Warren Sapp on Colorado's struggles stopping the run: 'That won't happen with me'

In April, Deion Sanders hired former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Warren Sapp to serve as Colorado‘s defensive senior quality control analyst. In only a few months, Sapp has seen the Buffaloes’ defense take significant strides.

“We’re trying to develop some depth right now,” Sapp said. “I told them, ‘We got five ends on a two-lane highway, so you all got to fight for those reps because they’re gonna go fast.

“Inside, we are just building depth. We wanted the guys to be nice and solid because the one thing that I did see last year, before I turned the TV off, was we couldn’t stop the run, and that won’t happen with me.”

Colorado allowed 176.4 rushing yards per game last season, ranking No. 107 in the nation. In turn, Sanders revamped his roster this offseason, adding 44 players via the NCAA Transfer Portal. Fifteen of those transfers were either defensive linemen or defensive ends.

Sapp has a surplus of knowledge on how to find success in the defensive trenches. He spent 13 seasons in the NFL, earning seven Pro Bowl appearances and four First-Team All-Pro selections. Sapp’s individual success boosted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to winning Super Bowl XXXVII in 2002.

Sapp finished his illustrious NFL career with 96.5 sacks, the third-most by a defensive tackle in NFL history. For his efforts, he was named to the NFL’s 1990 and 2000’s All-Decade teams. Although it’s been nearly 20 years since Sapp strapped up his shoulder pads, he claims the game hasn’t changed.

Warren Sapp believes his knowledge translates to the present

“It’s all the same, except back when I played, they’d run it 30 to 40 times and then throw it 20 to 30. Now, we’ll close it down and throw it 40 to 50 times and choose when we want to run, but it’s still the same game,” Sapp said. “It’s a beautiful game.

“We’re gonna make sure we’re fundamentally sound in our gaps and our hands and our feet, and trust in our eyes. That’s the most beautiful thing with the D-line position. Offensive lineman don’t lie. The biggest lie you get told is a flash trap.”

Warren Sapp and Colorado’s defensive line won’t have to wait much longer to show off their hard work during the offseason. On Aug. 29, Colorado will kick off its 2024 campaign in a showdown against North Dakota State at 8 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.