Warren Sapp emphasizes the importance of playing together as a defense: 'We're gonna hunt'

Deion Sanders knew Colorado needed to be stronger on the defensive line this season, so he added Warren Sapp as a graduate assistant. The seven-time Pro Bowler and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year hopes to instill a new mindset in the Buffaloes defensive front.

Speaking with media on Tuesday, Sapp stressed a need for the unit to stick together and play as a team rather than individually. He also had an interesting analogy for the type of aggressiveness he wants to see out of the defensive linemen.

“It’s a very humbling game that we play,” he said. “If you think you can do this all by yourself, I tell them I’ve got a gold jacket and I’ll rip it up and tear it up to have 10 other guys come fight with me. Because me out on that field is just one guy and you’re just one guy. So we need a unit and a pack to go hunt.

“A bunch of wild dogs show up in your neighborhood, no one’s going outside. That’s what I’m telling them. At least come show up like a bunch of wild dogs to the stadium and we’re gonna hunt. The table is set. Let’s eat.”

Colorado was atrocious defensively a year ago to rank 130th in the country with 453.3 yards allowed per game. It surrendered 176.3 rushing yards per game to put it at 110th out of 133 teams.

The Buffaloes return some key pieces in the secondary such as Travis Hunter and Shilo Sanders but are almost all new faces on the defensive line. Former Houston defensive tackle Chidozie Nwankwo and former Arizona State defensive end BJ Green will both play potentially starting roles.

Colorado does have one player who was on the team last season in defensive tackle Shane Cokes, who started nine games in 2023. But other than that Sapp will be working with pretty much a fresh start from last year’s group.

At 51 years old, he admits he never thought he would get into coaching but has been enjoying it thus far. He played his last NFL season in 2007 and described coaching the young players as giving him “purpose” at this point in his life.

They certainly could have no better coach to learn from, even if he is just getting started in the profession. We’ll see whether his experience can rub off on the players and make this a different defense entering 2024.