BUFFS 'D' SHINES IN FOLSOM FIELD SCRIMMAGE
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BOULDER - Led by a strong defensive effort, the University of Colorado football team conducted a 123-play scrimmage in Folsom Field Saturday morning prompting interim head coach Brian Cabral to praise the Buffs' overall approach and energy in the second major scrum of the spring.
"It was a good go today," Cabral stated after the session. "Our effort and attitude was really good. The work was good and they worked hard. I liked what we came out with."
With several key wide receivers and starting tailback Brian Calhoun (knee) still sidelined by injury, Cabral acknowledged that CU's offense was hampered during the day. Knowing this and taking full advantage, the Buffs' security squad jumped out to a quick start and consistently dominated throughout.
As CU worked its respective depth units against one another, the defense did not allow a score during the first six possessions that mixed drives between the first and second teams. However, the offense would eventually get on the board when sophomore Mason Crosby split the uprights with a 35-yard field goal. But even after that, the defense continued its stronghold and kept the offense at bay.
"On offense we were limited throwing the ball because we've got so many injuries at receiver," Cabral noted. "We had to stay out of our three-receiver sets. That forced us to really focus on running the ball. The offense was limited, but it isn't odd to see the defense perform better at this point early in the spring."
For the second scrimmage in a row, the play of the linebackers highlighted the session, as junior Brian Iwuh and sophomore Thaddaeus Washington tallied strong outings. Washington finished with eight tackles (five solo), two tackles for loss, one sack, three third down stops and an interception, while Iwuh posted six total stuffs, one sack, three third stops and one pass deflection.
In front of the talented ?backer duo, senior tackle Matt McChesney and junior college transfer Abraham Wright anchored their lines by wreaking havoc in the backfield. McChesney concluded with a team-high nine tackles (five solo), one sack, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. The sophomore Wright had three tackles, two sacks for 18 yards and one hurry.
"I felt we played with effort and flew around the ball," defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz said. "I like the attitude and spirit in our developing. I like a lot of things that I saw, and I think we have something to build off of."
Cabral agreed, as he noted that his players are enjoying the new 4-3 defensive scheme and quickly learning the ropes.
"I like the fact that we're playing more zone and getting good at it," he said. "I think the defense is doing well. More importantly, I think our players think they are doing well, and they feel good about the defense."
But still, while the defense continued to shine, Cabral and offensive coordinator Shawn Watson stressed that the offense is making big strides, too. Praising their development and effort even in the midst of an injury bug, Watson feels that his unit is at a higher point now than it was one year ago.
"I am really pleased with the way our players are coming along," Watson stated. "By no stretch of the imagination are we a finished product. But, one thing we are doing now that you can't teach is that we are playing hard and fast. That is something we didn't have last year. I wish we were here at this time last year because that would have been awesome."
"Offensively, we are finding some depth at positions and getting down our timing," said quarterback Joel Klatt, who finished 17-of-23 for 106 yards and one interception. "Once we do that we'll be a heck of a ball club. Often, I think we are further along than we were at the end of the fall."
Scrimmage Notes: With wideouts Blake Mackey (lower leg), Tyler Littlehales (back) and Stephone Robinson (hamstring) nursing injury, senior Mike Duren stepped up and led CU with eight catches for 61 yards. Watson applauded the play of Duren, as well as sophomore quarterback James Cox, who Watson said has "really separated himself in the battle for No. 2" quarterback. Added Watson on Cox, who completed 7-of-12 passes for 52 yards: "He is really playing well and is just a different player this year. ... Junior defensive end McKenzie Tilmon (shoulder sprain) suffered the only injury of the scrimmage. ... Cabral announced that redshirt freshman Joe Sanders has moved from tight end to middle linebacker.
