserves to be in bold, but I am not sure who will emerge.

-2013 help? Philip Lindsay is recovering from knee surgery and may even lineup elsewhere. RB Michael Adkins is a wild card but likely redshirt just because of the logjam here (if he does, he should have two degrees for sure when he finishes five years).

FB:  Who knows if this position will even be utilized that much, depending on the direction of the offense.  Sr. Alex Wood, appears to be “starter” for now, or we could see Powell here, or either or both could switch to TE. Walk-on Jordan Murphy is also here or RB.  (Highlands Ranch standout and Buff legacy R-Fr. Clay Norgard has already made the switch back to defense).

TE:   While the TEs were not really a focal point at SJSU last year, or really in any Pistol offense, they are utilized; we’ll have to see how these guys fit the mold.  Jr. Kyle Slavin and So. Vincent Hobbs are hopefully ready to take the next step. Two redshirts will join them, Austin Ray, an all-around guy who will be hard to keep off the field, and Sean Irwin, who is more of a blocker and could even end up flanking his twin brother at a tackle position.  Sr. Scott Fernandez will still be a blocking TE in jumbo formations and the threat to bust a big play like his 71-yarder against Arizona. Could the FBs even end up here? 

-2013 help? Nope-MacIntyre deemed the unit stocked and didn’t even really bother to talk to Chaparral’s Mitch Parsons, who ended up at Vanderbilt.

WR: The return of Jr. Paul Richardson will be a huge boost to the entire offense and team, no matter who is leading it at QB.  The receiving corps was really the weakest link on the team last season, but their production should benefit greatly with just a little improvement from everyone else: the offensive line (who won’t have to block for so long-they gave up a lot of “coverage” sacks last season), the QBs (who will have someone to throw to), the RBs (won’t have the box stacked with 8 or 9 defenders) and even the defense (who shouldn’t have to be on the field so much if the offense can move the ball a little).  The competition for the slots behind P-Rich will be more wide open than the QB race, with the group looking drastically different and hopefully way faster than last season.

-Greyshirt Jeffery Thomas will begin the infusion of speed in the spring and is itching to play after having to sit out last season, after having been expected to contribute and maybe start, in order to get his shit together.

-So. Gerald Thomas should actually be more involved as was promised all of this past season.  His experience for game speed should help him.

-So. Nelson Spruce should only have to be a possession receiver, a role for which he is perfect, and not have to be the “guy”.

-Former “starter” Jr. Tyler McColluch could have a hard time getting on the field, although I have a feeling his size, “potential” and “experience” will keep him in the rotation early. I will say that he did make a few nice grabs in traffic in the last game, but also just didn’t bother to compete for a couple of balls that were near him, including one of the interceptions; he is generally so timid going after the ball that I think he will eventually disappear down the depth chart.

-Redshirt Jr. Keenan Canty has proven to be too small, not that great at route running and not fast enough. DaVaughn Thorton, who never found a home between WR or TE, saw the writing on the wall and is not bothering to try and come back, but Jarrod Darden, who never really got on the field will take one more free year of classes and a perpetually clean uniform.  [Both these last two were big receivers who were huge disappointments, and two of the many busts that leave us in the predicament we are in at WR.]

-2013 help? Three fast receivers from California join the team in the Fall-Bryce Bobo, Devin Ross and Elijah Dunston-and all will bring another infusion of speed next fall.  One of these three will probably make an impact immediately and at least one could end up redshirting.  TE Vincent Hobbs could move to WR unless he can put on some weight. 

-Someone else after P-Rich will need to earn bold status as well for this offense to be successful.

O-Line: William Gardner, a local coach and offensive line guy, was on the Buffalo Stampede podcast and talked about a few guys.  Incredibly, for better or for worse, this group returns a lot of experienced contributors, losing only LT David Bahktiari to the NFL draft and two seniors (Richter and Dannewitz) who did not really play that much. They are especially deep on the inside. With Bahtiari gone to the NFL, Jr. Alex Lewis is the one other guy on offense that would really surprise me if he didn’t earn a starting position (although he will NOT participate in spring practices); Lewis will likely eventually slide over from guard to LT, with Sophs. Alex Kelley or Jeromy Irwin at LG, Sr. Gus Handler or Jr. Daniel Munyer at center, Munyer or Jr. Jack Harris at RG and So. Stephane Nembot or possibly Harris at RT. Obviously, there is a lot of versatility as well. Gardner said Munyer was the best all around lineman at the end of last year.  He is excited to see how Nembot and J. Irwin develop.  
-Gardner talked very highly about Ed Caldwell, who walked on last year after suffering a knee injury his junior year and not being recruited much. Gardner said Caldwell could do anything in the weight room or on the field that Shane Callahan (4-star recruit to Auburn) could.  He is "explosive", athletic, has tremendous work ethic and will be second biggest lineman on roster.

-However, it will be a clean slate to start, a new staff and o-line coach to evaluate talent and a lot of bodies with at least some experience.  Without Lewis they will shuffle a lot in the spring to see who can play. In reality, the line could look very similar to last year, or it could look completely different.

-The Buffs have even more depth in the interior with C/Gs Jr. Kawai Crabb and So. Brad Cotner.

- On the outside they are not as deep, with only really So. Marc Mustoe waiting in the wings.

-2013 help? The Buffs got five new recruits plus one greyshirt Gerald Kough on the offensive line, and all will almost certainly redshirt unless they surprise off the charts in fall camp.  Gardner likes all these guys, especially Colin Sutton (who was overshadowed by a HS teammate).

My out-on-a-limb-with-the Death Star-pointed-at-me opening day starting offensive lineup projection: QB: Dillon; RB: Josh Ford; WRs: Richardson, Spruce, Jeff Thomas; TE: Hobbs; Offensive Line: LT Lewis-LG Jeromy Irwin-C Handler-RG Harris-RT Nembot.

Comments?  Predictions?

Defense coming soon!