Bryce Bobo and CU's receivers need to be more effective against man coverage in 2017.
MacIntyre Wants Buffs Receivers To Man Up In Man Coverage
March 09, 2017 | Football, B.G. Brooks
Coach says teams successful vs. CU in 2016 played more man-to-man defense
BOULDER – After a moderately successful season in their retooled offense, the Colorado Buffaloes are using spring practice to identify areas of strength as well as areas that need attention.
No surprises there. Tweaking is as much a spring ritual in college football programs as the welcome disappearance of hats, gloves and winter coats on campus.
But here's a specific heads up to CU fans as the run-up to the annual spring game continues: Pay attention to what's going on among the Buffs receivers.
With his offense's evolvement entering Phase II, coach Mike MacIntyre is looking for his deep and talented receiving corps to be more effective against man-to-man coverage.
A need for more efficiency in that area became glaringly evident as he reviewed his fourth CU team's 10-4 season and Pac-12 South Division championship.
"The only teams that beat us were among the top teams in the country," MacIntyre said Thursday after an abbreviated morning practice. "For us to beat them, what I noticed is that they played a little bit more man coverage on us than some other teams. We need to be able to beat man coverage . . . we've been working hard on that, coming up with different schemes to help us in that area."
The Buffs' four losses were administered by teams that all finished in the top 11 of the AP's final Top 25. USC, a 21-17 winner against CU, finished at No. 3; Washington, which won 41-10 in the Pac-12 Championship game, was at No. 4; Michigan, a 45-28 winner, was at No. 10; and Oklahoma State, which beat CU 38-8 in the Valero Alamo Bowl, came in at No. 11. The Buffs were No. 17 in the final AP rankings.
The reboot of CU's offense began last spring with the arrival of co-coordinator/receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini from Texas Tech. He and co-coordinator/QB coach Brian Lindgren fashioned an offense that utilized veteran starter Sefo Liufau at quarterback and a bevy of experienced receivers.
"Everyone has adjusted to last year's changes," MacIntyre said. "We're way ahead of where we were last spring. It's going well."
As the defense enters a rebuild for 2017 that includes the loss of eight starters and three coaches – including coordinator Jim Leavitt – a pick up from the offense would be welcome. And really, mandatory.
With the Buffs' most dramatic 2016 improvement appearing on defense, the offense finishing in the middle of the Pac-12 pack didn't create a barrier for overall improvement. CU was sixth in the conference in total offense (437.1 ypg), seventh in scoring (31.1 ppg), and eighth in both passing (254 ypg) and rushing (182.6 ypg).
The receiving corps should be able to do its part in the offense taking the next step. Of the 25 offensive lettermen returning, four are starting receivers, with another handful of capable reserves pushing them for playing time.
The returning starters are Bryce Bobo (41 catches for 523 yards, 2 TDs), Shay Fields (52-845, 9), Devin Ross (66-765, 5) and Jay MacIntyre (30-390, 1), while reserves Kabion Ento, Johnny Huntley III, Lee Walker and Xavier Cochrane will figure in the wideout mix.
And then there's transfer Juwann Winfree, who was being counted on for significant playing time last fall before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He's recovering but seeing limited duty this spring.
A spring standout among the receivers has been the fast and athletic Ento, whom MacIntyre says "has had a phenomenal spring. And all the other guys are doing really well."
Given the returning receivers' experience, MacIntyre believes that their individual improvement against man-to-man coverage will come.
"They've seen it more," he said. "And we're doing more man-type things in practice to help them get more used to it. Once you 'burn' that man coverage they'll get out of it.
"You're always tweaking a little bit according to personnel and things guys can do . . . their skill sets. You see what teams did to you as the year went on and know that's what teams will do to you during the (2017) season. You have to have answers for it."
PRACTICE REPORT: The Buffs went early (7 a.m.) and short (about 90 minutes) on Thursday morning. MacIntyre said the practice featured "a lot of individual work, special teams, a lot in the passing game."
Wednesday's practice emphasized the running game, with Friday's scrimmage scheduled as a gauge for progress made in the two preceding days.
The second spring scrimmage, said MacIntyre, will closely resemble the first – largely situational and beginning after about 45 minutes of individual and position work.
CLINIC FOR A FRIEND: MacIntyre flies out Friday night to speak at a clinic at Carson-Newman University, where close friend/mentor Ken Sparks coached for 37 years. Sparks, 72, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012. With the cancer in an advanced stage, there was speculation that Sparks would retire after that season. Instead, while enduring surgeries and treatment, he coached four more years.
NOTES: With George Frazier spending the bulk of his time playing in the defensive line, CU's spring tight end/H-back corps consists of Chris Bounds and Dylan Keeney. A third tight end – freshman signee Jared Poplawski – joins the mix in August . . . . MacIntyre said sophomore QB Steven Montez is clearly "better this spring than last. He's got a full grasp of offense, understands it, and is getting better at seeing things." . . . . With Kyle Evans undergoing hip surgery on Monday and being sidelined indefinitely, senior Michael Adkins II has a final opportunity to the productivity level he showed as a freshman (103 carries, 535 yards, 6 TDs). He has appeared in three games in each of the last two seasons. "He definitely has the ability," MacIntyre said. "We're counting on him. He just needs to stay healthy. If he can do that he'll be an excellent Pac-12 running back." . . . . Also seeing more spring work at tailback are sophomore Beau Bisharat and senior Donovan Lee, who is alternation between that position and receiver. CU's 2016 leading rusher, Phillip Lindsay, also returns, and the Buffs signed one running back in the Class of 2017 – Alex Fontenot (6-0, 190, Richmond, Texas) . . . . Friday's practice will be the 11th of 15 over 34 days permitted by the NCAA. The spring game is set for Saturday, March 18 (1 p.m., Folsom Field, no admission fee).
