Buffs QB Liufau Continues To Make Progress
October 12, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
But CU senior says his status still day-to-day
BOULDER — It's still a day-to-day affair, a one-day-at-a-time process that won't have a definitive answer until later this week.
But Wednesday morning, Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau looked — and felt — better than he has at any time since suffering a third-quarter ankle injury in CU's Sept. 17 game at Michigan.
Liufau and Steven Montez both took snaps again in Wednesday's workout. But, just as it's been since Liufau was injured, CU head coach Mike MacIntyre has said he'll closely monitor Liufau's progress throughout the week before making a decision on who will start for the 4-2 Buffs in Saturday's Homecoming game against 24th-ranked Arizona State (6 p.m., Pac-12 Networks).
Montez has started the last three games for the Buffs, although Liufau did make an appearance in last week's narrow 21-17 loss to USC when Montez went out late in the first half after having the wind knocked out of him. But after the game, MacIntyre said while Liufau was available in an emergency role, he still wasn't 100 percent.
Now, the CU senior believes he's closer to being ready — but he's not ready to pronounce that he's fully recovered.
"I think I feel a lot better every day," Liufau said. "That's kind of how I want to take it right now, is a daily process and see how it goes on a daily basis cutting, running, throwing, different kind of things."
Maybe the most positive aspect of Liufau's road back has been that his daily progress has been steady. Oftentimes, an ankle injury will involve periodic setbacks. That, Liufau said, hasn't been the case.
"Even if it's minor increments of getting better, it's gotten better every day," he said. "It's just been a slow process. Some things take a little time to heal, which is OK."
Another positive, Liufau said, was getting into the game against USC. In seven snaps, Liufau ran three times for 2 yards (including a sack for minus-6 yards) and completed two of three pass attempts for 7 yards.
"I definitely got some confidence from that," Liufau said. "It's always great to go out there and get hit with some live bullets, because as quarterbacks, we're not really live in practice. To go out there and get hit, it's a good confidence booster."
Earlier in the week, Montez said he continues to prepare as if he'll be the starter — the same outlook he's kept for the last three weeks.
"You always have to plan to be the starter," Montez said. "(But) as I always say, whoever Mac puts in, they're going to give us a really good chance to win. Whoever doesn't end up starting is going to be behind the starter a hundred percent."
In past years, Liufau might have rushed himself back before being completely healthy. But with the way Montez has been playing, Liufau has had the "luxury" of making sure he's ready.
"Being competitive, you always want to be out there with your teammates and playing," Liufau said. "(But) if it's not the right move, you have to do what's best for the team and put your self interests aside. I think I've done a really good job of that. As you've seen, we have people very capable of going out there and playing the position and guys around him stepping up so they can help him make plays."
No matter who starts at quarterback Saturday night, Liufau expects the Buffs to be at their best in a game between two of the three teams tied for the Pac-12 South lead.
"I think in recent years, before this year, I don't think our standards have been as high as a team," Liufau said. "Obviously you want to go out there and win every game, but to honestly believe in yourselves and your teammates and your ability to go out there and win games and make plays, it's a lot higher standard. … To be in the position we are right now, I'm really proud of our team and the way we're playing. There's a lot more to go."
Liufau, by the way, has played in three games against the Sun Devils and has thrown for 836 yards in those games — the most against any opponent in his career.
UP-TEMPO: One thing the Buff will be aiming to do this week is increase the tempo of their offense. CU struggled in that department last week vs. USC, and with Arizona State coming to town and playing at altitude, it's a weapon the Buffs want to utilize.
Part of the problem against the Trojans was third-down conversions. The Buffs were just 6-for-17 in that department — their second-worst performance of the season — meaning they didn't tire the USC defense as much as possible.
"It's an advantage," MacIntyre said. "They've got a lot of good players, so I know they'll try to substitute. Hopefully we're able to get first downs and they won't be able to substitute as much."
FRESHMAN ON THE RISE: Colorado freshman defensive back/wide receiver Anthony Julmisse has already had a year to remember. He recorded the first interception of his career against Idaho State, has averaged 22.1 yards on eight kickoff returns (with a long of 33) and last weekend had the first offensive touch of his collegiate career, a 10-yard reverse against USC.
"It felt really good," Julmisse said. "I kept replaying that moment in my head, thinking about what I could have done to score. It was cool, but I'm hoping to touch the more ball more on offense."
Julmisse will likely continue to get his chances on both sides of the ball. He's been in on 42 defensive snaps this year, with three tackles and a fumble recovery to his credit along with the interception. He's also seeing more and more time with the offense.
He'd like to continue to play both.
"I've been playing both sides since I was young," he said. "I'm used to always being on the field. I'm not used to being on the sidelines."
STAT OF THE WEEK: The Buffs have forced eight fumbles in their last two games, recovering three (all vs. USC last weekend). Colorado is the only team in the country to force four or more fumbles in two different games this season.
HOME COOKING: In two games at home this season, the Buffs have gone 2-0 while outscoring opponents 103-13 (56-7 over Idaho State, 47-6 over Oregon State). CU's defense has allowed just one touchdown thus far this season at Folsom and is holding opponents to an average of 161 yards total offense. The Buffs' offense, meanwhile, is averaging 580 yards per game at home.
HOMECOMING NUMBERS: Colorado is 61-35-5 all-time in Homecoming games, but is just 4-12 since a 16-game winning streak from 1984-1999. That 4-12 mark includes seven straight losses, with the two most recent being last year's 38-31 decision at the hands of Arizona and a double-overtime loss to UCLA in 2014 (40-37).
HOMECOMING PARADE: This year's Homecoming parade will be combined with the Pearl Street Stampede. The event will begin in the 1100 block of Pearl Street and head east toward the Boulder County Courthouse. Some of CU's most famous fans, 91-year-old twins Peggy Coppom and Betty Hoover, will serve as grand marshals. The parade will culminate with a pep rally on the courthouse lawn.
BUFFS VS. RANKED TEAMS: Along with a chance to pick up CU's first-ever win over Arizona State (0-7), the Buffs also have the opportunity to end a 23-game skid against ranked teams. CU's last win over a ranked team came in 2009, a 34-30 win over No. 17 Kansas.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
