Aaron Haigler is performing well as a sophomore in CU's offensive line.
Haigler Hitting Right Chords At Right Tackle In Buffs’ Spring Work
March 08, 2017 | Football, B.G. Brooks
One of sophomore’s goals is to play like a veteran, not a first-year player
BOULDER – Aaron Haigler is a throwback, not in a catch-and-release sense, but in the context of his football and his music.
He's a 6-foot-7, 280-pound right tackle for the University of Colorado football team, and saying he brings physicality to his position is a little like saying March in Colorado brings, ah, strong breezes.
As for his music, Haigler, a sophomore from Northridge, Calif., will take you back a couple of decades or more for oldies, greaties and some exceptionally good, heavy riffs.
Before he began growing and blossoming as a football player at Notre Dame High School, he was listening as his father listened to classic rock. Guitar work in Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and other legendary bands steered him toward classic rock – so much so that as a kid at one particular Christmas he asked for a guitar.
Santa delivered and Haigler responded, turning to YouTube to learn to play. He brought his guitar to Boulder for his freshman year in 2015 but during this time of year it stays pretty silent.
Spring football doesn't leave much time for enjoying Jimmy Page (Zeppelin founder and guitarist) and perhaps playing along. Haigler doesn't mind, admitting that if all goes well in football his future likely will be there rather than on tour with a band.
"It's just a hobby, something to do when I'm not playing football," he said. "It takes my mind off of things; it's not something I'm going to pursue, just something I enjoy."
Right now, he's enjoying (as much as football players can) the Buffaloes' spring work. There's been a load of experimentation with personnel in the O-line, but Haigler has nearly become a fixture on the right side.
"I've been on the first team for virtually every practice," he said after Tuesday morning's work. "But that's something to be wary of because nothing is set in stone. If a guy beats me out then it's my job to beat him out and keep my job."
Lining up with the first unit in March is a good sign but staying there until September is a better sign. Of course, Haigler knows this, just as he knows what position coach Klayton Adams expects of him.
Adams recently brought Haigler into his office for the same sit-down Adams does with his other O-linemen. Adams' spring critique and list of expectations went like this:
"It's time to not be a freshman anymore. It's time to not be a guy who's learning the position . . . it's time to take the reins and become an elder player who's played in a lot of games. We're not there yet but he's definitely giving it the effort. He knows the scheme, I think he knows what I'm asking when I ask for certain things fundamentally. We're just not to the point where we're getting all of that on a consistent basis."
None of it was breaking news for Haigler, who as a redshirt freshman made six starts at right tackle last season and played in 11 games, missing two due to injuries. In his 548 total snaps he was credited with four knockdown blocks, six direct touchdown blocks and eight perfect plays (no sacks) on passing TDs.
A knee injury suffered against USC kept him out of the next two games (Arizona State, Stanford) but he returned to the starting lineup at UCLA and recorded his best graded games of the season in the final two games (Utah, Washington in Pac-12 title game) preceding CU's Alamo Bowl appearance.
Haigler entered the 2016 season in a duel at right tackle with Sam Kronshage, who left the team in the offseason. His overall athleticism coupled with a 10-pound weight gain have him looking and playing the part of a Pac-12 lineman.
Adams calls Haigler "very talented with a lot of ability. He's 280 now and I want him to keep trending in that direction. I know he's definitely working at."
Haigler doesn't think weighing 285-290 is out of the question when the Buffs report for August camp. As for satisfying Adams' directive to think and play like a veteran, Haigler believes that's possible too.
"Last year was good for me to get game experience," he said. "Now I'm trying to focus on being dominant and not just being able to play but be dominant. (Adams) realizes that I'm not a freshman anymore, and there's responsibility that comes with that.
"I played in a lot of games last year and got a lot of experience – did some good things, some bad things. I need to improve on that and get better. Consistency is what he preaches; we have to be a calming, positive force on this team. I'm trying to do that this spring. Spring ball is about getting better every day. That's my goal and the goal of the team."
OFFENSIVE LINE EARLY LOOK: Adams' unit began spring drills with several priorities: find a replacement for starting center Alex Kelley (graduated), get a solid idea of who the five starters might be, and develop depth at all five interior positions.
