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Aug 26, 2023

Buffs DL Developing Depth, Versatility

Football August 24, 2023 Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor BOULDER — When Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders and his Colorado staff set about the task of rebuilding the Buffaloes' roster, they dramatically

Football August 24, 2023 Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor

BOULDER — When Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders and his Colorado staff set about the task of rebuilding the Buffaloes' roster, they dramatically upgraded the talent level at the skill positions on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, that meant a host of new cornerbacks and safeties, a group that should no doubt give the Buffs a boost in pass coverage.

But Buffs coaches didn't ignore the defensive line, where every player — at the edges and in the interior — is new to the program this year.

Now, it will be up to those newcomers to make sure CU's defense controls opponents' run game while also getting pressure on the quarterback on a regular basis.

Both of those areas will no doubt be tested in Colorado's Sept. 2 season opener at TCU.

"I think we have some athletic guys who can rush the passer," said defensive tackles coach Sal Sunseri after Thursday's practice. "I think we have guys who have learned to compete. I think we have guys who are learning and I think they're going out there and they're trying to apply techniques that we're trying to get done. And you know there's been some positives and there's been some negatives. You've just got to keep on developing."

That development has no doubt been a critical part of Colorado's fall camp progress. While Dartmouth transfer Shane Cokes has been an integral piece of the puzzle since spring ball, Sunseri and defensive ends coach Nick Williams have been mixing and matching a variety of combinations they hope will give CU a versatile front that also produces some depth.

Sunseri said the approach will require everyone to step up, especially when defending the run.

"I'm gonna lean on everybody that plays in that front," Sunseri said. "It's not one person that is going to do it, it's a collective group stopping the run. Everybody's got to be in the right gap, fit the right hands and do what needs to be done."

Of the Buffs' true interior linemen, Sunseri said he likes what he's seen from Cokes, Leonard Payne Jr., Amari McNeill and Bishop Thomas.

But Colorado is also utilizing some edge rushers in that group as the Buffs try to provide a variety of looks from their base 3-4 defense. Among those edge rushers who have left an impression are Jordan Domineck, Derrick McLendon and Arden Walker.

Those players, Sunseri said, give the Buffs some versatility. Their quickness and speed can make them effective as pass rushers, they can also play the run and can even drop into coverage when necessary.

Cokes said the defensive line has molded together nicely as a unit in fall camp.

"A lot of growing, I would say," Cokes said. "The biggest thing, obviously, just coming in the summer with a whole new group of guys trying to understand each other, how everyone plays, trying to build that chemistry, has been the biggest thing for us. And it was definitely a little bit of growing pains at the beginning of summer and then fall camp. (But) I think now we're starting to understand each other, trying to play more as a group rather than individuals."

And, Cokes said the group has made big strides in defending the run.

"I think it was a little bit rough early on, just kind of understanding, gap responsibilities, checks and stuff like that," he said. "But I think we're starting to understand it better, call out plays that might happen and really run fit very well, especially up front."

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