BOULDER — Colorado has put out an all-points bulletin this week for special-teams players, other than kickers. Only those with experience and savvy need apply.
Actually, this isn’t voluntary. Look for the Colorado coaches to strongly encourage veteran players to sign up for the kickoff and punt coverage teams, as well as the return units, for Saturday’s home game against Washington State.
After watching numerous special-teams breakdowns last weekend in a 37-17 loss at Ohio State, CU coach Jon Embree said he is tired of sitting some of his best athletes during special-team plays to avoid injuries.
“Because of our lack of depth, we’ve been protecting guys,” Embree said Tuesday at his weekly media luncheon. “We put other (less talented) guys on special teams against Ohio State, and it bit us. It didn’t just bite us. It took a huge chunk out of us.
“I’m mad at myself about that. It’s not the kids’ fault. As a coach, you have to be careful about asking kids to do something they can’t do.”
Embree said he will “roll the dice” and use fewer players in games. “If it’s 40 guys, it’s 40 guys,” he said.
Good idea, safety said Ray Polk, who is a new addition to the kickoff coverage team.
“It shows a sense of urgency,” Polk said, in reference to Colorado’s 1-3 start.
Assist from Ohio State.
Embree donned his psychologist hat Monday during a team meeting and told his players that others think more highly of their abilities than they do. That includes Ohio State interim coach Luke Fickell. Embree called Fickell on Sunday evening and asked him to evaluate Colorado’s talent. The conversation lasted 20 to 30 minutes, according Embree.
“Hearing Coach Fickell’s perspective about our players . . . I shared that with them,” Embree told reporters Tuesday. “Some of them were probably shocked about how highly he thought of our guys. They need to understand that they are good, they are capable.”
Senior tight end Matt Bahr said: “I’ve never experienced anything like that. But (an opposing coach) has probably scouted us more than we have.”
Apparently, the critique wasn’t sugarcoated by Fickell. “The comment on me,” Bahr said, “was that I’m not a great route runner, and I don’t need to be covered very well because I’ll probably drop the ball. That’s something I have to work on. It’s going to inspire me to catch more passes.”
Moten to get long look.
An already-thin cornerback corps will be without senior Travis Sandersfeld (leg) again this week and may also be missing sophomore Parker Orms, who injured a leg during the first 10 plays of the Ohio State game.
Embree said Josh Moten, a 6-foot, 195-pound redshirt freshman, will be given every opportunity this week to earn a spot in the rotation.
“So we’ll see where he ends up,” Embree said of Moten, an option quarterback during his high school days in suburban Los Angeles. “Josh is a competitive guy. The issue has just been (a lack of) consistency. He has the physical skills, size, speed. It’s knowing how to do it.”
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
