
Buffs Offense Hopes To Maintain Recent Pace
November 22, 2017 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Very quietly, Colorado's offense has put up some nice numbers over the past few weeks.
"Quietly" because the final results haven't been what the Buffs would like to see — just one win in the last three games.
Still, the numbers have started to produce what early season expectations projected. In the last three games — California, Arizona State and USC — the Buffs have averaged nearly 500 yards offense (497.7) and roughly 33 points per game.
Most noticeable in that jump has been the production in the passing game. Buffs quarterback Steven Montez has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of those last three games, a first in CU history. Montez now has four 300-yard games this season — one off the school record of five set by Sefo Liufau in 2014 — and he is one of just three QBs in the Pac-12 to have three straight (UCLA's Josh Rosen and Washington State's Luke Falk are the others).
Saturday, the Buffs will see a Utah team that has given up back-to-back 300-yard passing games when the two teams meet in the 8 p.m. regular season finale at Rice-Eccles Stadium (FS1).
"It's a talented group defensively," Buffs co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini said. "They do a good job mixing their coverages on first and second down. You watch them on film, their defensive line always plays really really tough. Their secondary, they've had some injuries and they're moving some guys around, but they always seem to do a good job. It's going to be a good challenge for us offensively."
What CU coaches want to see this weekend is some consistency for four quarters from the offense, something that has escaped the Buffs even in the recent stretch. Missed opportunities early in the USC and Arizona State losses were big contributors to the final outcome.
"It's just a matter of execution," Chiaverini said. "Even against USC, we missed a couple balls early that set us back. If we hit a couple of those, we get some first downs and we're moving. At the end of the day we have to execute. We have to find a way to make those plays."
Chiaverini likes what he has seen from Montez's development over the course of the season. The sophomore quarterback has improved steadily in most areas, and is 37th in the nation in passing efficiency, with 18 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.
"What I've noticed with Steven is he's really grown up a lot this year," Chiaverini said. " There were a lot of expectations on him early in the season and I always tell guys not to believe the hype. At the end of the day you have to go out there and execute. …I've seen him really grow up and mature. He's gotten better throughout the season. People lose sight of the fact that he's a sophomore. He's talented, but it comes down to execution and him maturing as a person — and I've seen that growth with him and I know Coach (Brian) Lindgren has seen that growth with him. His future is bright as long as he keeps putting the work in."
As is usually the case, the Utes have been stout against the run, giving up 141 yards per game on the ground (38th in the nation). They have given up some big chunks in a couple of instances — 347 on the ground vs. Oregon and 205 vs. Arizona State, both losses — but if the Buffs are going to get Phillip Lindsay going downhill, it will take some work.
"This is a 'will' game," Chiaverini said. "You have to find it in your will to win those one-on-one battles up front, you have to win those one-on-one battles on the edge and you have to win those one-on-one battles with our quarterback making the throws and making the plays. If we can do that consistently, we match up very well in this game. It should be a really good football game."
IS IT A RIVALRY? When Colorado and Utah entered the Pac-12 in 2011, they were designated as rivals, as all the other conference members already had built-in, established rivalries.
But while the end-of-season game has been close — the biggest winning margin in the last six games is just seven points — and while there is usually something at stake, it has yet to produce that true "rivalry" feeling.
"I don't want to say it's a rivalry yet because it doesn't have that feel," Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham said last summer at Pac-12 Media Days. "We have all the respect in the world for those guys. They do a great job. Hopefully the feeling is mutual. (But) to me, the term "rivalry" is some sort of bad blood. Some sort of rift, I guess you could say. I don't feel that with those guys. We respect them, like I said, and they're a great program. But as far as any bitterness or, you know, something that transpired in the game that really upset you and you want to get back, that type of deal, I don't think you can manufacture a rivalry. I think it's got to happen naturally, and hasn't happened yet in my estimation."
LINDSAY AIMS FOR 1,000/1,000 CLUB: Buffs running back Phillip Lindsay needs 37 receiving yards Saturday to become the first player in CU history to have at least 1,000 career yards rushing and 1,000 career yards receiving. Lindsay has 3,635 yards rushing and 963 yards receiving for his career.
SPREADING THE WEALTH: For the second straight year, three different Buffs have at least 500 yards receiving: Bryce Bobo (640), Shay Fields (623) and Devin Ross (508). It's the only two times in CU history the Buffs have managed the feat.
TURNOVER BATTLE: As usual, the Utes are one of the best teams in the nation in forcing turnovers. This year, the Utah defense has produced 22 takeaways, 15th-best in the nation.
But, Utah's offense hasn't done the defense any favors, turning it over 24 times — 123rd in the nation.
THANKSGIVING DINNER: The Buffs held their annual team Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday night at the Champions Center.
"The guys can't be home for Thanksgiving so we have all the coaches wives and everybody," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "The coaches cook their favorite dessert and bring it in. They were smoking turkey all day yesterday …It's a family time because we are family when they are away from family."
The Buffs will practice Thursday morning, and players will then have a chance to spend Thanksgiving with friends and/or family Thursday afternoon.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu