Spring Preview: Competition On Buffs Offense Will Be Fierce At Multiple Positions
February 17, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — To be blunt, Colorado football players are tired of hearing about falling short of expectations in 2017.
But the Buffs are also well-aware that to make 2017 a distant memory, they need to make 2018 a season to remember for all the right reasons. That means a solid offseason strength and conditioning program, a productive spring practice session and a late spring and summer dedicated to getting better.
Then, use all that work as a springboard to a strong fall camp and bounce-back season.
"I think guys are a little more hungry," quarterback Steven Montez said recently. "Last spring, we wanted to work but I think maybe we had this false sense of security in our minds that we had already made it because we had won 10 games. Now, this year, I think all the guys realize that nothing is going to be given to us."
Montez and his offensive cohorts will no doubt be a focal point. In the wake of a season that did not produce the numbers many thought possible, every member of CU's offense knows the pressure will be on this year to point the needle back in the right direction.
It won't be easy, as the list of players lost to graduation is long. It includes Colorado's all-time leader in all-purpose yards and second-leading all-time rusher, Phillip Lindsay; three receivers who are on CU's top-10 list in all-time receptions; and three linemen who started the majority of Colorado's games last season.
Meanwhile, CU's co-offensive coordinator combination will have a new name, as Klayton Adams joins Darrin Chiaverini; and the Buffs also have a new quarterbacks coach in Kurt Roper.
It all means spring ball this year will be critical to the development of an offense that can't wait to hit the field and erase the memory of 2017.
Here's a quick position-by-position breakdown of CU's offense as the Buffs prepare to open spring ball next Friday (Feb. 23):
Quarterback — Plenty has been written, and plenty will be written, about Montez's development this year.
It's understandable. After some excellent performances as redshirt freshman, Montez's sophomore season didn't go as planned. He did put up some solid numbers in 2017 while also becoming the first CU quarterback since 2007 to start every game in a season — but he will be the first to say his production didn't match his expectations.
Now, as a junior, Montez's role changes yet again. Along with being the incumbent starter, he will also be expected to assume a much bigger role in terms of a team leader. Last year, he played on an offense dominated by seniors. This year, he is one of those upperclassmen who must set an example in every respect.
A major part of Montez's development will come away from the field. Blessed with great physical ability, his job this spring — and summer — will be to improve the mental part of his game. That will mean extra time in the film room with Roper, more study time with his co-coordinators and simply more time learning the nuances of the position.
Safe to say, this will be Montez's most important spring yet in Boulder.
But Montez won't be the only QB expected to show some improvement this spring. He won't have to look far over his shoulder to see sophomore Sam Noyer and redshirt freshman Tyler Lytle, two talented youngsters who will be pushing for playing time. Noyer saw some action last year; Lytle is a big-armed player aching for a chance to get some snaps with the top offense. Montez may be the incumbent, but it's a safe bet Roper will give the youngsters every chance possible to prove they deserve a long look.
Running back — For the first time since 2013, Phillip Lindsay won't be lining up in the Buffs' backfield, meaning the Buffs will have a new leading rusher, a mantle Lindsay carried for three seasons.
Lindsay last season accounted for roughly 94 percent of the rushing yards compiled by CU's running backs and 90 percent of the carries. CU's second-leading running back last fall was Beau Bisharat, who ran 21 times for 61 yards as a sophomore. Bisharat is a versatile, powerful back who can line up in either the one- or two-back set and should get a good look in the spring.
There are also some returning backs with some considerable experience. Senior Donovan Lee, who redshirted last year, has rushed 85 times for 422 yards in his career, with the bulk of those coming in 2015. Senior Kyle Evans, who had a slow start last year after a dislocated hip in spring ball, has 398 career yards on 102 carries.
Meanwhile, CU coaches will also be anxious to get a good look at redshirt freshman Alex Fontenot, who had a solid fall with the scout team and will no doubt get his chance to prove he deserves some playing time.
One more factor? Graduate transfer Travon McMillian, who had a solid career at Virginia Tech, signed with CU earlier this year and will be ready to go in fall camp.
It all adds up to a competitive position, and it will be interesting to see who emerges from spring ball with a leg up heading into fall camp.
Wide receiver — As mentioned previously, the Buffs lost three players — Bryce Bobo, Devin Ross and Shay Fields — who are on CU's top-10 list of all-time receptions.
