Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Practice Report: Jeromy Irwin Healthy, Fields Standing Out
August 10, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
CU enters two-a-day portion of fall camp
BOULDER — Warm weather greeted the Colorado Buffaloes again for their first two-a-day session of fall camp Wednesday, but it didn't stop the Buffs from putting in more than 2½ hours of work in the morning practice.
Wednesday morning's temperatures hit 90 degrees by the end of the workout.
Head coach Mike MacIntyre said the Buffs would use the second practice of the day, an hour-long session in the evening in the indoor practice facility, to work on special teams and game situations (clock management, etc.).
The Buffs will have four two-a-day sessions in fall camp, with the others scheduled for Friday (Aug. 12), Monday (Aug. 15) and Wednesday (Aug. 17).
"We work a lot of heavy special teams in our second practice and a lot of situations more in our second practice," MacIntyre said. "Our first practice is more of an overall regular practice, so we take that time to work special teams execution and also work a lot of situations that happen in games."
Wednesday's first practice was in shells (shorts and shoulder pads), but the Buffs still got plenty of "thud" contact work in during their regular 11-on-11 drills that included what has become a daily dose of red zone work.
The drills usually involve some portions with the No. 1 defense squaring off with the No. 1 offense. It means some intense competition on both sides of the ball, as well as a chance for CU's offense to get a live glimpse at different defenses. It's also by no means "vanilla," as defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt uses the opportunity to work on a variety of blitzes and stunts.
"We have a good defense, and they give us a lot of looks," said CU co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini. "They bring a lot of pressure and we've got to be able to pick up that pressure and get the ball out and make plays."
IRWIN HEALTHY: If there was any doubt about the health of left tackle Jeromy Irwin heading into camp, the 6-foot-5, 300-pound junior is doing his best to dispel those questions after one week of camp.
Irwin is coming back from major knee surgery, the result of an injury suffered in the second game of the 2015 season. But while coaches and trainers are monitoring his progress closely, he hasn't missed a single repetition in any drill since camp began Aug. 4.
Firmly entrenched as the starter — he started 11 games as a sophomore in 2014 and two games last year before the injury — Irwin admits his repaired knee still feels "tight" on occasion. That, however, he said is to be expected, as the surgery entailed reconstructing his ACL and repairing the meniscus.
"But honestly, my knee's great," he said. "I'm 100 percent. My right leg actually gets more tired than my left leg because I worked so hard rehabbing my left left in the offseason. That's been a plus. I haven't missed any reps, I haven't been doing anything less. I've been doing everything — and even some extra — since mid-summer."
Irwin's bigger concern is getting back his "feel" for the game. It's been almost 11 months since he's taken snaps in a regular practice.
"I'd like to say it came back just like that, but I still have a lot of work to do," Irwin said. "It doesn't all come back that easy. Coming off an injury, you have to work on the mental stuff and the physical stuff, and now it's definitely been a lot more of the mental stuff. I've improved, but I've got a long ways to go."
The offensive line will be one of the most closely watched positions as camp unfolds. The Buffs have a wealth of returning experience, beginning with Irwin and center Alex Kelley, who has 25 career starts under his belt. But there's still plenty of competition at an area that needs some significant improvement over last season, when CU yielded a league-high 41 quarterback sacks — 18 more than 2014.
Whatever group emerges, Irwin will be seen as the anchor.
"It's coming along," Irwin said. "We're doing some good things. We've got guys who have game reps. They're older, and there's nothing like game reps. That's what gets you ready, and that's what's important. I think we're taking steps in the right direction, but we still have a ways to go as far as working as a five-man, one-man unit."
Earlier this summer, Irwin was selected by his teammates as one of five team captains. He's been a vocal leader when necessary on the field, and is also leading by example. But, he says, it's the attitude of the entire team thus far that is making a difference.
"We've got a little chip on our shoulder right now," Irwin said. "I see it as a player. We've got all these guys (seniors) that are leaving next year, and they don't want to go out without winning. There's no reason for us not to go out there with a chip on our shoulder, not to go out there with some swagger and prove to the conference that we can play in this league and win."
SOLID CAMP FOR FIELDS: Not that it's been a surprise by any means, but wide receiver Shay Fields is having a very good camp thus far.
Fields, who enters this season with 92 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns in his first two seasons, has been on the receiving end of a number of long balls, and is also running his short routes with precision and displaying great hands.
And, as a junior, he's also assuming more of a leadership role, offering words of encouragement and holding younger teammates accountable when necessary.
"I like what I'm seeing from Shay as far as leadership," wide receivers coach Chiaverini said earlier in camp. "He's a different guy than he was even in the spring. You can tell he's into it. He wants to lead."
Fields said the change is just part of his personality.
"That just comes with me," Fields said with a smile. "In the spring, I'm a little more lenient-type of guy. It's early, guys are getting used to the program. But when fall comes around, you blink and the season is here. When fall camp starts (he snaps his fingers) — you've gotta go."
With two very productive seasons already under his belt, Fields is expected to once again be a key part of CU's passing attack, particularly with Nelson Spruce gone.
"As a receiving corps, we can all do it," Fields said. "I feel we have a lot of great players. I think all of us have a chance to step into that role and catch a lot of balls. If it's me, so be it — but I know one of us will be able to do it."
PRACTICE TIDBITS: One theme of camp from the beginning has been attention to detail. Wednesday morning, MacIntyre reminded the entire team of how close the Buffs have been to winning more games the last two seasons, and how the difference has always been the details. "Little things make all the difference in the world," he said. "Everything matters. Can you hold yourselves accountable? That's going to be the difference." … That theme is also being delivered by the assistants. As camp gets ready to enter its second week, coaches will be keeping a close eye on individual drills to make sure players are still giving their best effort on every repetition. Offensive line coach Klayton Adams is a particular stickler during the individual work. "Perfect your craft," Adams tells his players regularly. "Find a way to make yourself better every day." …
Meanwhile, CU's receivers continue to stand out in 11-on-11 work and in individual drills. Wide receiver Devin Ross and tight end Sean Irwin both had beautiful fingertip grabs in the morning session on passes from Sefo Liufau. … Redshirt freshman quarterback Steven Montez continues to show a strong and accurate arm. … Defensive back Chidobe Awuzie had his third interception in two days, making a beautiful break on a ball and getting to it a split second ahead of the receiver. … True freshmen Tony Julmisse, Beau Bisharat, Johnny Huntley III, Derrion Rakestraw and Akil Jones all produced good plays Wednesday. … The best interception of the session may have been one produced by cornerback Isaiah Oliver, who ran step-for-step with receiver Kabion Ento on a long ball, then made a leaping grab on the run at the last second. Oliver then followed that with a nice diving knockdown in the end zone. … The Buffs' defensive line continues to improve at getting pressure on the quarterback, and linebackers Derek McCartney and Jimmie Gilbert are showing every sign of picking up where they left off last year, when they combined for 11 quarterback sacks. … Inside linebackers Kenneth Olugbode and Rick Gamboa both have had good camps, particularly in red zone and goal-line situations.
SCHEDULE: The Buffs will be back in full pads for one practice on Thursday and will have two practices in shells on Friday. Saturday, they're scheduled to conduct a scrimmage during practice in Folsom Field. The workout, open to the public, will begin at 9:05 a.m.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
