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Lucas letting loose for senior year
CU defensive end finds new outlook energizes his effort
Maurice Lucas appears to have found the symmetry he's heard his head coach promoting for two years now, a Zen-like existence where a man reaches his potential because he is happy and healthy on and off the football field.
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The 6-foot-4 defensive end once fought over in a recruiting war between Colorado and Kansas State, is finally looking like he was worth all that attention back in 2004.
And the transformation hasn't been limited to what happens when he's wearing a helmet. He has found a comfort zone that has allowed him to be at ease with other people outside the football program.
At some point in the past year with his senior season on the horizon, Lucas said he came to a realization. It was something simple many of his teammates never give a second thought.
“Have fun,” he said. “That’s been a big emphasis to me. Sometimes I just need to have fun and stop being so tense and so stressed. I just need to have fun.”
That approach has helped him in a lot of ways. He now embraces visits to the training room for treatment to help his body recover from the wear and tear he puts it through on the field and in the weight room. He used to opt to grin and bear the aches and pains.
He has dealt with tendonitis in his knees throughout much of his career, but has found relief for the pain this year. Coach Dan Hawkins said he noticed improvement in Lucas’ play toward the end of last season and so far in training camp he has been solid as one of three seniors on the defensive line.
“To not be in pain all the time I think helps him play better,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins is just one of many who have enjoyed seeing Lucas come out of his shell on and off the field.
Defensive line coach Romeo Bandison said after the second scrimmage of fall camp he believes Lucas has made the most improvement of all his players. It’s not often coaches say that about a player who has been in the program for three years and is immersed in his fourth training camp.
Sophomore offensive tackle Ryan Miller was asked what defensive lineman he least likes to face in scrimmages and drills. He named Lucas in a blink, but then needed a few moments to explain why.
“Well, there isn’t a word to describe how incredibly freakish he is,” Miller said. “Mo is a manchild. He’s strong. He’s just kind of this quiet, hard worker, but, boy, that kid will bring it.”
That wasn’t always the case and Lucas is the first to say so.
Whether it was pain from his knees, the stress of wanting to do his best in school where he is pursuing a degree in criminology and defense, or that he just wasn’t enjoying himself, he didn’t always bring the right frame of mind to practices.
That’s no longer the case.
“I feel comfortable,” he said. “I feel so much more relaxed. I guess it’s being a senior. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just so much better right now.”
Lucas said he wants to play in the National Football League before becoming a police or corrections officer. He believes he has a lot of work to do to get there.
At the outset of his final year in black and gold, his stats don’t scream “future pro,” even though he definitely looks the part, having added 20 pounds of muscle in the offseason. He will play this season at 270 instead of the 250 he weighed a year ago.
Lucas has played in 30 games and a total of 950 plays in his career but has been in on just four tackles. He also has made three sacks, but looks like he could equal that total in a hurry this season.
He said he wants to be noticed this season and remembered after it and that realization led to him making some changes.
“After you get your butt kicked a lot of times and you have to stay after practices, you finally learn to do things right,” Lucas said. “You get tired of getting hurt every season, and you go, ‘You know what? I’m going to go ahead and rehab after practice and I think I’m going to go watch film ‘cause I’m tired of getting beat on that zone play.’
“It’s like after getting beat up so much and doing something wrong and being told the same thing over and over, it just kind of clicks in. It’s like, ‘OK, let’s do something right.’”
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Posted by walto_clown on August 21, 2008 at 12:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Awesome! We've been saying it throughout the offseason...this is THE returning player that we really need to step up this season. It's great to hear that he's found that elusive balance on and off the field. Best wishes, Mo, for a healthy successful senior campaign. Go Buffs!
Posted by mgmtgrad on August 21, 2008 at 1:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stories about guys like Maurice Lucas show him not only as a good leader for CU's young team, but stories about guys like him also helps the average joe get through a rough day.
