BOULDER - Get a grip, Buffs.
Ron Collins' priority message this spring to Colorado's defense couldn't be any simpler. CU's defensive coordinator wants his unit's tackling to be head, shoulders, arms and hands above what it was in 2009, when the Buffs allowed 53 plays of 20 or more yards and 15 of 40-plus yards.
Not all of those "gashers" can be blamed on shoddy tackling, but cornerback Jalil Brown, a senior-to-be, has no trouble remembering a handful of '09 games in which groping for ball carriers proved a poor substitute for fundamentally sound tackling.
"West Virginia - that (game) pops out right away," Brown said. "We had too many misses on Noel Devine. He's a great back, I'll give that to him. But as a Division I team trying to make a bowl game, we can't allow any back to get that many yards and us to have that many missed tackles."
Added senior-to-be B.J. Beatty, a senior-to-be: "You could go down the list (of games). There are big plays here and there that had missed tackles."
The elusive Devine turned in one of his better career games in the Mountaineers' 35-24 win; his 220 yards rushing included touchdown runs of 77 and 56 yards.
"He's a great player," Brown said. "But I feel like I'm a great player, too. So I don't want to miss any tackles."
That's a goal he shares with - or perhaps it starts with - Collins. For CU's defensive players, winter conditioning work was geared toward making a significant improvement in bring down ball carriers.
"We need to be a much better tackling team; that's a big emphasis for us (this spring)," Collins said. "We've said ever since we've been in here that we've got to be able to stop the run. But the last couple of years, we've not been able to do that, for a variety of reasons. That's a big thing for us, but a part of that is tackling."
Improvement comes through heightened emphasis and on-field execution, and Collins said the emphasis will be "by far greater" this spring than ever.
"They are going to be living this every day, we'll be harping on it every day," he said. "They are going to be working on contact drills every day (in pads) this spring. We're going to seriously force the issue with these guys to become good tacklers - understand angles, where their help is . . . things they need to know to be good tacklers.
"We've always had a lot of contact in our practices, we really have. But I think it's still teaching; you don't just say because a kid is a good athlete he's going to be a good tackler. It still comes down to you spending time with them and teaching them."
Tackling going to the top of the to-do list comes at a good time; CU loses three of its top four tacklers from 2009, including leader Cha'pelle Brown (96) and runnerup Jeff Smart (93).
Brown, credited with 66 total tackles last season, knew tackling would be heavily emphasized this spring.
"The first thing we did when we came to our team (defensive) meeting was show film of the big plays and missed tackles," he said. "It was something like 80 - a crazy number.
"The first practice we had, it was sideline drills - tackling. I busted my lip . . . a guy came and head-butted me and I had to get stitches. When we get on the pads, it'll show up in less missed tackles. I'm excited for that."
Beatty, who totaled 30 tackles in '09, said during daily off-season running defensive players concentrated "on the footwork involved in wrapping up, in finishing through - all the little details that will help us in tackling. I think that's going to help us improve in general."
High school players aren't necessarily lacking in tackling skills when they reach the next level, said Collins. Still, he pointed out that changes at the college level in players' size, speed and strength dictate changes in fundamentals.
"The angles taken in high school need to change in college, because you're playing against some of the best athletes in the country in the Big 12," he said. "It's not like high school."
Added Brown: "Technique definitely stands out. We looked on film, and a lot of guys will run to the point of contact and stop instead of running through. That's the big emphasis now, and I think that'll help us out a lot.
"Make contact and continue to move instead of making contact and trying to get him down right there. The running backs and receivers, they're coming full speed forward. When you make contact, they're running through that point."
Aside from improving their tackling, Collins wants the Buffs defense to produce more turnovers (25 last season; 16 recovered fumbles, 9 interceptions), get better in pass defense efficiency (eighth in the Big 12 Conference) and pressuring the quarterback (ninth in the Big 12 in QB sacks).
"We didn't do a bad job on turnovers last year, (but) we need more interceptions," Collins said. "We'd like to get our sack numbers up (29 in '09) and we'd like more interceptions. Nine is a pretty low number for that area. We felt like the interceptions turned out to be more of a factor in games than the fumble recoveries - for whatever reason."
Collins has one new defensive staffer this season - secondary coach Ashley Ambrose, who succeeds Greg Brown (now at Arizona). The transition, said Collins, "has been very smooth so far. Ashley is doing a great job. Plus, he's played in a lot of different systems. He's very knowledgeable about football.
"Some people can't translate that into teaching and coaching, but Ashley has that knack that allows him to do that. He understands and knows football and easily translates that into the coaching aspect. It's been awesome to have him here."
Redshirt freshmen that Collins is anxious to scrutinize as spring drills unfold include linebackers Liloa Nobriga and Derrick Webb and defensive backs Deji Olatoye, Paul Vigo (2008 grayshirt) and Parker Orms. Athleticism makes January enrollee Josh Moten, who will play cornerback, an intriguing prospect.
The Buffs' defensive front at times was among the league's youngest last season, with true freshmen Nate Bonsu, Forrest West and Nick Kasa all getting significant experience. Kasa's recovery from a knee injury and mononucleosis allows him to be a full participant this spring, but Bonsu is out after undergoing knee surgery earlier this winter.
Returning squad members who could benefit from solid spring performances include DBs Travis Sandersfeld, Arthur Jaffee and Ray Polk; LBs Jon Major and Brandon Gouin, and DL Eugene Goree and Conrad Obi.
"This is the time of year they get a chance to get out there and learn what we're doing, prove themselves and develop," Collins said. "All those guys who redshirted and/or played sparingly have the opportunity to step up, improve their game and prove they belong on the field."
BUFF BITS: Offensive lineman Ryan Miller is out for the remainder of spring drills after breaking the plate in his right forearm and having to undergo surgery to have it repaired. "You'd love to have him get some spring 'reps,' but . . . we've got a lot of guys," coach Dan Hawkins said. "You've got guys like Eric Richter (junior college transfer) and we're trying to get Max (Tuioti-Mariner) back in the equation, so the blessing of the whole thing is that other guys get more 'reps.' Ryan still needs to improve and can, but getting those other guys some more pops and seeing where they shake out in the whole mix is a pretty good deal." Hawkins said the plate wasn't similar to that inserted in former cornerback Terrence Wheatley's wrist: "Ryan's is probably a little less complicated than 'T-Wheat's.'" . . . . The Buffs are practicing with officials - a move designed to help them reduce penalties. Plus, Hawkins joked, "I think the officials need practice getting yelled at." Hawkins said reducing penalties involves confidence and experience . . . . Of safety Patrick Mahnke's look at linebacker, Hawkins said he wasn't sure if the move would be permanent: "We'll see how he does when we get in pads. His body type and speed . . . probably lends more to him playing more there in a maybe in a nickel spot right outside the box." . . . . The Buffs will be in full pads for the first time on Thursday.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
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