Buffs WR 'J-Mac' Has Become Key Third-Down Target
October 12, 2017 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Colorado junior wide receiver Jay MacIntyre has quietly become one of quarterback Steven Montez's favorite targets on third down this season, showing a special knack to get open from the slot on key downs.
MacIntyre has 13 receptions this year — 11 of which have produced first downs — and he is averaging 17.2 yards per catch, the best of any CU receiver with at least 10 receptions.
Equally importantly, MacIntyre has six catches on third or fourth down, with five of those producing a first down. Only one other CU receiver, Devin Ross, has produced more first downs (six) on third or fourth down.
Usually, such a connection between quarterback and receiver is not planned. Rather, it's an organic process that develops over the course of a season. The receiver has a knack for getting open in certain situations and the quarterback begins looking for that receiver in those specific instances.
"A lot of times we have the right play called — and now it's getting to be a pride thing," MacIntyre said. "When I see third down, I just figure I have to get open, make a play for the team and keep the drive going. When you put that pressure on yourself and the team knows you have to get this down, I feel like you're able to make more plays that way."
Head coach Mike MacIntyre (Jay's dad) credited some of Jay's ability to get open on third down to his time as a quarterback in high school.
"He has a knack for being able to read the linebacker and read the coverage from being a former quarterback," Mike MacIntyre said. "I think there's a connection with that. (Co-offensive coordinator wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini) and (co-offensive coordinator) Brian Lindgren have done a good job of getting him isolated in situations that have helped us."
But Jay MacIntyre said his ability to dissect defenses stretches farther back than his days as a quarterback.
"I think playing quarterback helped, and also just being a coach's son," Jay said. "You always watch the game and see little things maybe others wouldn't see when they were growing up. I've been at practice my whole life; heard all the things my dad said."
Most importantly, Jay said, those third-down plays keep the sticks moving.
"Big plays on third down keep the drives going," he said. "Hopefully I can keep it up."
BISHARAT GETTING INTO A RHYTHM: Sophomore running back Beau Bisharat matched his career high last week against Arizona in carries with eight, but much more importantly, picked up 32 yards on those carries, and he did so with the game on the line.
Bisharat proved to be an effective counter punch to senior Phillip Lindsay. With Lindsay carrying a CU-record 41 times — including 14 on one drive — the Buffs needed some consistent relief for Lindsay and Bisharat provided that.
"It was fun to get into a rhythm," Bisharat said. "You want to play when it counts, and I think I felt more comfortable as it went along."
There's no doubt Bisharat continues to become more and more an integral piece of the offense. He not only lines up in a one-back set when Lindsay needs a rest, but is also part of a two-back package that gives CU an extra body in pass protection or as a lead blocker for Lindsay.
At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Bisharat brings some power to the inside game, and as he becomes more comfortable — and gets more carries — he should also prove to be a threat outside.
"The more carries you get, the more you see," Bisharat said. "You start to get some momentum and everything becomes a little more natural."
Bisharat will likely see more playing time in the second half of the season, as it's unlikely the Buffs will call upon Lindsay to carry it 40 times again anytime soon.
"I'm proud of Beau, he's finally getting in there, getting his touches, he's starting to get more comfortable," Lindsay said. "He'll probably see a lot more carries coming up, so it's exciting. I'm proud of him. We're a close, close running back group and Beau has come a long way. To see him out there producing, getting first downs, it's a great feeling and it shows that he's ready to play."
Bisharat, by the way, is also a valuable special teams player, currently leading the Buffs with 12 special team points this season.
FIXING PENALTIES: In what is a dramatic shift from previous Mike MacIntyre teams, the Buffs are near the bottom of the nation in penalties and penalty yards. Colorado is now 111th in the FBS, averaging 7.83 penalties per contest for a total of 406 yards.
MacIntyre's teams are usually on the opposite end of that spectrum.
"Some of our penalties are aggressive penalties," MacIntyre said. "You've got to teach them parameters of where the sidelines are. Targeting situations as we well know are up all over the place. That's something we work and coach on. The aggressive ones, you've got to curtail and show them, but you don't want to curtail the aggression. It's a fine line."
Other penalties, however — such as two defensive offsides penalties late in last week's game that kept an Arizona drive alive — are those that MacIntyre means to fix in a hurry.
"The holding and the offsides, those types of things they've got know if the guy's going away from them they've got to let him go," MacIntyre said. "Offsides is just paying attention and understanding in the heat of the moment what's going on. Those types you can curtail."
As for the last six games of the year?
"I would say we'll drastically cut down in the last half of the year," MacIntyre said. "I'd be extremely disappointed if we don't."
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