I'm a giant Buff fan and I am in physical therapy from being rear ended and slammed into the car in front of me in an auto accident. Its great see a young man find his focus and "Zen". I have bad days at PT and have learned to set goals and stick it out, but stories like his help others to focus on the work at hand.
Back to the up coming season, Maurice Lucas is the kind of guy that will lead CU's younger players. The more guys that buy into the system and mentality like him the stronger the team becomes as a whole. And a strong team full of good team first players will beat a team of selfish me first stars more times then not.
Keep up the good work and leadership Maurice; you affect more then just the team in a positive manner.
I hope you read that last line and take it to heart.
Marcus J
Posted by mgmtgrad on August 21, 2008 at 1:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Walto,
You must have been posting while I was writing, but I couldn't agree more with what you said.
Marcus J
Posted by montanabuff on August 21, 2008 at 5:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well stated, Marcus and Walto. It would be difficult to underestimate how important good play from Lucas is to this defense.
Last season, the defensive end position at CU generated a three sacks - all season. (Lucas had two of the three). If the Buffs cannot generate a good pass rush, the inexperienced cornerbacks will be isolated .... and big numbers will be put up by opposing offenses.
We know the Buffs can stop the run, but if CU is in the 100's nationally in pass defense (as CU was in 2007 - the fourth time since 2000 that has happened), the Buffs will have to outscore teams to win.
Good luck, Mr. Lucas! Keep up the good work!
GO BUFFS!
http://www.cuatthegame.com
Posted by CaliBuff on August 21, 2008 at 6:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck in your recovery Marcus. Good luck to Lucas this season. 10 days until kickoff!
Posted by BuffulanceMan on August 21, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ramsrule - you are a homo. Seriously. You truly embody Ft. Collins - where the men are men and the sheep (lambs) are scared.
Pray for forgiveness next Sunday, 'cause that's all you'll have.
Idiot.
Posted by buff4life on August 21, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
go buffs!!!!!! i dont know whether to keep laughing at or feel sorry for 'ramsrule'...poor kid.....JUST SAY NO my friend....how about you and i bet a case of that tasty new belgium sunshine wheat on the game, il give you 14points. that sunshine wheat is the best thing outta ft collins other than I-25.
Posted by Saheeb on August 21, 2008 at 10:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lucas has been on the field for 950 plays and been a part of FOUR tackles! That's incredible. I sure hope he's going to be in on four in the first game and that he has more than four sacks this season. Sounds like a kid who is well grounded, though, and one who focuses a lot on school. Kudos!
Posted by olsdaddy777 on August 21, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
he rushed for 135 and a touchdown last year against the buffs. But I guess you said against a good team so that doesn't really count.
Posted by bouldabuff on August 21, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How many carries did Kyle Bell have last year to get those yards? What was his yards per carry?
Posted by LGDAF on August 21, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That would be 135 yards on a "career high" 40 carriers for an average of 3.375 yards per carry.
Posted by nwbuff32 on August 21, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Prediction:
Darrell Scotts career > Marlon Lucky and Kyle Bell's careers combined
Posted by LGDAF on August 21, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
carries, that is.
Posted by nocobuffan on August 21, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bell was never the same after that game as the brilliant Coach Lubick once again put all his limited skills in trying to beat the Buffs and sacrifice the remainder of the season. The Buffs will pick apart the Rams like birds on roadkill. The Rams are thin in depth,weak in experience, and coached by a guy that looks like he is saying " what did I get myself into" trying to coach Div II players against Div I opponents.
Posted by nocobuffan on August 21, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Buff offense this year will romp on the Rams- when CSU has to move Freshman running backs to try and play Div I corner back 11 days before their biggest game of the year your looking at a big day for the Buffs !
Posted by bouldabuff on August 21, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
3.4 yards per carry on 40 carries - wow Kyle Bell is a real stud. What was his long run - 7 yards?
Posted by Black_Rob on August 21, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"in the top 3 offensively until the last 2 seasons when they dropped out of sight."