Scoring Summary
Drive 6?-Crosby 35 FG
Drive 7?-Eberhart 52 FG
Drive 14?-Eberly 20 FG
Drive 15?-Crosby 25 FG
Drive 16?-Caesar 3 run (Eberhart kick)
Drive 17?-Purify 9 run (Crosby kick)
Drive 18?-Eberly 40 FG
Drive 20?-Caesar 3 run (No PAT kick)
4th & Goal Drills:
Drive 21?-Purify 3 run (No PAT kick)
Drive 22?-Crawford 3 run (No PAT kick)
Time?1:50
Rushing Att. Yards Avg. TD Long
Bobby Purify 19 52 2.7 0 9t
Brandon Caesar 11 42 3.8 0 8
Isaiah Crawford 12 34 2.8 0 8
Lawrence Vickers 8 27 3.4 0 15
Daniel Jolly 3 13 4.3 0 10
Joel Klatt 2 8 4.0 0 5
Bernard Jackson 2 3 1.5 0 6
Totals 57 179 3.1 0 15
(Quarterback Sacks 5 -32)
Passing Att-Com-Int Pct. Yards TD Long Sacked
Joel Klatt 23-17-1 73.9 106 0 16 3/23
Bernard Jackson 8- 4-0 50.0 53 0 43 1/ 8
James Cox 12- 7-0 58.3 52 0 20 0/ 0
Brian White 4- 3-0 75.0 29 0 14 1/ 1
Erik Greenberg 6- 3-0 50.0 11 0 7 0/ 0
Totals 53-34-1 64.2 251 0 43 5/32
Receiving No. Yards Avg. TD Long
Mike Duren 8 61 7.6 0 16
Jesse Wallace 4 26 6.5 0 10
Ron Monteilh 4 18 4.5 0 6
Bobby Purify 4 12 3.0 0 6
Nick Holz 3 53 17.7 0 43
Marcus Gonzales 3 29 9.7 0 14
Quinn Sypniewski 3 12 4.0 0 7
Evan Judge 2 24 12.0 0 20
Lawrence Vickers 2 16 8.0 0 11
Isaiah Crawford 1 0 0.0 0 0
Totals 34 251 7.4 0 43
Punt Returns No. Yards Avg. TD Long
Mike Duren 2 40 20.0 0 40
Kickoff Returns
None
Interception Returns No. Yards Avg. TD Long
Thaddaeus Washington 1 16 16.0 0 16
Placekicking PAT FG-FGA Pct. (distances)
Mason Crosby 1-1 2-3 1.000 50wl, 35, 25
J.T. Eberly 0-0 2-2 .000 20, 40
Kevin Eberhart 1-1 1-1 1.000 52
(l?wide left; r?wide right; s?short; b?blocked)
Punting No. Yards Avg. Long Blk
John Torp 2 87 43.5 44 0
J.P. Heaton 1 47 47.0 47 1
Tackles UT AT?TOT TFL QBS 3DS
Matt McChesney 5 4? 9 2- 9 1- 6
Thaddaeus Washington 5 3? 8 2- 9 1- 7 3
Jason Ackermann 4 4? 8 1- 1 1
Brian Iwuh 5 1? 6 1- 1 1- 1 3
Dominique Brooks 3 3- 6 1- 2
Tyrone Henderson 2 4- 6
Gerett Burl 4 1- 5
Akarika Dawn 4 1? 5 1
Vance Washington 4 0? 4 1
Tom Hubbard 4 0? 4
Chad Cusworth 3 1? 4 1- 3
Lorenzo Sims 3 1? 4 2
Alex Ligon 2 2? 4
Sammy Joseph 2 2? 4
Chadd Evans 1 3? 4 1- 3
Marcus Jones 1 3? 4
Chris Russell 3 0? 3 1
Abraham Wright 2 1? 3 2-18 2-18 1
James Garee 2 1? 3 1- 1
Vaka Manupuna 1 2? 3 1- 3 1
John Martin 1 1? 2 1
McKenzie Tilmon 1 1? 2
Ben Carpenter 0 2? 2
Joe Sanders 1 0? 1
Nick Clement 0 1? 1
J.J. Billingsley 0 0? 0 1
FUMBLE RECOVERIES (0).
FORCED FUMBLES (0).
PASSES BROKEN UP (6)? Billingsley, Burl, Iwuh, Russell,
T.Washington, V.Washington.
HURRIES (8)?Garee 2, McChesney 2, Barrett, Evans,
Manupuna, Wright.