Brooks: Tuesday Tidbits
November 15, 2016 | Football, B.G. Brooks
Moeller says Buffs’ focus won’t let final two games’ magnitude faze them
UNCHARTED TERRITORY: For the past decade or so, November hasn't been a month to remember in Colorado football. Forgettable though? Oh, yes. But times have changed – have they ever.
The final two games of the 2016 regular season find the No. 12 Buffaloes atop the Pac-12 South Division, with both hands firmly grasping their destiny.
The assignment couldn't be any simpler yet still any more challenging: Defeat No. 20 Washington State on Saturday at Folsom Field and No. 11 Utah the following Saturday, also at Folsom, and CU wins the South and advances to the Pac-12 championship game.
Can you say December to remember?
The Buffs already have raised eyebrows nationally with their 8-2 overall record and steady climb in the weekly polls. But inside their locker room there's steadiness and resolve, not jaw-dropping surprise.
"It's easy to see where we could get carried away with the different stories this season," junior safety Ryan Moeller said Tuesday. "I think that our coaches have done a good job of humbling us and I definitely don't see any problems with anyone around. I don't see people getting carried away personally or in any aspect. So personally I think that everything's just going on as it would as if we've been here before."
Even though he and his teammates haven't experienced this kind of heady environment in November, Moeller contended, "It's business as usual for us – kind of a theme I've felt with the team is a sort of swagger. We aren't getting carried away, but we have a certain swagger. You can see it and feel it in how we're kind of carrying ourselves around.Â
"When you go through a couple of seasons where you're just getting worked over by everybody, you can feel it. That feels like there's a big cloud over you, and that cloud is gone now. Everyone is happy and they want to celebrate. But we haven't done anything just yet.  We still have the rest of the season to play, and then the postseason as well. I would say that the swagger and the jump in our step is a big thing that's helped kind of keep us going and not letting us settle."
Quarterback Sefo Liufau put it this way: "We've done something, but I don't think we've done anything really. I think that a lot of people haven't had high expectations for us this year. But in this building and in the locker we have very high goals for ourselves. We've done very well up to this point, even though we wish we could have done better.Â
"But 8-2 is a good spot to be sitting at and we've got two very important games and one very good opponent coming in this week in WSU. So we've got to do everything in our power to be prepared to go out there and basically play for a Pac-12 championship. Basically everything is in our hands right now and if we let it go who knows what will happen."
Following CU's 49-24 win at Arizona last Saturday, Buffs coach Mike MacIntyre said it was time for his players to move to the next realm – from being good to great. That, said Moeller, "definitely resonated with me along with the entire defense. I would say that it was felt by the whole team. I can feel that practice is being taken up another notch. And you can feel it from the coaches too; they say that they're here to push us and make us do the things we don't want to do, and that's right."
In seasons past in mid-November, when the Buffs were playing solely for pride or as spoilers, Moeller said he could sense teammates "going through the motions a little bit" and the coaches having to "put you in place and light a fire under your rear end to get you going again."
This season the fire hasn't gone out. MacIntyre believes his post-Arizona challenge to achieve greatness has taken hold.
"I do look into their eyes and I see their practice effort," he said. "When you're talking to them as a team, they're looking at you, they're engaged they understand what's going on. You've worked this hard, you just need to push the extra step. That's not a pressure situation at all; just keep working and doing what you're doing and enjoy it. Really enjoy the moment. Then it's not an overwhelming feeling for you and our guys are excited about it."
MAC THE FIRST PAYS A VISIT: Former Buffs coach Bill McCartney attended Tuesday's practice to witness his grandson, Derek, receive a trophy as a member of the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
After that presentation was made, MacIntyre asked Bill McCartney to briefly address the team. Of course, McCartney obliged.
Standing in front of the post-practice huddle, he asked the Buffs' seniors and juniors to stand, then told the entire team: "Everything rises and falls with leadership."
What followed was a brief, pointed and powerful message. Vintage Mac.
LOOK TO THE SKIES (AND THE GROUND): Washington State leads the Pac-12 in passing offense (385.5 yards a game) and QB Luke Falk is the league's top passer (361.0 yards a game, 33 TDs/6 INT) and total offense leader (356.2 yards a game).
The Cougars' ground game ranks No. 11 in the conference (132.0 yards a game) but it can't be ignored. WSU's offense might be statistically unbalanced but MacIntyre and CU's defenders can't focus solely on Mike Leach's Air Raid offense.
"Washington State's known for the Air Raid, and they like to move things around a little bit trying to get you caught off guard," Moeller said. "You really have to start there, figuring out the different steps and different areas of where we think they're going to attack us. And then it all comes down to communication out there for us."
MacIntyre said Falk "never runs" but "he can sit in the pocket like Tom Brady and pick you apart. It seems like he has the calmness."
What the Cougars do on the ground, however, is effectively run stretch plays to the perimeter. "And their running backs hit it well," MacIntyre said, adding that defending the stretch play "depends on what front we're in and what hole they're going to . . . our guys will need to know where to fit it up. So hopefully we'll be stout enough against the run to eliminate that."
