BOULDER — During Colorado’s spring game April 9, Jim Leavitt got a unique perspective of his defense.
For the first time ever, he said, the Buffs’ defensive coordinator watched the game from the press box instead of the field.
“It was good to go up there and see it,” he said. “You can see more, but I’ve just been on the sidelines my whole life.”
Regardless of his point of view, though, Leavitt likes what he saw from the CU defense.
“We did a good job (in spring),” Leavitt said. “Probably a little bit more (than expected).”
Entering his second season with the Buffs, Leavitt came into the spring with 22 objectives for the defense.
“We worked each one of them pretty good, and we stayed on point, and I got done what I wanted to,” Leavitt said. “I know where I need to go and what I need to do.”
Senior safety Tedric Thompson said he felt the Buffs’ defense picked up where it left off last season, when it made tremendous strides under Leavitt.
“(Leavitt) wrote a lot of things he wanted to accomplish,” Thompson said. “And I think we accomplished most of them, or all of them.”
The CU defense certainly isn’t perfect, but after so many years of struggling, it improved last season. With several returning players, the Buffs believe their potential is much greater this season.
“It’s a lot of fun, because now we’re kind of delivering the beating instead of receiving it like I was my freshman year,” Thompson said. “It’s just a lot more fun. Because we’re having so much fun, we’re allowed to compete more.”
Hired just before the start of spring ball last year, Leavitt spent his 2015 spring getting to know his players and said only about 10 percent of the scheme was implemented. This spring provided a dramatic difference.
“This spring, the first seven practices, everything was in, and they handled it all — every bit of it,” he said.
Leavitt said the Buffs won’t be deep. If healthy, “we’ll have 15 or 16 guys that will play,” he said. That top group is a good one, though. We have a chance to do OK.”
Always realistic and honest about his defense, Leavitt knows the defense is still a work in progress, especially up front. The Buffs want to get better at rushing the passer without having to rely on blitzes.
“We were better but not good enough yet,” Leavitt said. “We know we’re going to have to bring some people (on blitzes).”
If players continue to meet Leavitt’s expectations, the Buffs could have a nice year on defense.
