After having a few months to learn Brennan Marion’s Go-Go offense, things have started to click for Colorado’s tight end room.
A unit that has struggled to produce over the past couple of seasons has found new life among the returners and transfers. On Day eight of Colorado’s fall camp, Zach Atkins was the clear winner on offense, at least according to tight ends coach Josh Niblett.
“I'm excited about him. He probably had his best practice today,” Niblett said. “He had some touchdown catches, but he also did the dirty work he needed to do… and make sure he's doing a really good job of being a dominant blocker on the perimeter. But I'm proud of his progress.”
With Atkins and quarterback Julian Lewis having both been on the team a year ago, it makes sense that chemistry has started to gel early. Atkins 6-foot-4 and 240-pound frame certainly helps him get open as well. They have an understanding of the expectation and standard that should be held by the leaders on the team.
In the Go-Go offense, 12- or 11-personnel (one running back, one tight end/two TEs) are used to force the defense's hand into certain player groupings that can be exploited. Not only is it important to have a tight end who can block and catch, but also to have multiple that you can play at the same time.
This season, Colorado has developed that depth under their new coaching staff. Returner Brady Kopetz is one of the guys with a heavier workload. He has been working hard this offseason to find a role in the new system.
“I think the neat thing about our offense is it calls for a lot of guys with different tool sets,” Niblett said. “You know, we'll play with a fullback at times, and I think ‘Brick’ is gonna be one of those guys that’ll be able to play that role.”
At 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, expect Kopetz to play a heavy role on special teams too. As a player who is willing to do anything to help the team, his presence is invaluable to the camaraderie of the Buffs.
The third guy in the unit who has been getting notable playing time is Northern Colorado transfer Fisher Clements.
Being the tallest one of the group at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, his size could be intriguing in the passing game. Being a block-first tight end throughout his career, receiving is an element he’s grown at in Boulder.
“He got bigger and stronger in the weight room. He and I have an individual plan that we work on that we put together,” Niblett said. “He's done a really good job this camp of making plays, and then also making sure he demands a point of attack, whether it's C gap, D gap, or on the perimeter.”
Charlie Williams, Zayne DeSouza and Ben Gula were all also mentioned by coach Niblett in terms of players who’ve been improving.
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