Brooks: Tuesday Tidbits

Here's how it went Tuesday – and it's how it will go until No. 21 Colorado lines up for its first offensive play on Saturday against Southern California in the LA Coliseum:

Reporter to Sefo Liufau: "Is your ankle 100 percent?"

Liufau to the cluster of reporters gathered around him: "I think so, but I'll just go day by day and see how it feels."

Of course that's what Liufau would say, Mike MacIntyre – Liufau's coach – noted with a laugh about an hour later when asked if his starting quarterback's injured right ankle was 100 percent healed.

Said MacIntyre: "No. He's the toughest sucker in the building. He's going to say that no matter what. He said that two weeks ago. The trainers will evaluate it, we'll evaluate it, he'll evaluate it and we'll make sure. I don't want put him out there if he's not fully ready to go."

So, it could mean a third consecutive first snap for redshirt freshman Steven Montez, who has passed for 626 yards and six touchdowns in his first two career starts. He replaced Liufau in the second half of the Buffs' 45-28 loss at then-No. 4 Michigan three weekends ago, then started in consecutive Pac-12 wins against Oregon (41-38) and Oregon State (47-6).

Both QBs have practiced for the first two days of preparation for the Trojans, with Liufau noting, "I can't complain, I'm practicing more and more each day. It feels great . . . I think two weeks ago I couldn't really walk. Well, I could walk, it was just kind of tender. The week after it got a little stronger and it's really strong this week. I'm pretty positive about it. I've been through a lot worse injuries so I can't be too down on myself."

If Liufau is able to play against USC, it would be a return to face the defense that cost him the most of the final month of the 2015 season. In the Nov. 13 loss (27-24) to the Trojans he suffered a Lisfranc injury to his left foot, shelving him for the remainder of the season.

"I think it's a little funny," he said of the possibility. "Hurting myself against them and having the possibility of returning this week against them is ironic, I guess, for lack of a better word. It's kind of a weird phenomenon, but we'll see what happens this week."

For his part, Montez continues to prepare as he has since his call to duty at Michigan, where he went 0-for-7 passing and was sacked twice. But knowing he would start the following week at Oregon apparently sharpened his focus, and following that win and last weekend's his comfort level in the huddle and confidence at the position overall have soared.

"Oh, yeah," he said. "Going into the Oregon game (very) and even more going into Oregon State . . . I had already been there, had played and we were at home."

He also said he believed that co-offensive coordinators Brian Lindgren, his position coach, and Darrin Chiaverini now have enough confidence in him that the playbook is wide open for him.

"I don't think they're holding anything back . . . we're running our offense, running the stuff that they think I can excel at and our offense can excel at," he said. "That's what I think they're calling now every game."

Liufau said Montez's performances in the last two games have "definitely helped a lot" in not rushing his comeback: "He's playing at a very high level, but if he wasn't playing as well, I don't think I would rush back because I wouldn't be able to perform. He's played great, he's done a really good job."

Also, Montez's performances have settled his offensive teammates, who know now that either of their top two QBs are proven. Receiver Shay Fields, who has caught five touchdown passes (three from Montez, two from Liufau), said the difference between the two passers is negligible.

"I'm pretty sure I just have to go out and run my routes as fast as I can (for either QB)," he said. "It's pretty much the same timing for me, just a different name."

The only difference, Fields added, is in game experience and the emotional ebbs and flows within a game. "When Montez is down we pick him up a little bit more than we do Sefo because (Liufau) is a little bit more experienced guy," Fields said. "We still pretty much handle it like (Montez) is our leader on the field when Sefo isn't there."

RANKING IS NICE, HOWEVER . . .: The Buffs broke into the weekly Top 25 this week at No. 21 – the first time that's happened since 2005. The collective celebration has been low-key, leaning toward non-existent.

MacIntyre said it was talked about among coaches and players "for maybe five seconds. Maybe. Basically what I said is they've earned the right to be acknowledged for what they've done, but it means nothing Saturday. We have to keep proving it week after week after week. It's what got us here, our work ethic and believing in Colorado football. They have to keep doing that exact same thing. I think it's nice for those young men for as hard as they worked to be acknowledged for something. It's just a blip right now."

His players heard the sermon and took it to heart.

