The media accompanied the die-hard Colorado fans at open day eight of the football team’s fall camp practices.
The only catch? No phones, no notes and no discussing what was seen at Franklin Field on Tuesday morning.
However, the media got to speak with the special teams, rather the “we-fense,” unit afterwards. Tight ends coach Josh Niblett, wide receiver and returner Quentin Gibson, punter Damon Greaves and new placekicker Elliot Arnold.
Tight end room coming together
When Niblett was asked about one specific tight end, and he was asked about everyone, he could not answer without mentioning the entire room.
“I think there's great competition in there,” Niblett said. “I think what we've been able to do is we've been able to create depth from an 11 personnel, 12 personnel group.”
With how valuable the tight ends are in offensive coordinator Brennan Marion’s offense, playing several positions, it has to be that way; “The neat thing about our offense is it calls for a lot of guys with different tool sets, right?” Niblett said.
When speaking on individuals, however, Niblett shouted out his guys.
Those in attendance can confirm Niblett’s comments that tight end Zach Atkins had some solid plays on Tuesday, arguably putting together his best fall camp practice so far, according to his position coach. Alongside large gains, he did the little things and continued his presence as a leader.
The next guy Niblett discussed was Fisher Clements, also known as the “computer” within the program.
“We call him ‘The Computer,’ just because he could take so much intel, and then he just kind of distributes it by how he plays, man,” Niblett said.
Niblett mentioned the different blocking aspects Clements has been working on since arriving from Northern Colorado, noting understanding of hip level, pad level and playing lower. The tight end apparently had a strong summer in the weight room, and is displaying it with his point of attack.
When Brady Kopetz's name was brought up, Niblett discussed how he can plug-and-play “Brick” at several positions and his importance on special teams.
“He's all about everybody else,” Niblett said. “He's not about himself, and he brings that every day.”
Charlie Williams is another guy coming along, especially now that he’s healthy. Niblett enjoys the “competitive depth.”
“Charlie can move. Charlie's got good hands,” Niblett said. “But I’ll tell you what Charlie does. Charlie does a really good job of blocking at point of attack, and he's really good on the perimeter and understands route running and understands this offense.”
Finally, he mentioned the young guys in Ben Gula, Zayne DeSouza and Corbin Laisure, adding that they add competition to the room. But at the same time, the staff is working to find them meaningful reps. Gula’s transition from offensive line to tight end and fullback was specifically mentioned.
With so many capable players in his tight end room, Niblett appears to be taking his new transition to Colorado well despite some personal struggles in moving away from the South.
“My job is to support Coach Marion, make sure our tight ends are playing at a very high level,” Niblett said. “That's going to help our offense. That's my job, and I have to take that job personal every day, as well as the group that's in my room.”
Building the ‘we-fense’
Beyond tight ends, Niblett discussed the “we-fense.”
“You have offense and then you have defense,” Niblett said. “Well, a lot of your offensive players and your defensive players, they got to come together to form special teams. So it just makes for ‘we-fense.’
“At the end of the day, on “we-fense,” we're looking for the best 11, not the 11 best,” he continued. “And what we mean by that is the best 11 are those guys that are going to work together as one, right? I mean, that synergy, right? That clarity, that alignment of understanding their job.”
He has made sure the special teams have not been overlooked. And that’s with the help of head coach Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, who looks to give upperclassmen looking to go professional special team reps, along with valuing his individual special teams players.
“I think first of all, our staff we have to set the tone,” Niblett said. “I think it's got to be expected in your unit rooms, within your position groups, and our staff does an excellent job of coaching that, and then our staff's highly involved…I think the biggest thing there is understanding in a game the magnitude of what it takes to have your best players on the field for that.”
So far, Niblett seems to think the message is working.
“Our players, every day we've shown up, there has never been a lack of effort, lack of energy, a lack of attention,” Niblett said. “Nobody's been out there being like, ‘When's the next period?’ Everybody's out there with an intention to win a job.”
Gibson feeling more confident
Despite being a returner, Gibson has to learn a new offense. Featuring “about 800 plays,” Gibson and others are working with extra walkthroughs among other tactics to learn the plays, which is something he struggled with last season.
With the new offense, though, Gibson feels he can thrive in multiple places. He also expressed a developed confidence over the past offseason.
Of course, the offense is designed for that. But after figuring himself out last year as a freshman, the sophomore is looking back to his North Crowley High (Fort Worth, Texas) days, where he had to “stay down” before finding his footing. His time on the sideline was used for improvement.
“When I'm not on the field, I'm able to watch the people that's playing,” Gibson said. “So, just learning from them.”
With a plethora of talented incomers, Gibson said he’s also learning and stealing things from fellow receivers Danny Scudero and DeAndre Moore Jr.
And in terms of returning the football, Gibson feels the same way: ready to show out. To him, last year was only a glimpse, and he has improved on certain things.
“Just trusting my blocks more when I see the hole,” Gibson said. “If it’s closed, hit the back door off of where it's closing from.”
Beyond himself, he echoed an expectation for a better season due to the culture.
“It’s going to be a lot different this year,” Gibson said. “We coming together as a family more.”
‘Newmate’ taking on leadership role as returning special teamer
Returning punter Damon Greaves has become a leader in not just the special teams room, but the entire locker room. He was given a “D” patch for his jersey, standing for “Dawg.”
