Perkins Returns to Finish Work with Corners

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – As new coaches started to filter in and find their offices at Canvas Stadium, one person already knew where he'd call home.

Because Anthony Perkins had occupied his office for a year already, the lone coach from Mike Bobo's staff to be retained as Steve Addazio structured his group. Honestly, there isn't a major transition for Perkins, who will remain as the cornerbacks coach, having honestly been on campus for just around a full turn of the calendar.

Under Addazio, he's already performed a task he wasn't around for the last time.

"I'm definitely excited for a chance to be here in Fort Collins, a chance to build off of the relationships I was able to initiate last year," Perkins said. "I got a chance to go on the road last week and visit some of our current players with (defensive coordinator) coach Chuck Heater, and it was first time I got a chance to be in their home, which I missed out on based on the timing of when I was hired last year. It's exciting, because I get a chance to dive deeper into these guys, get a chance to work with Coach Heater, who's been doing this for a very long time, has tons of experience, tons of wisdom. I get a chance to work and learn from him."

Addazio met with the former staff, at least those who were wanting to remain in Fort Collins. Naturally, he had coaches in mind who he has come to trust in the past, but in Perkins, he found the qualities he was looking for to couple with an open position in the defensive room.

Perkins also brings with him a familiarity with the state's recruiting circles, as well as those further west.

"I'm into hiring really good coaches, and it has to mesh with the spots I have available," Addazio said. "I was very impressed by Anthony. I think he's a really bright guy, a really good football coach and a really good person. He's recruited Colorado and California. I was very impressed with Anthony, and I had the right opening and the right fit, and I'm just thrilled to death he's part of this family."

As much as coaches are tasked to teach their players, the really good ones are constantly adding to their own data bank, taking what they've already known and blending it with new concepts as their tree of influence grows. Many of the coaches in the defense room will already have a working relationship, and Perkins has already enjoyed listening to them discuss how the foundation of the defense the Rams will execute this year has been put together over the years.

Perkins may have been around the longest, but in some regards, he is very much the newcomer. That is a positive in his view, as is the chance to continue to work with the players he's already had a hand in developing.

"It was really exciting to see some of these young guys come on last year," Perkins said. "It was exciting to see us have a little bit of success last year. There was a lot of work that had been put in, and it was awesome, more so for the players, for them to see the fruits of their labors. That said, we weren't anywhere near where we envisioned ourselves being eventually. There's still a long way for us to go, and I think our players realize that. I think the coaching staff that is here now, they see some of the strides that were made and obviously the strides that still have to be made."

New terminology is part of the territory in a coaching transition, and with Perkins learning it first, his position room will have the advantage of having the coach on hand who knew the old phrasing and can translate it into the new vernacular for them.

In certain situations, Perkins can also serve as the buffer who understands the past workings in the program, even the personalities, and can add a layer of background which would otherwise be hidden. Still, Perkins said there are situations where silence will be the best course of action.

"For me, I want to add value any way I can. In some circumstances, my input is good. In other circumstances, seeing things from a fresh lens without any additional input may be good, as well," Perkins said. "I want to make sure when some of these new guys do have questions, I can give them accurate answers. At the same time, I don't want to be overbearing, this is how we did it, this is who he was. In a lot of respects for some of these players, there's a new set of eyes, a new coach, so I don't want to overstep my boundaries. I want to add value when I'm needed, whenever that looks like."

In one year, his work speaks for itself. His room wasn't loaded with experience, leaning more toward new the program or new to college football altogether. As the year progressed, so did his players, with transfers Andre Neal and Marshaun Cameron accounting for a majority of the starts, while Brandon Crossley and Keevan Bailey started to play major roles.

Even with the improvements, Perkins carries a feeling of a job half finished, and he knows his players feel the same way. That alone is the perfect reason to be happy to have the opportunity to see his work through to the finish.

"We have some guys who made a lot of strides last year in my room. As the season went on, they kinda stepped up and were able to make some plays for us, which was really exciting," Perkins said. "The fact they still have a bright future ahead of them, I'm excited that I get to be a part of that. I'm excited to keep working with them, keep growing them. I think there's a lot of good, young talent and I'm excited just to play my part in getting that talent to maximize the potential that it should be."

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