Colorado is a week away from its season opener and the Buffaloes are in game prep mode.
Studying for the opponent is a bit more challenging than usual, though.
On Sept. 3, the Buffs will host Northern Colorado at Folsom Field (7 p.m., TV: Pac-12 Networks).
The Bears, from the Football Championship Subdivision, haven’t played a game since 2019 because the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the FCS season in 2020. And, they’ve never played a game under first-year head coach Ed McCaffrey, who has never coached in college.
“We started the last two days of our preparation for Northern Colorado with what little information we have,” Dorrell said Friday. “The big thing I’m preaching with our team is that we’re probably going to play a game thatap going to seem like itap unscouted in a way. We’re going to have to settle in and see what they’re doing and adjust and still do some very effective things from the start. So thatap going to be a tremendous challenge, but I think itap a great challenge for our team.”
McCaffrey came to UNC from Valor Christian High School, where he was the head coach for two seasons, in 2018-19. Several of UNC’s coaches came from Valor, as well, including defensive coordinator Scott Darnell. Offensive coordinator Max McCaffrey is in his first as a coach on any level.
This week, Dorrell said the CU staff has watched film of McCaffrey’s Valor Christian teams, but that itap tough to scout UNC from that film.
“There might be some things that (McCaffrey) does from that, but usually high school offenses aren’t quite as adept as college offenses and defenses,” Dorrell said. “We did get a chance to do that, but we’re not going to make a game plan on Valor Christian.
“I don’t know what their systems are. They’re not letting out any information from their scrimmages. … We’re going to have to adjust as we go, but I think we do enough offensively that (the Buffs defense) is not going to see anything that we haven’t been doing against our defense. We just don’t know what their style of play (will be).”
Dorrell said Friday that the Buffs have also watched film of UNC quarterback Dylan McCaffrey from his time at Michigan, but he threw only 35 passes for the Wolverines and was in a different system than he’s in now.
Regardless of the opponent, Dorrell said his team is eager to play.
“I think we’ve had a really good camp and I’m sure these guys are eager to play right now,” Dorrell said. “I try to keep them focused about, ‘Letap take care of each day at a time,’ as we prepare and get ready and then let it loose when itap time to play on Friday.”
Raising the bar
Dorrell hasn’t complained about a bad practice throughout the preseason and said thatap because his team has learned how to practice at a high level.
“They understand when they step on the field, itap time to get to work,” Dorrell said. “Is every practice a perfect practice? No, but the intent, the effort, their attitudes, how hard they’re working; those are the things that have been extremely consistent since we started in training camp. There hasn’t been a bad practice, but there’s always stuff to improve and they know that.”
Maturing quickly
Just a year ago, Christian Gonzalez was a true freshman trying to figure out college football, so he understands the task in front of CU’s trio of freshman cornerbacks: Kaylin Moore, Nikko Reed and Tyrin Taylor.
After starting every game in 2020, however, Gonzalez is somewhat of a veteran in the room and he’s been impressed with the young trio.
“The young corners have definitely developed in camp,” Gonzalez said. “They’ve learned and I can see they’re picking up on the game a lot faster, adjusting to game speed, which is just the biggest transition I feel like. I think everybody (in the room) has stepped up and is ready to play.”
Easing up
When the COVID-19 pandemic caused the football season to be put on hold last year, Carson Wells loaded up on classes. That made him extremely busy when the football season resumed.
The fifth-year junior has a bit more time on his hands this fall.
“I’m in grad school now so I’m just chillin’,” he said. “I’ve got a couple of assignments a week. I spend way more time on my body (than last year); spend way more time in film. I get up here and watch NFL sack cut-ups. I spend all day in here.”
Notes
Dorrell said punter Josh Watts has been “outstanding” in preseason camp as he enters his second season with CU. “I think he feels great physically,” Dorrell said. “Thatap been probably his biggest issue is that he’s had some ailments along in his career, mostly soft tissue stuff, but he’s healthy now. His leg is strong. He’s really punting well.” … Derek Bedell has won the competition to be the Buffs’ long snapper, but freshman Cameron Warchuck has impressed Dorrell, as well.
