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From CU at the Game

2010 Colorado Preveiw - Defense

Linebackers

Personnel: Senior B.J. Beatty; senior Michael Sipili; junior Tyler Ahles; junior Patrick Mahnke; junior David Goldberg; sophomore Douglas Rippy; sophomore Jon Major; red-shirt freshman Derrick Webb; and red-shirt freshman Liloa Nobriga.

New in 2010: junior college transfer Evan Harrington; freshman Gage Greer; and freshman Lowell Williams.

Losses from 2009: Starters Jeff Smart and Marcus Burton were lost to graduation, along with contributors Shaun Mohler, Bryan Stengel, and Brandon Gouin.

Strengths: Depth & Depth. Two deep depth. "My two deep - I can play any of them with first group, and that's where I want to go," said linebackers coach Brian Cabral. "I want to play anybody I need when I want them. I feel like I've got enough experience and depth to do that. I'm not so hung up on who's starting and who's second team as I am this: just give me four guys I can play a game with. It's been a long time since I've been able to do or say that. But I'm feeling very confident I'll be able to do that."

Nice to hear, especially since two of Cabral's three starters from last year's team, including 33-game starter and captain Jeff Smart, have graduated.
When the depth chart was released, there was one surprise, as junior Tyler Ahles was listed ahead of senior B.J. Beatty. Last season, Beatty started ten games; Ahles two. But, if Cabral's statements above are to be given credence, it will be difficult for Buff fans to notice the difference. "I've got a lot of competition going on," said Cabral. "I would suspect that the first eight can change, but that's the flexibility I have."

The returning Buffs credit Mike Sipili for taking over the leadership of the corps. "He's a leader to all the 'backers - a fifth-year guy. He's been here the longest," said red-shirt freshman Derrick Webb. 'You can watch Mike and learn a lot, plus he's probably one of our hardest working linebackers ... he's inspired me to work harder."

Weaknesses: Colorado likes to think of itself of a Western version of Penn State, a regular "Linebacker U". The list of All-Conference linebackers over the past twenty years - Alfred Williams; Kanavis McGhee; Greg Biekert; Ron Woolfork; Chad Brown; Ted Johnson; Matt Russell; Jashon Sykes; and Jordon Dizon - is an impressive one. But ... from this list, only Dizon has been All-Conference in the past decade. That's a long drought for Brian Cabral and the Buffs. The current team has some potential All-Conference players, but were named to any of the preseason All-Big 12 teams. The Buffs will have to rely upon the two-deep to be collectively better than the opposition, as there is no one player the Buffs can look to do dominate a game.

Colorado can go 8-4 if ... Colorado's defense is in the top half of the conference in the major statistical categories. In 2009, the Buffs ranked in the top half of the conference in pass defense, largely thanks to a strong defensive backfield. When it came to rushing defense, total defense, and scoring defense, however, the Buffs were in the bottom half of the Big 12. The linebacker corps does not boast stars, but does have quality depth. Unfortunately for Colorado and Brian Cabral, the NCAA will not allow Colorado to play eight "good" linebackers at the same time. Three or four will have to step up their games and deny opposing offenses consistent success.

Colorado will go 4-8 if ... The Buffs' rotation does not produce. The defensive line is getting better; the defensive secondary is one of the Big 12's best. For Colorado to post a winning record in 2010, the linebackers have to come through. Eight All-Conference linebackers in the 1990's; one in the 2000's. That number has to improve in the 2010's ... and a good start this year wouldn't hurt.

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