“It was an honor to get that,” Greaves said. “To have the ‘D’ on the jersey now, it’s something I'll take a lot of pride in, and for me, I suppose the reason I got it was through leadership and setting an example. Having that ‘D’ on my jersey now doesn't change my approach to things. Yeah, there might come some extra responsibility with it, but you know, I'm leading my teammates with the same approach that I had in working hard and being a leader in front of those guys.”
As one of the only returning special teams players in the program, he’s had to.
Plus, with Coach Prime being back to full health this offseason, Greaves feels the leadership from the top.
“He's brought a great amount of energy to the team,” Greaves said. “It's energy, but it's also a higher standard as well. He's watching everything and seeing everything, and that higher standard that he's putting on us is creating a higher standard within the team and our practice as well.”
Individually, he’s been honing his craft
“Limiting those little minor things that lead to a bad punt and staying consistent with my technique and my form has been something that I've just been focusing on,” Greaves said. “So it's just a lot of reps with all the snappers that we have…For me at the end of the day, location, hang time and good distance on the ball is all I'm aiming for.”
Arnold developing as starting kicker
Sanders named Arnold the starting kicker quite early after his redshirt season. Yet, the kicking room is just hoping for a better record.
“We all just kind of help each other because I don't really see it as competition,” Arnold said. “I see it as let's try and win some games and help each other be the best.”
While Arnold and his teammates are focused on winning, though, he earned the job for a reason. He mentioned strong development over the past year. He can kick the ball out of the back of the end zone on kickoffs, and says he’s comfortable from 55 yards, maybe even 60-plus if need be.
“I think being able to redshirt last year and learn from senior guys like [Alejandro] Mata and Buck [Buchanan] was awesome,” Arnold said. “Just kind of see how they go through their routine, and they were a lot of help to me.”
To reach his goals and capitalize on last year’s experience, Arnold has been locked into his weight room, focusing on fast-twitch muscles, flexibility and getting stronger.
Long snapper battle tight
While Arnold and long snapper Nelson Williams go back to McCallie School (Chattanooga, Tenn.), being “day ones,” the long-snapping competition is well and alive.
“Competition's really strong,” Greaves said. “All four of those guys are capable of stepping in and you know taking reps in game, I think. So where we're at now is those guys are competing hard, and it's a friendly competition, and they're pushing each other…And the more they keep pushing each other, the better quality of snappers we're going to have out there with us.”
Both Arnold and Greaves have made sure to work with each snapper to build trust, whether Williams, Aiden DeCorte, Brady Rads, Trey Young or Luke Whiting.
“I'm safe having those guys in front of me because I know they're going to be able to deliver on game day,” Greaves said.
Other names mentioned…
- OC Brennan Marion: Marion received high compliments from Niblett, both from a football and human perspective. Niblett enjoys how the tight ends are used in the Go-Go offense. And Gibson enjoys Marion’s desire to throw the ball as a former receiver, along with whenever the offensive coordinator joins in receiver drills.
- “Fantastic, fantastic man,” Niblett said. “I've really gotten to know him, and you know, I mean, the neat thing about it is, is we try to keep it real too. This thing's just not about football, man. He starts every day. We have scripture, we have prayer. We talk. Guys are giving their whys, right? Guys see you have a connection in the room, and he's a huge part of that because he's the leader of it. He cares about these kids. He cares about these coaches, and he wants to give everybody his great opportunities that they can have by adding value to them, right? And I just think he does an awesome job of that. He's an unbelievable offensive mind, but he's even a greater guy to be around. And then I enjoy being around him and talking with him.”
- QB Julian Lewis: Gibson has confidence in the young quarterback.
- “He looked hungry. That's what he looked like,” Gibson said. “He talks a lot more. We communicate more. It's his time now.”
- PK/P Cadel Ayala, P Daniel Gerlach: Arnold praised his kicking teammates, offering high expectations for kickoffs.
- “I've gotten a lot stronger; we all have. Honestly, all three of us – Daniel Gerlach and Cadel – we're all able to hit it out the back of the end zone,” Arnold said. “So I don't think we're really worried about [competition] right now because I know one of us three can do the job really well.”
- S Ben Finneseth: Niblett got a chance to rave about Finneseth.
- “Unbelievable leader, right? I mean, he's the face of this program,” Niblett said. “He understands the expectations, he understands the standard, he speaks the language. He shows up every day, and it's not about him; it's about CU. He'll be a huge leader. Him and I talk about that every day, you know. And he's one of those. ‘Hey, coach, text me when you got time so we watch tape.’ I mean, that's what it's all about. That's what you're looking for. But he's highly respected in that locker room. Everybody knows what he's going to bring to the table. But I'm proud of him, and I'm a better man because I know him. I'm excited about seeing what he's going to be able to accomplish this year.”
Players Mentioned
Quentin Gibson
Wide Receiver
Ben Finneseth
Defensive Back
Zach Atkins
Tight End
Damon Greaves
Punter
Elliot Arnold
Placekicker
Nelson Williams
Long Snapper
Zayne DeSouza
Tight End
Aiden DeCorte
Long Snapper
Trey Young
Long Snapper
Luke Whiting
Long Snapper
Ben Gula
Tight End
Brady Kopetz
Tight End
Brady Radz
Long Snapper
Corbin Laisure
Tight End
Fisher Clements
Tight End
Coaches Mentioned
