Colorado Buffaloes defensive coordinator Robert Livingston speaks during Spring Football Media Day at the Champions Center at the University of Colorado Boulder on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Matthew Jonas/Staff Photographer)
One of the Colorado football team's priorities this offseason is establishing an identity on defense and tightening up on that side of the ball.
To that end, head coach Deion Sanders hired Robert Livingston as defensive coordinator. After spending more than a dozen years with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, Livingston is his first time as a coordinator and said he will work on defense as well as overall defense.
It's still early in spring practice, but the Buffs are pleased with their progress on that side of the ball.
“He's a great guy,” linebacker Lavonta Bentley said of Livingston. “He took the time to make sure we understood the details of the defense and the calls. If he didn't get a call to perform in practice, he wasn't going to jump on that call. do not have.
“Most DCs offer a variety of things to help you learn faster. Together with the coach, he works to make sure he understands the small details and each play before taking the next step. I’m just there.”
Mr. Livingston is also delegating authority to all staff members, as he has said he would do.
“He's counting on all of us,” linebackers coach Andre Hart said. “Everyone has their own trench to dig, so we all had to shovel dirt. What I mean is, once the installation (of a particular play or situation) is presented to the coaches, So it's our job to communicate to the players individually. So we take on more of a role in coaching them on a daily basis with the actual location and details of that installation. So that's it. It's on us. So we're being judged (as coaches) on how our players play, based on how we coach.”
Hart said the working relationship between Livingston and the rest of the staff was “really, really good.” He added that Sanders and Hart are similar to when they were at Jackson State, where they had longtime NFL coach Dennis Thurman as their defensive coordinator.
“The practices in terms of stacking and installing are the same process that Livingston was in when they first came on board,” Hart said. “So there's a level of comfort there, a confidence that builds from that, because it's something you've seen before. It's something we've done before. And we… I think the players are moving faster as they install things.”
first scrimmage
On Saturday, the Buffs held their sixth of 15 spring practices, marking their first scrimmage of the spring.
Although the practice was closed to the public, there were several highlight plays in the video posted by Well Off Media.
Quarterback Shedur Sanders connected with Travis Hunter and Dylan Edwards for a wide-open touchdown pass. Freshman running back Micah Welch also turned his head and had a great touchdown run, breaking Shiloh Sanders' tackle at the 5-yard line and retreating into the end zone.
On defense, lineman JJ Hawkins tipped a pass from Shedule Sanders and successfully intercepted it. Another lineman, Amari McNeil, forced a fumble on running back Alton McCaskill in the backfield.
Hank Zilinskas and Jakiri Walker rotated at center as the offense continued to work together. The first-team offense features Justin Mayers (left) and Tyler Brown (right) at guard, and Jordan Seaton (left) and Kahlil Benson (right) at tackle.
Pay attention to
Receiver Omarion Miller wore a non-contact jersey during the scrimmage, but he also made some nice catches. … Defensive lineman Chidoji Nwankwo was not in his scrimmage pad. …The Buffs had Sunday off, Monday off and are scheduled to return to practice Tuesday.
See more at BuffZone