With six practices remaining Adams feels fairly good about reaching those goals. Progress has been significant, with younger players "getting a lot of good looks and some of the older guys have done a good job . . . but there are some guys who still need to take big jumps."
Spring work will end with senior starting left guard Gerrad Kough (ankle injury) not having practiced. But his absence has created opportunities for Adams to see younger players at that position and elsewhere.
If the Buffs played this weekend, Adams' starters would be senior Jeromy Irwin (LT), junior Josh Kaiser (LG), senior Jonathan Huckins (C), sophomore Tim Lynott Jr. (RG) and Haigler (RT).
Lynott also has been working at center, with sophomore Dillon Middlemiss spelling him. Others being eyed by Adams as his spring experimentation continues are sophomore Isaac Miller, sidelined in 2016 with a knee injury; sophomore transfer Justin Eggers; sophomore Mo Bandi; and redshirt freshmen Chance Lytle, Colby Purcell, Kolter Smith and Hunter Vaughn.
The experienced and talented Irwin is the line's anchor at left tackle, but Adams also has "messed around" with Kaiser at that spot. We've had experimentation at all positons; some of it has to do with guys having class, which is not ideal for guys to leave (practice) but it's an opportunity for guys to play at different spots."
The younger players, said Adams, "are taking the biggest jumps and some of that is because they have the furthest to go. But we're more or less through with the install at this point so I can use these last practices to solidify, solidify – get to the point where when I ask you a question in the meeting room you can spit it out of your mouth. Because that's the way it's going to be out there on the field."
INJURY UPDATE: Running back Kyle Evans, who suffered a dislocated hip near the end of last Saturday's scrimmage, underwent surgery on Monday. Coach Mike MacIntyre said Evans, a junior, was upbeat and doing well after the operation, which will prevent Evans from walking for two to three months.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Buffs' schedule for the rest of this week includes practices on Thursday and Friday, with Friday's work featuring the spring's second scrimmage. At week's end CU will have had 11 practices, leaving 4 of the NCAA-mandated 15 for spring work. The annual spring game is set for Saturday, March 18 (1 p.m., Folsom Field). All practices except for the spring game are closed to the media and public.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
He's a 6-foot-7, 280-pound right tackle for the University of Colorado football team, and saying he brings physicality to his position is a little like saying March in Colorado brings, ah, strong breezes.
As for his music, Haigler, a sophomore from Northridge, Calif., will take you back a couple of decades or more for oldies, greaties and some exceptionally good, heavy riffs.
Before he began growing and blossoming as a football player at Notre Dame High School, he was listening as his father listened to classic rock. Guitar work in Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and other legendary bands steered him toward classic rock – so much so that as a kid at one particular Christmas he asked for a guitar.
Santa delivered and Haigler responded, turning to YouTube to learn to play. He brought his guitar to Boulder for his freshman year in 2015 but during this time of year it stays pretty silent.
Spring football doesn't leave much time for enjoying Jimmy Page (Zeppelin founder and guitarist) and perhaps playing along. Haigler doesn't mind, admitting that if all goes well in football his future likely will be there rather than on tour with a band.
"It's just a hobby, something to do when I'm not playing football," he said. "It takes my mind off of things; it's not something I'm going to pursue, just something I enjoy."
Right now, he's enjoying (as much as football players can) the Buffaloes' spring work. There's been a load of experimentation with personnel in the O-line, but Haigler has nearly become a fixture on the right side.
"I've been on the first team for virtually every practice," he said after Tuesday morning's work. "But that's something to be wary of because nothing is set in stone. If a guy beats me out then it's my job to beat him out and keep my job."
Lining up with the first unit in March is a good sign but staying there until September is a better sign. Of course, Haigler knows this, just as he knows what position coach Klayton Adams expects of him.
Adams recently brought Haigler into his office for the same sit-down Adams does with his other O-linemen. Adams' spring critique and list of expectations went like this:
"It's time to not be a freshman anymore. It's time to not be a guy who's learning the position . . . it's time to take the reins and become an elder player who's played in a lot of games. We're not there yet but he's definitely giving it the effort. He knows the scheme, I think he knows what I'm asking when I ask for certain things fundamentally. We're just not to the point where we're getting all of that on a consistent basis."