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
No surprises there. Tweaking is as much a spring ritual in college football programs as the welcome disappearance of hats, gloves and winter coats on campus.
But here's a specific heads up to CU fans as the run-up to the annual spring game continues: Pay attention to what's going on among the Buffs receivers.
With his offense's evolvement entering Phase II, coach Mike MacIntyre is looking for his deep and talented receiving corps to be more effective against man-to-man coverage.
A need for more efficiency in that area became glaringly evident as he reviewed his fourth CU team's 10-4 season and Pac-12 South Division championship.
"The only teams that beat us were among the top teams in the country," MacIntyre said Thursday after an abbreviated morning practice. "For us to beat them, what I noticed is that they played a little bit more man coverage on us than some other teams. We need to be able to beat man coverage . . . we've been working hard on that, coming up with different schemes to help us in that area."
The Buffs' four losses were administered by teams that all finished in the top 11 of the AP's final Top 25. USC, a 21-17 winner against CU, finished at No. 3; Washington, which won 41-10 in the Pac-12 Championship game, was at No. 4; Michigan, a 45-28 winner, was at No. 10; and Oklahoma State, which beat CU 38-8 in the Valero Alamo Bowl, came in at No. 11. The Buffs were No. 17 in the final AP rankings.
The reboot of CU's offense began last spring with the arrival of co-coordinator/receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini from Texas Tech. He and co-coordinator/QB coach Brian Lindgren fashioned an offense that utilized veteran starter Sefo Liufau at quarterback and a bevy of experienced receivers.
"Everyone has adjusted to last year's changes," MacIntyre said. "We're way ahead of where we were last spring. It's going well."
As the defense enters a rebuild for 2017 that includes the loss of eight starters and three coaches – including coordinator Jim Leavitt – a pick up from the offense would be welcome. And really, mandatory.
With the Buffs' most dramatic 2016 improvement appearing on defense, the offense finishing in the middle of the Pac-12 pack didn't create a barrier for overall improvement. CU was sixth in the conference in total offense (437.1 ypg), seventh in scoring (31.1 ppg), and eighth in both passing (254 ypg) and rushing (182.6 ypg).
The receiving corps should be able to do its part in the offense taking the next step. Of the 25 offensive lettermen returning, four are starting receivers, with another handful of capable reserves pushing them for playing time.
The returning starters are Bryce Bobo (41 catches for 523 yards, 2 TDs), Shay Fields (52-845, 9), Devin Ross (66-765, 5) and Jay MacIntyre (30-390, 1), while reserves Kabion Ento, Johnny Huntley III, Lee Walker and Xavier Cochrane will figure in the wideout mix.
And then there's transfer Juwann Winfree, who was being counted on for significant playing time last fall before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He's recovering but seeing limited duty this spring.
A spring standout among the receivers has been the fast and athletic Ento, whom MacIntyre says "has had a phenomenal spring. And all the other guys are doing really well."
Given the returning receivers' experience, MacIntyre believes that their individual improvement against man-to-man coverage will come.
"They've seen it more," he said. "And we're doing more man-type things in practice to help them get more used to it. Once you 'burn' that man coverage they'll get out of it.
"You're always tweaking a little bit according to personnel and things guys can do . . . their skill sets. You see what teams did to you as the year went on and know that's what teams will do to you during the (2017) season. You have to have answers for it."
PRACTICE REPORT: The Buffs went early (7 a.m.) and short (about 90 minutes) on Thursday morning. MacIntyre said the practice featured "a lot of individual work, special teams, a lot in the passing game."
Wednesday's practice emphasized the running game, with Friday's scrimmage scheduled as a gauge for progress made in the two preceding days.
The second spring scrimmage, said MacIntyre, will closely resemble the first – largely situational and beginning after about 45 minutes of individual and position work.
CLINIC FOR A FRIEND: MacIntyre flies out Friday night to speak at a clinic at Carson-Newman University, where close friend/mentor Ken Sparks coached for 37 years. Sparks, 72, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2012. With the cancer in an advanced stage, there was speculation that Sparks would retire after that season. Instead, while enduring surgeries and treatment, he coached four more years.
NOTES: With George Frazier spending the bulk of his time playing in the defensive line, CU's spring tight end/H-back corps consists of Chris Bounds and Dylan Keeney. A third tight end – freshman signee Jared Poplawski – joins the mix in August . . . . MacIntyre said sophomore QB Steven Montez is clearly "better this spring than last. He's got a full grasp of offense, understands it, and is getting better at seeing things." . . . . With Kyle Evans undergoing hip surgery on Monday and being sidelined indefinitely, senior Michael Adkins II has a final opportunity to the productivity level he showed as a freshman (103 carries, 535 yards, 6 TDs). He has appeared in three games in each of the last two seasons. "He definitely has the ability," MacIntyre said. "We're counting on him. He just needs to stay healthy. If he can do that he'll be an excellent Pac-12 running back." . . . . Also seeing more spring work at tailback are sophomore Beau Bisharat and senior Donovan Lee, who is alternation between that position and receiver. CU's 2016 leading rusher, Phillip Lindsay, also returns, and the Buffs signed one running back in the Class of 2017 – Alex Fontenot (6-0, 190, Richmond, Texas) . . . . Friday's practice will be the 11th of 15 over 34 days permitted by the NCAA. The spring game is set for Saturday, March 18 (1 p.m., Folsom Field, no admission fee).
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
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