Buffs Finish Spring Practices, Focus on Spring Game
BOULDER-The University of Colorado football team finished its spring practices on Thursday and is now finishing up preparations for the spring game this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Folsom Field.
The coaching staff has been using the spring practices and scrimmages to test out different personnel combinations, let players compete and implement new philosophies. Going into the spring game everyone is just looking for the team to continue to improve.
"We're really looking to stop the run," senior cornerback Gardner McKay said. "We want to stop the pass too and really just shut everything down?we want to be a lock down defense. We have been talking about effort, determination and success. We're coming together as a team, we're looking to have no mistakes and give it our all on Saturday."
The defense isn't the only side of the ball that is looking to make plays on their counter part. The offense has looked good in the two spring scrimmages and they are looking to continue their success.
"We want to stay balanced with the run and the pass," sophomore wide receiver Scotty McKnight said. "We've been doing that in practice, and to be honest we've really had a great week of practice heading into the scrimmage so we are looking to keep that going. We just want to run the ball well and complete our passes. We're looking to get the ball into the end zone and bring the fans out of their seats."
With the graduation of Terrence Wheatley and the multiple offseason surgeries that Ben Burney has undergone, one of the more intriguing position battles has been at the cornerback position. Among the players vying for one of the two vacant starting cornerback spots has been McKay, and going into the scrimmage he knows what he is looking to do.
"I just want to keep doing what I've been doing," McKay said. "There have been a few balls thrown on me but no big plays. I don't want to have any mistakes, keep competing and give it my all every down."
One of the players McKay will be asked to cover is McKnight, both have had successful springs and they are both looking to keep progressing.
"Personally, the biggest thing I want to do is make zero mistakes," McKnight said. "I've been doing that so far, in both scrimmages. The biggest thing with spring ball is to improve and compete. I wouldn't mind having a few big plays on Saturday, but the main thing is to make no mistakes and to keep improving."
For the soon to be seniors, this is their last spring football and they appreciate what spring ball accomplishes, but some are looking forward to having a little extra time away from football with the end of the semester quickly approaching.
"In a way I'm excited that spring ball is ending, but in a way I'm not," McKay said. "It's my last spring ball at Colorado ever, but I am kind of looking forward to a little break. I'll still be working out and running and all that stuff so it won't be that big of a break. Football is fun for me, so anytime I get to strap it on and compete I see it as a blessing."
Notes
The scrimmage will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Folsom Field. Seven players will be held out of action due to various injuries, the seven are: Joel Adams, Ben Burney, Drew Hudgins, Brian Lockridge, Brandon Nicolas, Brett Smith and Ryan Walters.