BOULDER — Brian Michalowski has a star on his hands.
Carson Wells didn’t pop immediately under Michalowski’s tutelage in 2019, but he took a massive step forward in 2020. By the end of the season, Wells was the nation’s leader in tackles for loss per game and ranked sixth in sacks per game.
Michalowski, Wells’ position coach, says the outside linebacker has continued his play during spring camp.
“It’s good to see Carson playing up to his level,” Michalowski told reporters Wednesday.
The defensive scheme will change in 2021 but the shift should benefit Wells, if anything.
“The tweaks that we made defensively are more conducive for (outside linebackers) to be more ‘pin your ears back and go,'” head coach Karl Dorrell said earlier this spring.
The decision to ask the linebackers to pin their ears back more wasn’t a coincidence.
“We’re gonna build a scheme around our players, around their skill set, and his skill set is whoopin’ up on the line of scrimmage and playing in the backfield and generating some pass rush,” Michalowski said. “So he’s really embracing it and doing very well within this scheme.”
Wells’ success isn’t a surprise, but what about the rest of the group? Let’s start with last year’s starters opposite Wells, juniors Guy Thomas and Jamar Montgomery.
While Wells manned one outside linebacker spot, Thomas and Montgomery split the other job exactly evenly, with 104 snaps a piece. (Wells played 364.) Thomas has been injured during camp so there isn’t much of an update, but Montgomery has been on the field and doing great and progressing well, according to Michalowski.
The same is true of Joshka Gustav, a redshirt freshman who actually played more than Thomas or Montgomery in 2020, but subbed in primarily on pass-rushing downs. He notched a pressure per game and added two quarterback hits.
Gustav, a German native, took advantage of the offseason, according to Michalowski.
“He’s a technician and I alway remind him of the because what really sets him apart as a player is the technique that he plays with,” Michalowski said. “He’s developed great signature rushes, which has been great to see.”
Gustav’s pass-rushing moves remind Michalowski of one of the NFL’s top talents.
“Some rushes are very similar to Joey Bosa,” Michalowski said. “I know that’s a lofty comparison but they work a lot of similar pass rush moves. He does a good job of hand placement at the point of attack.”
The comparison is certainly lofty, but Michalowski isn’t the only one praising Gustav.
“I always like going around the tight ends during stretches and saying, ‘Hey, who’s the hardest outside linebacker to block?’ and he’s garnered a couple nominations,” Michalowski said.
Another young linebacker is making noise, as well.
Devin Grant, a freshman, is another name to know this season. While he still needs some more work, his time could be coming soon.
“He plays very fast, very aggressive,” Michalowski said. “We’ve got to clean up some footwork, we’ve got to clean up some hand placement sometimes with him but he’s very difficult to block.”
Once he puts all of the tools together, watch out.
“He’s just a fast, rugged, downhill linebacker,” Michalowski said. “He’s won some one-on-ones and continues to get better every day.”
And as Grant continues to progress, Wells serves as the model.
“My coaching philosophy… it’s a partnership I want. I want my players to know that I’m here to develop them on and off the field and be able to coach them hard on the field but also be able to put your arm around him and coach him up on details and technique,” Michalowski said. “(Wells) has always kept an open mind and I’m really fortunate that he can approach and think that way as a coach because he’s receptive to coaching.”
Here’s to hoping the same can be said of the younger guys.
