Cal Football: Post Spring Q+A About Colorado with Ralphie Report

1. What were the core questions that you had hoped would be answered by Spring Practice? Were conclusions reached?

Matt Sparkman: One question I had in my mind was how Paul Richardson would look after recovering from a torn ACL. The answer was quite impressive. Richardson looked fast as ever, with five receptions totaling 169 yards, including an 85-yard touchdown in the spring game.

2. Any major style changes coming our way in the fall? New offense or defense installed?

Matt Sparkman: Stylistically, the biggest change Mike MacIntyre brings to the table is his pistol offense.

3. What players emerged on offense? On defense?

Matt Sparkman: Connor Wood, a rising junior quarterback looked really solid, completing 11-of-16 passes in the spring game. Wood spent most of last season on the sideline watching Jordan Webb take the majority of the first string snaps. Defensively, linebacker Woodson Greer looked ready to make an impact, with six tackles, four for losses in the spring game.

Wood recaps spring ball (via BuffStampedeDotCom)

4. What are your biggest worries coming out of spring ball for the fall?

Matt Sparkman: The defensive secondary continues to be a concern for Colorado. Their performance in the spring game did nothing to quell worries held by CU fans.

5. Project your season. Contender? Pretender? Middle of the pack?

Matt Sparkman: Given the options, pretender. 2-4 wins are a realistic expectation for Colorado.

6. Any frosh you can't wait to get on campus?

Matt Sparkman: Sefo Liufau, quarterback out of Tacoma, Wash. Has perfect size for MacIntyre’s pistol offense. Led Bellarmine Prep to the state championship game.

7. Who will you miss the most from last season? Who will be stepping up to fulfill those shoes?

Matt Sparkman: TE Nick Kasa. This question is not that easy to answer, as Colorado doesn’t really lose anyone who is truly irreplaceable. However, Kasa went from being a defensive end who didn’t see a lot of the field his junior year to being a tight end who caught the eye of many NFL scouts. Kasa was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round. Would have been interesting to see what he could have done with another year of development.

8. Any particular Pac12 match-up/rivalry you are looking forward to this Fall?

Matt Sparkman: Utah. After Colorado stole one on the road in 2011, Utah came in to Boulder in 2012 and handed Jon Embree his final blow.

New CU Head Coach Mike MacIntyre (via TheDailyCamera)

9. What are the specific injury concerns coming out of this spring?

Matt Sparkman: Jordan Webb, last season’s starter at quarterback will miss the 2013 campaign with a torn ACL.

10. Based on what you've seen, who is ready to take a major leap this fall?

Matt Sparkman: Same as question 3

11. How have your feelings on Coach MacIntyre changed after seeing him in practice for a spring session?

Matt Sparkman: Not really, acts/carries himself like he did at his introductory press conference. No surprises.

12. Why did MacIntyre switch to the pistol offense?

Matt Sparkman: That’s the scheme he ran at San Jose State. It wasn’t as if he saw CU’s personnel and thought it was a match made in heaven for the pistol.

13. How much improvement has the team shown during spring ball?

Matt Sparkman: Impossible to really say, but the passing game looks better than last season, but that could just be the result of a dismal secondary

14. Do you think Coach Embree was given a fair shot?

Matt Sparkman: No. Lots of Buffs fans disagree with me on this, but my opinion will never change on this matter. Embree needed way more than 22 months to turn the program around. Certainly, his win/loss record left much to be desired, but I really think he made some repairs to a program which sustained substantial structural damage since the middle of last decade. These repairs will be integral in any success MacIntyre has in Boulder.