Deion Sanders didn’t waste any time cleaning up Colorado’s special teams after the Buffaloes slipped past Georgia Tech.
Even in a 14-13 season-opening win, Sanders saw enough to make major changes before Weber State comes to Boulder. Colorado gave up a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown and had a field-goal attempt blocked, and Sanders said the issue wasn’t the scheme. It was who was on the field.
“It wasn’t schematic,” Sanders said during the Colorado Coaches Show. “It wasn’t like, ‘Ah, we did the wrong scheme.’ It was personnel.”
That led to what Sanders called a major shake-up in the meeting room.
“It was a mass firing in the meeting room...on Saturday,” Sanders said. “We replaced several guys.”
The move fit Sanders’ no-nonsense approach: if a player isn’t contributing elsewhere, special teams may be the only way onto the field. He made that clear while discussing the reshuffling.
“Some of these guys, the only shot they’re going to get is to play special teams,” Sanders said.
Colorado has also been flexible with offensive guard Chauncey Gooden, who played about 10 to 12 defensive snaps against Georgia Tech. Sanders said the decision was straightforward and came with his full backing.
“I went to them and said, ‘Look, Chauncey is going to play D-line. I’m not asking anybody. Chauncey’s going to play D-line, so let’s get him ready,’” Sanders recalled.
At 350 pounds, Gooden earned that chance through the way he has played on offense, along with the way Sanders sees him in the weight room and in the trenches.
“He’s a killer,” Sanders said. “Not only in the weight room, but his mentality at the guard position.
He tries to run through them and punish them when he gets on them. If you turn that loose on the defensive side of the ball, and he’s 350, you’re not going to move him.”
Sanders said Gooden’s work on offense opened the door.
“The deal was, if you dominate there, I’ll let you play over here,” Sanders said. “And he’s been that.”
Gooden is now splitting time between both position rooms while also helping on Colorado’s field-goal block unit. For Sanders, that’s part of a larger push to get dependable players into the biggest moments.
That same trust extends to his coaching staff. Defensive coordinator Chris Marve made a strong first impression by holding Georgia Tech without a touchdown and limiting the Yellow Jackets to 51 rushing yards, and Sanders pointed to that performance when addressing questions about staff changes.
“Don’t tell me he’s not qualified to do the job when we’re here every day and you’re not,” Sanders said. “We know the communication, the dedication to the job and the X’s and O’s. Not only that, but understanding the Jimmys and Joes.”
Still, Sanders clearly believes Colorado has areas that can’t be ignored if it wants to avoid trouble later. His answer was to move fast: overhaul the personnel, broaden the responsibilities of players he trusts and demand cleaner execution before the Buffaloes face Weber State.
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