Just seven practices into Colorado’s fall camp, offensive lineman Chauncey Gooden has been turning heads.
As one of the six returning players in the unit, Gooden bought into the Buffaloes culture and chose to stay at CU. Even after a rough first season in the program, he stayed the course and got to work.
Moving into year two, O-line coach Gunnar White acknowledges that development has been important for the guard.
“I think he's heading in the direction that he needs to,” White said. “He still needs to improve in places because he's still young, but I love the energy he brings. I love the physicality he brings, and he's dominant on the line of scrimmage, so I don't know what else to ask for.”
Having one of the best offseasons of any player, he came into camp in shape and ready to compete. Gooden enters fall practice at 6-foot-3 and 380 pounds, a frame made for moving bodies up front. Using his size and strength, the time in the weight room has shown up on film.
Gooden’s performance has been so notable that coach George Hegmain gives him the title of the unit's most violent player.
“If we had to say it, we're going to always put Chauncey out front,” Hegamin said. “The kid just loves to hit people. It permeates throughout the rest of the group, but I would also say there's not a guy that's in there that's not bought into the violent part of what we're teaching this year.”
In battle, having a dependable teammate has benefits across the board. In a position group like the O-line where five players are required to work together, that chemistry matters. Players need to communicate to double-team up to linebackers.
Fellow returner Yahya Attia has felt the benefit of playing next to Gooden.
“Whenever I play next to him, it just makes it easier on me. No matter what, he's going to probably take 75% of the guy, A and B-gap,” Attia said. “He’s taking everything, so he's just a very strong guy, like a big guy. He takes care of his center; I take care of him.”
In Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense, that downhill aggression will be needed in the run-first offense. Tenacity off the ball and the willingness to go uptempo will be changes in the scheme up front.
More predicated on moving defenders vertically to create lanes for the running back, a noticeable difference has been felt because of the playcaller.
“There's a lot more aggression, there's a lot more violence happening up front,” Hegamin said. “Let me say it again, violence. And that's something that either you got it, or you don't. It's a mentality thing, but when the scheme speaks to violence, and you got guys that like being violent, you get violence.”
With four O-line coaches in the room, there are plenty of eyes to help see the progress of the players and coach mistakes. While technique and attack have slight differences with the new playbook, the fundamentals in mentality stay the same.
Players like Gooden will be essential in making the offense run this season.
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