Buffs shaking up offensive staff
It would appear the fallout of a 5-7 football season is making its way through the Colorado coaching staff.
Brian Lindgren, the Buffaloes’ co-offensive coordinator and lead play-caller, has resigned and accepted a position to become Oregon State’s new offensive coordinator, the school announced Tuesday. CU offensive line coach Klayton Adams was promoted to handle Lindgren’s coordinating duties, while the Buffaloes’ play-calling responsibilities will be handed to co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini.
Newly hired Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith contacted CU coach Mike MacIntyre last week for permission to speak with Lindgren. But a shakeup of the offensive coaching staff was expected no matter who initiated the changes after the Buffs’ troubles on that side of the ball.
At the Pac-12 media days in July, MacIntyre said: “I think we’ll be excellent on offense. We have our best offensive line we’ve had. We have an exceptional receiving corps. We have a great running back. We have young quarterbacks that we feel are very talented, so they just have to play their role.”
And yet CU finished the season near the bottom of the conference in most major statistical categories, including No. 11 for scoring offense (26.4), No. 8 for total offense (417.6), No. 8 for passing efficiency (134.4) and No. 11 for sacks allowed (39).
It was the second year of cooffensive coordinator designations in Boulder for Lindgren and Chiaverini, with Lindgren previously serving as quarterbacks coach for three seasons (a role he also kept as a coordinator), in addition to one year previous as an assistant under MacIntyre at San Jose State. Lindgren’s CU legacy includes coaching two of the most prolific quarterbacks in Buffaloes’ history, Sefo Liufau and Steven Montez, who have combined to set more than 110 program records.
“We’ve been together for six years, which really can be a long time in the coaching profession,” MacIntyre said in a news release. “I appreciate all (Lindgren) did for us at Colorado as well as at San Jose State.”
Where does this leave the Buffaloes? CU loses a litany of senior offensive leaders next fall — notably tailback Phillip Lindsay, offensive tackle Jeromy Irwin, and receivers Shay Fields, Devin Ross and Bryce Bobo — but returns Montez and several promising underclassmen. The topthree ranked players currently committed to CU’s 2018 signing class, per 247 Sports, play on offense: receiver Dylan Thomas (Cathedral in Los Angeles), receiver Daniel Arias (Jackson in Bothell, Wash.) and quarterback Blake Stenstrom (Valor Christian).
Chiaverini, a former CU receiver (1995-98), will be calling plays full-time for the first time as an FBS assistant, as well as still coaching receivers. MacIntyre will also add a quarterbacks coach to the staff, as the NCAA will allow schools to employ a 10th full-time assistant coach starting Jan. 9.
“Darrin brings a lot of expertise to the table, and I’m looking forward to what he can do with the play-calling,” MacIntyre said.
League recognition.
Six CU football players were awarded all-Pac12 honors as voted on by league coaches, the conference announced Tuesday. Cornerback Isaiah Oliver, who will forgo his senior season for the 2018 NFL draft, was the Buffaloes’ lone firstteam selection. Five players — linebacker Rick Gamboa, left tackle Jeromy Irwin, running back Phillip Lindsay, quarterback Steven Montez and defensive back Evan Worthington — were named all-Pac-12 honorable mention.