Since Robert Livingston landed in Boulder, after a 12-year run in the Cincinnati Bengals organization, we have known he wants to tailor the Buffs defense to the talent on that side of the ball.
Livingston got a good grasp of Colorado's defensive roster through 15 spring practices, and now he is making final evaluations, with some newcomers joining the mix this preseason.
"We'll go 10 days of camp and then we'll kind of look at what they do well," Livingston told reporters after the Buffaloes' third preseason practice. "It is our job as coaches to put these guys in a position to be successful. In any industry, the Cardinal sin, my biggest pet peeve, is when somebody says what somebody can't do. Let's look at what somebody can do.
"We only have X amount of scholarship players, X amount of walk-ons. If somebody is dynamic at one thing, well then here is a novel idea, let's do that and build around that. We've talked in the past, there are six or seven guys that are our shooters. They are our best players so we'll get them shots and then kind of adapt and adjust around that."
It makes sense for a first-year coordinator to play it close to the vest during preseason camp. North Dakota State does not have much of an idea of what Livingston's defense will throw at them on Aug. 29. Don't expect the Buffs to share many secrets before then.
And even after the season opener, Livingston wants to keep opponents on their toes.
"I think that is life. You have to kind of adapt or die," he said. "In the NFL, you might work out with somebody on Tuesday and you go into the game thinking he is going to play 5-10 plays and the next thing you know he is playing 35.
"Top 5 human being in the world Michael Thomas played for us in Cincinnati... he signed with the Dolphins on a Tuesday, played 35 plays in the game vs. Tom Brady, picked him off and they won the game. So it is our job as coaches to get these guys ready. ... Let's put the best 11 on the field that gives us the best chance to win."
Additional notes -
*** For the first time in the history of college football, teams will be allowed to have tablets on the sideline, and coaches will also have helmet communication with one player on the field. Like the NFL, the player that has that technology in their ears will wear a green dot.
Livingston alluded to the fact the green dot designation for CU's defense will be changed based on the opponent and situation.
"We'll play around with it," he said. "Defensively, do I think when you are getting no-huddle spread, it is going to work perfect every time? No. Are you still going to have to signal? Yes. But it is a great tool for us and, candidly, a great tool to talk to the guys on the field.
"We'll rotate it. You can have conversations. I am probably guilty of talking too much at times. But we'll play with it. I have seen the dark side of it a couple times in the NFL, where guys want to just rip of their helmet because the coordinator is yelling at them the whole time. So I know less is more. But everybody is working with it. Each week it'll look different."
Livingston admitted the new technology provides more of an advantage for offenses in college football.
"That's just what it is... it is an offensive game and we adapt and adjust that way," he said.
*** Colorado's cornerbacks group will be versatile with Preston Hodge and Travis Hunter both working at cornerback and nickel back, and DJ McKinney also being able to move in from cornerback if needed.
After winning the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in college football in 2023, Hunter has been named to the Thorpe Award Watch List and Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List in recent days.
"Travis could do anything he wants to do. Travis is a unicorn," Livingston said. "We had a spring academic meeting, Travis goes up there as a 4.0 student. Travis will take every play in practice. Travis can do anything. I don't want to put a bulletin on his back or anything like that, but I think Travis can do just about anything he wants to do."
*** Livingston's defense performed well during the first three preseason practices, giving hope to Colorado fans that it will be an an improved unit in 2024, after finishing 119th in theFBS ranks (out of 133 programs) in scoring defense last season.
"It's the third day of camp, right? It is rainbows and butterflies, but I know when I look in the eyeballs of the guys that we have, that they still kind of feel last year," Livingston said. "So last year is done and it is what it is. But they want to prove what they can be. I have seen it since the time I got here."
