In an effort to sure up the trenches ahead of the 2024 season, the Colorado Buffaloes and head coach Deion Sanders are adding NFL legend and Hall-of-Famer Warren Sapp to the coaching staff.
Sanders announced that Sapp would be joining his staff on “The Rich Eisen Show” Wednesday. The Colorado head coach did not say in what capacity Sapp would be helping.
“I know what he wants to do,” Sanders said of Sapp on The Rich Eisen Show. “He wants to coach on this staff, and he wants to be a part of this staff, and he is going to be a part of this staff. He is unbelievable. The kids love him. Oh my God, they love him. When the d-linemen see him, they light up like a Christmas tree … He has so much to give, man, and I can’t wait. I can’t wait to see him on a daily basis.”
This news comes shortly after Sanders denied Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson a position on his coaching staff on he and Shannon Sharpe’s “Nightcap” podcast.
“I’ll give you a coaching job, but I ain’t going to give you no coaching coaching job,” said Sanders. “Because I know you ain’t going to do right.”
Sanders and Sapp were never teammates on the college or pro level, but they’re NFL peers and they’re both from Florida. Sanders doesn’t only think Sapp could help sure up the trenches on the defensive side of the ball, but he thinks it could help with the offense as well.
“Even the offensive linemen, they glean from him too because he’s so thought-provoking that he can tell them, ‘Don’t let the defensive linemen get you at that point or this point or this point.’ I mean, he’s that — he’s a wealth of knowledge and he’s hilarious, man,” Sanders said.
Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes’ weakest position group in 2023 was the line
The offensive line was a glaring weak spot among a slew of outside talent for the Buffaloes in 2023. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders was sacked 52 times, and as a result was forced to sit out due to injury.
The defensive line wasn’t much better. Only two players hit the quarterback more than three times this season. The nation’s sack leader, Troy edge rusher Javon Solomon, would’ve accounted for more than half of Colorado’s season sack total on his own. He had 16 sacks, and the Buffaloes had 27 on the year.
Defensive lineman Amari McNiell led the Buffaloes defensive line with 31 tackles and three sacks. There were 10 Colorado defenders that were linebackers or secondary players with more tackles than McNiell, indicating opposing offenses were able to get to the second level with ease.
Sanders and the Colorado defense were 107th in rush defense as they allowed 176.4 yards on the ground per game. The Buffaloes also struggled immensely when it came to bowing up on third down conversions as they were 121st in the nation on third down conversion rate. This means they had a hard time getting a pass rush in obvious-passing situations, and they had a hard time stopping the run on short-yardage situations.
Warren Sapp doesn’t have coaching experience, but he brings the knowledge of one of the best to play the position
Sapp was a first-round draft pick for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1995. This was after an illustrious college career with the Miami Hurricanes that saw him win the Lombardi Trophy, the Nagurski Trophy and finish sixth in Heisman voting. Sapp was an All-Pro six straight times during his NFL career.
Warren Sapp Highlights anyone❓❓❓
Video credit goes to Buc It Productions on YouTube but I added the audio..
you’re welcome 😎#GoBucs
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/KxYHzljSrH
— Josh (@JRod__22) August 18, 2023
Sapp was in the NFL for 13 seasons, the final four of which were with the Oakland (Las Vegas) Raiders. His spot on one of the most legendary defenses of all time helped the Buccaneers win the 2002 Super Bowl, and cemented Sapp as a Tampa Bay legend.
His best year in the NFL was in 1999, the year that saw him amass 12.5 sacks as an interior defensive lineman along with four forced fumbles. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year just a few short years after being drafted 12th overall.
While he has played the role of a special consultant for NFL teams like the Washington Commanders, Sapp doesn’t have any real coaching experience. Sanders stated that current defensive line coach Sal Sunseri will be returning, so it is unclear what role Sapp will play.
Get More College Football Content
For more news and trends in the college football world, click here or follow me on Twitter @KusleikaAndrew.