Buffs Film Room: What Josh Chandler-Semedo and R.J. Sneed bring to the Buffs

The transfer portal additions for the 2022 Colorado Buffaloes are all getting healthy at the right time. Josh Chandler-Semedo has been healthy since he arrived on campus earlier this summer but R.J. Sneed and Tommy Brown have returned to practice and are gearing up to potentially suit up for next week’s opener vs. TCU.

All three have a great shot of becoming starters at huge positions of need for the Buffs at linebacker, wide receiver and tackle.

In this week’s Buffs’ Film Room, we take a look at why Josh Chandler-Semedo and R.J. Sneed were crucial players in their prior team’s success.

Tommy Brown only played 73 offensive snaps last season with his only start coming against New Mexico State, we’ll dig into his game later on this season.

Josh Chandler-Semedo is a tackling machine

Last season, Josh Chandler-Semedo led the West Virginia Mountaineers in tackles with 110 total. Good enough to rank 36th out of over 500 qualifying FBS linebackers in both total tackles and tackles per game.

Chandler-Semedo’s production and impact ability increased every season since he stepped foot in Morgantown. He has big shoes to fill in terms of leadership on and off the field after Nate Landman played his last season for the Buffs in 2021. While he may not have enough time to make ground on Landman off the field, the former Mountaineer is primed to lead Colorado’s defense through the 2022 season.

During last Saturday’s final off-season scrimmage, Chandler-Semedo made a handful of impressive plays similar to this one against TCU last October. JCS is blitzing on this play and is able to time the snap perfectly to shoot the backside B-gap and force a turnover on downs.

This is how a veteran fits the run. Chandler-Semedo keys this run from the snap, engages the tackle, successfully extends away from the block and keeps the right tackle off his chest. This allows JCS to track the ball and time his shed perfectly to stop a potential big run.

It’s another blitz call for #7 here. The disguise of this blitz is fantastic but what’s even better is seeing how Chandler-Semedo is able to use his hands and beat the tackle around the edge for a sack on Brock Purdy.

While he doesn’t have the speed and range of an SEC linebacker, this is great hustle and ability to navigate through traffic and find the ball carrier on the perimeter.

Again, another great example of Chandler-Semedo’s football intelligence, ability to track the ball and put himself in a great position to turn a big play into a negative gain.

The main takeaway I got from watching Chandler-Semedo’s film is that he is extremely reliable in his ability to find the ball and that comes from good coaching but more importantly just being a smart football player.

Recently, Mike Farrell ranked Chandler-Semedo the 12th best linebacker in the country over some impressive names like Henry To’o To’o, Jestin Jacobs and Ventrell Miller.

The Buffs may not have Nate Landman anymore, but there is no need to worry about who is patrolling the middle of the field for CU this fall.

It’s time for R.J. Sneed to level up

In his time spent playing for the Baylor Bears, R.J. Sneed only led his team in receiving once in his five years spent in Waco. In 2020, Dave Aranda’s head coaching debut saw the Bears go 2-7, Sneed posted a 39 reception, 497 yards and three-touchdown stat line while the Bears were one of the worst offenses in college football.

His ability was never in question though as he was able to make impressive plays from 2019-2021 when he was a starter.

The question the Buffs need to be answered is if Sneed is able to raise his level of play to that of a legitimate number one receiving threat in Boulder.

His best play as a Bear. Sneed settles in between Iowa State’s zone coverage and makes an incredible one-handed, sideline catch.

The former four-star recruit has very good flexibility and ability to track the football. It’s impressive watching him catch the football and contort his body to bail out his quarterback after throwing behind him.

While aggressive and risky, this is a much better throw but an even better catch from Sneed.

This pass falls incomplete but Sneed’s speed and deep-threat ability stood out to me here. He generated a lot of his production off short to intermediate in-breaking routes but knowing that he has this speed also should allow Colorado offensive coordinator, Mike Sanford, to draw up opportunities for Sneed deep downfield.

This is silky smooth from the 6-foot-1 receiver. He is able to quickly get in and out of all transitions through this play. The cut in his slant route, confidence at the catch point and transition into becoming a runner are fast and natural for him.

Sneed has a chance to be the straw that stirs the drink for the Colorado offense in 2022. Colorado coaches and players haven’t been shy about their intentions on offense this season, and having a player that can work all-three levels of the field at receiver would only benefit the offense.

Reinforcements incoming

Sure, the Buffs lost some quality players to the transfer portal last winter but they also gained two guys that could help CU rebound from a treacherous 2021 season.

Three, if Tommy Brown is able to play up to his size.

The fact that Chandler-Semedo and Sneed are graduate transfers and can bring the experience and mentality of a veteran to CU’s young locker room is a bonus.

It’s a huge year for the Buffs in many ways. 

Coach Karl Dorrell is out to prove that he is the man for the job in Boulder. J.T. Shrout is trying to show that when he is healthy, he can reliably lead an offense. Brendon Lewis is attempting to make last year’s doubters eat their words. The offensive line wants to show the country that they are much better than last year would have suggested. The entire defense is motivated to show that losses from graduation and the transfer portal won’t be the downfall of this season.

While Chandler-Semedo, Sneed and Brown are only three players; they’re out to prove that they can contribute immediately and help gain back the respect the Colorado Buffaloes deserve.