Spring Ball Preview: Buffs Have Key Returnees, Quality Newcomers On Defense

BOULDER — A year ago, the Colorado Buffaloes entered spring ball with a new defensive coordinator, a new secondary coach, a new inside linebackers coach — and the job of replacing eight starters on defense.

This year, the scenario is much different. While there are again some new assistants — Ashley Ambrose joins ShaDon Brown in the secondary to coach cornerbacks and Kwahn Drake takes over the defensive line — as well as some losses to graduation, there is still much more continuity across the board.

For starters, defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot should now be much more comfortable in his second spring. Eliot not only has a much better idea who his playmakers are, but he also has a better…