Home › Buffzone Columnists
Woelk: More depth means more scrimmage time for Buffs
Anyone who saw Monday afternoon's Colorado football scrimmage knows this much:
STORY TOOLS
More Buffzone Columnists
- Woelk: In the end, no surprise for bad-news Buffs
- Woelk: One more chance for Buffs to get better
- Big 12 girding itself for gridlock
Share and Enjoy [?]
The days of college teams slowly playing their way into shape and working up to full-contact level are days gone by.
Monday's message, delivered through a 130-play scrimmage, was clear. It's time to begin separating the men from the boys.
Make a play or get out of the way.
Monday, mind you, was just the third day in pads for the Buffs. But that didn't stop coach Dan Hawkins from putting his team through a two-plus hour scrimmage, something that would have been unheard of this early in camp just a few years ago.
"It was a pretty intense scrimmage for this early," said Buff safety Ryan Walters. "But the thing is, just about everyone in camp is competing for jobs. There's more depth, more good players and more competition.
"I think the coaches just wanted us to get used to mixing it up. They want us to see what kind of intensity you need to play here."
The ramped-up scrimmage schedule is similar to that seen in the NFL in this era. These days, college players -- like their NFL brethren -- are expected to report already in shape. The vast majority of the Buffs spent their summer in Boulder taking part in strength and conditioning drills as well as regular 7-on-7 work.
There's no longer a need to ease into it. Teams now hit the ground running.
"One, we had a great summer, a productive summer," said CU linebackers coach Brian Cabral. "Plus, it's an up-tempo offense, so you can get a lot of reps in. And, there's a lot of competition for positions, and we want to start seeing right away what guyscan do.
"But one of the biggest things is that everyone now is going in the same direction. We're moving forward and not looking back."
The biggest positive of such a scrimmage is that it produces plenty of work for plenty of players.
For instance: O-line boss Jeff Grimes is exploring a variety of combinations up front. A lengthy scrimmage meant he had the opportunity to mix and match, as well as get each of his charges somewhere in the neighborhood of 35 to 40 plays.
That's a luxury Grimes couldn't enjoy even a year ago, simply because the Buffs didn't have enough linemen to run such a lengthy scrimmage.
But now there are plenty of players, meaning more opportunties for everyone at every position.
"We're in better shape and the guys are bigger, faster and stronger," Hawkins said. "We've also got more guys."
No doubt. Depth -- a commodity in short supply just a couple of years ago -- is now blossoming throughout the roster.
Take a look at running back. Returnee Demetrius Sumler received his share of touches, as did newcomers Darrell Scott, Ray Polk and Rodney Stewart. Without plenty of linemen to block for them, their repetitions would have been greatly reduced.
But Monday, everyone got their chance to impress the coaches.
Some, such as Stewart, took full advantage.
Others ... well, that's why they call it practice.
With camp barely a week old, there's still plenty of time for players to make their way up -- or down -- the depth chart. There's time for star recruit Darrell Scott to get into playing shape, and time for Grimes to sort out his O-line puzzle. There's time for CU's green cornerbacks to gain a little confidence, and time for the running back situation to sort itself out (did we mention Rodney Stewart?).
But the best news of camp thus far is that there are far more good players at far more positions than in either of Hawkins' two previous seasons.
"There are more people in there battling," Hawkins said. "Our culture has to develop. A guy has to make a play every day."
Posted by montanabuff on August 12, 2008 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)
C'mon tall - you can do better. Even you understand that Hawkins is saying, "We've also got more guys (who can make plays)". Did Nebraska forget to load up the bus when they gave up 170+ points in their last three games of '07?
"More guys" = "More guys who will be playing in the NFL".
Getting nervous, now that the season is getting close? Western Michigan, I hear, can score ....
Posted by shoulder2shoulder on August 12, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
there were only 6 o-linemen a few years ago, get a clue kennith
Posted by OutToPasture on August 12, 2008 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
2 years ago, half of the spring game was 7-on-7 because we didn't have enough linemen for even a second string, much less third. So yeah, "We've also go more guys."
Posted by buffalo_flyer on August 12, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
number of guys this year is greater than the number of guys in 2005, so yeah, we got more guys....need I explain it more Kenny? Is that nebraska edumacation failing you?
Posted by extrapoint on August 12, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GO BUFFS?
right tall?
do you clench your teeth when you type that?
too late loudmouth....everyone already knows where you are coming from.
Posted by LGDAF on August 12, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kenny, you're the biggest "glass is half empty" and "oh, the sky if falling" person I've come across. A little positive thinking might do you some good.
Posted by BuffNut99 on August 12, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Western Michigan will be Nebraska's Ball State of 2008 - lucky to escape w/ a win....
This is going to be such a great team to watch this year and for the next several years - simply loaded. The Buffs will only be held up by experience and confidence this year -- we can compete with anyone. Go Buffs!
Posted by OUBuff on August 12, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tallisal... who cares?
Posted by MinnesotaBuff on August 12, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Woah Kenny...
So Callahan didn't let his team "play" or "be physical" last year?
You are a joke...The fuskers are a joke..."Attitude" ain't gonna stop Tyrod Taylor from abusing the pink shirts when they play Tech.
You will be seeing D Scott in your nightmares for the next 3 years.
Posted by LVBuff on August 12, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, all those great recruting classes and no Ws to show for it...Poor NU
Posted by buffalo_flyer on August 12, 2008 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
can't coach speed kenny, and NU still aint got none of it
Posted by buffalo_flyer on August 12, 2008 at 1:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
turn on the tapes and watch again, they are sloooow, Bo is going to have to overhaul that entire roster and history says the corn won't wait that long
Posted by flabuff227 on August 12, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No tall... your loaded with speed! Hey fellas i think we should set up an intervention.
he wasn't blaming the "last guy", he was merely stating a fact. Tal why are we in full scrimmage as opposed to 7-7 last year. My guess wuould be more depth. Pull your head out buddy
Posted by NorCalLovesDaBuffs on August 12, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Western Michigan should be favored in that game.
Posted by oz_in_cali on August 13, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is interesting that Coach Cabral would give this quote.
"But one of the biggest things is that everyone now is going in the same direction. We're moving forward and not looking back."
It is as if he were addressing not only the team, but all of the Buffalo Nation(and this message board in particular).
One thing that is become clearer as the season draws near (and has been mentioned in numerous post to the board) is that there is a growing sense of unity and optimisim among True Buffs. As I mentioned in a previous post on another article, we True Buffs (unlike certain programs and individuals whom it is pointless to name) are putting on our shades and looking to a future that looks very bright, rather than wallowing in past glory (again, like certain programs and their troll followers who it is pointless to mention by name).
Shoulder-to-Shoulder Bay-beee!!!
PS: Don't forget your sunglasses!
(Requires free registration.)
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.