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bsn CU Buffs: Walker makes Nickelback cool

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The Colorado Buffaloes secondary is absolutely littered with talent going into the 2015 season. Not only are the players talented but their experienced. The Buffs are almost two deep with upperclassmen at each position in the secondary. These veterans that lead CU will be important this year especially. With a new defensive system Jim Leavitt has the Buffs running, the team looks to have an emphases on a Nickel based defense.

The Pac-12 known for it’s high powered offenses will have the Buffaloes searching for answers in 2015, since the 2014 squad allowed the most yards per game in the Pac-12 south. One of Jim Leavitt’s base defenses is a 2-4-5 which means the nickelbacker will be used often. As of now Kenneth Crawley, and Chidobe Awuzie seem to have the cornerback positions locked down, leaving junior John Walker as most likely to play nickelback.

“I’ve been doing good so far, It’s coming along good” Walker said of his position in Leavitt’s defense. “I’m playing a couple roles, I’m playing nickelback and cornerback. I played nickel last year, so I’m getting a lot of reps at cornerback just trying to get comfortable.”

It seems Walker won’t see time as an outside corner unless their is an injury, but his versatility can’t hurt. Last year when Tedric Thompson got hurt, Walker was counted on more than anticipated. The D.C. native lined up for 438 plays over the course of 12 games, 7 of which he started at the nickel backer. He talked about the time him and others got last year due to injuries.

“Last year we weren’t expecting, those certain circumstances and situations but I think the experience is helping a lot” Walker told BSN after a recent practice. “Now we know what to expect, we know what’s coming before it comes. We all have been making a lot of plays on the ball in practice. We’re just ready.”

Forcing turnovers is something the Buffs have been working on at fall camp. Considering CU only intercepted three passes last season Coach Mike MacIntyre is keen on having his secondary make more of an impact.

Coach MacIntyre when asked about forcing turnovers said, “we need to be catching the ball better when it hits us in the secondary. I hope we’ll be able to knock more fumbles lose, put the quarterback back in the pocket a bit so a few balls might sail or tip. The obvious is we got to catch the football. I hope that three or four of those type of things happen more often.”

John Walker is one of the players in that secondary that wants to make his presences known in the turnover game.

“That’s what we need” Walker said when responding to a question about inceptions. “Guys like Justin Solis, and all the rest of the defensive lineman, once they get back there and put the pressure on the quarterback, we don’t have to man coverage as long. We’ll have time to make plays on the ball, so that’s going to help the team tremendously.”



Players like Ahkello Witherspoon, Ryan Moeller, and Jered Bell are all pushing for spots on the team, and their legitimate. Each has a combination of experience and skill. Walker is very aware of this and doesn’t want to lose his spot.

“It’s made me step my game up because I’m not trying to be on the bench” the junior nickel backer remarked. “So I’m just trying to take my game up to their level or even better. It definitely helps me because I can’t come to practice slacking, We all help each other, we just keep pushing each other to get better.”

John Walker said off the 2015 Buff’s football season “We got a lot coming.”

The former Atlantic Region star seems poised to have a good year in his nickel spot, playing alongside other experienced players in the Buffs secondary.

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Great title for an article, Ryan. :D

Admins - I think we might have taken the censorship too far. "cir***stances"
 
Great title for an article, Ryan. :D

Admins - I think we might have taken the censorship too far. "cir***stances"

We are working on it now this issue should be resolved shortly - unfortunately filters cant gauge intent, or in this case circumstance.
 
We'll be running a base 2-4-5 defense?

It is essentially the 4-2-5 people have been talking about, but two of the four DL are stand up, edge rushing OLBs.

2-4-5.PNG
 
Sorry guys, this was an article from my staff writer Jake Shapiro that somehow accidentally got published before I had a chance to edit it. He's young, learning experience for him.
 
Sorry guys, this was an article from my staff writer Jake Shapiro that somehow accidentally got published before I had a chance to edit it. He's young, learning experience for him.
Damn, they let RK have employees now? What has this world come to?
 
Sorry guys, this was an article from my staff writer Jake Shapiro that somehow accidentally got published before I had a chance to edit it. He's young, learning experience for him.

No harm. As long as he doesn't have thin skin. Tell him: "Allbuffs appreciates the job you to are doing. They're isn't a online sports page us likes more better."
 
Sorry guys, this was an article from my staff writer Jake Shapiro that somehow accidentally got published before I had a chance to edit it. He's young, learning experience for him.
I'm not a buff fan anymore. There are real consequences to mistakes!
 
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