Contact CU Independent Sports Staff Writer Jake Mauff at jacob.mauff@colorado.edu.
‘Twas the week before the Spring Game, and all through the team, an excitement was brewing, that made fans smile and gleam. Yes, it’s that time of year again when Spring football is in full swing. After a three-month hibernation, many fans in the Buffalo community are eagerly awaiting their first taste of football of the 2016 season.
The excitement of the sport itself is something to anticipate, but many are looking to see what the team has to offer. This year’s squad features many new faces, both on and off the field, which looks to be a welcome addition, especially after last year’s 4-9 record left much to be desired.
One area that will be expected to improve is the defense. Everyone can agree that last season’s unit was much improved from the 2014 squad under first year defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt. However, the team still gave up big yards, particularly against the run. The Buffs gave up over five yards a clip to opposing rushers.
The linebacking crew this year is looking to improve stats like that. This group is filled with valuable experienced members and new faces as well. Primarily, the crew remains mostly intact from last season. The one major loss was Grant Wantanabe, who transferred from the program.
Thankfully, the team is getting an immediate boost from the return of junior Addison Gillam. Gillam only played in two games last season before needing knee surgery. In those two games, he had six tackles, two pass break ups and a third down stop.
In the two games Gillam played in, he saw 90 snaps. That’s highly indicative of the depth problem Colorado had last season; they didn’t have enough players to come in and provide adequate relief, so the starters remained on the field for much of the game.
That’s why incoming recruit Pookie Maka (let’s all revel in the gloriousness of that name for a second) will provide a much-needed role this coming year. Maka is an edge rusher officially given the linebacker tag. He is expected to provide a boost to the pass rush while also patching up some of the depth woes.
The Buffaloes’ ability to stay healthy will be critical. Practice was already postponed from Monday to Tuesday this week due to health concerns. The team is also not splitting into two units for the Spring Game, instead opting for the simpler offense vs. defense model.
Playing time should increase for senior-to-be Ryan Severson, who only appeared in five games last season. He should provide depth on the inside, something that the departed Wantanabe was crucial at doing.
Depth in the middle became an issue when at-the-time junior linebacker Kenneth Olugbode went down with an injury. He was only kept out two games, but it was clear that he wasn’t exactly the same player he was before the injury.
But with a healthy Olugbode, Gillam and Severson, snaps in the middle should be mostly covered. That will allow sophomore N.J. Falo, who played a fair amount of time there last year, to spend more snaps on the outside, where he could prove to be a valuable asset.
All these potential linebacker scenarios, and soon-to-be senior Chidobe Awuzie hasn’t even been mentioned? He’s the team’s nickel corner, but he’ll definitely see time as an LB. Last season, Awuzie was second on the team in tackles with 90, and third on the team in sacks, with four.
With a full year of experience in Leavitt’s defense and fairly clean slate of health to start the year, there’s no reason not to expect some sort of improvement from the linebacking crew.
“[The defense] were just way ahead; the knowledge side of it,” head coach Mike MacIntyre said. “That’s helped the defense be a little bit ahead of the offense.”
The team’s Spring Game will take place this Saturday, April 9. Drills will start at noon and the scrimmage should kick off at 1 p.m. MST.