None of it was breaking news for Haigler, who as a redshirt freshman made six starts at right tackle last season and played in 11 games, missing two due to injuries. In his 548 total snaps he was credited with four knockdown blocks, six direct touchdown blocks and eight perfect plays (no sacks) on passing TDs.
A knee injury suffered against USC kept him out of the next two games (Arizona State, Stanford) but he returned to the starting lineup at UCLA and recorded his best graded games of the season in the final two games (Utah, Washington in Pac-12 title game) preceding CU's Alamo Bowl appearance.
Haigler entered the 2016 season in a duel at right tackle with Sam Kronshage, who left the team in the offseason. His overall athleticism coupled with a 10-pound weight gain have him looking and playing the part of a Pac-12 lineman.
Adams calls Haigler "very talented with a lot of ability. He's 280 now and I want him to keep trending in that direction. I know he's definitely working at."
Haigler doesn't think weighing 285-290 is out of the question when the Buffs report for August camp. As for satisfying Adams' directive to think and play like a veteran, Haigler believes that's possible too.
"Last year was good for me to get game experience," he said. "Now I'm trying to focus on being dominant and not just being able to play but be dominant. (Adams) realizes that I'm not a freshman anymore, and there's responsibility that comes with that.
"I played in a lot of games last year and got a lot of experience – did some good things, some bad things. I need to improve on that and get better. Consistency is what he preaches; we have to be a calming, positive force on this team. I'm trying to do that this spring. Spring ball is about getting better every day. That's my goal and the goal of the team."
OFFENSIVE LINE EARLY LOOK: Adams' unit began spring drills with several priorities: find a replacement for starting center Alex Kelley (graduated), get a solid idea of who the five starters might be, and develop depth at all five interior positions.
With six practices remaining Adams feels fairly good about reaching those goals. Progress has been significant, with younger players "getting a lot of good looks and some of the older guys have done a good job . . . but there are some guys who still need to take big jumps."
Spring work will end with senior starting left guard Gerrad Kough (ankle injury) not having practiced. But his absence has created opportunities for Adams to see younger players at that position and elsewhere.
If the Buffs played this weekend, Adams' starters would be senior Jeromy Irwin (LT), junior Josh Kaiser (LG), senior Jonathan Huckins (C), sophomore Tim Lynott Jr. (RG) and Haigler (RT).
Lynott also has been working at center, with sophomore Dillon Middlemiss spelling him. Others being eyed by Adams as his spring experimentation continues are sophomore Isaac Miller, sidelined in 2016 with a knee injury; sophomore transfer Justin Eggers; sophomore Mo Bandi; and redshirt freshmen Chance Lytle, Colby Purcell, Kolter Smith and Hunter Vaughn.
The experienced and talented Irwin is the line's anchor at left tackle, but Adams also has "messed around" with Kaiser at that spot. We've had experimentation at all positons; some of it has to do with guys having class, which is not ideal for guys to leave (practice) but it's an opportunity for guys to play at different spots."
The younger players, said Adams, "are taking the biggest jumps and some of that is because they have the furthest to go. But we're more or less through with the install at this point so I can use these last practices to solidify, solidify – get to the point where when I ask you a question in the meeting room you can spit it out of your mouth. Because that's the way it's going to be out there on the field."
INJURY UPDATE: Running back Kyle Evans, who suffered a dislocated hip near the end of last Saturday's scrimmage, underwent surgery on Monday. Coach Mike MacIntyre said Evans, a junior, was upbeat and doing well after the operation, which will prevent Evans from walking for two to three months.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE: The Buffs' schedule for the rest of this week includes practices on Thursday and Friday, with Friday's work featuring the spring's second scrimmage. At week's end CU will have had 11 practices, leaving 4 of the NCAA-mandated 15 for spring work. The annual spring game is set for Saturday, March 18 (1 p.m., Folsom Field). All practices except for the spring game are closed to the media and public.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
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