Former CU offensive coordinator Lindgren finds place with Beavs
BOULDER» This offseason, the Colorado offense has been adjusting to Darrin Chiaverini as the new playcaller and Kurt Roper as the quarterbacks coach.
Meanwhile, Oregon State is adjusting to CU’s former play-caller and quarterbacks coach, Brian Lindgren. CU’s offensive coordinator/QB coach the past five years, Lindgren is in his first year in that role with the Beavers, who are led by first-year head coach Jonathan Smith.
“I’ve liked him for a long time,” Smith, who was the OC/QB coach at Washington the previous four years, said of Lindgren during Pac-12 media day. “We’ve known each other for a long time. Always respected his ability to game plan. In this league, coaches steal ideas all the time. He was one of the guys that we would be a go-to of watching his tape on what they’re doing.”
Lindgren has spent the past nine years as a coordinator — at CU, San Jose State and Northern Arizona — and the past decade working with quarterbacks.
“I thought he always did a good job with the quarterback in regards to working to their strengths,” Smith said. “So I felt fortunate to have him come aboard. I thought it was important, too, with his experience in this league calling plays. So, really fired up to have him.”
Among the players, some early reviews are positive.
Lineman Blake Brandel, recruited by Lindgren out of high school, said he’s enjoyed working with Lindgren this offseason. Brandel added that a lot of the concepts used at CU have been introduced at Oregon State.
“We watch a lot of Colorado film, obviously,” Brandel said. “They do some really cool stuff.” USC QBs battling. Southern California has yet to name a starting quarterback and after a scrimmage on Saturday, coach Clay Helton told reporters, “My gut tells me it’s going to take one more week.”
True freshman J.T. Daniels, the Gatorade national player of the year in 2017, continues to play well, though. According to the L.A. Times, Daniels has completed 17-of-21 passes in the Trojans’ two scrimmages this month.
During the first scrimmage, on Aug. 11, Daniels went 10-for-12 with four touchdowns - three of them to true freshman Amon-ra St. Brown, who was Daniels’ teammate at Mater Dei (Calif.) High School. Daniels completed 7-of-9 throws in a run-heavy scrimmage on Saturday.
Sophomore Matt Fink and redshirt freshman Jack Sears are also competing. Notable. The Spokesman-Review reported Sunday that Washington State nose tackle Jonathan “Pono” Lolohea has left the team for “unspecified reasons.” A junior college transfer who was also recruited by Colorado, Lolohea was competing for the Cougars’ starting job at nose tackle . ... Washington left tackle Trey Adams, a preseason All-American by some publications, is on track to play in the Huskies’ opener against Auburn on Sept. 1. Adams had major knee surgery last October and has been easing back into the lineup this month, according to the Seattle Times . ... ASU senior Jay Jay Wilson, a potential starter at outside linebacker, has been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules, according to The Arizona Republic . ... The Arizona Republic also reported that first-year walk-on Kurt Walding is pushing Dillon SterlingCole for the backup QB job at ASU. Walding threw for 624 yards and six touchdowns as the top backup at Iowa Western Community College last season.