Normally, that would be a huge blow. But the feeling on the fourth floor of the Champions Center is that the Buffs could be — make that should be — better at wideout this year.
Why? Start with returning senior Jay MacIntyre, a dependable slot receiver with a knack for third-down conversions. MacIntyre has 68 career catches for 892 yards and four touchdowns and last year had 10 catches on third or fourth down, averaging 15.7 yards on those receptions.
But what definitely has wide receivers coach Chiaverini excited is the big-play potential of some other returnees, beginning with seniors Juwann Winfree and Kabion Ento, sophomores Laviska Shenault Jr. and K.D. Nixon, as well as transfer Tony Brown.
Ento, who redshirted last year, showed his playmaking ability two years ago when he caught 13 balls for 174 yards (a team-leading 21.8 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. He was also CU's most-productive receiver in spring ball last year.
Winfree also has some big-time playmaking ability and should be at full speed after spending much of last year rounding into playing shape after coming back from an ACL tear. Winfree is a big (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) physical receiver who showed what he can do late in the year when he caught five passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns against USC, with his scores covering 79 and 57 yards.
Shenault, meanwhile, is just beginning to tap his potential. The big, strong sophomore (6-foot-1, 218) might be CU's most physically gifted receiver, and he showed great flashes of that ability last year, catching seven balls for 168 yards, a team-leading 24.0 yards per catch. Shenault also showed his nose for big plays by scooping up a fumbled punt and returning it 55 yards for a score.
Nixon, meanwhile, is a speedy, powerful receiver who can line up at a variety of positions and is also a threat running the ball, while Brown is a long, lanky receiver (6-foot-1,190) who turned heads with the scout team last fall and will get plenty of looks this spring.
This will be another spot where competition will be tough — and whoever emerges from the spring with an edge won't be able to rest in fall camp.
Tight end/H-back — After seldom seeing the tight end as a receiver in 2016, the Buffs started to work the position back into the attack last year. The Buffs also used an H-back (fullback) more often, and with the talent they have there this year, that trend is only likely to increase.
Returning is dependable junior Chris Bounds, who last year caught seven passes for 102 yards and two scores, while also proving to be a key blocker in goal-line situations. Also back is talented sophomore Jared Poplawski, a big target with excellent hands, as well as walk-on Brady Russell, a big, physical TE (6-foot-3, 250) who showed a knack in practice for making big catches.
One player CU coaches will be keeping a close eye on in the spring is newcomer Darrion Jones, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound JC transfer. Head coach Mike MacIntyre called Jones "a weapon" on signing day, and it will be fun to see how they incorporate him into the attack this spring.
Offensive line — It all starts here, which is why we waited until the end to talk about the big fellas up front.
A year ago, CU's offensive line was expected to be the cornerstone of a big year. But that never materialized, as suspensions and injuries wreaked havoc with the continuity up front all season.
Now, virtually every position is up for grabs. While junior Tim Lynott Jr., a starter at guard the last two seasons, will head into fall camp as the incumbent, he won't be available for spring ball after suffering an Achilles injury late last season.
It means spring ball will be a wide-open affair and the competition is expected to be intense.
Names to watch? Start with redshirt freshman Colby Pursell at center. Pursell impressed coaches last spring and throughout the fall, to the point that there were times when they were tempted to pull his redshirt and put him into the lineup.
Also in the spotlight will be returnees Aaron Haigler (three starts at tackle last year and six at guard), Josh Kaiser (five starts at tackle) and Isaac Miller (six starts at tackle).
But they will be pushed by some youngsters who have been impressive. That list includes  juniors Dillon Middlemiss and Brett Tonz, along with redshirt freshmen Grant Polley, William Sherman, Hunter Vaughn and Chance Lytle. Also expected to get a good look is freshman Kanan Ray, who signed this spring after being released from his letter of intent from a year ago with UCLA.
Meanwhile, CU coaches are also encouraged by the progress of redshirt freshman Jake Moretti, who is coming back from a knee injury. Moretti has been a beast in the weight room, and while he probably won't be available for spring, he could be ready by next summer. Also on that list of possible immediate contributors next fall is true freshman Frank Fillip, also expected to be on campus in the summer.
It all adds up to what O-line coach Klayton Adams wants to see — competition at every position with virtually no guarantees. The Buffs may be young here, but it's another place they believe they could be significantly improved by next fall.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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