Robert Livingston happy with the progress of the CU Buffs defense – BuffZone

April 18: Defensive coordinator Robert Livingston during CU football spring training on April 18, 2024. (Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)

Robert Livingston certainly didn’t expect his defense to be refined by the end of spring training.

However, entering the final two practices of the spring, Colorado’s first-year defensive coordinator couldn’t be more pleased with the progress.

“There’s been good things and bad things,” Livingston said Tuesday after the Buffaloes completed the 13th of their 15 spring training games. “I think spring is very focused on that when you go against the attack. You’re the best in the world, or you stink. So consistency is what we strive for. We talked about it when I first met you, laying the foundation and building from there. I think we have succeeded well in that.”

To lay the foundation, Livingston had to learn his players’ strengths and weaknesses and build around them. And not to try to force the entire defensive plan into 15 practices.

“There are pros and cons to going slow, I recognize that, but that’s where our mentality is,” he said. “I am very proud of the efforts we see every day. I know this is a statement you shouldn’t make, but the boys are running for the ball. That’s an important coaching point here. And the execution has been good. So once we have this first floor, we’ll put in the second, the third, and the fourth, but we won’t go any higher until we’ve laid our foundation.

Senior safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig said it was a good adjustment from former coordinator Charles Kelly to Livingston. Silon-Craig praised Kelly, but said players appreciated Livingston’s willingness to adapt to them.

“Coach Livingston came in and he just made the system about us,” he said. “Coach Kelly brought in his own system. … (In meetings) we tell him what we see and he adapts to it. A lot of the language we use, the words we use, comes from us; it doesn’t come from coach Livingston. He’s trying to adapt to us more. That makes it easy for us. … We don’t really think when we’re out there, we’re just playing.”

Before spring started, Livingston said he would look for certain players who are good at blitzing or excel in different areas. He thinks he found those guys this spring.

“I think we have some guys that can rush the passer. I think we have a few guys who can fill in,” he said. “We will continue to build from there.

“We have a number of shooters, so it’s our job to highlight them. … If it’s a must-have, game-on-the-line, I think we have a pretty good idea of who we want to beat, who we want to rush and what we want the structure to be.

Hunter who impresses

Like almost everyone who has been with the Buffs, Livingston has been impressed with star cornerback/receiver Travis Hunter.

“Travis is a unicorn,” Livingston said. “I think the best example is on one of our third down days, Travis was playing wide receiver, so he gets eight to nine reps at wide out and then kind of jogs toward us. And I’m like, ‘Hey dude, do you need a break?’ He kind of looks at me like I’m crazy. I’m like, ‘Oh, okay, great. Well, you got it. Go ahead.’

“I think Travis can be as good as he wants to be. I guess the sky’s the limit. He is an extremely talented boy. He’s a great boy. I’ve never seen him have a bad day. I don’t mean to turn this into an infomercial for Travis, but I didn’t see anything bad.”

The impact of Sapp

Hall of Fame defensive lineman Warren Sapp is in his first spring as a graduate assistant for the Buffs. Head coach Deion Sanders has been impressed with his work so far.

“Coach Sapp is a phenomenal communicator,” Sanders said recently. “He was on television with me for a number of years with the NFL Network. He knows his trade. He knows his profession very well. That’s why he has a gold jacket. It’s not just about his athleticism. He knows this game and can convey that in his passionate way, and I love how he does it. I like what he brings to the table, who he is, what he is like.

“I’m just really happy and grateful that our young men get that every day, just that communication.”

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