Intensity has increased at Colorado’s practice with Week 1 just around the corner. Assistant coaches Warren Sapp and Jason Phillips have been hard at work to get their units ready for the season.
As a graduate assistant and defensive senior control analyst, Sapp has worked with the defensive line alongside assistant coach Damione Lewis. Offensively, Phillips commands the wide receiver room. Both coaches spoke to the media on Tuesday.
A lack of defensive pressure and ability to stop the run troubled Colorado last season. Long runs up the middle gashed the team all year. Colorado gave up an average of 111 rushing yards per game.
“The one thing I did see last year before I turned the TV off is that we couldn’t stop the run," Sapp said. "That won't happen with me, no."
Sapp stated rushing the passer would be a reward for stopping the run. Colorado had 28 sacks as a defense in 2023.
Part of last season’s failures were caused by a lack of depth. Colorado has since addressed its room via the transfer portal. Coaches now feel they have the necessary players to get the job done.
“We've got five ends on a two-lane highway,” Sapp said. “Y'all better fight for those reps because they're gonna go fast.”
Technique has been at the forefront of Sapp’s culture change. During practice, he has worked on his players’ hands, feet and eyes. Focusing on the small details, Sapp is not reinventing the wheel.
“We're gonna make sure we're fundamentally sound in our gaps,” Sapp said.
Competition amongst position groups has strengthened the overall play of the team. With close gaps in talent and ability, coaches have looked at other places to determine who gets reps.
“Show me how you love this by the way you work,” Sapp said. “I’m a fun guy but I do get them to work.”
Character and effort are highly important to the CU coaching staff. This has been demanded from every player on the team. As a unit, the players need to be comfortable with each other. Phillips has the same expectations on the other side of the ball.
“Chemistry is the most important thing in the room,” Phillips said.
Phillips expects his group to have roughly six to eight players in the rotation this year. Depth has also been a strength of the group. With junior two-way star Travis Hunter earning reps on both sides of the ball, his leadership is needed.
“He's been able to do that consistently, so there's no issue there,” Phillips said.
There was high praise for Hunter’s hunger to improve. He continues to work hard before and after practice. His ability to lead by example has impressed Phillips. Giving players advice outside of football has been important to the coaches.
“We have conversations in our meeting room about life situations,” Phillips said.
Maturity is one of the ways Colorado looks to set itself apart this season. The mental capabilities are equally as important as the physical ones in the eyes of the staff. The wide receiver room is expected to be one of the deepest position groups on the roster.
Cover photo by CU Athletics/CUBuffs.com
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