Tag: NFL Buffs

REPORT: Eric Bieniemy, Washington Commanders have mutual interest regarding OC role

REPORT: Former Buff Eric Bieniemy is likely leaving Kansas City

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is likely on the move. However, it isn’t for a head coaching position. Rather, a deal to make him the Washington Commanders’ OC is close to being finalized, as reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Just days after Bieniemy and the Chiefs won another Super Bowl, he is possibly headed for another opportunity in a bit of a surprising move.

Bieniemy’s name surfaced again in recent weeks for some NFL head coaching vacancies, although nothing came to fruition.

The former Colorado Buffaloes running back now seems primed to join Washington and become Ron Rivera’s OC for a team that needs a jolt after a couple of rough seasons.

Washington finished 8-8-1 in a bit of a surprising season, but the offense ranked 24th in points per game, 20th in total yards, 21st in passing yards and 12th in rushing yards. Neither Carson Wentz nor Taylor Heinicke was very impressive, and all signs point to Sam Howell being the team’s starter in 2023.

Some have wondered why Bieniemy made a lateral move to become an OC elsewhere. However, there’s a chance he will become the head coach if Rivera doesn’t perform well this upcoming season.

For once, Bieniemy is out of the shadows of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes. And if he can overhaul this Washington offense, he should again be a popular candidate for a head coaching position.

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Nate Landman records first career NFL tackle

Nate Landman got on the stat sheet Sunday in the Falcons’ win

Out of all of the former Colorado Buffaloes to play in the NFL, Laviska Shenault Jr. made the most noise on Sunday with a long touchdown for the Carolina Panthers.

However, one other notable story is Nate Landman. The Buffs linebacker went undrafted but earned a deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Landman was so impressive in camp that he wound up earning a spot on the 53-man roster.

On Sunday, as the Falcons faced the Seattle Seahawks, Landman saw his name end up in the box score with his first career regular season tackle.

The Falcons won, 27-23, and Landman was officially credited with an assist.

After a terrific offseason, it was expected that Landman would be able to compete for playing time, especially on a young team such as the Falcons, and he has done just that through the first three weeks of the season.

This was also the Falcons’ first victory of the year, so this was a fun day for Landman overall. As the season progresses, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get even more playing time with the Falcons still tweaking their roster.

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Laviska Shenault Jr. drawing huge praise from new Panthers teammates

Laviska Shenault Jr. had an impressive Panthers debut

Laviska Shenault is beginning a new chapter in his NFL career after the Jacksonville Jaguars traded him to the Carolina Panthers.

After an up-and-down couple of seasons with Jacksonville, the former CU Buffs wide receiver has a new home, and he should see an uptick of opportunities in Carolina.

DJ Moore and Robbie Anderson are the top two pass-catchers in Carolina, but after that, it is wide open.

Shenault was welcomed to Carolina with some massive praises, including his new quarterback, Baker Mayfield (h/t Joseph Person of The Athletic).

“He’s a big dude, a physical presence,” Mayfield said prior to the season. “He came out there and, obviously, he’s kind of learning on the fly for us right now. I can relate to that… His athleticism jumps off the tape. And then seeing it in person is another thing. So we’re happy to have him and see where he fits in.”

Panthers head coach Matt Rhule also raved about Shenault’s size.

“You see how big he is? He’s impressive.”

Shenault is listed at 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, but he has much more athleticism than most would think.

Shenault could be used in more of a Deebo Samuel-type role this season, especially with the type of offense Rhule and offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo plan on running this year.

And on his very first catch with the Panthers, Shenault took it 67 yards to the house:

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CU Buffs in the NFL: 2022 season edition

PHOTOS: These former Buffs will be suiting up in the NFL this season

The 2022 NFL season will begin on Thursday with the Los Angeles Rams facing the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.

This year, there is a new former CU Buff in the NFL roster after Nate Landman made the roster for the Atlanta Falcons.

Laviska Shenault Jr. got traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Carolina Panthers and should have an increased role, and Mason Crosby and David Bakhtiari are still with the Green Bay Packers.

With opening day right around the corner, let’s look through a few former Colorado Buffaloes players who earned spots on NFL rosters. In total, there are 11 players. It still could be 12, as Phillip Lindsay was signed as a practice squad player for the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday.

 

Nate Landman makes Falcons’ 53-man roster

Nate Landman made the Falcons’ 53-man roster

Some great news came out of Atlanta on Tuesday with former CU Buff Nate Landman making the Atlanta Falcons’ 53-man roster to begin his rookie season in the NFL.

Landman is now one of 10 Falcons linebackers set to be in Atlanta for their season opener against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 11. The Falcons’ defense also features another former Buff, CB Isaiah Oliver, who played with Landman in Boulder in 2017.

During the preseason, Landman played in all three games and totaled at least four tackles in each contest. His best performance came in the Falcons’ preseason finale against the Jaguars. “The Hammer” recorded three solo tackles, a sack and an interception, likely solidifying his spot on the 53-man.

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Chidobe Awuzie and Josh Tupou repping CU Buffs in Super Bowl LVI

Two defensive players and a front office member are repping the Buffs in Super Bowl LVI

If you’re a Buffaloes fan looking for a rooting interest in Sunday’s Super Bowl LVI, consider the Cincinnati Bengals. The Cinderella team of the 2022 playoffs holds two fromer CU Buffs on its roster and another in the front office.

Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, who was a member of Colorado’s stellar Pac-12 South winning secondary in 2016, started 14 games for the Bengals this season and another three in the playoffs. After spending his previous four NFL seasons in Dallas, Awuzie will now have a legitimate chance to hoist the Lombardi in his first year with the Bengals.

Josh Tupou also played his final collegiate season with the Buffs in 2016 and was an All Pac-12 honorable mention that year. Now in his fourth season with Cincinnati (he opted out of 2020), the 6-foot-3, 345-pound defensive tackle has recently struggled with knee issues and played only five snaps in the NFC Divisional Round game against Tennessee. He has been practicing in lead-up to the Super Bowl, however.

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Awuzie and Tupou would become the 64th and 65th former CU players, respectively, to play in the Super Bowl.

Another ex-Buff, Duke Tobin, who was a backup QB for Bill McCartney in the early 1990s, is also with the Bengals as their director of player personnel.

Yes, Denver Bronco great Von Miller winning another ring with the LA Rams would be cool, but it’s hard to root against three forever Buffs with Cincinnati.

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