A bigger issue for CU's defense will be sure tackling "in space." WSU features three of the Pac-12's top four receivers – Gabe Marks (No. 2, 6.8 receptions a game, 12 TDs); Tavares Martin Jr. (No. 3, 5.4 receptions a game, 7 TDs); No. 4 River Cracraft, 5.3 receptions a game, 5 TDs).
All are capable of making significant yards after the catch.
"We're going to have to tackle in space," MacIntyre said. "They spread you out horizontally. And how we tackle in space will be a big key in how we will be able to slow down their offense."
Rest assured that Falk, a 6-4, 216-pound redshirt junior, has the Buffs defense's attention.
"He's a very talented quarterback and he really knows their system," Moeller said. "He knows where he's looking first as far as his progression goes. He definitely can make split second decisions if it isn't there, whether to move out of it or to do his checks, whatever he needs to do there."
HEADS YOU WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE: The Buffs are 9-1 in winning pregame coin tosses this season. Calling heads or tails falls to Liufau, who on all but one occasion has taken this philosophy to midfield for the coin toss: "Tails never fails."
He said the lone time he called heads he was coerced by Daniel Daprato, director of quality control/offense. "He talked me out of it . . . his fault," Liufau said. "Tails never fails – that's the moral of the story."
On those nine occasions when they've won the coin toss, the Buffs have deferred to receiving until the second half. MacIntyre said that decision isn't set in stone: "We talk about it before every game, what we want to do. Sometimes it depends on the wind and things like that. But so far that's worked out the best for us."
NOTEWORTHY: MacIntyre noted that senior Shane Callahan stepped up admirably last weekend in subbing for left tackle Jeromy Irwin and has epitomized a team-first attitude. "I told Shane in front of the whole team how proud I am of him," MacIntyre said. "He was able to start the other day and played really well. He never said boo he just worked hard and had a great team attitude. He's an example that's what you have to have for you to have a chance to win championships . . . if he had been sulking the last eight weeks he wouldn't have played well and that would have hurt us. He has unbelievable parents and he is an unbelievable young man and I couldn't tell you how proud I am of him." . . . . CU's offensive line expects to have tackles Jeromy Irwin (left) and Sam Kronshage (right) back on Saturday. The status of guard Gerrad Kough remains uncertain, but Jonathan Huckins and Sully Wiefels have proved to be capable replacements . . . . Liufau is accustomed to the spotlight, but at least two of his teammates aren't. Asked to name a couple of unsung heroes on this team, Liufau singled out reserve junior cornerback Andrew Bergner, a transfer from Arizona State, for the scout team "looks" he offers Liufau and his receivers, and starting freshman guard Tim Lynott Jr., for his blocking in the passing/running game in an unheralded position.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
The final two games of the 2016 regular season find the No. 12 Buffaloes atop the Pac-12 South Division, with both hands firmly grasping their destiny.
The assignment couldn't be any simpler yet still any more challenging: Defeat No. 20 Washington State on Saturday at Folsom Field and No. 11 Utah the following Saturday, also at Folsom, and CU wins the South and advances to the Pac-12 championship game.
Can you say December to remember?
The Buffs already have raised eyebrows nationally with their 8-2 overall record and steady climb in the weekly polls. But inside their locker room there's steadiness and resolve, not jaw-dropping surprise.
"It's easy to see where we could get carried away with the different stories this season," junior safety Ryan Moeller said Tuesday. "I think that our coaches have done a good job of humbling us and I definitely don't see any problems with anyone around. I don't see people getting carried away personally or in any aspect. So personally I think that everything's just going on as it would as if we've been here before."
Even though he and his teammates haven't experienced this kind of heady environment in November, Moeller contended, "It's business as usual for us – kind of a theme I've felt with the team is a sort of swagger. We aren't getting carried away, but we have a certain swagger. You can see it and feel it in how we're kind of carrying ourselves around.Â
"When you go through a couple of seasons where you're just getting worked over by everybody, you can feel it. That feels like there's a big cloud over you, and that cloud is gone now. Everyone is happy and they want to celebrate. But we haven't done anything just yet.  We still have the rest of the season to play, and then the postseason as well. I would say that the swagger and the jump in our step is a big thing that's helped kind of keep us going and not letting us settle."
Quarterback Sefo Liufau put it this way: "We've done something, but I don't think we've done anything really. I think that a lot of people haven't had high expectations for us this year. But in this building and in the locker we have very high goals for ourselves. We've done very well up to this point, even though we wish we could have done better.Â
"But 8-2 is a good spot to be sitting at and we've got two very important games and one very good opponent coming in this week in WSU. So we've got to do everything in our power to be prepared to go out there and basically play for a Pac-12 championship. Basically everything is in our hands right now and if we let it go who knows what will happen."
Following CU's 49-24 win at Arizona last Saturday, Buffs coach Mike MacIntyre said it was time for his players to move to the next realm – from being good to great. That, said Moeller, "definitely resonated with me along with the entire defense. I would say that it was felt by the whole team. I can feel that practice is being taken up another notch. And you can feel it from the coaches too; they say that they're here to push us and make us do the things we don't want to do, and that's right."
