Font ResizeCoaches have asked defensive tackle Eugene Goree to consider switching from defense to offense once again. Goree made the change briefly last season when injuries created big problems on the offensive line. He played 17 plays at guard against Kansas State but eventually resettled on defense.
Goree was atop the depth chart at defensive tackle after spring ball and throughout much of fall camp before suddenly being replaced by redshirt freshman Will Pericak, who has started each of the first five games. Pericak had no experience at defensive line prior to this season, while Goree entered fall camp as one of few defensive linemen with any game experience at all. He played in 11 games in 2008 but just 89 snaps.
Goree has played in only three games for a total of 42 snaps so far this season with one tackle.
"Personally, I feel I`m not mentally ready, but I really don`t know," Goree said when asked what is keeping him off the field on defense.
Goree said he is waiting to see how this week`s game against Kansas goes for him before making up his mind about any possible position change.
"I`m still tossing it around in my head right now," Goree said. "I`m just going to finish out this week on defense and see how it goes."
While coaches wait on Goree, other changes could be more immediate. Offensive line coach Denver Johnson said Tuesday that sophomore Mike Iltis is beginning to work at guard and could be used there in the future this season instead of returning to center. Iltis began the season as the Buffs` starting center but suffered a sprained ankle and concussion and was replaced as the starter by walk-on Keenan Stevens.
Johnson said Stevens has played well enough to continue in the starting role at center, but he feels comfortable with either Stevens or Iltis at center. Both players could see time at center against the Jayhawks. Johnson said he wishes he was two-deep at every position across the entire line, but that isn`t the case.
"We`re going to try to start maybe looking at Mike at guard as well so we can continue to develop a little more utility and maybe create some more options depth-wise if we have to," Johnson said. "We feel like we have two basically interchangeable players there in Keenan and Iltis."
Max still on the mend
Johnson said he still doesn`t know whether guard Max Tuioti-Mariner will play this season. Tuioti-Mariner is in the final stages of rehabilitating from two torn anterior cruciate ligaments.
He suffered one knee injury in Week 4 last season and injured the other knee in winter conditioning. He had previously suffered a torn ACL in his junior year of high school. Tuioti-Mariner has been working with the scout team in practice but still has a way to go before he would be able to play in a game.
"I don`t think that he would tell you at this point that he is truly full speed," Johnson said. "That thing is just going to continue to run its course. I was hoping that maybe after this week we would start integrating him a little bit more back into the offensive practice plan.
"You`ve got to be able to go out there and play and have that out of your mind. If you`re worried or distracted about coming back off an injury, I think it only heightens the chances you`re going to get re-injured."
Brown explains
defensive improvement
The Buffs gave up a whopping 624 total yards of offense and 54 points to Toledo on Sept. 11, but the defense has shown steady improvement since. CU defenders held the nation`s top scoring offense to 17 points last week at Texas.
Secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator Greg Brown said the improvement stems from a combination of factors.
"Young guys growing up on the defensive line in particular," he said. "You`ve got some young guys in there playing well and doing well.
"There has been some continuity and chemistry developing between the secondary and the linebackers. And before we played Wyoming we decided to move Ben (Burney) over to safety, and, in effect, play with four corners and one safety in there which helps us on substitution. When they go between three and four receivers, we don`t have to scramble nearly as much."
Notable
Offensive lineman Ryan Miller has been playing with his right hand heavily wrapped. He is not listed on the injury report and is expected to play this week. ... Colorado`s game next week at Kansas State has been scheduled for either a 10:30 a.m. or a 12:10 p.m. kickoff. Fox College Sports could decide to televise the game, which is why the start time remains undecided. Kansas State officials said the time will be set no later than Friday. ... CU officials said approximately 4,000 tickets remain for Saturday`s game.