You mean since Hawkins got here, right KENNY?
Troll.
Posted by bufffan8 on August 21, 2008 at 3:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i'd rather be mid level big 12 team than the bottom dweller of Mountain Worst. I have to give you credit thou rams rule. Talking smack when your team was horrible last year in a very weak, non-BCS conference. If it makes you feel better about yourself than good for you.
Posted by bufffan8 on August 21, 2008 at 3:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
if i recall CSU and Sonny lost the game last year by continually feeding the ball to Bell for 2 yds every play. Then they had to punt and well, we all know what happened from there.
Posted by LGDAF on August 21, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unlike Kenny you have to hand it to ramsrule. A true fans sticks by his/her team through thick and thin. Whether they sucked last year or not at least he has the b***s to talk smack and defend his team on a rivals blog site. I can appreciate that. It creates legit pre-game banter. So ramsrule, keep it up and don't quit even after your lambs get slaughtered.
Go Buffs!!
Posted by Black_Rob on August 21, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ramsrule is obviously Kenny.
Don't you recognize that whining, sarcastic writing voice and sentence structure?
Posted by skibumm on August 21, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
KBell is the reason CSU lost last year. If they hadn't handed him the ball for 2 yards EVERY SINGLE PLAY, they may have actually moved the ball. Our WR are going to kill the CB. Their 3rd CB is a FCHS graduate, as a FCHS alum, that says enough right there!
Posted by skibumm on August 21, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh and the "predator" as you guys like to call him is the slowest mofo to ever come out of Miami! Maybe if he cut his hair he would pick up a few steps.
Posted by nocobuffan on August 21, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with you skibumm- imagine the confusion a freshman Div II level running back will feel when asked to play Div I cornerback with 11 days of practice against a no huddle offense- I see the makings of a Buff blowout. Throw in a CSU QB that has thrown all of 39 passes in his storied college career constantly under pressure, confused and rattled- I think the Buff defense will outscore the CSU offense. Here is to a major lopsided Buff victory.
Posted by reallifeshocker on August 21, 2008 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i have to admit, ramsrule is really as outrageous as one could hope to be, without being totally dismissed as lunatic. the irony of his rant is not lost here....certainly read..... and enjoyed. keep it coming.
Posted by dlucas on August 22, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You got part of the story right about his stats. He did play in 30 games, and played on 950 plays. However 4 tackles? I checked the CU web site and it’s pretty apparent that you missed this one completely. How about 64 tackles. If you are going to do a story, the least you can do is to get the stats right. Good story…except you got lazy and sloppy on the stats.
Posted by nwbuff32 on August 22, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lucas- If thats true then all I can say is that Ringo owes a Lucas a retraction.
Come on Kyle, bush league.
Posted by chris on August 22, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lighten up guys, he obviously put in 64 and either a typo or a typesetting problem dropped the '6.'
Either way, 64 is too few for someone with his talent and experience. Look for Mo to have a huge year.
Posted by dlucas on August 22, 2008 at 4:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was a typo. Trust me, I would never purposely write that he had only four tackles. All the same, it's a mistake and I apologize for it.
Thanks for reading
Kyle Ringo
Posted by oz_in_cali on August 23, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah. A nugget of poo.
On that same program Corso picked Tennessee to win the SEC. Those guys must have had an early cocktail hour that day.
I think the prediction made earlier in the week by an ESPN analyst when he said that Nebraska would lose to Eastern Michigan is more in line with reality. Put that in your waterpipe and some it, trollboy.
GO BUFFS!!!
Posted by oz_in_cali on August 24, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ooops my bad. Twice.
I don't keep track of those directional schools (it annoys me that the Buffs have resorted to that Nebraska crap this year), and what I meant to say was to take it easy on the white lightning. If its not that, that is making you so crazy, then may I recommend a good shrink and perhaps a prescription of some anti-anxiety medication. I know you are worried about the day after Thanksgiving, but dude it's only football.
GO BUFFS!!!