In seasons past in mid-November, when the Buffs were playing solely for pride or as spoilers, Moeller said he could sense teammates "going through the motions a little bit" and the coaches having to "put you in place and light a fire under your rear end to get you going again."
This season the fire hasn't gone out. MacIntyre believes his post-Arizona challenge to achieve greatness has taken hold.
"I do look into their eyes and I see their practice effort," he said. "When you're talking to them as a team, they're looking at you, they're engaged they understand what's going on. You've worked this hard, you just need to push the extra step. That's not a pressure situation at all; just keep working and doing what you're doing and enjoy it. Really enjoy the moment. Then it's not an overwhelming feeling for you and our guys are excited about it."
MAC THE FIRST PAYS A VISIT: Former Buffs coach Bill McCartney attended Tuesday's practice to witness his grandson, Derek, receive a trophy as a member of the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
After that presentation was made, MacIntyre asked Bill McCartney to briefly address the team. Of course, McCartney obliged.
Standing in front of the post-practice huddle, he asked the Buffs' seniors and juniors to stand, then told the entire team: "Everything rises and falls with leadership."
What followed was a brief, pointed and powerful message. Vintage Mac.
LOOK TO THE SKIES (AND THE GROUND): Washington State leads the Pac-12 in passing offense (385.5 yards a game) and QB Luke Falk is the league's top passer (361.0 yards a game, 33 TDs/6 INT) and total offense leader (356.2 yards a game).
The Cougars' ground game ranks No. 11 in the conference (132.0 yards a game) but it can't be ignored. WSU's offense might be statistically unbalanced but MacIntyre and CU's defenders can't focus solely on Mike Leach's Air Raid offense.
"Washington State's known for the Air Raid, and they like to move things around a little bit trying to get you caught off guard," Moeller said. "You really have to start there, figuring out the different steps and different areas of where we think they're going to attack us. And then it all comes down to communication out there for us."
MacIntyre said Falk "never runs" but "he can sit in the pocket like Tom Brady and pick you apart. It seems like he has the calmness."
What the Cougars do on the ground, however, is effectively run stretch plays to the perimeter. "And their running backs hit it well," MacIntyre said, adding that defending the stretch play "depends on what front we're in and what hole they're going to . . . our guys will need to know where to fit it up. So hopefully we'll be stout enough against the run to eliminate that."
A bigger issue for CU's defense will be sure tackling "in space." WSU features three of the Pac-12's top four receivers – Gabe Marks (No. 2, 6.8 receptions a game, 12 TDs); Tavares Martin Jr. (No. 3, 5.4 receptions a game, 7 TDs); No. 4 River Cracraft, 5.3 receptions a game, 5 TDs).
All are capable of making significant yards after the catch.
"We're going to have to tackle in space," MacIntyre said. "They spread you out horizontally. And how we tackle in space will be a big key in how we will be able to slow down their offense."
Rest assured that Falk, a 6-4, 216-pound redshirt junior, has the Buffs defense's attention.
"He's a very talented quarterback and he really knows their system," Moeller said. "He knows where he's looking first as far as his progression goes. He definitely can make split second decisions if it isn't there, whether to move out of it or to do his checks, whatever he needs to do there."
HEADS YOU WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE: The Buffs are 9-1 in winning pregame coin tosses this season. Calling heads or tails falls to Liufau, who on all but one occasion has taken this philosophy to midfield for the coin toss: "Tails never fails."
He said the lone time he called heads he was coerced by Daniel Daprato, director of quality control/offense. "He talked me out of it . . . his fault," Liufau said. "Tails never fails – that's the moral of the story."
On those nine occasions when they've won the coin toss, the Buffs have deferred to receiving until the second half. MacIntyre said that decision isn't set in stone: "We talk about it before every game, what we want to do. Sometimes it depends on the wind and things like that. But so far that's worked out the best for us."
NOTEWORTHY: MacIntyre noted that senior Shane Callahan stepped up admirably last weekend in subbing for left tackle Jeromy Irwin and has epitomized a team-first attitude. "I told Shane in front of the whole team how proud I am of him," MacIntyre said. "He was able to start the other day and played really well. He never said boo he just worked hard and had a great team attitude. He's an example that's what you have to have for you to have a chance to win championships . . . if he had been sulking the last eight weeks he wouldn't have played well and that would have hurt us. He has unbelievable parents and he is an unbelievable young man and I couldn't tell you how proud I am of him." . . . . CU's offensive line expects to have tackles Jeromy Irwin (left) and Sam Kronshage (right) back on Saturday. The status of guard Gerrad Kough remains uncertain, but Jonathan Huckins and Sully Wiefels have proved to be capable replacements . . . . Liufau is accustomed to the spotlight, but at least two of his teammates aren't. Asked to name a couple of unsung heroes on this team, Liufau singled out reserve junior cornerback Andrew Bergner, a transfer from Arizona State, for the scout team "looks" he offers Liufau and his receivers, and starting freshman guard Tim Lynott Jr., for his blocking in the passing/running game in an unheralded position.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
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