After working as a coach for 12 years with the Cincinnati Bengals, Robert Livingston may seem likely to bring his familiar playbook to his new job.
However, Livingston has learned from his career to concentrate less on the playbook and more on the players.
Livingston, the new defensive coordinator of the Colorado Buffaloes, emphasized the importance of teamwork and a united approach to defense, rather than imposing his own ideas on the players.
In February, CU head coach Deion Sanders hired Livingston, who quickly got to work with the Buffs.
During the spring practices, Livingston focused on identifying the strengths of the players while adhering to fundamental principles.
He set non-negotiable standards for the team, emphasizing the importance of hard work, effective communication, and a unified mindset for all players.
Determining the best lineup for the team is a task for Livingston and the defensive staff, but he is optimistic about the current lineup.
Livingston emphasized the importance of evaluating the existing players and placing them in suitable positions to succeed, while acknowledging the significance of earning their trust.
He highlighted the player-driven nature of the system and the opportunities that come with a new coach or coordinator.
In the NFL, only 53 players are on an active roster, and 46 can suit up for games.
According to Livingston, every player who earns a jersey should have a role to play, regardless of their experience or specialization.
Even though a college roster is much larger than an NFL roster, Livingston takes a similar approach in evaluating the strengths of each player to determine their roles with the Buffs.
Livingston plans to utilize the players' strengths, such as exceptional blitzing or coverage skills, without overcomplicating the gameplay strategy.
Livingston said the Buffs’ defense will appear different each week. The plan for the first game against North Dakota State will not be the same as the plan for Nebraska the following week.
The aim is to help the Buffs get better than last year, when they ranked 124th nationally in points allowed (34.8 per game). Livingston welcomes the challenge.
“It’s all about the guys to me,” he said. “I think when you get a chance to do it your way and to lead men, that’s really what it’s about.”
