BOULDER — Most first-year coaches inherit rebuilding teams that don’t have a lot of positions set. So analyzing the position battles at Colorado, coming off a 1-11 season, takes some time.
New coach Mike MacIntyre doesn’t have to worry about some spots. Junior Connor Wood must have a nightmare fall camp to lose the quarterback job. Sophomore Christian Powell is entrenched at tailback, although there’s lots of depth. Defensive end Chidera Uzo-Diribe is one of the best in the Pac-12. And most of the secondary can be penciled in.
“There are a few guys who are kind of solid at their spots if they keep pushing as they should,” MacIntyre said after the second day of camp Wednesday. “But there’s a lot of open spots.”
As camp starts rolling, here’s a look at some — but not all — of the biggest position battles:
Offensive line:The early departures of David Bakhtiari and Alex Lewis threw open this unit. Senior tackle Jack Harris has adapted well in moving from the right side to the left, and senior Gus Handler returns at center. Junior right guard Daniel Munyer started all year at either that position or center but is slowed by a leg injury.
That leaves two spots and massive holes behind the starters. Sophomore Stephane Nembot has the 6-foot-7, 305-pound frame of an NFL tackle, but the native of Cameroon is a converted defensive end.
“He has a really big upside and a lot of potential,” offensive line coach Gary Bernardi said. “He’s so young intellectually in terms of football. He’s a wonderful student. You can print that. He’s sharp.”
At left guard, junior Kaiwi Crabb will battle sophomore Jeromy Irwin, who also can play tackle, when Irwin gets off his walking boot.
Defensive line:Three spots are wide open. Some still must lose weight, but sophomore Josh Tupou and senior Nate Bonsu have lost a lot and could man the two tackle spots. Sophomore Tyler Henington, who came off the bench in 11 games last year, is also in the mix.
Sophomore Samson Kafovalu, a part-time starter in 2012, can play end and tackle. And junior Kirk Poston, vastly improved over the summer, will compete against him at the end spot opposite Uzo-Diribe.
Linebacker:Kent Baer, the new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, likes the speed of these guys, if not the experience. Besides middle linebacker Derrick Webb, the only others with starts are Paul Vigo, a converted safety, and Brady Daigh with one.
Vigo will compete with junior Woodson Greer at one outside spot, with Daigh likely starting over freshman Addison Gillam, a spring surprise. But Daigh must get his knee healthy. Baer also likes junior Lowell Williams, who led the team in tackles in the spring, in the middle.
“I see a lot of improvement over the summer,” Baer said.
Baer blitzed a lot at San Jose State last year. Count on the fastest players to get on the field.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299, jhenderson@denverpost.com or
