Practice Report: Buffs Put On Pads; Thompson, Winfree Making Plays
August 06, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
CU wraps up third day of fall camp
BOULDER — Cool temperatures greeted the Colorado Buffaloes for their third straight day of fall camp on Saturday, as the Buffs hit the field for the first time in pads.
The Buffs weren't in full pads (that won't come until Tuesday) but they were in "shells" — shoulder pads and helmets — meaning they got their first taste of contact. Head coach Mike MacIntyre said he liked what he saw, and it was obvious that players were excited to actually engage in some contact.
"It was a great day," MacIntyre said. "They flew around. I thought the guys had a good practice in pads. I saw energy throughout the whole thing and I saw guys getting after it and competing."
Saturday's practice lasted roughly three hours, with plenty of individual drills as well as 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 sessions. For the third straight day, the Buffs got some red zone work in, and also began to incorporate some two-minute drills into their workload.
"We need to make sure we have the guys prepared, understanding defensively and offensively how you play in the red zone, your routes, the things that are going on, that type of thing," MacIntyre said.
The Buffs are also getting plenty of work on ball security. MacIntyre's teams have always been among the conference leaders in fewest fumbles, and it's obviously something he wants to continue.
Defensively, the Buffs are also putting in plenty of work on producing takeaways. CU last year improved its takeaway total from 14 to 22 (moving from 12th in the conference to fifth), but the improvement all came via interceptions, as the Buffs went from three interceptions in 2014 to 11 in 2015. Fumble recoveries remained the same, with eight each season.
This year, they'd like to increase that interception total again while also force a few more fumbles.
TO THE NINES: Two players who have been making plays since the opening practice are wide receiver Juwann Winfree and strong safety Tedric Thompson — and both wear No. 9.
Winfree, a junior college transfer, has caught virtually everything thrown his way, and had a beautiful catch on a long Sefo Liufau pass for a touchdown Saturday in 7-on-7 drills. Wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini has already said Winfree has the chance to be "a star."
"He's working hard, he's got really good footwork and good ball skills," Chiaverini said.
The 6-3, 208-pound Winfree, who has already seemed to develop a connection with Liufau, also caught MacIntyre's eye Saturday.
"Juwann had a good day today," MacIntyre said. "As he keeps getting used to everything, he'll do well. He catches the ball really easily."
While nobody is surprised, Thompson is also consistently making plays. The Buffs senior, a third-team preseason all-conference pick by two publications, has been a force in both 11-on-11 drills as well as one-on-one situations. Thompson has a knack for always being around the ball and it was especially evident Saturday.
"He made a bunch of really good plays today," MacIntyre said. "I think he's an all-Pac-12 caliber player. I expect him to make plays like he does."
D-LINE SHUFFLE: Defensive lineman Samson Kafovalu, who is seeing most of his playing time at defensive end, is also getting some time at nose tackle. The 6-4, 285-pound senior is having a strong camp thus far, and it's clear that defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt wants to develop as much depth as possible up front in order to keep players as fresh as possible.
Right now, the Buffs have at least six players who could see significant time up front. That includes Josh Tupou, Jordan Carrell and Leo Jackson III — all penciled in atop the opening camp depth chart — as well as Kafovalu, Jase Franke and Timothy Coleman.
"We have to get something out of all them," Leavitt said. "We need them all to be able to give us something without taking a step back when they're in there."
PRACTICE TIDBITS: Redshirt freshman QB Steven Montez threw a beautiful strike to freshman wide receiver Johnny Huntley III in the back of the end zone in red zone drills. … Along with already hitting some deep balls in every practice, Liufau's short-game accuracy has been solid thus far. … Tailback Donovan Lee, listed No. 2 behind Phillip Lindsay, is showing an ability to run hard inside as well as make plays with his speed and quickness on the perimeter. … Free safety Ryan Moeller had a big play on a pass in the end zone in 11-on-11 drills. … Freshman Anthony Julmisse, who spent a day playing defensive back on Friday, was back on offense Saturday and came up with some big catches in one-on-one drills against defensive backs. … Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon had a leaping interception in one-on-one drills, going up high and getting position on Bryce Bobo for the pick. … Bobo, by the way, was also back on offense after playing some defense Friday. … Nick Fisher, listed No. 2 at strong safety and cornerback, had a nice interception and return. … Maybe one of the best battles of the day came when the Buffs were in 2-minute drills and defensive back Chidobe Awuzie and Winfree were matched up. In one instance, Awuzie knocked away a pass from a diving Winfree — then gave the "incomplete" signal when both got up from the ground. … Sophomore cornerback Isaiah Oliver also had a beautiful interception on the run.
NEXT UP: The Buffs won't practice on Sunday as the team gets the day off. They'll return to the fields Monday for a morning practice in shells, then put on full pads for the first time in camp Tuesday. Wednesday will be their first two-a-day session, with an evening session to go along with their regular morning practice.
CU now has just one more practice that will be open to the media and public, coming next Saturday (Aug. 13). The practice is scheduled to begin at 9:05 a.m., with a scrimmage tentatively scheduled to take place.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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