"It's an honor to be ranked, other than that it doesn't mean much," Liufau said. "Being ranked 21 doesn't give you seven extra points when you go out there on the field. It's an honor to be ranked and recognized, but we still have a lot of work to do."

Added Montez: "If we're ranked 21 now and go and lose we won't be ranked anymore. On the field nobody cares if you're ranked or not, so we've just got to keep working."

RANKING vs. RESPECT: So CU is No. 21 . . . does that mean the Buffs have earned consensus respect in the Pac-12?

In a word, no – and the Buffs are aware that more 'W's are needed (particularly on the road) before their five-year history as conference members is rewritten.

USC is 10-0 all-time vs. CU, including 5-0 in conference meetings since the Buffs joined in 2011. Respect from the Trojans definitely needs working on, and Liufau said that probably is the case conference-wide.

"I do believe so," he said. "We have a lot of respect to earn and go take from a lot of people, not just in the Pac-12. Since we haven't been so strong throughout the years, this is kind of the first year, a lot of people probably still don't believe it, which is fine. I think we believe it within this team, which is the most important thing."

Added Fields: "We're still hungry. We have respect to earn from everybody, honestly. This is our first time being ranked so we just have to go out and prove that we are a ranked team. Some teams don't respect us so we just have to make them believers."

MANY NOT-SO-HAPPY RETURNS: The Trojans lead the Pac-12 in punt returns, averaging 25.3 yards on seven returns, with one touchdown. They're fourth in kickoff returns, averaging 25.4 yards on 17 returns with one TD.

USC's take-back specialist – as well as overall utility man – is Adoree' Jackson. He's first nationally in KOR TDs (one) and second in PR TDs (one, first in Pac-12). Jackson, who also plays corner and receiver, averages 31.1 yards per kick return and 23.6 yards per punt return.

Asked what concerns him about USC's punt return team, MacIntyre said, "No. 2, Adoree' Jackson. That's who concerns me. He does it. They do a good job blocking, but in one game he let the ball hit a couple times and he baited the team and caught it, made a guy miss, then made three more guys miss and went to the house."

MacIntyre called Jackson "a phenomenal athlete" and "fearless" as a returner. "We've got to cover well and punt it well . . . we've got to know where No. 2 is and go get him."

CU-USC CONNECTIONS: Remember Ronnie Bradford? Buffs fans can't recall the 1990 national championship game (1991 Orange Bowl) without recalling Bradford's blocked PAT against Notre Dame. CU won 10-9.

Bradford, who lettered four years at cornerback for CU and was All-Big Eight as a senior, is in his first season as USC's secondary coach. He also has worked at Cal as a defensive administrative assistant after spending six seasons (2003-08) in various roles with the Broncos.

Other Buffs-Trojans football ties: USC volunteer football analyst Mike Tuiasosopo was CU's D-line coach in 2011-12 . . . . CU tight ends/fullbacks coach Gary Bernardi was a USC assistant from 1987-92.

STILL TAKING IT AWAY: The Buffs have a working turnover streak of 18 straight games – the longest in the nation, and one more than defending national champ Alabama. This season they've generated three fumble recoveries and six interceptions, tied for third in the conference.

Outside linebacker Jimmie Gilbert leads the league in forced fumbles (three) and safety Tedric Thompson is tied for fourth in interceptions (two). Corner Ahkello Witherspoon is second with passes defended (1.6 a game).

The turnover streak has become a point of pride for Buffs defenders, who know the errors can be game-changers.

"We definitely take a lot of pride in it," linebacker Rick Gamboa said. "That's a big emphasis that we have as a team, we want to at least get three turnovers a game. Just knowing we've kept that streak alive means that we're working to get those turnovers. It doesn't matter if it's an interception or fumbles, we want to do anything we can to get the offense the ball back."

NICE THIRD PERSON EXCHANGE: When a reporter asked if his injury might "limit anything Sefo can do," Liufau answered like this: "Sefo isn't the fastest runner, but Sefo can cut, Sefo can run (he laughs at speaking in third person). It's great to be able to do that again and practice with these guys. You never know how many days left you have, especially with college football. You don't have a lot of time left, so even if it's just practicing you have to relish the moment."

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU

Colorado University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Shay Fields

Rick Gamboa

Jimmie Gilbert

Sefo Liufau

Steven Montez

Tedric Thompson

Ahkello Witherspoon

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